It's not rocket science

Someone at A's workplace was moaning about how his wife's car is having trouble. It keeps cutting out and the manufacturer isn't being particularly good at getting to the root of the problem. A asked him if it was a ************ (no don't count the stars, they're a random amount) - I can't mention names as it is likely to leave me open to legal action (stupid as all I'm going to say is true and can be found by a search of the internet). His friend was astounded to hear that A knew that. A then explained our history with them.

My parents had one of their larger models pretty much from new - an M plate. They had issues with the car cutting out, thereby rendering the power-steering and power-brakes totally useless. It even happened at speed on a motorway. Many moons later I owned an estate (V plate), one size down from parents. Within months it started cutting out at slow speed, which is not a lot of fun when you are approaching a junction or a roundabout - and even less fun when you have your kids in the car with you. Our local dealer had the temerity to suggest it was the way I was driving it!!! I then pointed out that I can drive Ferraris on race tracks and Golf GTIs on off-road tracks, both with a certain flair beyond the average punter, so their excuse was pathetic. Well, they weren't my exact words but you get the gist. A ended up threatening to drive it through their plate glass showroom window unless they found out what was going on, as the fault wasn't leaving a message on the car's on-board computer. Within a couple of days the car stalled on their driver. I was SO pleased. Funnily enough it was fixed PDQ, except that they put the part on upside down and made a mess; I didn't find this out till this part needed replacing again. That's right, the fix is only temporary. It'll last for 11 - 18 months before needing replacing again.

Now, you'd think that a manufacturer of such popular renown would have got it sorted out, if not between M and V plates then at least from V to now. Apparently not as A's friend's wife's car (phew) is having the self-same issues. Obviously this manufacturer doesn't give a damn about us the customer.

If you really want to know which one I'm talking about, it was the car I had before the Merc (same colour but smaller). Still none the wiser, drop me an e-mail, especially if you are looking to change your car.