MOT Nightmares - I ended-up tossing a coin!

How so?

Apart from a new battery about 2 years ago, and the MOT fees each year, that £470 is the only money spent on it in at least 3 years, that's bloody cheap motoring in my book.

And as Puddy Tat says, I could have spunked a few grand on another car and ended-up with a even bigger bill a few months down the line.

Cheers, I reckon it's something like that, what with the stupid amount of rain over the last 48 hours - it was fine on Saturday when I last drove it, anyway I should know in the next few hours, when the RAC turns up.

RAC just been, turns out the battery is knackered and needs replacing, lucky I still have the receipt for when that was last replaced and it's within the 3-year guarantee, now I've just got to wait for the battery place to open & sort out a lift over there to get it exchanged.

Pain in the arse, but at least it's not going cost another £70 for battery.

This, absolutely. Older cars (pre ECU basically) FTW. Buy based on bodywork, that's the pricey bit to replace - with older engines anyone with no mechanical knowledge can buy a Haynes and save £ by learning the simple stuff. For anything a bit more complex there's legions of back-st garages who charge £25 p/hour, often cash jobs.

I bought our car 5 years ago, book price on it is about £200. Spent £300 on a complete new fuel system straight after purchase, and it's flown through 4 MOTs with nothing needed since. It's 29 years old.

See this thread - The all new nightmare car, floods, anything stories thread...