MOT test - second opinion?

[mizelar]

I have owned my Ford Escort Mk 6 for 14 years (since 7k miles, now 118k). I have always used the same local independent garage for MOTs and any repairs, (very few, minor ones - cats, exhausts, brakes, wheel bearings, etc). The previous MOT tester was absolutely straight.

 

I have done 3k miles per year for the past 6 years.

 

At MOT in 2011, my car needed a small amount of welding, with advisory brake adjustment. Last year the MOT failed on a spring, with no advisory.

 

This year the garage changed hands, and the new owner has just been trained for MOTs.

 

Yesterday, my car failed horrifically on corrosion -

 

1) Offside outer front - front seat belt anchorage.

2) Offside front (floor) - ditto.

3) Nearside outer rear (sill) - suspension component mounting.

4) Nearside outer rear (chassis) - ditto.

5) Offside outer rear (chassis) - ditto.

All were judged to be "excessively corroded".

Advisory: brake pipes deteriorating.

 

I've been quoted, by the garage, £1000 for 18 hours welding.

 

I cannot understand how so much corrosion can suddenly become obvious in 3k miles, without any earlier signs! There is corrosion, undoubtedly, but that much?

 

Should I appeal or have my car re-tested at the local Council MOT centre?

 

Should I spend my £1000 on my mechanically sound car which is really reliable, or on a banger that will be a gamble?

[raydetinu]

To be sure, have it tested at Council MOT centre, as they do not do repairs have no reason to add on bits.

Then you will know if its worth it.

You can certainly get a reasonable runner for a £1000, especially if a large uneconomical one these days.

[Conniff]

If you take account that should the work be required, then it will be £1,000 plus the cost of a 2nd MoT. On the other hand, if the second station doesn't come up with that much work, then you have saved yourself some pennies.

 

Rust that can be there one year but not fail, can easily become a failure in a year.

 

Take another test, should it also fail on most of those things, then you have proved the new owners are trustworthy, but on the other hand, as pass or fail is at the judgement of the examiner at the time, it could end up costing you even more as he might fail things the first examiner passed.

 

As for a banger. There are some really nice cars for that sort of money and if you don't go for a complicated, modern regulations apply car, the type with all this emissions nonsense fitted, then you should be ok.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Conniff

[Ed Gasket]

Corrosion can be subjective; try cleaning up the bits you can see and coat with some smoothrite/hammerite paint then take it somewhere else.

[Westmead Fan]

by the sounds of it your car does not do alot of mileage & sits around if that is the case then your car is open to the elements and it don't take long for corrosion to eat away.

 

have you seen the areas that have failed because i work as an assistant we advise any bits of corrosion but only fail if it has holes in the area for example for being excessive.

 

other things i know in our area other mot stations don't even mention about corrosion because they do not like welding repairs when they fail.

 

just check the areas on your car, if you don't consider it a failure VOSA are the people to contact for an appeal but there is a fee.

[mizelar]

Thank you all, for taking the time to give me useful advice.

 

For better or worse, I have decided to have the welding done (£600 inc VAT) by an independent welder, who was recommended by the guy who used to test my car but has now retired.

 

I figure that I know my Escort (mechanically very sound) far better than any car I would get for £600, so it makes sense to get another year (or even 2?), while I save for a better replacement.

 

So, please cross your fingers for the patial retest on Wednesday! I'll let you know the result.