I've been a member of the AA for about 40 years and have needed to call them out about 6 times. On each occasion I have had nothing but the very best possible service.

The last time was about 5 years ago when the (very old) vehicle that I was driving at the time developed an ominous noise whilst I was on a motorway. I managed to exit at a convenient slip road and the AA man was with me in about 15 minutes. He discovered something wrong in the engine but wasn't sure that the fault was actually the one that had caused the noise. He suggested that I restart the engine and he said that he would follow me home to make sure that the problem did not recur. What he had done obviously had cured the noise problem and the car ran perfectly for another 2 years but what impressed me most was the fact that I lived 16 miles away and he did follow me all the way home.

That, to me, is beyond the call of duty (and I wrote to the AA to put in a good word for the patrolman).

I had the use of a Suzuki Super Carry many many years ago.

You'd never say anything about it was really sporty, but the short gear shift, the precise steering and the revvy engine made it handle like a go-kart! Great fun!

I have had the misfortune this week of having to pay £1500 for a new flywheel for my Toyota Rav4 Diesel. It had done only 47,000 miles. The terrible thing is that this is the second Rav4 I have owned and the second broken flywheel at around the same mileage. What possessed me to buy a second one I don't know. I was assured at the time that there was no chance of the same thing happening again.
When the first one went in 2007 there was an issue with Toyota diesels and broken flywheels admitted to me by customer services. I did get some financial help, but only I suspect because I bought another car. This time Toyota has washed its hands of any responsibility. Apparently my car is too new to have the faulty flywheel as they have been moderated and too old for them to show me any goodwill.
It is more than a coincidence for two Rav4s to have broken flywheels at the same low mileage. I am writing to Toyota to follow up the phonecall but I am not optimistic. I have also started to contact the motoring press. Any suggestions?

Sue

These days a modern diesel engine with a DPF cleans up the soot and hardly smell at all. A cold petrol engine throws out hydrocarbons via the exhaust which are not exactly healthy if/when you breath them in.

I was told by the lad (who is not the owner, he might be away) that the manual testing procedure had to be authorised by VOSA, and would only be done if the system was down for more than XX minutes/hours. There wasn't enough time left today for that to be invoked, he said.