Driving CDTI To Spain

[rustymotor]

Originally Posted by mileshawk56

Good radio CD player so you cant hear those noises you immediately think are impending doom! Have a good time. Chris.S.

Good plan and thanks Chris. S lol..

[rustymotor]

Originally Posted by Number 6

One more thing to remember is the HI VIS jackets must be available to be put on in the car,it is no use having them in the boot.In case of a breakdown they need to be put on before exiting the car.

Hi Number 6, good tip, I used to chuck one on the parcel shelf..quick question..looking at your nice pic..I noticed that the rear wheels are close to the body same on mine..was wondering what the suspension is like with 5 adult size folk and luggage..any views?

Thanks.

[roverbarmy]

Just done a 1200 mile trip with no problems. The day after we got back the air bag light came on! ( "She" had moved the seat! ) Plugs separated and contacts cleaned - job done!

[John Armstrong]

I travel to Spain every year and also to Northern Ireland at least twice a year, without any thought of breaking down....Only extra part i bring is an under bonnet pump which is located within the battery box together with relevant tools to allow road side exchange. Yes, there is room.
For Spain, the car is really full - Roof box and a very large tent plus everything one needs for a 3 week stay by the sea. Yes, two 3' neon lights and a proper chest type fridge. Roll on this years trip.
Funny thing is, the suspension takes it all very well - one would hardly notice any difference in the profile. (nose still pointing down) I did an exercise several years ago and weighed everything - including the empty car with a 3/4 full tank and it was just within the maximum load weight - So I replaced the rear springs with heavy duty ones provided by the 'Best of British'
I travel via Bilbao - motorway to Barcelona - turn right before we get there and bingo! the sea. Well worth paying the tolls and the 75 preforms so well that my pride certainly shows. (so glad the children have now grown up and left home, which allows us to 'live the life'?)

John

[rustymotor]

Hi John,

Interesting upgrading the springs..we have done the trip via Bilbao in the past on Brittany Ferries though, find it a bit expensive these days, of late we take Dover Calais shooting around the Périphérique late on in the evening then down to Barcelona paying the tolls etc..

I have confidence in the car for sure and don't care as long as we arrive and have the holiday the family are looking forward to..will definitely take the UBP and probably a crank sensor..

Our kids range from 17 to 21 and will not be replacing them with 3 dogs when they do fly the nest Thanks!

[Avulon]

Originally Posted by rustymotor

Hi bl52krz, just looked at coop and how about this bit?:-

EU repatriation. If your vehicle is not repaired before your planned return date to the UK, cover includes transport costs to get you, your passengers, and your vehicle home. Please note that cover will not be provided if the costs of returning your vehicle to the UK would be greater than the market value of your vehicle in the UK after the breakdown

Could be a fun argument

A clause I've seen before. Making it useless for many older cars it's certainly going to cost upwards of £1k or more to bring a car back from Spain. Not that I've any idea what relevance the value of the car is to the breakdown cover. I don't see them offering to pay the UK market value for the car and still transport you, your passengers, and your luggage/goods/souvenirs home.

[rustymotor]

Hi Avulon,

From AA's single trip policy approx £150:

To recover your vehicle to your home or repairer
in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man or
onward to your original destination (But only where
cost of recovery does not exceed your vehicle’s
current market value).
Up to £120 vehicle storage charges.

I like this one:-

Vehicle collection. Section 9. One person’s pre-agreed travel and
accommodation costs to collect your vehicle
where the vehicle has remained in Europe for the
completion of repairs.

I don't get the correlation either on market value..

[bl52krz]

That has been in the details all along. It is the same I believe in all the European Breakdown Insurances.When I joined them, I asked about the repatriation bit ,and was told that unless your vehicle is a load of junk, in that case why would you risk going abroad in it, and you could prove it had been serviced before you went abroad, then more likely than not, they would cover it. I suppose if you were somewhere like Turkey or the far flung lands of Russia, you would not be treated the same. And another thing, unless it was something like a blown engine, you could get it mended yourself and bring it back. There is always someone somewhere who will help you out.

[mark_bonsai]

Originally Posted by rustymotor

The reason was: When fitting the new alternator and aux belt I had the tensioner maxed over, putting it on the crank pulley last found I had to turn the engine to pull the belt on to the crank pulley.

When fitting the belt, I always slide it on the jockey wheel in between the power steering and the alternator last. Smooth wheel and the back of the belt means it just slides on. Also no risk of damaging the ribs on the belt while trying to get it correctly seated.

[rustymotor]

Originally Posted by bl52krz

That has been in the details all along. It is the same I believe in all the European Breakdown Insurances.When I joined them, I asked about the repatriation bit ,and was told that unless your vehicle is a load of junk, in that case why would you risk going abroad in it, and you could prove it had been serviced before you went abroad, then more likely than not, they would cover it. I suppose if you were somewhere like Turkey or the far flung lands of Russia, you would not be treated the same. And another thing, unless it was something like a blown engine, you could get it mended yourself and bring it back. There is always someone somewhere who will help you out.

Well, we have to have some faith in the fact that there is a very good chance the car makes it with no catastrophic failures such as blown engine or gearbox, I agree with you however, in the case of an accident and one for example where the owner might take on the repairs but, insurance would write the vehicle off, we get back to market value IMO.