Woe, woe, and thrice woe

[NickFitz]

Good news - and bad

The car is now home again with a new trailing arm and handbrake cable (that seems to have been broken by an over-vigorous RAC man), having been trailered up to the local garage who've always worked on it

Total cost: trailer £100, repairs £195; or, £45 more than I paid for the car ten years and 73,000 miles ago

The bad news came when I was settling up for the repairs. The garage is a family business and I was dealing with the owner's son, so I assumed his dad was on holiday, but when I asked after him the son told me that his dad had passed away in his sleep in March

Then, as I offered my commiseration, he added that his mother had died last week

[Sysman]

Somewhere at home I must have the bill from when the offside trailing arm went a few years ago.

It took nearly a week to get the part that time. The garage chap explained that "Ford have got the part, they're just not sure where it is" to which I replied "Don't tell me, it's in a box in the loft and they can't remember which one?"

Translation: It's on the computer but it's not in the warehouse bin the computer thinks it is.

It could also have gone walkies.

I'd like to keep it going but there are other bits that either need doing or will very soon, so I'm not sure its viable

I once made the decision to get shut of a car because the cigarette lighter packed in. It was the last straw in a succession of things going wrong.

Mind you, the spanking brand new car that came as its replacement wasn't too reliable either. It can be a case of "better the devil you know..."

[DaveB]

Somewhere at home I must have the bill from when the offside trailing arm went a few years ago.

It took nearly a week to get the part that time. The garage chap explained that "Ford have got the part, they're just not sure where it is" to which I replied "Don't tell me, it's in a box in the loft and they can't remember which one?"

I'd like to keep it going but there are other bits that either need doing or will very soon, so I'm not sure its viable

1989 Ford Orion 1.6i Ghia Mk. II

Try these guys, they have parts for pretty much everything.

Cheap Car Parts & Accessories, Engines, 4x4 Parts. Used Euro & Jap Car Parts From Online Car Breakers

[xoggoth]

Yesterday I was backing my van out of the drive and there was this awful scraping sound. Panic. Then I found I had left a stool behind it when I was fixing the roof rack.

PS The sort of stool with legs and a seat.

[Paddy]

What was the minor problem? That's a crime.

I had the car many years ago, the starter motor and flywheel ring needed replacing. The rest of the car was fine. I went to work abroad and left the car in my private driveway. After a few months neighbours complained to police and the police wrote a letter to me saying that the car is causing a nuisance because it spoiling the neighbourhood. I then sent a telex to a friend to dump the car. I did not know about the law then. I now know it was not a police matter and I could have given them two fingers.

[NickFitz]

A ford, what? Zephyr?, get it done. 02 Focus with < 50K, get it done. 1995 Fiesta with galactic miles then it's curtains.

1989 Ford Orion 1.6i Ghia Mk. II

[suityou01]

Somewhere at home I must have the bill from when the offside trailing arm went a few years ago.

It took nearly a week to get the part that time. The garage chap explained that "Ford have got the part, they're just not sure where it is" to which I replied "Don't tell me, it's in a box in the loft and they can't remember which one?"

I'd like to keep it going but there are other bits that either need doing or will very soon, so I'm not sure its viable

A ford, what? Zephyr?, get it done. 02 Focus with < 50K, get it done. 1995 Fiesta with galactic miles then it's curtains.

[NickFitz]

You should be able to get a new trailing arm and bush kit for less than £150 plus the labour to fit it.

Definately worth getting a quote first. Any decent garage should be able to give you a ball park figure over the phone.

Somewhere at home I must have the bill from when the offside trailing arm went a few years ago.

It took nearly a week to get the part that time. The garage chap explained that "Ford have got the part, they're just not sure where it is" to which I replied "Don't tell me, it's in a box in the loft and they can't remember which one?"

I'd like to keep it going but there are other bits that either need doing or will very soon, so I'm not sure its viable

[suityou01]

Sometimes it's just better to let go

[DaveB]

My beloved Super Monkey Car has undergone a catastrophic failure of its rear suspension - a fracture of the nearside trailing arm, to be precise

I managed to nurse it along to a parking place across the road from Newnham College, and was able to drive it onto the RAC truck for transportation to my parents' place pending final disposal.

There are no words to express my sadness over what seems to be the absolute demise of this most wondrous of vehicles

Shortly before this catastrophe we had driven past Jeffrey Archer's home in Grantchester. Coincidence?

You should be able to get a new trailing arm and bush kit for less than £150 plus the labour to fit it.

Definately worth getting a quote first. Any decent garage should be able to give you a ball park figure over the phone.

[Lockhouse]

......and a 1952 Mercedes 190.

What was the minor problem? That's a crime.

[Churchill]

There are no words to express my sadness over what seems to be the absolute demise of this most wondrous of vehicles

Shortly before this catastrophe we had driven past Jeffrey Archer's home in Grantchester. Coincidence?

Trying to steal his statues again? That really would **** up your suspension. That and giving Threaded a lift.

Btw, has Mr Hawking tried to run you over yet?

[Paddy]

My beloved Super Monkey Car has undergone a catastrophic failure of its rear suspension - a fracture of the nearside trailing arm, to be precise

I managed to nurse it along to a parking place across the road from Newnham College, and was able to drive it onto the RAC truck for transportation to my parents' place pending final disposal.

There are no words to express my sadness over what seems to be the absolute demise of this most wondrous of vehicles

Shortly before this catastrophe we had driven past Jeffrey Archer's home in Grantchester. Coincidence?

What car is it? If the rest is it is in good condition go for a replacement trailing arm.

I have regretted scrapping cars for minor problems in the past such as the original Fiat 500 and a 1952 Mercedes 190.

[doodab]

Commiserations. It's quite a blow to lose a beloved companion and partner in crime.

Have you got a quote? You should at least make such a momentous decision armed with all the facts.

[NickFitz]

My beloved Super Monkey Car has undergone a catastrophic failure of its rear suspension - a fracture of the nearside trailing arm, to be precise

I managed to nurse it along to a parking place across the road from Newnham College, and was able to drive it onto the RAC truck for transportation to my parents' place pending final disposal.

There are no words to express my sadness over what seems to be the absolute demise of this most wondrous of vehicles

Shortly before this catastrophe we had driven past Jeffrey Archer's home in Grantchester. Coincidence?