Life– Terror. Ecstasy. Fight. Denial. Flight. Failure. PAIN. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Hope. Love. Peace – Death.
We [myself and Gail] have co-owned 65 cars together.
Gail’s current daily, a sexy 595 Abarth is ‘Reynolds’ car number 63.
The maintenance and administration of our cars is exclusively my domain. Over time I have built a close circle of reliable contacts, specialist expertise in relation to maintenance, repairs and buying and selling vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
However, it is fair to say that, sadly, there are plenty of people out there who are prepared to ‘take your pants down’ at any opportunity. Without intending to be sexist, especially so, if you are female? Early on in my musical career I was managed by the owners of a chain of Exhaust Centre’s. We rehearsed in one of the centre’s, above the main workshop/shop floor. We would regularly ‘witness’, first hand, the regular injustice their employees (mechanics) would perpetrate especially so if the potential customer was female and alone.
Things to think about when you are dying
Who will do the car things when I am gone?
Although Gail, has learnt much, by default, about the ins and outs of car ownership, she has been sheltered. She is busy doing other shit. We both agree that, with any car, it’s all about the optimum time to let go. Especially so with her (previous 4) Abarth’s. We have operated within that system, get in and get out at the right time?
She sort of mentioned selling her Abarth about a month ago but I didn’t think she meant it. However, she mentioned it again two days ago. I did some research and she is right, now would be a perfect time to sell her pride and joy. Used, well maintained low mileage, ‘head turning’ Abarth’s have steadily and somewhat irrationally increased in price in the past 3-4 years.
I started looking for a potential replacement. Performance was no longer a priority. She wanted reliability, a bit more room (comfort), something that didn’t look like a bag of shite, A SatNav and reverse camera and (we agreed mutually) the highest priority was a long manufacturers warranty.
After a day’s research I came up with an MG MG3. She liked the look of it and it ticked her requirements and for a seemingly low, New price! Around 13K for a 2024 with delivery mileage. I found a few offerings, all of which were miles away, Stoneacre, Stoke on Trent and another in Ipswich.
I had to prematurely abandon my search as today, Thursday 3rd October I had a busy ‘medical appointments day’. A 9.40 at Clatterbridge to discuss Lung Biopsy results (and treatment plan moving forward) followed by a 1.30 at The Royal, Cardio Respiratory Unit for an Exercise Stress Echocardiogram, a follow up to my recent Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosis.
We had a couple of hours to kill in between appointments.
I suggested we drive to Stoneacre Liverpool to enquire about having the ‘Stoke’ car brought to Liverpool for a test drive. On the way we happened upon an MG dealership (never noticed it before – ‘Red Car Syndrome’). We dropped into it and there were plenty of MG3’s. Gail liked them, she was happy with the appearance and size.
On to Stoneacre
They are having an extension built. The show room was busy, chaotic and fucking ridiculously warm. We waited a while for some attention from a sales person, Matthew? Very nice, sociable, chatty ‘Scouse’. Cash or finance? P/X?
Keen but polite and not too pushy. We told him our requirements and rationale. Cash sale, P/X if satisfactory but not a deal breaker if not. He looked up ‘our’ potential car a black MG3 at £13K and said we could have it brought to Liverpool on the basis of an agreed, subject to viewing, sale in principle.
He took Gail’s details and some details of her Abarth. I had parked on the road (no room at the Inn). He asked me to bring the car to the forecourt. We inspected the Abarth together. He loved it, especially the Record Monza ‘noise’. He said, ‘I passed it on my way in earlier, (outside the MG dealership) wonderful car, I was wondering who’s it was?’ I told him we were only selling to future proof future a car for Gail as I was dying.
He appeared genuinely empathetic. I apologised for making him feel uncomfortable and awkward. I am not sure why I did tell him, I think it was because the medical events of the day, were at the forefront of my mind? He made a few notes (about the Abarth) and we went back inside.
Matthew consulted with his manager (privately) and rang Stoneacre, Stoke. We can offer £8,400 P/X. However, the Black MG3 we were interested in is now sold. I told him £8.5K wasn’t even close to our requirements. He apologised and explained the ‘bollocks’ Dealership P/X ‘book price’ system, ‘my hands are tied’ bullshit. We expected a minimum of £10k.
He went away again and came back with a slightly improved (still pointless) offer of £9K and two alternative MG3’s, same spec, a Silver and a White which he said he could do ‘at the same price’, £13K. Time fly’s, we had to go. We were not willing to do a snap deal there and then as firstly, I had to get off for my next appointment and I wanted to do more research and we were disappointed with his P/X valuation. We agreed to consider his other options over the weekend with the view to a reconvene and a new non P/X deal.
When I got home after my hospital appointment I was flabbergasted to find the two alternative MG3’s were both priced significantly lower than £13K! Between £500-£1000 lower!
What a twat?
‘You can have either at the same price’?
How fucking kind eh?
£9K for an Abarth ‘they’ would sell for as much as £12k and shafting us for another grand! Nice
#Peace
Dying to Live 