Today's kids?

[Thracian]

Bloody great.

At around 2.30 Tuesday my youngest misjudged a bend.

His car was left with his front wheel in a ditch, his back wheels in the air, his undercarriage wedged on concrete blocks, his bumper smashed, his headlights caved in, his bonnet misaligned, one wing dented beyond repair, his vehicle badly scratched and with every prospect of needing a breakdown lorry and sizeable cheque to put matters right.

In fact twice he was told that if the £600 car went to a garage they'd simply write it off and, even if asked to undertake the work, it would take a considerable time to assess and complete.

Solution? Ring a mate. While the first mate hammered the concrete to pieces and crowbarred the bits clear another mate of mate one arrived with a tow-rope and a third mate used his 4WD to slowly tow the motor clear as several of us stood on the door sills to stop the back end grounding.

Then into the second mate's workshop for assessment of the parts needed, quick run out to collect and by 4.30 the car was back on the road but still looking bruised.

The following morning more parts were picked up including new wing and bumper, these were fixed by lunch and so, within 24 hours the whole vehicle was back looking respectable and in full working order.

For new wing, new bumper, new headlights and their bulbs, re-aligning the bonnet, new trim plus the hours of work involved within the 22 hours the total bill was £69 plus a tip which was at first refused and a free meal that was accepted.

I'd love to have taken before and after pictures. None of the helpers was more than about 22 but what they achieved in such a short time I'd never have believed if I hadn't seen it.

Happily young-un didn't get a scratch in the accident but he sure learned that he's got some 24-carat gold nuggets for friends.

[Samilktray]

Sounds pretty a impressive feet that.

[The People's Hero]

The Thracian family seems to have been having a few motoring mis-haps recently.

Did you ever get your bonnet catch looked at?

[Smiffy]

A mechanic is the best kind of friend to have!

[Thracian]

The Thracian family seems to have been having a few motoring mis-haps recently.

Did you ever get your bonnet catch looked at?

It's not just the catch, its a complete new bonnet that's needed and I looked at a couple while we picked up the bits for my lad's car. Neither were suitable.

I must confess I'm a bit inclined to use it as an excuse for another car altogether and am looking at one tonight although there's no great urgency.

My youngest sister's boyfriend's a mechanic and is forever getting decent motors at the right price - including this one.

[Zingari]

Bloody great.

At around 2.30 Tuesday my youngest misjudged a bend.

His car was left with his front wheel in a ditch, his back wheels in the air, his undercarriage wedged on concrete blocks, his bumper smashed, his headlights caved in, his bonnet misaligned, one wing dented beyond repair, his vehicle badly scratched and with every prospect of needing a breakdown lorry and sizeable cheque to put matters right.

In fact twice he was told that if the £600 car went to a garage they'd simply write it off and, even if asked to undertake the work, it would take a considerable time to assess and complete.

Solution? Ring a mate. While the first mate hammered the concrete to pieces and crowbarred the bits clear another mate of mate one arrived with a tow-rope and a third mate used his 4WD to slowly tow the motor clear as several of us stood on the door sills to stop the back end grounding.

Then into the second mate's workshop for assessment of the parts needed, quick run out to collect and by 4.30 the car was back on the road but still looking bruised.

The following morning more parts were picked up including new wing and bumper, these were fixed by lunch and so, within 24 hours the whole vehicle was back looking respectable and in full working order.

For new wing, new bumper, new headlights and their bulbs, re-aligning the bonnet, new trim plus the hours of work involved within the 22 hours the total bill was £69 plus a tip which was at first refused and a free meal that was accepted.

I'd love to have taken before and after pictures. None of the helpers was more than about 22 but what they achieved in such a short time I'd never have believed if I hadn't seen it.

Happily young-un didn't get a scratch in the accident but he sure learned that he's got some 24-carat gold nuggets for friends.

£69 for that lot , were they made of paper mache

[davieG]

£69 for that lot , were they made of paper mache

I'm guessing scrapyard

[Zingari]

I'm guessing scrapyard

it said new;

edit , yes it probably means scrapyard "new"