01.Blogs :
RobMiles  
Programming, gadgets and life as a lecturer in a UK university.

MOT Celebrations

Every year in the UK you have to take your car for a test to make sure that it is still roadworthy, has a wheel at each corner etc etc. These have always been traumatic for me, ever since I had that Mini where you could see the road through the floor. Each year I'd spend a big chunk of my winter holidays replacing brake pipes, repairing bodywork, setting fire to suspension components with a petrol blowlamp etc etc. Only to find that the darned thing needed even more welding.

I finally gave up when I was told that the entire rear end of the car was only held together by rust and the petrol tank. So I gave it it's final drive to the scrap yard and caught the bus home. Funny, but I never had any problem with the engine itself, just the entire car fitted round it.

Anyhoo, today I had to take the big car for its MOT test. The big car is much newer than my old Mini (although it is catching up) but it is still a scary time. Particularly as new parts cost a fortune these days and I've given up doing the repairs myself (you need too many special tools). I still buy the manuals though, so I can kid myself that I could mend it if I wanted. But the good news is that it passed the test, much to my relief.

posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 9:57 PM by RobMiles

# @ Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:12 PM

I admire people who fix their own cars. I can, but don't, change the oil. Generally I hate cars but of course I can not live without one. Glad your car passed. Mine is in the shop getting a new headlamp (bulbs I can do but the whole fixture is missing) and some exaust work so it will pass inspection.

AlfredTwo

# @ Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:44 PM

Happy belated Birthday! Glad to hear there were no socks involved. Socks belong on the Wal-Mart list, not the birthday list.

epiNole

# @ Wednesday, July 28, 2004 4:08 PM

I'm not so sure on cars. If you add the cost of the car, its depreciation, repairs, road tax, petrol, driving lessons (for me) and insurance, I wonder if it's really worth it. I've never driven a car in my life because I can't afford it. I think it's more of a luxury, because the bus is a lot cheaper, even taxis maybe. In some situations, you HAVE to have a car, for example if you work/live somewhere away from a bus stop, but personally I think I'll manage without one at least until I'm 30. I wonder how much cheaper paying for a taxi everywhere is?

Pandilex

# @ Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:36 PM

I think kids are changing. When I was in my teens it was a serious ambition to get wheels. I was driving as soon as I could and had a car as soon as I could pay for it (the car had three wheels but hey, it was a car). Nowadays the cost, primarily of insurance, is just about prohibitive and I've noticed that, because there is no way to afford it, kids are much less keen to learn to drive. When I was working through summer you could earn enough to insure your car for a year in around a week or so. These days it would take a lot longer and so people are putting off car ownership and driving until they are earning proper money. Which I think is a bit sad.

RobMiles


 
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