Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[hhyftrftdr]

Late notice but BBC1 at 7.30 tonight might be of interest....

What was it Hh?

A show about a steam train going 100 miles per hour or some such. Seemed it would tick a load of Tikay type boxes. Can't find a link to the show but guessing its based on this....

http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2017-04-12/steam-locomotive-hits-100mph-on-east-coast-main-line/

[Magic817]

you mentioned Howard Plant on another thread

a few weeks ago i am at a weekend event in Blackpool

check out of the hotel and need to park the car for a Sunday. can't get in front of the sandcastle in that small car park so find a patch of land two streets in from the front on a corner plot,looked like it used to be a petrol station site

drive in, park up, see attendant

offer my £7 for the day and say i am off to the casino

"oh do you play poker?"

"well not really but yes today. Is this one of Howard's?" i take a punt

"yes. do you know him?"

"yes"

"one second let me ring him"

"Howard, guy here says he knows you. poker player"

pause

"Howard says its ok,you can park here free"

I don't know how many sites he has, but this held maybe 50 cars so at £7 a day per day per year (maybe more in peak season?) i was soon doing my sums and woking out that it must be a nice earner indeed!

 

Even better earner if its near a Bristol Zoo!

[tikay]

MOT being done today.

Garages have changed so much.

Drive in here (Sytner, Leicester) & a nice lady greets you, "Morning Mr Kendall", & directs me to the Customer Lounge.

Here there is free tea and coffee, toasted tecakes cooked by a pretty young lady person, a barbers shop, TV's, Wifi, power supply, armchairs, everything.

You can even gaze through the window & watch the man doing your car.

What could be more comfortably pleasing?

The only problem, of course, is worrying about the bill......

The car is in good nick, but needs a few bulbs, & possibly a new front number plate. The MOT cost is, I think, £59.

Anyone want to guess what the bill will be?

[RED-DOG]

They make you pay for customer loyalty. It's brilliant.

[Karabiner]

Is the FML on the numberplate a clue?

My trusty old 1994 steed got a completely clean bill of health with no advisories in early December and it cost £50.

[Marky_Crash]

MOT being done today.

Garages have changed so much.

Drive in here (Sytner, Leicester) & a nice lady greets you, "Morning Mr Kendall", & directs me to the Customer Lounge.

Here there is free tea and coffee, toasted tecakes cooked by a pretty young lady person, a barbers shop, TV's, Wifi, power supply, armchairs, everything.

You can even gaze through the window & watch the man doing your car.

What could be more comfortably pleasing?

The only problem, of course, is worrying about the bill......

The car is in good nick, but needs a few bulbs, & possibly a new front number plate. The MOT cost is, I think, £59.

Anyone want to guess what the bill will be?

I will go with £337

By the time they spin you some BS about "your dog has chewed clean through the seatbelt sir" it all starts to add up :/

[tonytats]

£275 plus vat

[tikay]

Incredibly, whilst I am sat here, I just received a text message, which has a link to a video.

The video is a video of my car in the Service Bay which the mechanic chappie has filmed, & he commentates as he goes round the car. How neat is that?

Unfortunately Mr Kendall, your car has failed the MOT on 6 counts.

The front numberplate is damaged & the "M" & "L" cannot be clearly seen.  

Both front sidelights have failed.

The offside dipped headlight has failed.

The nearside main beam has failed.

The offside indictor repeater (on the drivers door mirror) has failed.


Then a nice lady came and saw me and explained all that again. In person.

So I'm stuck here another hour or two, & the bill is steadily rising.

Think I should have gone to somewhere slightly less posh.

[TightEnd]

why couldn't you go to a BMW dealership in SW London?

your loyalty to Sytner? don't think Jonathan G even works there any more does he?

[tonytats]

What is their workshops hourly rate £85-95 per hour ?
What does their mechanics earn hourly ? £15-18
Not a bad mark up is it ??

[tikay]

why couldn't you go to a BMW dealership in SW London?

your loyalty to Sytner? don't think Jonathan G even works there any more does he?

Gill said the same thing this morning, "you seem to make things more awkward".  

I did try out a BMW Dealer in London once & they were dire, & I do mean dire.

Plus, I've been using this place for 12 years now, & have purchased 3 or 4 motors here, so, as Tom suggested, a sort of loyalty builds up. (One way, & expensive, the cynical might well suggest).

Regards is not here any more, no.

In a way, it is peace of mind, & the knowledge that they will do the job properly. I only tend to come here once  year, always this time of year, and my Service Costs are usually minimal.

It's all about trusting the devil you know I suppose. The coffee is nice, too. And I'm a soft touch.

PS - for some odd reason, I'm gagging for a ciggie at the moment. Worst day for the "smoking pangs" since I last smoked, which was 64 days ago.  

[tikay]

What is their workshops hourly rate £85-95 per hour ?
What does their mechanics earn hourly ? £15-18
Not a bad mark up is it ??

I don't know the hourly Tony, but don't forget the kit all has to be paid for, too. Plus overheads and profit.

[tikay]

Is the FML on the numberplate a clue?

My trusty old 1994 steed got a completely clean bill of health with no advisories in early December and it cost £50.

You still got that lovely Honda, Ralph?

Tom used to have a trusty old lawnmower, but he threw it in the skip. (We must keep reminding him).

[Marky_Crash]

Doesn't sound like anything 'too serious' from a cost perspective.

However by the time labour and everything is factored in though it could be a little bit.

Not sure whether to stick with my original guess or not.

[Karabiner]

Is the FML on the numberplate a clue?

My trusty old 1994 steed got a completely clean bill of health with no advisories in early December and it cost £50.

You still got that lovely Honda, Ralph?

Tom used to have a trusty old lawnmower, but he threw it in the skip. (We must keep reminding him).

Yes Tony, my beloved and often admired 3.2L Honda Legend Coupe is still going great guns *hastily crosses everything*.

I'm guessing that your MOT includes a full annual service which would have cost me an additional £70.

I bet those old lawnmowers are worth a pretty penny now too.