Well this isnt good for a first day

[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.

[paulrstaylor]

That sucks, what is the actual fault diagnosis?

[limoncello]

Thanks guys

fault diagnosis is a failed steering pump, all in they wanted £2300 oscar got them down to 1800 ish, just shows you can barter it down quite a way

[ainarssems]

There are plenty of hire companies offering vehicles for driving in Europe. My friend was looking to get a van for week in May to go to Latvia and bring his tools to UK in it so we looked around for options. 7 day hire was about £700 for LWB Sprinter including Green Card insurance for Europe, European breakdown cover and unlimited mileage, by comparison same vehicle cost about £400 for 7 days in UK and 700 mile limit.

It's more than he wants to pay so he is considering hiring a trailer instead to tow with his Accord or buying a trailer in Latvia and selling it here.

[paulrstaylor]

Originally Posted by limoncello

Thanks guys

fault diagnosis is a failed steering pump, all in they wanted £2300 oscar got them down to 1800 ish, just shows you can barter it down quite a way

Is interesting to see you can haggle, but I wonder if he had just approved the work if you would have got your car back faster

[limoncello]

him not approving made a difference of about 5 to 6 working hours over 2 days, i did have a go at the time, but actually in this case its audi that wasted the days away without doing anything, so the only real difference is the part would be on back order a bit earlier , it still wouldnt be fixed.

[jza8]

Originally Posted by limoncello

all in they wanted £2300 oscar got them down to 1800 ish, just shows you can barter it down quite a way

Just had a look the pump costs around £800, so £1000 is labour.
I replaced the power steering pump on my dad's audi a6 1.9 tdi a year ago paid £60 for the pump, took 30 mins to replace. Just shows the cost of ownership of these beasts, luckily this one not out of your pocket.