 Poster: A snowHead
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Driving down from Calais on Friday night/Saturday morning, I had gear box problems, couldn't get in to 5th and 6th gear, phoned my break down cover, they got me a hire car and towed my car off, now they've told me they're doing no more quoting some miniature print that I'm going to argue is contradictory to the large print when back in the UK, I've been quoted 5500 euros for a new gear box in France, they sent my car to an opel/vauxhall dealer. I had the gear box re built in England last year and its still under warranty at a cost of 1100,
So do any of you have any advice on what I should do? The break down company so kindly quoted me 1500euros to tow me back to Calais,
Cheers in afvance
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cran
cran
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Just drive with 4 gears
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Huckacliff duckabranch, sorry, no advice to offer, but perhaps you can name and shame the company so that no-one else falls into the trap. Awful situation to be in. How far is your car from Calais?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I don't have any advice, but: it'd be useful for future reference to know who the breakdown cover was with?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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EEK! not good. Have you contacted the refurb gearbox supplier, I'd have thought he and/or his insurance has a role to play here in getting the vehicle back to him for repairs.
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Its often possible to drive a car with a broken gear. I`ve driven various cars many many miles with one gear missing but I guess it depends on weather you can get the first few gears, and reverse, and weather you feel you can safely drive it home in that condition. Otherwise perhaps get some alternative quotes to get it home?
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Huckacliff duckabranch, I'd also collect it myself, drive it back to England and just not use the 5th and 6th gears
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Nurse it home on 4 gears or get a scrappy with a car trailer to go haul it back for cash (he might be able to get you a decent replacement box too)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Might be one of those situations when it depends on what cover you have - the AA seem to have return to the UK up to the value of the car.
My starting point would be get into the detail of the policy wording.
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It's not abnormal for a breakdown service to tow you to a garage local to the incident. If they deem the vehicle repairable, then it's up to you to foot the bill.
Solution here is easy as said above. Drive home slowly in 4th.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Huckacliff duckabranch, A number of sensiible suggestions based on real experience.
1 be cautious about 'drive with 4 gears' since there may be nasty chunks of metal floating around the gearbox, which would cause a more catastrophic failure. First thing to do is contact the people who rebuilt the gearbox, and ask their advice on the mode of getting the car back to them. If they say 'drive on four gears', then use the RN roads not the autoroute back to Calais. Any breakdown there is easier to deal with.
2 negotiate. Insurers play hardball and then become more reasonable if you are persistent but pleasant. If you get nowhere with person X, then ask for their direct superior, and so on. You will have to be relaxed but assertive. This has worked on numerous occasions, to the point where my brother got his 'written off' car (bodywork damage in excess of the value of the car) given back to him, with £500 payment, repair he did cost £50 and left him with a slightly rippled rear wing, but that was it. They may agree to get the car back if you press nicely and talk about not wishing to make a public fuss of how unreasonable their behaviour is - in the motoring press eg autocar, which have a section devoted to case studies of unreasonable behaviour by companies.
2a negotiate with the garage where the car is and your supplier in UK. Get a new gearbox out from the supplier in England - they can pay for the transport - you give them back the damaged one, which you take back in the boot of the now-functionning car. You may have to pay for putting the gearbox in, in France.
2c negotiate with the garage in France - get them to put a second-hand box in (the dealer network will have one somewhere in France which they can get transferred) and then put in a legal claim back in UK with the original supplier to get all your money spent with them back. If under warranty it is not fit for purpose. But you need to warn the original supplier that you will do this - in the nicest way - and you may be surprised as to what solutions they come up with to help you out.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Mon 14-01-13 21:53; edited 1 time in total
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valais2, sage . . . very sage, Sensi 
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You know it makes sense.
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could you select 5th and 6th with engine not running or at a stand still? if so its the syncro thats gone and you can probably shift from 4th to 5th as long as your speed matches the "gear/engine revs" even without using the clutch.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| hedley wrote: |
Surely Breakdown cover should get you and yours and/or the car back to Blighty.Pretty pointless otherwise 
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Only if you opt for that level of cover...
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Poster: A snowHead
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czl, you need a lot of practice to 'slide' gears or double clutch in a car, but once you've got it 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Masque, me and a mate used to have Friday beers bet against who could drive our company vans home thru Friday night rush hour without touching the clutch  . Happy days!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hacdab, bummer, don't know where the car is now (you're in Morzine right?), but just so you can weigh all your options if you want to get it to Morzine, into storage, get an ebay gearbox shipped here and fitted by a local English mechanic I could probably set that up. Limping back to uk seems to be your best choice, but if you want any local help let me know.
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Car trailer?
I would try and drive it home. It is still under warranty, and they won't be able to tell what damage occurred before it failed and what occurred after. If you lose one gear, it doesn't really tell you much, but if you lose two close together it would usually indicate maybe a slipped or broken selector fork. If it has slipped or bent, driving it in 4 gears won't do any harm. If it has broken you might do some more damage, but hey - it's still under warranty  .
p.s. - I have driven a motorhome back from Lyon with 4 gears. Good advice about using the RN roads. 45MPH on the rev limiter up the A5 is scary
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Astra diesel by chance? Anyway, drive home on the gears you have left, but be aware toll booths and ferry ramps are a swine. I had a VW microbus shaking away from Dartford tunnel 8 years ago in third, I lost first in the cote du azure! I won't mention coasting a exhaust less Rover across the border from Austria into Germany so the Polizei didn't pull me on a noise abatement charge...
Is the clause the standard "repatriation only if the value of the vehicle deems it" clause?
Another option is www.shiply.com sort of a courier version of eBay.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'll give money for nothing that the refusal of cover is based on the repair estimate value of the replacement gearbox in France.
I had exactly the same when I broke down in France recently on the way back from Paris. The French garage stated "major engine damage, replacement required", and on that basis the AA didn't want to repatriate. I argued and won, and it turned out that the engine was fine (the smoke was from the ATF and Power steering fluid leaking onto the hot exhaust box.
Argue hard that the cost of the repair in the UK is different to the estimate in France...
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Huckacliff duckabranch, Bad news,but not life threatening....so,have a cold one and consider your options? The costs you have mentioned leave plenty of scope for 'alternatives'. I'm guessing you're on holiday,and its paid for,so do your level best to get some skiing in. Much will depend on your personal attitude to problems,and the attitude of your employer(to some extent,given this might take some time to resolve?) So....first off,the car is secure,and going nowhere till either,someone pays or you collect it. Can you speak to the garage(as in hold a lucid conversation)? By this I mean,can you establish if the car is driveable with the remaining 4 gears. I suspect it probably is and,if so,I would certainly consider driving it back. As said,your box is still under warrenty...but I see this as a potential problem IF they are aware you have a failure? I can easily see them refuting a claim on the basis you continued to use vehicle knowing there was a fault! If you have yet to tell them,and the car is driveable...game on. Its going to take a while,and burn extra fuel(and possibly engine oil..take it steady)..but will leave you plenty of change from €1500
If driving is a non starter....a good mate and a trailer,or even better,a dolley  If you don't know,this is the two wheeled thing that the like of the AA use(and car re-possesors). Got any car buddies here in the UK?
2nd hand box? Certainly do-able..but then you have the added problem of returning to pick up car.However,rope a good mate in to help with the driving,and you could prob do it on a cheap day return.
Worst option,for me anyway,would be to leave it with others to sort. Any dealership is going to charge heavy and,depending on your language skills,you will have to deal with them direct. The last place I would look for help is within the UK(insurers,gearbox repairers). By all means get heavy with them...but get the car back first.Having refuted you already,you will get no further help thats of any use now!
I have driven all manner of vehicles,and trailers,in varying states of repair! It takes a certain 'can do' attitude...and only you know if you have that? Best of luck
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| snowskisnow wrote: |
If driving is a non starter.......or even better,a dolley |
good point - 120 quid from Ebay - also known as an A frame I think?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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What's a break down company?
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Rescuemycar.com, vauxhall astra 6 speed deisel(I've since discovered this is a common problem with this car) staying in St Jean D'aulps,
I'd opted for European break down cover with them because on the comparison site they stated cover is effective 24 hrs after purchase, which suited me perfect as I subscribed the day before travelling. Reading through my schedule of cover, if I break down, they get me to my final destination or home which ever applies, if the problem cannot be dealt with in 48hrs, car will be repat'd back to the UK, if the value of the repair is more than market value, they pay out value of the car and get you home,
Phoned them when I broke down, they got me a taxi to a hire car company, told me all of the above and not to worry, yesterday afternoon I received a phone call saying I'm only covered for revcovery to a garage 10 miles with in breaking down as I'd broke down with in 72 hours of purchasing(read the small print),i explained that at no point had they mentioned this at 1st and had now changed plans 2 days later with what they were doing, if they'd have explain this straight away I'd have not had the recovery and the hire car and carried on driving in 4th. There was a lot of confusion between them and their European agents.
Van is in Langres, I'm in St Jean,
Spoke to a friend in the UK he's looking in to sorting out a trailer and collecting my car amongst a few options as some of you have suggested,
I'm still here till 27th so plenty of time, hopefully it won't be too heavy on the pocket
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Huckacliff duckabranch, they said they will get you to your final destination, which is now home isn't it? Argue the toss with them.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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One more thing, anyone have any ideas on where we can store our skis over night and our shoes during the day in morzine? As coming down from St Jean(we're actually staying at the bottom of the gondola up from st jean, not having wheels from up here is a nightmare in its self as the last bus up is at 17.45
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Huckacliff duckabranch, I could help with the ski/boot thing if you were in Les Gets. Only problem being the travel!
Have they given you a hire car?
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You know it makes sense.
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The breakdown cover is a nightmare, but regarding the part under warranty a similar thing happened to me once when I broke down with an alternator fault in France despite having only had it fitted only 9 months earlier (in Spain). Despite the language issues it worked out OK but it was necessary to buy a new part in France and then send the broken one back to Spain and wait for a refund.
Regarding ski storage, I'd suggest asking around a few shops in the centre of Morzine - I think a few offer a 'consigne' service for clients but as it's so quiet at the moment they won't be full and might take 'outsiders' for a small fee!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
they said they will get you to your final destination, which is now home isn't it? Argue the toss with them.
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normally you could choose either to continue to your initial destination, or to your final (ie home) destination. Not both. A major breakdown will inevitably cost you even if you have the v expensive AA 5 star breakdown cover and with only the "£80 a year" policy (like I have) cover is minimal. I hope something sorts itself out, Huckacliff duckabranch. Having had a clutch collapse in Italy, and then a further problem caused by the Italian garage's failure to refill the gear box with oil  I know how stressfull - and expensive - it all becomes. In the end I managed to recover the cost of the further repair needed (in France) because of the Italian garage's failure, through the Insurance Ombudsman (the point being that I had done everything they said and that the UK insurer had a duty to ensure the competence of the garage to which my car was towed, which was NOT a Fiat main dealer though Aosta had at least one).
I had a lot of out of pocket expenses, even so, including return trips through the Mont Blanc tunnel, etc etc not to mention huge chunks of wasted time.
My car is now worth very little and the situation with breakdown in Europe is just one of the things I have to think about when deciding when, and how, to replace it.
Cars are such a pain when they go wrong. I hope you manage to have a good holiday despite it all.
Keep careful records of all conversations and transactions.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hacdab, drop your skis in for an edge and wax one evening, then as you're paying the next morning ask about overnight storage for the rest of your stay. If they feel they've "got you" as a client for incidentals they should be ok with it. Francois Baud at the bottom of Pleney have acres of ski and boot storage for clients, I would try there.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I wouldn't drive it - it will likely make the repair much more expensive. The main problem with the Astra gearbox as I understand it is an underspecced bearing. If a bearing goes completely on a gearbox and you continue to drive it can turn the gearbox into trash.
http://www.vxronline.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?182238-Vauxhall-M32-6-Speed-Rebuilds
I would take the advice of others. Enjoy your holiday. Rent a trailer, pay the garage a small bit for storage, and get it home yourself. Take it to the guys in the link above or other gearbox specialists who know about the Astra shortcomings.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Leave it parked in a dodgy French town suburb with the keys in it while you and your luggage are in a hotel
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I had an old Saab break down in northern France on the way to the Alps. The RAC's agent towed it to a local main dealer after dropping us at a local basic hotel and organized a hire car to my spec (i.e. big enough for family plus ski clobber). Picked up the repaired car on the way back. I'm convinced the repair was a lot cheaper than it would have been in the UK, and the mechanics were utterly charming and professional, taking great pains to explain to me everything they had found and done, showing remarkable patience for my limited French.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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The technical name for a broken gearbox that you continued to drive with is "Big Metal Soup". The bits of the broken gears will go through the teeth of the working gears and soon you will have no working gears. A gearbox repair company would know this too and continuing to drive would almost certainly void their warranty.
I got a puncture that wrecked my tyre a couple of months ago. 2 miles after fitting the spare, that also punctured. The AA would only take my car to their nominated tyre supplier, not to the Nationwide Auto Centre where my mate works. I would imagine that the AA nominated tyre centre think it is all of their birthdays when such a customer gets brought in.
These recovery companies have become of very limited use, recently.
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| Huckacliff duckabranch wrote: |
| One more thing, anyone have any ideas on where we can store our skis over night and our shoes during the day in morzine? As coming down from St Jean(we're actually staying at the bottom of the gondola up from st jean, not having wheels from up here is a nightmare in its self as the last bus up is at 17.45 |
Felix Ski Shop does that, as the chalet we stay at uses the service. Somewhere to put boots on and a buttn right behind that drags you up so you can shimmy over the the Le Gets main lefts. Its on the long road dragging up alongside the town with a roundabout at the top, and the Les Gets lifts are just next to it (Plenney? Something like that, sorry doing tax return so brain fried!)
And bus goes right outside as it stops at the roundabout just up from the shop, even the little train thing stops just down the road at the lift station so you can scoot over to the Supermorzine lift to Avoriaz etc.
Hope that helps
ScottyDog
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| laundryman wrote: |
| I had an old Saab break down in northern France on the way to the Alps. The RAC's agent towed it to a local main dealer after dropping us at a local basic hotel and organized a hire car to my spec (i.e. big enough for family plus ski clobber). Picked up the repaired car on the way back. I'm convinced the repair was a lot cheaper than it would have been in the UK, and the mechanics were utterly charming and professional, taking great pains to explain to me everything they had found and done, showing remarkable patience for my limited French. |
My parents had a similar experience
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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It's unfortunate that you are in France, but the comment above about it being not unreasonable to get a tow to a garage and then you being responsible for the cost of the repair I guess is sound. If you were in the UK that's all you would get. After all breakdown insurance has always assumed you pay for your repair if it can't be mended in a reasonable time period at the road side and/or that you pay for the parts even if you can. Is there any chance of your holiday insurance kicking in somewhere?
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| Huckacliff duckabranch wrote: |
I'm still here till 27th so plenty of time, hopefully it won't be too heavy on the pocket |
Then go get your car and buy some decent cover from someone like the AA starting from the 18th, get someone in the UK to do this with a UK IP. Then just pretend it broke down on the way home.
Devious I know, but that's what I would do if I was you
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FAQ
