What Recovery Service would/do you trust your Aston with?
Discussion
Had to have a car recovered for only about the 4th time in my entire driving career - sod's law said it would be my V8V. Not the car's fault - a rear tyre puncture that was beyond reinflation with the onboard kit.
When I first bought my Aston it had a Timeless warranty with a recovery service, and I extended the Timeless for about 3 further years. Then, having fixed the few warranty issues, I decided that rather that pay out large (and increasing) Timeless premiums I'd self-insure for breakdown and so far it's saved me enough to easily fund some recent upgrades.
However, I was faced with the dilemma of what happens if it does "fail to proceed". In the case of an accident then I have recovery as part of the usual insurance, so I looked around on line at the likes of Green Flag, etc (I'm in the UK and don't plan to take the car abroad) and I found that many of them decline to cover a Vantage, for unspecified reasons. The only one I found was the AA - I didn't try the RAC for historical personal reasons..
Having now used them I'm happy to say that the service I got from the AA was exemplary and I feel even more confident with them going forward, but I'm curious what provision other PH Aston owners make in case of breakdown?
When I first bought my Aston it had a Timeless warranty with a recovery service, and I extended the Timeless for about 3 further years. Then, having fixed the few warranty issues, I decided that rather that pay out large (and increasing) Timeless premiums I'd self-insure for breakdown and so far it's saved me enough to easily fund some recent upgrades.
However, I was faced with the dilemma of what happens if it does "fail to proceed". In the case of an accident then I have recovery as part of the usual insurance, so I looked around on line at the likes of Green Flag, etc (I'm in the UK and don't plan to take the car abroad) and I found that many of them decline to cover a Vantage, for unspecified reasons. The only one I found was the AA - I didn't try the RAC for historical personal reasons..
Having now used them I'm happy to say that the service I got from the AA was exemplary and I feel even more confident with them going forward, but I'm curious what provision other PH Aston owners make in case of breakdown?
I used the Aston service. It appears to be run by the same organisation that has JLR as a client. They sent me a local unaffiliated break down service, so if Aston aren’t too fussy I ain’t going to be when I leave the Timeless.
I remember my father was a member of both the AA and the RAC, on the basis that it would diminish the waiting time. My you, that was before the days when private equity got hold of these business and jacked up the prices to whatever they can get away with.
I remember my father was a member of both the AA and the RAC, on the basis that it would diminish the waiting time. My you, that was before the days when private equity got hold of these business and jacked up the prices to whatever they can get away with.
68Jaybee said:
I used the Aston service. It appears to be run by the same organisation that has JLR as a client. They sent me a local unaffiliated break down service
If I'd paid for the Aston service I wouldn't want a monkey with a breakdown truck.I use the AA and have no complaints, other than the annual nonsense of them trying to double the premium so I have to ring and halve it.
I use startrescue. All the breakdown services now are generally call handlers who sub out the work when their liveried fleet are unavailable or out of area, so I go on price.
I did use them once on a return from a car trip to NI where I had a rear tyre blow out on the way towards Solway from Stranraer in my 9. It took 11 hours to be brought home via 3 truck relays due to the distance and the car.
The main issue with recovery is flatbeds that can take a low suspension car, not so much an issue with VH cars but more exotic stuff does have issues. So if you are in a situation like I was it can be a long wait for a suitable flatbed to become available, that's agnostic as to whom the service is being supplied by.
The 3 lorry drivers I had the pleasure of spending several hours with told me a few yarns about jobs they'd been to where the RAC had been used. One example was an elderly man who broke down in Glasgow being told he would get recovered the next day and wasn't a priority because 'there are hotels nearby'.
Trust? Every recovery guy I've met has been a pleasure to deal with and attentive to not damaging the vehicle. Sure there is a chance you might get some shoddy operator but ultimately most of the work is subbed out so operators need to hitting the KPIs or they dont get the call outs.
I did use them once on a return from a car trip to NI where I had a rear tyre blow out on the way towards Solway from Stranraer in my 9. It took 11 hours to be brought home via 3 truck relays due to the distance and the car.
The main issue with recovery is flatbeds that can take a low suspension car, not so much an issue with VH cars but more exotic stuff does have issues. So if you are in a situation like I was it can be a long wait for a suitable flatbed to become available, that's agnostic as to whom the service is being supplied by.
The 3 lorry drivers I had the pleasure of spending several hours with told me a few yarns about jobs they'd been to where the RAC had been used. One example was an elderly man who broke down in Glasgow being told he would get recovered the next day and wasn't a priority because 'there are hotels nearby'.
Trust? Every recovery guy I've met has been a pleasure to deal with and attentive to not damaging the vehicle. Sure there is a chance you might get some shoddy operator but ultimately most of the work is subbed out so operators need to hitting the KPIs or they dont get the call outs.
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