The Crittenden Automotive Library

Blue and White Van Man 6 - The Value Of Breakdown Cover

Blue and White Van Man 6 - The Value Of Breakdown Cover

Stan Potter
DriveWrite
December 5, 2013

Stan Potter writes: My van has been almost totally reliable. The one occasion it let me down proved very interesting. About a week from one of our planned trips a front wheel bearing started growling. Any wheel bearing I would normally change myself but to change the bearing on a Renault Master involves using a press which I do not have access to. On most cars you can get away with a good bench vice but the components on the van are too large to use this method. The garage I use for my MOTs I trust, but they were not able to fit in a repair before our booked departure. We decided to use our car for this trip which at that time was a 2.0L Mondeo estate.

I have a multi–trip booking on Eurotunnel which means the van or car cost the same. I just have to inform them of the vehicle that I am driving. Also I have multi- trip car breakdown insurance. This is not normally transferable But when I informed the company of the problem, they realised it was transfer or provide me with a hire van. They transferred. We appreciated the extra comfort of the car as the van is a bit agricultural in its seats and fittings. Also because of the cars greater speed we decided to use the Autoroutes after filling up with petrol at a Boulogne supermarket.

At about 1.30 on the Sunday morning we stopped for coffee at the services near Rouen and turned on to the A28 towards Le Mans. The weather was terrible - high winds and torrential rain. We collected the ticket for the motorway and accelerated away. Almost immediately there was a loud noise; the front of the silencer had detached from the pipe. We were still within the parking area of the toll booths and pulled over. On French motorways if you have problems of any kind you have to contact the police and they decide what action is correct.

I contacted the breakdown company and explained the problem; they contacted the police who sent a tow truck to rescue us. The tow truck driver took us to his garage in Brionne. A taxi was organised which took us to a nearby hotel where a room had been booked for us. We stayed until 9am when another taxi arrived and took us to a car hire company. There, a pre-booked Peugeot People carrier awaited us. We returned to the garage and transferred our goods from the Mondeo to the hire car.

It took a little while to get used to the new car as it was the first 6 speed gearbox I had encountered. We made it safely and speedily to our French house and used the car over the next couple of days, then I got a phone call. The towing company had taken the Mondeo to the local Ford main dealer and he said it would cost €875.00 to replace the exhaust. I said I did not want them to put another car onto the existing exhaust, I needed that one fixed. They said they could repair the old exhaust for €103.00 but there would be no warranty. I said “Fix it”. So long as it got me back to the UK I would save and I decided to take the chance.

At the next MOT the garage said the repair was far superior to the original and in fact it lasted another 2 years. The next day we returned the Peugeot to the hire company and a taxi was supplied to take us to the Ford dealer in Bernay where our car had been repaired. Back in a familiar vehicle we drove the 300+ miles to our house. The total cost of this was the €103.00 we paid for the repair. The rest of the costs were picked up by the hire company except for the €1.00 toll charge to get the toll truck off the Autoroute. I have no reservations about using this Breakdown Company or recommending them to anybody travelling to Europe. In fact I still maintain my cover to this day.