Cars!
When we were both working full-time, it was essential that we each had a car. Public transport is unreliable and intermittent in this area and we both worked in places that were not easy to get to and too far away to reach by walking.
Rather than have the dogs mess up the interior of Barry’s estate car, (all their exercise is in muddy places) we opted to take advantage of a generous Government offer to acquire a workhorse vehicle. It’s effectively a truck and it’s known as ‘the dog box’. At that time, we had four dogs, Dalmatians, and then Labradors, all of them (apart from Buddy Liver Spots) loving water and puddles, so they were able to reduce a pristine interior to something else entirely in very short order.
I had an appointment on Tuesday, a fifteen-minute drive away. I thought I’d take Barry’s car – it’s comfortable and a good journey would charge the battery, although Barry drove it last week when he went out to meet friends, so theoretically it should have been fully charged.
In his usual way, he went out to check that all was well. It had a new battery fitted and was given a service and MOT very recently, so should have been tickety-boo. It wasn’t! It wouldn’t start. So, he called the RAC, who appeared promptly and got it going, but suggested that the garage should look it over again. It is due to be towed in there on Thursday. The garage is always very busy, a sign of a reliable local business.
Having discovered that his car was out of action, I decided to drive my little two-seater, which is also very comfortable but not nearly as easy to get into and out of. Falling out of a car onto my knees is not a good look. 😉
Again, the thinking was that a good run would top up the battery and I was looking forward to driving it. It may be small, but it’s powerful and very responsive. It wouldn’t start! The RAC were called once more and someone duly came, inspected it and started it and all appeared to be well, though there was some thought that it was an electrical problem causing the unreliability and that it should be checked by the garage.
So, Barry set about fitting the TomTom in the dog box and I went off to my appointment.The dog box is a simple, straightforward vehicle, with no airs and graces. It is fifteen years old.
When I arrived home, we set off to take my car to the garage. Half-way there, it died – just completely stopped without warning - so the RAC were called, again, and a tow truck was booked to take it the rest of the way to the garage, which is only about a mile from our house.
Our cars are old – mine was registered in 2001 and Barry’s in 2007 - but relatively little used and have always been maintained by people who know the brand and what they’re doing. We are reluctant to sell them and buy a newer car, since modern vehicles have even more computer gimmickry in them, and therefore even more to go wrong, potentially. The 17-year-old estate car goes through more than 90 checks before firing up the engine. Just imagine how many a modern car has to execute.
It’s frustrating and aggravating and whoever thought that cars and computers belong together should be shot. ☹
Today, we’ve had two calls from RAC drivers, coming from different directions, to say that they’re on their way to pick up the car. They seemed surprised to learn that it’s booked for Thursday afternoon, to work with the garage’s schedule. I hope they turn up!
Wow, two non working cars. Lucky? Not so lucky! Some of the audible warning features in our car used to drive my partner crazy, so he would turn them off, which turned most of them off but not all. I switch them back on. They can be annoying but then more annoying would be bumping into something.
ReplyDeleteThere must be a balance somewhere between too few and too many!
DeleteWhoooooo boy! 3 downed vehicles in the same day! We drive old cars too, and I have a good barter arrangement with my mechanic (I'm married to him). He keeps cars running that many would have given up on. We had one car that had mechanical problems. And every time it would not start for me, it would start for him, and he'd always say, "I don't know why you have problems with it...it's fine." I said, "Fine. It's fine...so you drive it." When he began having the same problems with it, I will admit to secret triumphant feelings.
ReplyDeleteModern cars are not built for the average d.i.y. person, unless you've got all the electronic testing stuff to hand. It's sad, really, because people like your husband and my son-in-law, who know how to put things right and (probably) enjoy doing so, are stymied by so much electronic technology.
DeleteI agree, cars and computers do not belong together, the mechanics should be kept as simple as possible so any local garage can do the fixing if something goes wrong. Young people these days don't learn how to drive properly when the car does all the watching out and thinking for them!
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you.
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ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful photo of all 5 dogs in the back of the Ute/ workhorse vehicle. Love it!! Sorry to read you've had so many car dramas lately. I agree with you re cars & computers - a bad mix! xx
ReplyDeleteWe're just thankful that we're not reliant on them - most of the time!
DeleteI too love the four dogs photo. While I am also worried about the computerisation of modern cars, I only have to read letters my father wrote in the 1950s, an astonishingly high proportion of which contain mention of cars breaking down, failing to start, having a 'prang', and I'm reminded of the relative reliability of our current day engines!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
It's all relative, of course. Every make of car seems to go through a period of unreliability which is then resolved. Too much sophistication leads to problems!
DeleteHi Janice - talk about challenges ... gosh I hope thing sort themselves out - cars are essential for country life. Good luck - cheers Hilary
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DeleteOops..published my comment in the wrong place!
DeleteThanks, Hilary. They nearly came this morning . . . (telephone call, so we were able to set them right.)
DeleteThe dog photo is magical. As for cars and computers I'm with you on that one. Gail's observation on reliability is valid but when it does all go wrong there is no fixing it yourself (as I was raised to do on old mechanical means of propulsion). My flatmate at Uni had an old Rover that she used to service with a screwdriver and a mallet. She knew its foibles.🤔
ReplyDeleteThose days are largely gone, sadly. Too much clever design and not enough forward thinking.
DeleteOh no, your luck's out. Hope you get them mended quickly. I got rid of my car a few years ago, it just wasn't worth the expense for the use it got. It was handy to have when the kids were young and they needed running here and there but we only really need one car now. Mick has a company car, he changed it last year to an electric car and, touch wood, so far we're really pleased with the decision. I love the photo of all five dogs in the car.
ReplyDeleteBarry had company cars when he was working and any problems were for the company to deal with. He needed a reliable car as he did a lot of travelling. Much less stressful:-)
DeleteWhat an adventure ! lol ! and you are a real good customer to RAC ! That doggy box (ex horse) must be funny ! I don't care about cars they have to have 4 wheels, a steering wheel and a break. The rest is not so important. We always had to have 2 cars because of the miserable public transport ! No, Rosie didn't meet Leia, my old grandma would have gotten a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteLeia would have been surprised, too.
DeleteYes, four wheels and a reliable gear box to get from A to B - much the best idea.
Oh, my goodness. That is very bad luck indeed. Fingers crossed it is all easily sorted. xx
ReplyDeleteIt keeps being sorted, without ever getting to the bottom of the problem, it seems. We'll see!
DeleteHow frustrating. When I retired P convinced me to trade in my trusty little runabout that I used to get to work and buy a larger model for us to share. He kept his old work vehicle for trips to the tip etc. The new car was so annoying with all its beeps and flashing lights that I made him trade down to a plain and simple Ford hatchback. Now I never drive anywhere!
ReplyDeleteI'm a great believer in 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Will motoring ever become simple again? I doubt it!
DeleteOh dear! What are the odds of both cars refusing to start. And what a relief there was still the dog box as a third option. I'm keeping my fingers crossed both cars will be mended soon. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. Let's hope so :-)
DeleteI think family cars conspire with one another to all break down on the same day. I totally get your discomfort with getting a new car. They are so dependent on computers, as you point out, and repairs are super expensive. So much to go wrong. Even to get a new windshield if it cracks - all your sensors have to be realligned.
ReplyDeleteI know - it's crackers, isn't it?
DeleteSorry to read about your car troubles.
ReplyDeleteHoping all will be fixed and working well again soon.
All the best Jan
PS I too really like your photograph with all five dogs.
Photographs take us back to happy memories.
DeleteThere is so much more to go wrong with cars nowadays with all the extra techi bits and pieces. I hope your car troubles are only minor ones and you're back on the road again soon. Lovely photo of some of your dogs. Happy memories :-)
ReplyDeleteBack to horse and cart, I think ;-)
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