My car is almost 5 years old, but because I bought it new everything comes at the same time of the year for it ie. insurance, MOT, service and sometimes tax. Well tax is now done in April (and is dirt cheap for me!) however the rest can't be changed unless I paid insurance per month.
So today I took the car in for its MOT… failed 
It failed on both suspension coils, the exhaust and a couple of lights not working. It's now at the hospital (otherwise known as the Mercedes garage in Liverpool) as it's been deemed 'DANGEROUS TO DRIVE' so said the notice. It's not going to be fixed for another week so I've had to cancel my London meetings on Monday and essentially I am without a car for the next week, and after next week I'll be without a large chunk of money!
I'm going to estimate the worst of £1000 or so. The last time Mercedes serviced the car it cost over £500 and nothing major was repaired! So I can see the 4 figures looming for this one. I guess besides the lateral thingy ma jiggy in May going, nothing's gone wrong with it within the 5 years I've had it. It's been to Austria and back 3 times and spent a total of 14 months in Austria playing dodgems and bumper cars. I don't think it's the money as such (although I'd rather not pay that much out) but more the annoyance at not having a car. Luckily I can do my shopping online and have it delivered to the door and it does mean that we'll have to get on the bikes to pick up fruit and veg etc. however you do still miss the convenience, even if you don't use it very much (like us).
Guess I'd better start saving…! At least it'll get washed again 
Ive just spent over £2k on my new car. After spending £300+ passing the MOT on my rover 3 months ago!
It's mad how much cars cost compared to how much they cost to repair at times! However despite asking if I need one I know I do as the trip from home to London would be a lot longer and more hectic than a car drive!
Dont you drive a Smart?
Why was it so expensive?!?!
The Smart is actually made by Mercedes and whilst cheap to buy and run the repairs and servicing usually have to be carried out by a Mercedes garage as very few other garages will touch them. And so suddenly all costs are pretty much doubled.
But to break down the price a little (as I don't know car repair prices so someone can probably confirm if it's expensive or not)
A new exhaust – £290
2 new suspension coils – £260
2 new rear tyres – £160
60,000km Service included fluid changes (oil n stuff), spark plugs, air filter, oil filter and various other bits – £300+
Those prices exclude VAT.
But yes, Smart = Mercedes = expensive. The car is controlled by 3 computers and thus limits who can deal with it. Add the £360 I paid out in May for 2 new front tyres and some lateral thingy that made the ABS light come on and that comes to just over £1600 for the year so far.
Insurance is due in 3 weeks
I wonder where you werre at the start of this week eh!
Here there and everywhere!