Hi
Anyone going to Valla or driving in the country should look into purchasing an upgraded motoring club package that includes extra help in country areas. In the NSW its the NRMA or your local club wherever your from.
This the package I recommend from the NRMA
http://mynrma.com.au/products/membership/detailspopup.shtml
1302Steve
Yeah good call Steve. We want everyone to get there, and I am hoping that this time around I won't need them, but I couldn't NOT be a member..
THE LOWEST WITH THE MOSTEST BLING BLING WINS!!
Most definitely on the list of things to do!
If you can't laugh at yourself you can't laugh at anyone else! Because life is to short not to LAUGH
Hi
I actually work for the NSW one (not touting for business) but I just thought that it was a good idea.
I seem to get a lot VWs to fix at times, I think the control room have heard of my affliction. Members sure get a surprise when I turn up and don’t groan about working on a veedub. I always point at the stickers on my back window, Hot VWs and
www.clubvw.org.au
1302Steve
An excellent suggestion, get to it folks and remember to drive safely we want everyone to arrive in one piece
Baby Loves to Mumbo
Ahhh dear. Did I inspire this thread Steve??!!
Friday afternoon, midway between Melbourne and Sydney (30km south of Yass), Canni and I smelt something like burning oil.
We pulled over into a truck stop, ventured near the engine lid, and hesitated slightly before opening to see the damage.
There was oil everywhere. Sprayed across the inside of the engine lid was Wolf's lifeblood.
First - a call to Penguin. Since he HAD said "Call me if you have any problems and I'll come and get you." After a quick discussion of where we were, and what had happened my phone had already started warning of flat battery.
Next, using Canni's brand new phone (with fully charged battery) I called the RACV. They passed me over to the NRMA after establishing my identity and 30 minutes later we had a service vehicle on site.
While waiting for the NRMA Birchall called to check how far we had got on our journey. We had been going quite well 🙂 No further though!!
The NRMA mechanic thought it was most likely that the crankshaft seal had blown. Nothing to be done except call a tow truck.
We were towed into Yass.... lovely lovely Yass...
Until you spend 8 hours there with nothing to do.
Writing this story is giving my cramp in the fingers so I'll cut it short.
Penguin rescued us with a borrowed car trailer (thankyou Jumbo), and towed Wolf to Sydney, where he is now in the capable hands of Boris at Vintage VW. Hopefully Wolf will be back together by midday tomorrow so I can take Canni back to Melbourne for school on Tuesday :P
I have RACV extra care, but will be upgrading to total care for the trip to Valla. I'm not sure what bonuses I was eligible for by having extra care, but I didn't get offered anything more than being towed back to the depot. I know if I had had this happen on the way to Valla I would have been in WAY more trouble as being rescued would not have been a possibility.
So... even if your car is reliable (Wolf is, and had been serviced 2 weeks ago), Take the advice and get the cover. It makes life much easier. Being in Yass was definitely better than stranded on the side of the Hume Highway.
🙂 Jay
Part of Melbourne's Unreal Aircooled VW Community
I don't know if NSW has the same, but I have Ultra care with RACQ in qld. They cover one nominator car for any driver, and also any vehicle that I drive. So I nominate my girlfriends car, and then I'm covered for my car / bike(?) / whoever's car I'm driving. Seems like fairly good value.
Wes -
www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control...
🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
baaaaah. I'm still not a believer.
In some strange twist of ill concieved reasoning I have the mitsubishi with basic NRMA coverage but none at all on the kombi.
Chris.... kombi pilot, oval dreamer... finisher #26971 2005 city to surf
Hi
Jay I was thinking of you I guess. The point i was getting across was that the premium pakages offer very good assistance for travellers, car hire and accomodation.
Chris, you know what they say, you can lead a horse to water.....................
1302Steve
I (still) have a healthy dose of the "she'll be right, mate" attitude. I didnt think about the accomodation/tow/car hire bits, my reasoning was that opening up a kombi engine bay and seeing a turbo there would baffle most road service guys. Bush mechanic work should be able to get me out of trouble. Up until last year it served me well.
Chris.... kombi pilot, oval dreamer... finisher #26971 2005 city to surf
I'm with Chris, I figure I know my way around my kombi better than 'most' service guys anyway, and a tow into the nearest town is not going to get me out of trouble.
If it comes to the worst, I'll use my thumb and my credit card.
Kruizin Kol
definately with these guys cause the only time i have ever needed a tow i was just over an hour from my old mans workshop so its not a problem
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me
heh..I wish I had cover when my kombi dropped the valve seat a month or so ago.
If any of you have driven along the warrego highway you'd know there's a whole lot of nothing, and with a mobile with no credit, distances seem to get a LOT bigger.
I used to have NRMA until I ditched them in disgust, when it would have cost me over $200 to get my car towed about 2km to my home a while back.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
Got to say it's more the tow and place to stay etc thats more important to me. Lots of ways to look at it but for me it's just peace of mind and one thing less to worry about. For what it actually costs it makes driving an old car alot less hassle.
Dan🙂
"If i had to explain you wouldnt understand"
The Lower Class
MMM i think its worth it for times like when i left my headlights on when i parked and found a flat battery when i got back🙁 I was also parked at the bottom of a hill 🙁
😀
Jon
amazer wrote:my reasoning was that opening up a kombi engine bay and seeing a turbo there would baffle most road service guys.
Hi
You would be surprised what we work on, from old chevs, Ferraris, hot rods, rotaries, harlies etc. A lot of our guys are revheads and own rods, drag cars & street machines. We even had the ex owner of Rymec turbos as a patrol for many years. If it runs on petrol, lpg or diesel we can fix it or diagnose it, in NSW we have a 94% go rate.
1302Steve
I guess I was one of the 6% 😉
Can't say I would really have expected them to fix a melted piston and seized main bearing on the side of the hume hwy though LOL
Jay
Very pleased to be home.
Part of Melbourne's Unreal Aircooled VW Community
Oh yeah, the car that died was a ZL fairlane, so I couldn't push it home.
On a lighter note, my van should be chugging again by the end of the week!! still surprised that the head and piston were wrecked but the bore escaped unscathed!
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
😉 Jay good to hear you both & wolf all got home safe.
A little worse for wear.....but in one piece...
Judy😉
59 Microbus Kombi (MERCY)
64 Microbus Kombi (CHANNON)
just got the premium care upgraded from classic for $60
gives u $2000 worth of towing/accomodation/hire car 😉
best $60 ive spent i reckon 🙂
Yeah, I've got RACV Total Care, since I like going camping away from civilization. Considering what you might need, it's good value I reckon. Then again, I haven't needed it yet. Even though the bus played up (often), she never stopped completely.
I would suggest taking along the little brochure thing with the terms and conditions in it though. Just to make sure they don't try to rip you off. (I'm not a cynic, honest!)
I get a nice little silver card to put in my wallet too!🙂
we have RACQ Ultra care and a Gold member there is heaps more than a tow it accommodation ,rental car plus have your car returned home or to your destination. In an old car and travelling it is a must
Marc
If you can't laugh at yourself you can't laugh at anyone else! Because life is to short not to LAUGH
