Broke down in France - had to abandon the car temporarily!

nibtrix

Car broke down on the motorway in France last Saturday, about 130km from Cherbourg. Some mechanical issue with the engine, we suddenly lost power while driving and had to judder to a halt in a lay-by. The car would restart but the vibration, rattling and banging was so bad that it was undriveable.

Had to get it towed to a garage, which of course was then closed until Monday so we were stuck hanging around in the middle of nowhere for a few days.

Once the garage took a quick look on Monday they declared that it was a "big problem". We had a lot of communication issues but basically they said they thought the entire engine would need to be replaced, at a cost of €2500-3000! It's a Citroen C4, 1.6 Petrol, 2006, cost around 5k last year.

At that stage we decided to temporarily abandon the car and come home to decide what to do. We don't trust the garage in France to treat us fairly, plus if we have them repair the car we have to go and collect it. We've looked into having the car shipped/towed home but it seems pretty pricey (best quote so far is around €1300). The other option is scrapping it but we would get nothing for it at all.

Anyone have any bright ideas? Or know someone with a tow truck who can transport it for under a grand?

corglass

The cheapest option may be to write it off and buy another one. Genuinely when you factor in the 1000+euro shipping, another 800 for replacement engine and install you're putting 1800 into a car and lots of hassle. Plus you'll be of the road for a few weeks etc


Have you priced another one or similar?

Cordell

Call the garage and ask them what they'll offer you for the car.

nibtrix

Cordell wrote: »

Call the garage and ask them what they'll offer you for the car.

They won't give us a penny for it, as it's a right-hand drive car. So they say anyway. If we are not going to ship it or repair it over there we will look into options for selling or scrapping it, but the garage that towed it definitely won't buy it.

nibtrix

corglass wrote: »

The cheapest option may be to write it off and buy another one. Genuinely when you factor in the 1000+euro shipping, another 800 for replacement engine and install you're putting 1800 into a car and lots of hassle. Plus you'll be of the road for a few weeks etc


Have you priced another one or similar?

We've had a quick look at the cost of a replacement, but as it's an automatic (forgot to mention that!) it's a bit pricier and harder to find. A car of the same year, standard etc. would be around €4000 in a private sale, €5000ish from a dealer.

The car was in great condition, super low mileage (<70k) etc., so writing it off would be a blow. If it's the best decision financially we'll do it though.

Vicxas

I was doing a bit of research last year before we set off for France as to the cost of not having breakdown cover.

The general consensus was that to get a car towed back from France was around 2k (Ferry, driver, food, etc).

You'll need to weigh up if its worth it for A: The hassle and B: The money.

nibtrix

Vicxas wrote: »

I was doing a bit of research last year before we set off for France as to the cost of not having breakdown cover.

The general consensus was that to get a car towed back from France was around 2k (Ferry, driver, food, etc).

You'll need to weigh up if its worth it for A: The hassle and B: The money.

Thanks. We have a quote of €1300 all in to bring it home, which seems to be reasonable in comparison to some other quotes.

Baybay

Have a look for an expat forum. Living France used to have a very active one. A lot of British people living in France prefer to drive rhds, certainly where we spend a good bit of time albeit much further south. They may give you something for the car although the work & re-registering costs may mean it won't be very much.

TeaBagMania

Well at least it broke down in the right country, id think there would be all kinds of used citroen engines in france.
Maybe call garages in 100 mile radius of where the car is now and get quotes for replacing the engine

rosmoke

My opinion is to get an exact diagnostic for the car and get repair estimations off another garages. That seems way too pricey, it sounds like they are trying to take advantage of this situation.
If, let's say it's costing you 1100e to repair it, add travel expenses ~300e, you could get away with a bit under 1500e cost.

Henry Ford III

Did you have breakdown cover in place OP?

Indricotherium

nibtrix wrote: »

The car was in great condition.

Obviously not

CiniO

Indricotherium wrote: »

Obviously not

How do you know?

Indricotherium

CiniO wrote: »

How do you know?

It's broken down on the side of a road in France and requires a new engine.

CiniO

OP I think you're overthinking it a bit.

Garage quoted you €2500 to €3000 to fix the issue by replacing engine, which seems way overpriced.

I can't see a reason to tow it back to Ireland, as in Ireland you might end up in the same type rip-off garage which would ask same price (it's not like labour and parts prices in Ireland are any lower than in France).

What I would suggest to do is to get clear clarification from garage what is the issue with the car. Ask them to email you with description exactly what is wrong with the car. If you don't understand French, get someone to translate it to you, so you know what the issue is.
Then give few garages around there (where your car is now) a ring and ask them for quotations to fix the issue.
I'm sure you'll find something reasonable, which might be only fraction of price you were quoted.
If you find reasonable garage offering reasonable quote, ask them to pick up the car from where it is, and fix it.

When done, get a flight to France, and come back the same evening on a Ferry - you will be back home next day.

nibtrix

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Did you have breakdown cover in place OP?

Only for the towing, it doesn't cover repair or repatriation.

Henry Ford III

nibtrix wrote: »

Only for the towing, it doesn't cover repair or repatriation.

Ouch. That's a pity.

nibtrix

Indricotherium wrote: »

Obviously not

Indricotherium wrote: »

It's broken down on the side of a road in France and requires a new engine.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions...

I meant the car in general was in great condition, inside and out. As in not scratched and battered as many 11 year old cars would be. Not a mark on the interior. It just passed the NCT, has decent tyres, recently serviced. If we'd been pouring money into repairs and had thought it didn't have much life left then this would have been an easier decision.

nibtrix

rosmoke wrote: »

My opinion is to get an exact diagnostic for the car and get repair estimations off another garages.

CiniO wrote: »

What I would suggest to do is to get clear clarification from garage what is the issue with the car. Ask them to email you with description exactly what is wrong with the car.

The garage said they would have to take the engine apart to work out what the actual problem is. At one point they were suggesting €1500 as a minimum cost, even if we decided not to go ahead with the actual repair.

nibtrix

CiniO wrote: »

I can't see a reason to tow it back to Ireland, as in Ireland you might end up in the same type rip-off garage which would ask same price (it's not like labour and parts prices in Ireland are any lower than in France).

We haven't yet had a chance to speak to our regular mechanics (the garage we bought it from, who also performed the recent service). They're well known to the family and I don't think they would rip us off (not too much anyway!)

Atlantic Dawn

Any idea if it was heavy oil loss or what that caused it? Was the engine temperature very high? Engine shouldn't really be an instant total loss unless either of those events occured.

CiniO

nibtrix wrote: »

We haven't yet had a chance to speak to our regular mechanics (the garage we bought it from, who also performed the recent service). They're well known to the family and I don't think they would rip us off (not too much anyway!)

Yea, that's what I mean.
Your problem is not in fact that car is broken down in France, but problem is in finding reasonable garage.

CiniO

nibtrix wrote: »

The garage said they would have to take the engine apart to work out what the actual problem is. At one point they were suggesting €1500 as a minimum cost, even if we decided not to go ahead with the actual repair.

I would definitely look for different garage if one is suggesting they need to proceed with €1500 work to find out what the problem is with the engine.

nibtrix

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Any idea if it was heavy oil loss or what that caused it? Was the engine temperature very high? Engine shouldn't really be an instant total loss unless either of those events occured.

Engine temperature wasn't high, no oil leak, no smoke from the exhaust.

Car just started slowing down, even when the accelerator was pressed further. When we slowed further to pull in it shook and rattled like crazy.

nibtrix

Ok all, thanks for the advice. Going to try and (1) hound the garage for a written breakdown of the issue and (2) contact nearby garages for quotes to replace the engine.

CiniO

nibtrix wrote: »

Engine temperature wasn't high, no oil leak, no smoke from the exhaust.

Car just started slowing down, even when the accelerator was pressed further. When we slowed further to pull in it shook and rattled like crazy.

Sounds a bit like timing belt jumped or lost few tooth.
But could be something completely different, more or less serious.

pcardin

CiniO wrote: »

Sounds a bit like timing belt jumped or lost few tooth.
But could be something completely different, more or less serious.

+1 on the above. Sounds like TB either slipped and few cylinders not working.

GERMAN ROCKS

nibtrix wrote: »

Car broke down on the motorway in France last Saturday, about 130km from Cherbourg. Some mechanical issue with the engine, we suddenly lost power while driving and had to judder to a halt in a lay-by. The car would restart but the vibration, rattling and banging was so bad that it was undriveable.

Had to get it towed to a garage, which of course was then closed until Monday so we were stuck hanging around in the middle of nowhere for a few days.

Once the garage took a quick look on Monday they declared that it was a "big problem". We had a lot of communication issues but basically they said they thought the entire engine would need to be replaced, at a cost of €2500-3000! It's a Citroen C4, 1.6 Petrol, 2006, cost around 5k last year.

At that stage we decided to temporarily abandon the car and come home to decide what to do. We don't trust the garage in France to treat us fairly, plus if we have them repair the car we have to go and collect it. We've looked into having the car shipped/towed home but it seems pretty pricey (best quote so far is around €1300). The other option is scrapping it but we would get nothing for it at all.

Anyone have any bright ideas? Or know someone with a tow truck who can transport it for under a grand?

If the car is nice and your fairly confident it will last another 10 years would you be better just to bite the bullet and let the French crowd put in the new engine (is it new for that money) and get the ferry over yourself to collect it? Are they a trustworthy garage anyway of getting a bit thrown off the price?

Best thing is have you anyone who speaks French who could act as a translator?

Problem then with getting it done in France is you don't really have any guarantee if anything goes wrong with this engine as it will be so much hassle to get it back there.

A Law

Would you be allowed by law to tow the car to the boat using those tow bar things with the spring in the middle? I'm imagining not as no one has suggested it.

_Brian

i knew someone in similar position a few years ago and they drove to a quiet location and burned the car, insurance paid out 75% of what they thought the car was worth.
Fairness it was few years ago when insurance was less of a cost.


Anyway, back to op.
I'd also say op is in a pickle as the garage will be charging now anyway. If thinking of bringing the car elsewhere it would be wise to ask what the bill so far is, they could get a snot on them and dig into him - refusing to release the car till bill is paid.

nibtrix

_Brian wrote: »

i knew someone in similar position a few years ago and they drove to a quiet location and burned the car, insurance paid out 75% of what they thought the car was worth.
Fairness it was few years ago when insurance was less of a cost.


Anyway, back to op.
I'd also say op is in a pickle as the garage will be charging now anyway. If thinking of bringing the car elsewhere it would be wise to ask what the bill so far is, they could get a snot on them and dig into him - refusing to release the car till bill is paid.

We've confirmed that all we will be charged for now is the recovery fee (which we already paid) and the daily parking fee (we agreed a rate).

Even the insurance company said "if you'd actually crashed you'd have been covered", I kinda wish I'd tipped it into something when the engine went!!!

nibtrix

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

If the car is nice and your fairly confident it will last another 10 years would you be better just to bite the bullet and let the French crowd put in the new engine (is it new for that money) and get the ferry over yourself to collect it? Are they a trustworthy garage anyway of getting a bit thrown off the price?

Best thing is have you anyone who speaks French who could act as a translator?

Problem then with getting it done in France is you don't really have any guarantee if anything goes wrong with this engine as it will be so much hassle to get it back there.

They said it would be a second hand engine, even at that price. We had a French speaker call them and they were still very reluctant to give any information.

SmartinMartin

A 2006 c4 petrol is only worth 1500 to 1800. It's not worth repatriating. Abandon it and buy another one here.

nibtrix

SmartinMartin wrote: »

A 2006 c4 petrol is only worth 1500 to 1800. It's not worth repatriating. Abandon it and buy another one here.

It's an automatic that had <70000 km on the clock. If I could find a replacement for under €4000 I wouldn't even have a decision to make.

SmartinMartin

nibtrix wrote: »

It's an automatic that had <70000 km on the clock. If I could find a replacement for under €4000 I wouldn't even have a decision to make.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/citroen-c4-automatic/14912131

SmartinMartin

Don't stick to Citroen though, with that budget you have a huge choice. Here, 1.6 petrol autos,, knock yourself out:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars?year_from=05&year_to=08&fuelType=Petrol&carType=usedCars&transmission=Automatic&country=Ireland&engine_from=1.6&engine_to=1.6

nibtrix

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Don't stick to Citroen though, with that budget you have a huge choice. Here, 1.6 petrol autos,, knock yourself out:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars?year_from=05&year_to=08&fuelType=Petrol&carType=usedCars&transmission=Automatic&country=Ireland&engine_from=1.6&engine_to=1.6

Cheers, thanks.

GERMAN ROCKS

I suppose the way I look at things is that its better the devil you know. For example I know you might end up putting more money into your own car rather than purchasing a new one but at least you know what condition your own was in and how it was serviced etc and that there was nothing else wrong with it up to that point whereas you still don't know what your buying second hand.

bear1

I'm amazed you bought a 06 c4 for 5k. Fleeced I would say.
You need to realise that you have no idea what sort of engine would be put into it, was it serviced properly? What's it general condition? Does it even run properly?
Then to fly back to where the car is, hand over a fortune with 0 comeback and then drive nervous as hell at any noise you hear back to the ferry which is more money wasted and then on home.
What if it breaks down again?
Don't put anymore money into it, cut your losses and get another.

Riva10

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

I suppose the way I look at things is that its better the devil you know. For example I know you might end up putting more money into your own car rather than purchasing a new one but at least you know what condition your own was in and how it was serviced etc and that there was nothing else wrong with it up to that point whereas you still don't know what your buying second hand.

The problem with this logic is the 2nd hand engine is totally unknown to you. It may be in worse condition,although running, than your own. You may not make it back to the port and the whole saga starts again. As other posters have suggested, cut your losses and buy again at home. At least if the replacement car gives trouble, the seller will know what you are saying.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Isambard

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

It's what I'd do. Car worth less than €3000, it's going to cost that much or more to get it home and on the road.

Isambard

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

I suppose the way I look at things is that its better the devil you know. For example I know you might end up putting more money into your own car rather than purchasing a new one but at least you know what condition your own was in and how it was serviced etc and that there was nothing else wrong with it up to that point whereas you still don't know what your buying second hand.

He's only had it a year and it has a major fault...I don't think that counts as the devil he knows.

stefanovich

What about having another mechanic look at it? Sounds like the garage might just be trying to rip you off. They'll have it sold for parts.

listermint

stefanovich wrote: »

What about having another mechanic look at it? Sounds like the garage might just be trying to rip you off. They'll have it sold for parts.

It's not worth the price of any repair.

Ditch it move on. End of story

Riva10

stefanovich wrote: »

What about having another mechanic look at it. Sounds like the garage might just be trying to rip you off.

Can he be sure that another mechanic will not have connections to the garage where the car is at present. It will mean removing the car to another location with more cost involved.

stefanovich

Riva10 wrote: »

Can he be sure that another mechanic will not have connections to the garage where the car is at present. It will mean removing the car to another location with more cost involved.

Sounds like a great scam. I wonder how many "write offs" this garage sells for parts.

TomOnBoard

Where exactly in France is your car?

Hal1

I would sell it for travel fare home and go look at that c4 on donedeal.

honda boi

Cut your losses now.
Bought a car last January ,drove 2 weeks then boom engine/turbo gone.
Have spent 5-6 times the value of the car getting it barely right .
If I could do it again I'd scrap it and get something else!!

nibtrix

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Can he simply abandon it and cut his losses?

We can get it scrapped with a proper destruction cert etc. for nothing