Flat repair rate punctured my cost fears
I was driving up to Teggs Nose today to exercise my dog, Cobra. Suddenly a warning light came on indicating I had a puncture.
I stopped and checked my tyres and sure enough my front nearside tyre was losing air.
I turned back and came into town to one of those quick-fix garages who asked me to leave my keys and come back in an hour.
It was a very anxious 60 minutes wondering what the verdict would be when I returned.
In my experience a puncture repair is never a simple job.
By the time you collect your car the garage has usually found problems you never dreamed you had.
The last time I had a puncture they said my tyres were alright but my rims were not and an additional bill was presented for rim treatment (whatever that is).
I love it when they pinch their fingers together to indicate how much tread you have left which generally means you don’t really need a new tyre yet but you will eventually so you may as well buy one now.
I took my car in for a puncture repair in Birmingham once and the guy told me I needed a new exhaust.
Quite why he was looking at the exhaust when he hadn’t started
Ion my puncture I know not.
In any event I still have the exhaust and it’s not causing me any trouble at all.
So it was with more than a little trepidation that I went back to the garage to collect my car.
I was quite expecting to be told the tyres were okay but the car needed replacing.
“Is my car ready asked.”
“Yes, mate, it’s at the front.”
“How much is it?” I asked gingerly. “Twenty-five quid.” “Just a puncture repair then?” I asked nervously. “Yes that’s it.”
I was genuinely startled that a job that started off as a simple puncture was exactly that. No mention of valves, rims or exhausts - in fact no extras at all. I wanted to jump up and down punching the air, such was my delight.
The Olympics were on at the time and I considered this to be my gold medal.