New owner, first decent run

[Gilby]

Good evening to all. New 75cdt owner here, picked it up on Wednesday evening and only managed a couple of commutes until today.
Did a 230 mile run from west midlands to the Essex coast to visit my folks, that's a41, a5, m6, a14, a12, a120 and a133. Kept the speed sensible on the motor way by not exceeding 80 and A roads between 50 and 70 (except for the 40mph restriction put in to protect the cones that were there for no apparent reason).
Pretty happy with the car apart from realising the clutch does in fact need attending to (did budget for this), quite and very comfy and a pleasing 54.4 mpg on the brim to brim method.
Happy chappy (unless any of you think 54 could be improved on).
Any recommendations for a clutch specialist near clacton on sea/Colchester?

[mininuts]

You seem as chuffed with your car as we are with ours :D

Ours averaged 49.7 mpg, (using the same method), on a recent trip to Newton Stewart using motorway and A roads at similar speeds to what you did.

Can't recommend a garage near you but, we've just had a clutch/slave fitted to ours and it's transformed the car, well worth the arm and leg that it cost :cool:

[Gilby]

The Colchester request is only based in the fact I'm here for most of the week. I'd much rather have it done local to where I live in shropshire but would like the job done sooner than later, (para' about complete failure on the journey home)

[al_dente]

Hi Gilby

Whereabouts in Shrops are you from?

Al

[carguy143]

It's always nice to hear someone who's happy with their new car. Yes, some have niggles (my clutch pedal went to the floor three weeks after i bought the car so know how you feel), but given the right amount of time and money you can soon get it up to the standard you want.

Rik.

[coolcat]

Hi,
I live in Clacton but have never had to have my clutch replaced ( fingers well and truly crossed ) in the five years I've had my two Mg's I have owned.
My garage I use in Clacton and they are a great team of Rover specialists is:
Canberra carriage company who are in Oxford road in Clacton.
http://www.canberracarriage.co.uk/
Hope the weather is good for you whilst your here:}

[rwshafto]

if you think it will las 2 weeks join the aa take parts & labour insurance they do & it shouldnt cost you only the £35 excess:}

[al_dente]

if you think it will las 2 weeks join the aa take parts & labour insurance they do & it shouldnt cost you only the £35 excess

This only works if you have a full service history doesn't it?

[Gilby]

Al, I'm in the sticks, near cheswardine.

I'll have a nose at the AA warranty but I would be surprised if the clutch would be covered, don't see many waranties that don't have the "except for fair wear and tear" get out of anything clause.
I did get the car down on price with the concept that at 98k it's likely to need a clutch soon. There's a well stamped service book in the car but no extra paperwork to indicate any work on the clutch.
Have found "Colchester clutch and gearbox centre", will bell them and canberra carriage.

[al_dente]

You're not far from me (Shifnal).

The AA warranty does cover clutches - have a search on here, there are threads about it.

I looked into it a couple of years ago, but decided they wouldn't cover my car because it hadn't had an officially stamped service for quite a long while. I can't remember the details though.

[Gilby]

Had a quick nose on an old thread. I'll have to look into it. We have breakdown cover through the bank but not too sure if it's AA or not.(got a number stored on the phone, fortunately never used it).
The service history in my book is just stamps and ticks, no receipts,I'm also pretty certain they're mileage rather than yearly, so it's a little out of step with annual servicing.
I'll investigate further.

[Gilby]

After a torrential downpour, I'd thought I'd make sure the garage I'd bought the car from had done a proper job on sealing the lights. Sure enough water in boot. Lights are sealed fine, just did the trims after a quick search here.
And there's my old man (93years old) who doesn't think the Internet is a good thing !
Hooray for the forum and technology.
(also had a quick pelum check, bone dry :})