Well this isnt good for a first day

[ainarssems]

Feel for you mate, does not give much confidence in the car or the dealers. I know when I have done some work on car I feel uneasy to do a long journey straight after in fear that I might have missed something even if I am always double checking and paying special attention to anything safety related.

It has happened before, did not secure radiator hose properly on Freelander after head gasket replacement and it popped off with a cloud of steam just as wife pulled in work car park 5 miles from home. Not a biggie, went over with the other car, found the issue and was fixed 10 minutes later but if it had happened 100 miles from home it would have been major inconvenience.

I would not be confident taking car to France knowing that dealer might have rushed things to get it done on time. Not before having it driven for at least couple of days locally. The way they handled it does not give much confidence as well.

[limoncello]

i agree, have just called them and they still havent got started or the part in yet, and havent ordered it until oscar finishes his negotiations, so best will in the world it isnt going to happen by close of play tommorow.

Audi are looking at whether they have a bigger car than the A4 to give me but all the a8s are out (didnt know they had a8s as courtesy cars) they obviously keep them for people with newer 8s than ive had.

i will give him an hour then arrange the hire car, choice looks to be a BMW 530 or something like a seat alhambra
oh well at least the kids get to see the grandparents still

[limoncello]

I now have an A6, but a thought occured overnight as to whether these cars can leave the country.

Rep didnt know, no one has asked before, answer is NO

Getting a Hire car to take out of the country is also difficult and costly and only applies to certain vehicles. AND/OR you also need some paperwork from Swansea

I have cover with green flag, but as my cars been in the garage for more than 7 days it doesnt apply. AND you cant take it out of the country.

Last thought - Part coming in today, car could be ready by Monday / tuesday i could just change the date outbound , still get 7 days. but no

No part in stock, no part arriving, part on back order, probably wont know till monday when the part will arrive


so thats it, holiday now officially cancelled

im actually just quite relieved that i no longer have to chase audi to do it on time.

[Johnmed]

That's rubbish. Hard to see any positives here.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Sorry to hear and yes I agree that's totally useless from both Audi and also Oscar etc.

I have to say I would be surprised that any hire car can be taken easily at no additional cost from the mainland UK over water - when i was looking at travelling to Ireland last summer I needed a Ford Galaxy sized people carrier to carry four of us plus luggage comfortably on our travels and looked at hiring in the UK to then go over to Ireland and it became apparent that it would costs a HUGE amount of additional money ie nearly £1k to do so, it worked out cheaper to just fly out there and hire a car the other end by far - maybe that is an option instead?

Also if you had travel insurance then look at what it can do to help. . .

[audifin]

Why they make it so difficult to go abroad? Go to Germany or Switzerland or wherever in Europe and there are no restrictions whatsoever to cross borders in a hire car..

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by audifin

Why they make it so difficult to go abroad? Go to Germany or Switzerland or wherever in Europe and there are no restrictions whatsoever to cross borders in a hire car..

crossing land borders to adjacent countries is much more likely in mainland europe but when you factor in a sea or tunnel crossing it seems to be a completely different kettle of fish, both insurance wise and also presumably their worry about the car never coming back!

[HPsauce]

I'd be looking hard at two things:
1. Your travel insurance to see what that will do to help.
2. Hire/ferry/hire following (roughly?) your original route/itinerary.

An international hire company like Avis would surely be able to provide a suitable car to get you to the ferry port (or take a taxi?) and have one available to pick up at the continental port for your holiday.

I've been an Avis Preferred member for many years and their service is excellent and rates reasonably competitive.
(I started out as a shareholder which gave great discounts worldwide until they were bought out by venture capitalists)

[limoncello]

travel insurance not helpful as we havent left yet. they provide for things like the coost of flights etc you couldnt take.

looked at flights and then hire car, still about a grand, its not just the money, its the baggage allowances and all the crap that goes with ryan air.

really im just relieved, i will tack on an extra week to the 3 i will already take in the summer, and this week take the kids to peppa land or thomas land etc.#

[steamship]

Originally Posted by limoncello

so thats it, holiday now officially cancelled

That just stinks! Feel especially sorry for your kids and the grandparents.

I suppose at least it removes the possible worry of driving a hastily repaired car to France and back, but someone (Oscar or Audi) need to pull their finger out with some sort of compensation.