The grumpy thread

[bramz7]

Why are classic insurers so useless now?

Phoned FJ, second car, agreed value, in owners club, 3000mi/year, kept on driveway etc etc. Perfect for a classic quote right?

Sorry we can't quote you, you aren't 25.

Not even going to bother trying the rest.

What was all that about giving young folks classics a few months ago? I'd bloody love to know how they get them insured.

Luckily I was expecting this and have many other avenues to explore.

To be fair FJ are still pretty decent compared to others, plenty of other providers are now 30 plus only, or quote obscene amounts.

1st Central and eSure are usually pretty well priced for your standard insurers.

[Talbot]

it's a temporary prefab built from materials with an unsuitably short lifespan but has been presented as a house that is built from something rather more substantial.

Got a link to a zoopla advert or something similar? I looked at a couple of prefabs before we bought the house we're in now. Several different types actually, and I did a fair bit of research into what can go wrong with them.

 

As it's been presented as something else, I assume it's a hollow concrete panel design or something similar? The main house we looked at was a Cornish type 1 unit, which can be upgraded to brick-and-block construction surprisingly cheaply, hence considering it. Never went ahead in the end as the house was really very small.

[vulgalour]

No concrete or even proper wood in its construction, it's all ply, chipboard and other reconstituted cheap materials with a pretty facade.  It doesn't matter, it's off the list, we're moving on.  It's left something of a sour taste, tbqh and the listing won't really tell you anything.  Hollow concrete would at least have given us something to work with, but it's apparently not even that good.

[Cavcraft]

So much for finding a house.  Surveyor's report came back today and even with us knocking them down to what seemed a reasonable price for the area, it's still £100k overpriced AND the house essentially needs demolishing and rebuilding anew because of problems with its construction.

 

Back to square one.

 

Buying a house sucks.  Buying a house in the south east sucks THE MOST.

 

You could always move to Chester. It's a lovely area, you might even strike lucky and find a reasonable priced, end of terrace 3 bedroomed house, with far reaching views over some horrible Ford cars.

 

If only we knew someone selling a house in that area. If only. 

[vulgalour]

Hefty commute for the bf though, and we don't really need any Vauxhalls right now.

[Ghosty]

FJ want £287 just to cover my dad on a classic policy on my 416GSi. And I'd have to register it to him too...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I’ll have another look this week, Angyl but I doubt I’d find anything you haven’t already!

[DodgeRover]

So much for finding a house. Surveyor's report came back today and even with us knocking them down to what seemed a reasonable price for the area, it's still £100k overpriced AND the house essentially needs demolishing and rebuilding anew because of problems with its construction.

 

Back to square one.

 

Buying a house sucks. Buying a house in the south east sucks THE MOST.

100k overpriced doesn't sound feasible tbh, there's lots of non standard construction in the South East is just the way it is in the area.

If you want to pop anything on here that's a concern I'm happy to have a look and offer an opinion. The surveyor will be erring on the side of caution which for the most part is sensible but can also give you the fear.

Non standard construction will mean mortgage options are limited (but not impossible) and I would expect this have been reflected in the price

 

Stick a rightmove link up if you want.

[loserone]

Hefty commute for the bf though, and we don't really need any Vauxhalls right now.

 

If you have to commute to the south, you need a new job

[Talbot]

No concrete or even proper wood in its construction, it's all ply, chipboard and other reconstituted cheap materials with a pretty facade.

What on earth were you looking at? I need to know now!!

 

Like dodgerover, if you need an opinion on a house, I'm happy to look over anything you might be interested in and am possibly roughly somewhere near your area of interest. I've built most of two houses in the past and am a qualified (although unregistered) sparks, so can give you a fairly level-headed opinion.

[vulgalour]

This was supposed to be a throwaway grump rather than a dissection of houses.  Suffice to say we found a house that seemed nice but wasn't, whose seller has been difficult and is now not a problem any more.  We are hunting afresh, but time is very much running out so I'm a little more stressed than usual about this and don't want to add to that by starting a big discussion about how a house is or isn't what I've been told it is or isn't.  We're not going for it, there's been too many red flags, and the surveyor report was the nail in the coffin of its purchase.

[Shonky]

(( Weird moany mood. Price wasn't so bad afterall. Just needed to shout into the void about something. ))

[captain_70s]

FJ want £287 just to cover my dad on a classic policy on my 416GSi. And I'd have to register it to him too...

Seems odd, my Triumphs are £200 each with FJ. 

 

The Civic by comparison cost £640 for the last year and that was the cheapest quote I could get by some margin...

[DodgeRover]

Go into a garage and ask for a quote, supplying and fitting a crankshaft position sensor on a 2005 Corsa C. I've already got a quote from the family mechanic of £60, fair enough. I would do it myself but I need my car and I doubt myself enough, but a slurry of doubt from parents manages to put me off (I'm not very hands-on, but I've always loved cars and I'm really trying my best to do my own work on it).

 

However, family mechanic is away for a bit and the Corsa is stressful to drive. Battering the fuck out of it, fighting waves of hesitation above 2k RPM to hit 30mph.

 

Popped into a local garage for a quote...guy stopped me and his firsts were "I'll tell you why I won't just bang a new sensor in there".

 

My first thought is "great, he's seen a 17 year old, assumed I've got no clue, whack on all this extra work..."

 

Long story short, they wanna do all sorts of diagnostics and road tests, bringing the cost up to...

 

£150. For a crank sensor. A part that costs £18.

 

Please tell me I'm not the only one that thinks that's ridiculous.

They:

A) don't want the work OR

B ) expect to have/ had experience of just doing what the customer instructs then getting loads of grief when it hasn't cured the problem.

[Rod/b]

So much for finding a house. Surveyor's report came back today and even with us knocking them down to what seemed a reasonable price for the area, it's still £100k overpriced AND the house essentially needs demolishing and rebuilding anew because of problems with its construction.

 

Back to square one.

 

Buying a house sucks. Buying a house in the south east sucks THE MOST.

Why are you moving to the SE?

[panhard65]

Go into a garage and ask for a quote, supplying and fitting a crankshaft position sensor on a 2005 Corsa C. I've already got a quote from the family mechanic of £60, fair enough. I would do it myself but I need my car and I doubt myself enough, but a slurry of doubt from parents manages to put me off (I'm not very hands-on, but I've always loved cars and I'm really trying my best to do my own work on it).

 

However, family mechanic is away for a bit and the Corsa is stressful to drive. Battering the fuck out of it, fighting waves of hesitation above 2k RPM to hit 30mph.

 

Popped into a local garage for a quote...guy stopped me and his firsts were "I'll tell you why I won't just bang a new sensor in there".

 

My first thought is "great, he's seen a 17 year old, assumed I've got no clue, whack on all this extra work..."

 

Long story short, they wanna do all sorts of diagnostics and road tests, bringing the cost up to...

 

£150. For a crank sensor. A part that costs £18. 

 

Please tell me I'm not the only one that thinks that's ridiculous.

The thing is once he has fitted the sensor and it hasn't cured the fault you will be straight on the phone complaining that you spent all this money and it didn't fix it. I would do the same but probably not charge so much.

[Shonky]

The thing is once he has fitted the sensor and it hasn't cured the fault you will be straight on the phone complaining that you spent all this money and it didn't fix it. I would do the same but probably not charge so much.

Understandable, given the types out there. I mean, say that did happen and I paid out the money and it didn't work, it'll be my own fault for misdiagnosing it. But I do already have a fault code.

 

Think I'll just do it myself now anyway.

[vulgalour]

Why are you moving to the SE?

So that bf and I don't have to travel 300 miles to see each other, which is what we've been doing for a few years now. I can move my job anywhere, he can't, hence South East nonsense.

[Kiltox]

They:

A) don't want the work OR

B ) expect to have/ had experience of just doing what the customer instructs then getting loads of grief when it hasn't cured the problem.

C) it’s stretched the chain like they all do eventually

[iainrcz]

Just watching the Repair Shop on TV and wishing I had a rewarding job too.. rather than one where I just end up fucked off.

 

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[SiC]

Go into a garage and ask for a quote, supplying and fitting a crankshaft position sensor on a 2005 Corsa C. I've already got a quote from the family mechanic of £60, fair enough. I would do it myself but I need my car and I doubt myself enough, but a slurry of doubt from parents manages to put me off (I'm not very hands-on, but I've always loved cars and I'm really trying my best to do my own work on it).

 

However, family mechanic is away for a bit and the Corsa is stressful to drive. Battering the fuck out of it, fighting waves of hesitation above 2k RPM to hit 30mph.

 

Popped into a local garage for a quote...guy stopped me and his firsts were "I'll tell you why I won't just bang a new sensor in there".

 

My first thought is "great, he's seen a 17 year old, assumed I've got no clue, whack on all this extra work..."

 

Long story short, they wanna do all sorts of diagnostics and road tests, bringing the cost up to...

 

£150. For a crank sensor. A part that costs £18.

 

Please tell me I'm not the only one that thinks that's ridiculous.

If I went into a local garage I hadn't been before I think that would be reasonable. The local garage I do use would be a lot cheaper because I'm on good terms with them and they know I won't be coming back moaning if it doesn't work. So they don't bother with diagnosis if I say X part needs changing and please do that part plz.

[SiC]

So that bf and I don't have to travel 300 miles to see each other, which is what we've been doing for a few years now. I can move my job anywhere, he can't, hence South East nonsense.

Have you thought about renting? 6 month minimum contracts are the norm and would give you time + less stress to find a nice pad to buy.

 

It's a quiet time of year right now for houses. The next week or two and it should start getting busier again now the school holidays have finished. At least I hope it will this year as we've Sold STC and looking for a place too. Sod all on!

[richardmorris]

You could always move to Chester. It's a lovely area, you might even strike lucky and find a reasonable priced, end of terrace 3 bedroomed house, with far reaching views over some horrible Ford cars.

 

If only we knew someone selling a house in that area. If only.

 

My parents moved from Upton in Chester when I was 6months old as they couldn’t afford a larger house there. Apparently they were about £1000 more than Wrexham. Ha!

My hope now is to move back home into my parents house when I retire in thirty or so years. Assuming we don’t have to sell because of dementia. The housing market in this country is beyond a joke, it makes me so angry.

[chatsharris]

Liked because you've reminded me how Saabs bong for everything & put up messages on the SID for anything unimportant like washer level, yet oil pressure is a bong, warning light hidden behind the wheel & no message....

 

Usually because it's just the oil pressure sensor throwing a wobbly.  I've had to replace two in the last year.

[Pillock]

So much for finding a house. Surveyor's report came back today and even with us knocking them down to what seemed a reasonable price for the area, it's still £100k overpriced AND the house essentially needs demolishing and rebuilding anew because of problems with its construction.

 

Back to square one.

 

Buying a house sucks. Buying a house in the south east sucks THE MOST.

Holy shit.

 

I'm trying to sell a house (not in the south east*) and if I was overpricing it by £100k then it's looking like I'd be paying someone to buy it.

 

One offer at full asking price that was then withdrawn after the buyer realised Mansfield and Milton Keynes aren't really that close.

Only other offer was for £110k on a £125k property.

 

 

* Well it is south east of loads of places I guess. Mainly the ones in the north west.

[Guest Hooli]

Usually because it's just the oil pressure sensor throwing a wobbly.  I've had to replace two in the last year.

 

On mine it's because it leaks out slowly & once it drops the level low enough it bongs on quick roundabouts.

[SiC]

On mine it's because it leaks out slowly & once it drops the level low enough it bongs on quick roundabouts.

The last owner to me thought that light was an oil refill light, not low oil pressure. Testament to how tough those engines are.

[Guest Hooli]

The last owner to me thought that light was an oil refill light, not low oil pressure. Testament to how tough those engines are.

 

To be fair I've not remembered to check (because it's a modern) until it bongs a few times & then just slop some in...

[dozeydustman]

Yet another prescription. I have long term meds for migraine & vertigo prevention, so that's 2 lots. I have medium-term meds for sciatica so on anti-inflammatories and something to settle my stomach for a few months.

 

Now I've managed to pick up a skin infection. Possibly from something at work.

 

£44 on meds in the last month.

[Guest Hooli]

Yet another prescription. I have long term meds for migraine & vertigo prevention, so that's 2 lots. I have medium-term meds for sciatica so on anti-inflammatories and something to settle my stomach for a few months.

 

Now I've managed to pick up a skin infection. Possibly from something at work.

 

£44 on meds in the last month.

 

Prepayment cert!  You'll save a fortune at that rate, £29.10 for three months (unlimited items).

 

https://apps.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppcwebsales/patient.do