The FastDay Forum

hi everyone!

hope you are all ok and having a nice sunday, I really needed to write things down and what better way to do it on here!!

I apologise in advance if I bore you to tears and fall asleep half way through reading, that's ok!!

driving home last night from work, its a 2 hours commute to London and back from Deal, my warning/water light comes on, its flashing angrily at me, and I am thinking, ok..don't panic just yet, but a few minutes later and I feel the car loosing power, I mean seriously that is the scariest thing ever when you are going uphill!! by now I knew it was time to stop, fast,so i pulled over at petrol station.
Steam is coming out of the bonnet like a speeding locomotive , called the AA,and on inspection the guy says its a hole in the inlet manifold and has to be taken to garage to get repared.. had to be towed all the way home as well, fair do to my car though, it has done 200,000 miles( yes you read that right, I didn't add a zero lol) in 7 years
but its just one of those things I really didn't need right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so not working today,just at home feeling pretty miserable with myself, I know its not too serious but now I am torn between getting another car or fixing the present one I only work part time and buying another would mean a bit of a struggle but I know something else is bound to go wrong yet again!
I love this little car,a Daihastu charade, it has done sooooo well,people are amazed when I tell them the miles on the clock

ah well, if you are still reading this, well done! I don't know what to do for the best.. I cant afford the train fares to work so the car is the best option for me..

damn decisions

ok, rant over guys

to be continued....

I think it's time, your car needs to be reliable so that you don't get stranded. It has served you well. All the best with your decision. I am sure it will be a wrench but you obviously drive a lot so a car that functions well for you would seem to be a priority

Hi angie, think it might be time to let your beloved car go to that great scrapyard in the sky, especially if the repair will cost more than its value. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and replace rather than fix. Best of luck with choosing a new model though, not easy I know!

Now look here Angie, cars are like men, whist they are meeting your every need they are wonderful but once they start letting you down, not wanting to do what you want, leaving you in the lurch and costing you a fortune, then it's time to get rid and get yourself a newer model. How many times are you going to tolerate this stalling behaviour before you give it the old heave ho? It's hard, I know, to walk away from all the good times, the initial excitement when you couldn't keep away from it, travelled everywhere together and it looked so damned good. Well, kiddo, let me tell you that those days are gone, upholstery and bodywork is not what it was, slowing down and becoming difficult and unpredictable, recognise any of these things? Thought so! Time to say goodbye
Do let us know how the new one in your life is doing and good luck.

Ballerina x

P.S. For the men in here please substitute 'men' for 'women' and you will find the advice works just as well, honest! xx

aww thanks for replies guys!!

I know deep down you are right, how can anyone become, erm, attached to a piece of metal!!!
Ballerina you made me laugh, ooh yes its sooo true hahaha!! its time.... I know it in my heart

so long beloved Charade, I will keep myself from looking out of the window to see her, (him) sitting all alone in the cold harsh pavement...it knows.... soon...

Adieu!!

I'll let you know when the new light in my life arrives!!

Angie xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm glad to hear you are moving on. You will be fine just remember that if you are no longer able to turn it on then it is no use to you, a girl needs something that she can get going at the first attempt, none of this playing hard to get nonsense. No need to keep gazing at it's lifeless form remembering the excitement when you first got together, it's OVER!!!:?:

Ballerina x

To tell the truth if its ONLY the manifold that caused problems then get it repaired, one fault doesn't make a bad car. We have just spent £700 keeping this car on the road, but what has been done will keep her running for another 3 years at least. £700 is cheaper than a new car would be.

But if she has been niggling, a problem here another little problem there, then its time to get shot of it. Though depending on cost, it may be worth paying for the repair and advertising it as a running vehicle, you are going to get more for it to go towards the new car than the pittance they give for a scrap car. You have to work out the pro's and con's for yourself.

You may even get something for it on ebay as a non-runner as other people do buy non-runners for the supply of parts a non-runner can give them.

Thank you Julie!

have to admit I agree with you, waiting to hear a quote on a manifold repair, apparently a common problem with charades so not unique to mine, as you say wether I keep it or not i'll get it fixed anyway so maybe I can part exchange it

cars hey,love them or hate them, sometimes they are like our legs!!especially when you live in the sticks

Yep, we do live in the sticks. 4 buses a day to the local but small town, two of the buses, one in and one out are the school buses, so there is rarely any room for anyone else. Plus 1 bus a day to the City, which leaves here at 10 am, takes an hour to get there, and comes back at 2pm. So you have 2 hours with which to do your shopping. Certainly not suitable for people who work in the city.
Its 5 miles to the doctors here and 4 miles to the post office. A car is essential.

[carorees]

4 buses? luxury! we have 1 into Worcester and 1 back...both are for the school run, but my DS can't take the bus in as it gets into Worcester too late for him to get to school on time.

Hope you get sorted soon,one way or another Angie coz i know how important a car is to you for getting to work and home again xx