Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Shoot the Aged.




MA MOTOR

This is my car, of which I am rather proud. It’s a Mazda 6 estate: quick, pretty, economical, and spacious. I bought it new six months ago and so far it hasn’t missed a beat.

I got a phone call from my father this afternoon asking if he could borrow it as his car is in for a service. Sure, said I, but it’s a bit short on fuel. You’ll need to get some diesel, and make sure that you don’t put in petrol or chances are you’ll bugger the engine. He scoffed at the very idea of someone of his age and motoring experience making such an elementary error.

Two hours later I get a phone call: “..er, sorry, but there’s a bit of a problem with the car; I put in petrol by mistake”. I did a little dance of rage, but didn’t come down too hard on him as I don’t want him writing me out of his will. The old fellah has loads of dosh stashed in banks on the Isle of Man.

The car has had to be taken back to the dealer in Perth (100 miles away). Apparently there’s some hope, but chances are the high pressure fuel pump will have to be replaced at a fat cost of £1,000. The insurance will cover it, but it’s still annoying.

I have no wheels and am exceedingly miffed. The aged should be confined to their mobility scooters: letting them loose in expensive motors just isn’t worth the risk.

22 comments:

Spinsterella said...

Oh dear.

Even though my motor is my First Car Ever, I still chant "unleaded, unleaded" every time I fill up.

garfer said...

Beats me why they can't have differently shaped nozzles on fuel pumps.

Wyndham said...

Isle of Man + hilarious petrol pump idiocy = your dad is Norman Wisdom.

Elementary.

Sniffy said...

Oh. Deary. Me.

I thought my mum was bad for washing bright red things in with my white wash. Incandessant with rage doesn't even BEGIN to describe it.

They have got different shaped nozzles, but only smaller ones on unleaded so they fit into the smaller holes on petrol cars. You never get people putting diesel into a petrol car by mistake.

Ho hum. That is some hefty insurance dent. Did he apologise? My mum wouldn't have done. She'd have blamed me for having a diesel car.

garfer said...

Yeah, he apologised.

It's an easy mistake to make if you normally drive a petrol car.

The garages are making a fortune out of it.

S.I.D. said...

Yes change the fucking diesel nozzle I say.
I did this once but survived as I only stuck a fiver of unleaded in an empty tank.Filled it with diesel and survived.

Yay for Toyota's.

garfer said...

Fueling a petrol car with diesel isn't a problem, they just drain the tank.

Putting petrol in a diesel engine can wreck the engine. This is only a problem with recent diesel engines.

S.I.D. said...

The daftys at my local garage have put a diesel pump in between two unleaded.

Talk about confusing.

Ever get deja vu?
Have we discussed this before?
Ever get deja vu?
Have we discussed this before?

garfer said...

Little men in dungarees used to fill up your car for you years ago.

I think all disability scroungers should be forced into gainful employment in this capacity.

Sniffy said...

It's strange that you can't put unleaded in there, but they're perfectly happy with filtered chip fat. It's just a shame there's a shortage of chip fat in Scotland because it's all being used on Mars Bars and pies.

garfer said...

Yeah, as though Mars bars and pies aren't popular in t'north of England.

Why did you have to mention pies? I could just go a pork pie now.

You could always donate your breast lump to Ginsters. I'm sure it would be more nutritious than the crap they fill them with.

Steve said...

Sounds like you did a remarkable job of not blowing you're top at the old man.

Nice car. Might've been an idea to blank out the number plate though . . .

garfer said...

I've no idea why. Thirty million robbed banknotes in the commodious boot is no big deal.

Sniffy said...

Gosh, and I just mentioned Ginsters pasties over at my blog. How veh strange.

Kyahgirl said...

god, your dad should be giving you some kind of sainthood or something.
That's a beautiful car. I'd be inclined to kill someone who did that to it.

I haven't been without wheels for about 20 years. I would hate that more than anything.

garfer said...

I'm having a whip round for the nursing home fees.

Fancy contributing?

Anonymous said...

Bad Daddy. My mum put diesel into my (petrol, stupid I know) car and survived. As you say it's different the other way around..

Peevish McSnark said...

Oh yikes! That's a gorgeous car, and it was foully violated. If you didn't belt him one when you found out about it, you should be canonized.

M said...

I'm with you on not having your wheels available. It sucks. Thank goodness for insurance.

I finally posted btw. Sorry to have bored you to tears or words rather. :-)

Anonymous said...

any news on your precious? will she live?

garfer said...

Pah! You're just jealous because you drive a pathetic little lezzamobile.

Anonymous said...

*fights urge to laugh*