Aibu about my car?

[VelvetSpoon]

Previously posted about my car and it's MOT. I'd put it in and garage had given a totally vague estimate of £250-500+ for repairs. Anyway after some negotiation by my bf, we got them to agree they'd do some welding and repair rear brake for £250-300 and we'd do some other minor repairs ourselves.

Those were the only 'issues' on the MOT fail. It did also refer to tyres reaching end of life but we weren't too bothered about that as they have well over 1.6mm of tread and are in reasonable condition.

Anyway, after a couple of weeks they said the work was done, it had passed. We went to collect and paid the £300. Driving home afterwards I noticed from the repair breakdown (which wasn't handed over til I'd paid) that they'd charged £25 for the minor repairs we'd done. Bit annoying but one of those things.

Also on the MOT there were now about 5 other advisory items, including brake discs/pads for front brakes.

Since then I've driven the car on about 4-5 occasions and done about 70-80 miles in total if that. This week it started making a weird squeaking noise (when driving and braking). Bf thinks it is the pads that now need replacing.

AIBU to think that something shouldn't be advisory if it's going to fail within a few drives and only going a tiny distance? I now can't drive my car because it's too dangerous (frustrating as I've just passed my test and really want to be driving).

But these aren't expensive fault indicating a car in terms decline, they are replaceable life expired parts and are part of the ongoing cost of any car. That's what you aren't grasping.

Oh and in relation to MOTs. In future take it to the local authority testing centre (who have no vested interest in passing or failing it) or to a garage that isn't a test centre in its own right. And as someone said upthread the cut price MoTs are a rip off as they make their money back on repairs.

Pads and discs on their own aren't the issue. At MOT, I had to pay for welding and also repairs to the rear brakes which were almost £300.

That was only the rear brake on one side, the next likely fault in bfs view is that the other side will need doing, and the handbrake. And possibly more welding.

And all that assumes nothing engine/ gear related goes wrong which given the age of the car is entirely possible.

For next MOT, I'm definitely using a council garage. I didn't know they existed until recently, but will use it next time. Our hands were slightly tied this time anyway as I hadn't passed my test so had to take it somewhere nearby (council garage is about 10 miles away, or over an hour by public transport). I won't use the garage I went to again, I was sceptical after the first fail but when they double charged me, that confirmed my views

My ILs have owned and driven cars for 70 years. They still haven't git a clue about how to do any maintenance except fill up with petrol.
One classic moment was when a tyre was slightly low and fil turned into a garage to pump it up "do you know how to do it?"asked mil.
I think 8yo ds knows as much as them- he cab fill it up, pump up they tyres, check oil/brake pads etc.

There really should be some portion of car ownership common sense knowledge as part of the driving test.

I think 8yo ds knows as much as them- he cab fill it up...

That is illegal.

(actually doing it that is, not knowing how to!)

Soupdragon, i believe that's right it is illegal to use petrol pumps (the limit is 16 I think).

Just to clarify I know how to put petrol in my car, how to check tyre pressure and put air in tyres, check the oil etc. I know how to change a tyre too although physically I lack the strength to jack the car up to do it. But I know the principles. My dad worked in the motor trade for years so taught me all the basics when I was very young. Sadly he's no longer with us, I would definitely have been seeking his advice if he was.

It is illegal but I hadn't realised when he did it (with me standing right next to him)
I used to fill it up from about age 6yo for my disabled grandad if I was with him, and he,asked one time and I thought, fine come and do it.
As I put the nozzle back I noticed the sign that said no under 16s.
He hasn't done it since, much to his irritation.

I don't know whether it was illegal when I did it or whether just ignored. I can remember a couple of times struggling to get the cap off and being helped with that, but then being left to do the actual filling myself.