TVR meets the RAC
Discussion
I had a bit of a problem with my Tuscan a week or so ago. As it was putting it away in the garage I noticed that clutch fluid was leaking out underneath. Clearly the slave cylinder seals had gone. After an attempt to top it up so I could drive it to get it fixed (which just resulted in having a lot of fluid on the garage floor) I conceded that I was going to have to get a transporter.
No problem I thought I’ve got my trusty RAC card showing membership of all the RAC’s ‘wonderful, comprehensive’ breakdown, recovery, home, accident and courtesy car services. So I booked it in at my local TVR specialist, PPC, for this Monday. The morning of the booking I phoned up the RAC first thing to arrange collection. Well of course they just sent a ‘man with a van’ first to assess the problem. He said ‘your seals have gone, you’ll need a transporter’. I said ‘that’s a coincidence, that’s exactly what I said to the RAC lady on the phone earlier’! This is where it gets interesting…
The RAC man asks where I want it transporting to. I say Melton Mowbray as it’s the nearest place that will be able to get it fixed. He says we can only transport it up to 10 miles as the breakdown occurred at home! Melton is 22 miles away. I say that there’s nowhere within 10 miles that can fix it. He says he knows that but those are the rules! He then says he’ll see what he can do and phones the office. After a few minutes he comes back to tell me they can transport it to Melton, but it will cost me £99.
Now I could go on to tell you all about how it took the RAC 4½ hours to send a transporter and that I phoned someone else (out of interest) and they said they could pick it up in 40 mins and would only charge me £80, but the point here is that if you have a breakdown at home or within ¼ mile you’re your home, your car cannot be fixed and the nearest place you need to take it to is over 10 miles away, then your RAC card will only be any use as a very expensive ice scraper for your windscreen. This in my opinion really compromises the cover the RAC provide for any specialist car (or almost any car if you live in a remote area).
I’ve since phoned the RAC to tell them I was very disappointed in the limitations of the service they provide and that these limitations were not clear in their terms and conditions. They of course didn’t seem to care…..
So does anyone know who provides a proper breakdown and recovery service please? I’m thinking about changing.
No problem I thought I’ve got my trusty RAC card showing membership of all the RAC’s ‘wonderful, comprehensive’ breakdown, recovery, home, accident and courtesy car services. So I booked it in at my local TVR specialist, PPC, for this Monday. The morning of the booking I phoned up the RAC first thing to arrange collection. Well of course they just sent a ‘man with a van’ first to assess the problem. He said ‘your seals have gone, you’ll need a transporter’. I said ‘that’s a coincidence, that’s exactly what I said to the RAC lady on the phone earlier’! This is where it gets interesting…
The RAC man asks where I want it transporting to. I say Melton Mowbray as it’s the nearest place that will be able to get it fixed. He says we can only transport it up to 10 miles as the breakdown occurred at home! Melton is 22 miles away. I say that there’s nowhere within 10 miles that can fix it. He says he knows that but those are the rules! He then says he’ll see what he can do and phones the office. After a few minutes he comes back to tell me they can transport it to Melton, but it will cost me £99.
Now I could go on to tell you all about how it took the RAC 4½ hours to send a transporter and that I phoned someone else (out of interest) and they said they could pick it up in 40 mins and would only charge me £80, but the point here is that if you have a breakdown at home or within ¼ mile you’re your home, your car cannot be fixed and the nearest place you need to take it to is over 10 miles away, then your RAC card will only be any use as a very expensive ice scraper for your windscreen. This in my opinion really compromises the cover the RAC provide for any specialist car (or almost any car if you live in a remote area).
I’ve since phoned the RAC to tell them I was very disappointed in the limitations of the service they provide and that these limitations were not clear in their terms and conditions. They of course didn’t seem to care…..
So does anyone know who provides a proper breakdown and recovery service please? I’m thinking about changing.
Haven't got home cover with the AA as I'm lucky enough to say that my man will come round to the house and sort it and if he can't he'll trailer it away - big up to Adrian Venn. Very convenient.
In fact we needed a service and he was in the area a few Sundays ago so came across and collected it from us and we picked it up Monday night. Again, very convenient.
FFG
In fact we needed a service and he was in the area a few Sundays ago so came across and collected it from us and we picked it up Monday night. Again, very convenient.
FFG
ADAC Germany for me.
I broke down 2 weeks after joining them.
The just rebuilt engine threw a shim (didnt actually know what the problem was at the time).
ADAC wanted to send it to a TVR workshop near Frankfurt ca100 miles away free of charge.
When I explained the rebuild warrantee and how to find Str8Six they said OK ond delivered it to Jason free of charge.
€78,50 full European cover and discount on fuel from Shell Stations (in Germany) when I show my card.
I realy dont mind paying the bill each year as I think that they are excellent
PS: They have shipped it back twice now so I guess that they dont like me as much as me them.
I broke down 2 weeks after joining them.
The just rebuilt engine threw a shim (didnt actually know what the problem was at the time).
ADAC wanted to send it to a TVR workshop near Frankfurt ca100 miles away free of charge.
When I explained the rebuild warrantee and how to find Str8Six they said OK ond delivered it to Jason free of charge.
€78,50 full European cover and discount on fuel from Shell Stations (in Germany) when I show my card.
I realy dont mind paying the bill each year as I think that they are excellent
PS: They have shipped it back twice now so I guess that they dont like me as much as me them.
I can't recommend the AA highly enough. With all the extras, multi-car cover is a shade over £100, and they're happy to transport as far as needed, no matter where you break down. You don't have to accompany the car, so it's a handy service if your favoured garage for a particular type of problem is a fair distance away (ahem). Plus their breakdown insurance is good value if you're not handy with spanners.
RAC have always been good for me.
Including a 110 defender recovery when the vacuum pump failed earlier this year.
I have had the man in a van syndrome first but usually if you give a clear diagnosis and tell them not to piss you about they send a transporter straight out. generally I only have recovery because the missus drives all the cars and I like to know that she will be sorted when away from home.
N.
Including a 110 defender recovery when the vacuum pump failed earlier this year.
I have had the man in a van syndrome first but usually if you give a clear diagnosis and tell them not to piss you about they send a transporter straight out. generally I only have recovery because the missus drives all the cars and I like to know that she will be sorted when away from home.
N.
gruffalo said:
Interesting thread this, I also have had run ins with the RAC as an organisation but have found the actual people in the vans very helpful and good.
I agree. On the handful of occasions that I have needed them, the guys have literally gone the extra mile for me. One chap told me that he could either take me home, and then come out the next day to take my car to Racing Green, or else deliver me and the car there (out of hours) but unfortunately leave me there. However, he was happy to make a sizeable detour to go via my house so I could collect my daily driver and follow him to Racing Green. I was also impressed that he carried a strap specifically for TVRs (or so he said. Presumably it was for other low cars too) for snapping onto the towing eye under the car without damaging the fibreglass.
Had the same problem after limping home with a dead clutch then needing recovering from home a few days later (when it was more convenient to break down). Shouldn't have bothered and I seem to remember it was more than £99.
I had changed to the RAC after finding out just after having an accident that my top notch AA cover didn't cover accident recovery - only breakdowns. That was an expensive recovery too.
Both s
te. 
I had changed to the RAC after finding out just after having an accident that my top notch AA cover didn't cover accident recovery - only breakdowns. That was an expensive recovery too.
Both s
te. Flintstone said:
Not a lot of help with your question but I've just had my run in with RAC.
Renewal for Mrs F and I £198. Online for new members, same cover, £108. Phone call to RAC, "We can reduce it to £140". "Explain the logic of that to me" said I. "I can't" said The Voice.
wkers.
Customer inertia. Companies know about it and profit from it.Renewal for Mrs F and I £198. Online for new members, same cover, £108. Phone call to RAC, "We can reduce it to £140". "Explain the logic of that to me" said I. "I can't" said The Voice.
w
kers.Many people just renew without checking the price. For many years I insures a dull car with the AA and each year they would send me a renewal quote. Each year I would check the cost of a new policy and find it was cheaper so instead of renewing I'd end the old over and take out a new contract. I talked about this to the AA each year and every year they would not renew at the same rate as the new business cost.
Autoaid (Boncaster) pay and reclaim, £38 per year for me and the missus, not car specific either covers any car you are in. Found it on moneysavingexpert.co.uk, had to claim twice in last 3 years, had great service and prompt refund. Don't think it covers the home breakdown transport to specialist bit though.
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