Monday 5 November 2007

Hole In My Pocket


At 8.15a.m today, I took my car in for its scheduled service and must confess I’d put it off for as long as I could because of the potentially astronomical cost. Of course, the only reason I service it at the manufacturer’s is the ability to maintain the car’s residual value – I can get the same level of service out there for £250. The ‘B’ service costs about £600.00, plus any incidentals which they discover and you authorise to be done.

I borrowed one of their cars and waited for the inevitable phone call which came at 10.30: “Mr O, we’ve looked at your car and found a couple of minor things”. Yes? 2 bulbs blown, brake fluid and gear oil recommended for replacement! How much? £35 for the bulbs, £65 for the brake fluid and £167 for the gear seal replacement, plus VAT at 17.5%, total = £313.72. No thanks, I said, I’ll get those bits done privately.

On the plus side, they lend you a new car, offer you free coffee and newspapers to take away, wash your car and leave another newspaper (The Evening Standard) in there, and are infinitely polite, but with service parts costing £80.00 and the cost of labour accounting for the balance, I have arrived at the conclusion that I want a car dealership of my own but I’m short of the readies.

Offers please.

15 comments:

Moi said...

Good things dont come cheap!!

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

Hahaha, I second Moi's comment!

Unknown said...

I came by to say:

Jinta aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

Jinta said...

@ Moi - I know, I just wish I could translate my wishes into horses

@ Solomonsydelle - no sympathy for me? Not even a mite?

@ Pamelastitch - I feel the warmth - thank you.

Ms. Catwalq said...

eeyah...

anonymous gal(retired blogger) said...

i thrid mois coment and i weould know trust me. thanks 4 stoppin

Joy Isi Bewaji said...

ehen! so u are a man? thot u'd be a girl. i'll be back, make i go read...

Joy Isi Bewaji said...

ok, so u think all the VIP treatment is for free abi?! lol!! like they all said, good things dont come cheap! spend dat money! lol!!!
and yea, that comment of urs...kai!!!

Jinta said...

@ Cat - I hear yoyu

@ Anonymous gal - I still do not feel better

@ Isi - Thanks for validating my manhood (and I'm being sincere when I say I did not intend a pun)

Onome said...

hahahahahahaha.....with God nothing is impossible if u REALLY want to be a dealer do some research and some serious prayers(lol)....nice post

Nicky said...

The safest way to double the money you have left is to fold it over and put it in your pocket. Thats after you have sewn up the hole.

Nicky said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jinta said...

@ Onome - I know I need the prayers

@ Nicky - A bit of magic needed fro the purchasing power to double

Nicky said...

You didnt get my world class joke!

Double your money by folding it in half ! HA HA BOOM BOOM.


....Forget it.

laspapi said...

I used to walk past that benz place when I worked at Alders. See how time goes round.

Take me in there to get a car, jintu...