Dollywobbler's Dead Rover 600 - Replacement sorted

[Lacquer Peel]

NASA comfort coefficient. Just need Conelrad to draw a Rover 400 in space with astronauts amazed at its transcendent ride quality.

[dollywobbler]

Now available in stereo sound.

[egg]

top vid Ian, you're on good form! 

[beko1987]

Anyone watched it with subtitles yet?

[Coprolalia]

This episode is not so good...

 

[beko1987]

Proves that the cabin must be a nice refined place to be then if the road noise doesn't mess with the subtitles.

 

Amy's going out in a bit, ill watch it in a sec

[EssDeeWon]

Hate mail incoming!

 

On joking, very good review. These are massively underrated cars.

[Shep Shepherd]

I want a Microbe 608. It sounds rather exciting 

[dollywobbler]

Bugger. This thing is clocking miles up at a fair rate. 1600 since purchase. I need to park it up for a few weeks to get my annual mileage back into shape!

[Noel Tidybeard]

oh look its got a little light on the dash to tell you the spoiler is in the up position!

[dollywobbler]

Today has not been a good day. I was having a lovely time at Cholmongley until someone (Eifion I think?) pointed out that my Rover had a suspicious trail of oil leading to it. He was not wrong.

 

It turns out this trail went a long way. In other words, right through the entire event pretty much...

 

Junkman was quick to diagnose that the driveshaft seal had blown out of the gearbox on the nearside. Lovely! Then I remembered pulling out of a layby that morning, as we waited for FOAD to catch us up after a nasty right hand turn. I pulled away swiftly, heard a strange noise and immediately decided it was best to ignore it. The noise went away. All was well.

 

It was a few miles to the show, but I noticed when slowing down that suddenly I had transmission noise on the overrun that was not there before. I decided not to ruin by day by worrying about it now. Delayed worry is a thing.

 

The AA turned up rather promptly. Annoyingly so given I still needed to conduct a photoshoot on a rather nice MX-5. That ended up being a rather hasty affair. I hope the pics are ok. Meanwhile, the Rover was strapped down to its great shame, in front of a row of perfectly working pre-war cars, such as this rather delicious Lanchester.

 

The driver admitted that he was running out of hours, so we'd need to transfer to another AA van. No worries. Until he tried reversing at the meet point. There was a big bang. 

 

Yup, the Rover had somehow jumped off the dolly. I delayed my anger at this point, as there was not much point being angry. It wasn't going to help.

 

Getting the Rover off the dolly was a right game. It took over an hour. The second AA guy could have helped, if he had not been waiting for us (for half an hour) a short distance up the road. AA Sat Navs are rubbish. The rescue involved scary heights.

 

However, eventually, the Rover found itself connected up to a much nicer Transit van. Some hours later, we arrived at my local garage where the Rover has been dumped to await its fate. (this shot is just after the transfer, it was dark when we got back to Wales).

 

The Rover has been damaged by the fall, but I'm not sure how badly. The 'chassis rail' that runs below the driver's floor has been squashed quite badly, and the plastic sill cover (badly scratched) may be hiding damage beneath. That rail already seems to have some rot in it. In addition, fitting the light board to the rear end seems to have damaged the bumper - the fitting has pulled out of the body on the nearside just behind the rear wheel. It was already weak.

 

On top of all this, I've no idea if the gearbox has been damaged. I'm not sure what to do next. Sleep sounds good!

[beko1987]

Replace the seal, fill the box with oil, and hope!

 

Sounds like a right downer on the day though, but possibly a good job it didnt happen in France land

[Skizzer]

Aw, bugger.

 

I want to say something more constructive than that, but I can't think of anything.

[EssDeeWon]

Oh dear!  So I assume the AA are liable for further damage caused beyond what was diagnosed when they turned up? Or is it simply something for their insurers to deal with i.e. a damaged customers car.

[D Spares & Tyres]

I have a gearbox out of a 1999 Freelander that had the same engine as yours. Knowing Rover it is the same box. Yours for the cost of a pint. 

[Pillock]

I hope that means there's some way DW will own the first 4x4 Rover 600.

[hairnet]

Dread to think what might have happened if they'd used a flat bed

 

Doesn't bear thinking about

 

I hate the aa - Independents ftw

[dollywobbler]

Dread to think what might have happened if they'd used a flat bed

 

Doesn't bear thinking about

 

I hate the aa - Independents ftw

 

I've had some real horrors with independents. I think any time you're transporting a car, it's a risk. 

[Lacquer Peel]

PG1 gearbox, used in all the Rover L-series diesels I think. Hope it doesn't come to that though

[purplebargeken]

Damn. We seem to be having issues with recovery companies damaging cars of late.

[forddeliveryboy]

I've had some real horrors with independents. I think any time you're transporting a car, it's a risk. 

 

Sad to hear about the damage (I've a soft spot for 600s, especially the oil burners), but even just driving a car is a risk, without the AA to help. Everything's a risk in life - try and turn it to your advantage. If the car isn't written off by the scrapes underneath, use the compensation to further fettle and enjoy!

[The Moog]

I hope that means there's some way DW will own the first 4x4 Rover 600.

Are any freelanders still 4x4 ? Aren't most 2wd for economy*

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Sad to hear about the damage (I've a soft spot for 600s, especially the oil burners), but even just driving a car is a risk, without the AA to help. Everything's a risk in life - try and turn it to your advantage. If the car isn't written off by the scrapes underneath, use the compensation to further fettle and enjoy!

Yes, this looks like a winning situation, quote from local body shop to repair damage to undercarriage will undoubtedly be unecomical to repair. AA will pay a few hundred quid and DW keeps car with no CAT whatever marker, pay for gearbox repair using AA money. Ignore cosmetic damage to underside of car and spend leftover money on Coke and hookers or 2cv fund.

[dollywobbler]

I've asked the local garage to quote for repairs as well as quoting to sort out the knackered driveshaft seal. They're hoping to look at it tomorrow.

 

I've also emailed The AA to get the ball rolling on the claim. Overall, I'm just feeling pretty disappointed at the moment.

[purplebargeken]

Chin up mate. It will be ok soon enough. 

[oldcars]

Sad news, accidents happen but this must be down to the driver not strapping the car down properly. Hope your not left out of pocket.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I dislike compo culture, but whilst I would probably make a claim of some sort I would carefully word any correspondence to avoid AA bloke getting into trouble.

 

The box will probably live although the whine will be there for life - just replace the seal, top it up and see how it goes.

[Cavcraft]

That's a real pisser, DW. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but still no fun for you. Hope it gets sorted to your satisfaction ASAP.

[dollywobbler]

I dislike compo culture, but whilst I would probably make a claim of some sort I would carefully word any correspondence to avoid AA bloke getting into trouble.

 

The box will probably live although the whine will be there for life - just replace the seal, top it up and see how it goes.

 

It's a tricky situation alright. I don't want anyone getting into trouble, but something went wrong and ultimately, it was on his watch. I'm certainly not going to slag him off, because as mentioned, these things do happen. I can't claim magic pixies caused the incident though. 

[Asimo]

dollywobbler's car involved in Wobbly Dolly incident   -   nominative determinism?

 

 

Sorry to see this - hope AA are grovellingly generous.