And they will come to meet you and fix your car so you can continue on your way. for a fee
What fee? If you are a member it is free. In fact if you are not a member they wont even call out. Well they will if you join. It ha certainly gone up over the years though. I remember it being $20 then $25 then NRMA went private and the next jump was to about $45. Now it is $80.
Puffs up Chest I dont call anyone, I push it home if I have to.
I have done all kinds of repairs on the side of the road, unless its something I cant fix with hand tools or its not safe I will fix it where it broke down. I have been towed home once and to a garage once. I was not in my car when I got towed home and I was out of state and broke a timing gear and couldnt fix it beside the road. I had everything except the timing gear but they wouldnt let me order it and leave the car sit. Not saying I havent walked my share of times but calling assistance is the last step.
Now my wife will call and I think I will be gettting her some road insurance again next year, she has never used it but she has used her moms.
Puffs up chest...... My cars don't break down on the road......., only in the driveway . Nah, I carry tools and most breakdowns are minor. Anything inconvenient and I do have roadside assistance through my insurance company. The last time I used it, I had them deliver me parts. It is also available from most cell phone providers. Usually I will call my wife to come get me and then I will go after it with my tow dolly.
I call AAA. Two 'free' calls per year, they'll pop your lock or jump start/diagnose a no start, or tow you home twice a year for about $50.00. You can even have a friends car towed, if you are there at the time. Plus there are some other benefits. If you drive an older car, its a must have. Caution, for you political types: They are a lobbying organization for motorists.
Before I had AAA, my Fiero sheared a distributor rotor out in the middle of nowhere, and a sherrifs deputy drove me 10 miles to an auto parts store and back to get what I needed for a roadside fix. That was probably a once in a lifetime lucky break, even here in the friendly city of Orlando.
[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 10-20-2008).]
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07:51 AM
jimbolaya Member
Posts: 10652 From: Virginia Beach, Virginia Registered: Feb 2007
If I cant fix it myself with the tools I carry, I call a friend with a rollback. My insurance company reimburses me. If I dont want to do that for some reason, I call another friend who picks up my tow dolly (has key) at my house and brings it where I am. I do the same for him if he breaks down.
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10:09 AM
2.5 Member
Posts: 43234 From: Southern MN Registered: May 2007
I used to carry no cell phone until 2005, I couldn't call someone if I wanted to back then. I remember lots of roadside fixes I did myself. I walked to the nearest house and asked to use their phone, called my folks once because I was 15 miles from there and the car I was driving has sprung a spontaneous oil leak and I had no oil to add. It had leaked out while driving until the dash light came on (didn't leak previously). I called a friend of mine once because it was -15 degrees F without the wind chill in January, and I was leaving work late and my 88 S10 didn't want to start, used the phone at work for that, luckily the building was warm and I didn't get locked out. Cell phones are great for safety!
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10:21 AM
blackrams Member
Posts: 32092 From: Covington, TN, USA Registered: Feb 2003
Three free tows (50 miles or less) per year, they'll bring you gas, jimmy your lock if you lock your keys in your car, they give you free maps if you go to their office, and your membership card gets you discounts just about everywhere...
My mom pays my membership for me for Christmas every year.
[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 10-20-2008).]
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01:26 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
My insurance pays tows (3 per year), emergency road service (lockouts, gas, flat tire). Costs $5.00 @ 6 months on my car coverage. With 3 vehicles, thats 9 svc calls @ yr. I dont know why people use like AAA at their prices. For all the extra money all they do is plan your trips, which Im going to plan myself anyway.
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02:57 PM
buddycraigg Member
Posts: 13606 From: kansas city, mo Registered: Jul 2002
but (beating my chest) i once replaced Polly's starter, in a parking lot of a gas station, in the snow, while my leg was in a cast and i was on crutches. top that
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03:38 PM
Toddster Member
Posts: 20871 From: Roswell, Georgia Registered: May 2001
I whip out the tool box and try to fix whatever the problem is if small. I have a few spare parts of the most common things that go ka-blewey! If it is bigger than that, AAA. Worth the price of admission for sure!
Three free tows (50 miles or less) per year, they'll bring you gas, jimmy your lock if you lick your keys in your car....
sounds kinda kinky lol.
Last night my wheel fell off while driving through town. It was late/dark out and not exactly the type of place I wanted to be stuck. A police car showed up quickly and called the tow truck company for me. I told the officer I had AAA. They came and towed the car to their lot. The officer was nice enough to give me a ride across town so I was closer to home.
Today I go to pick up the car and have it towed to the local shop only to find out it's $166 (which I don't have and can't borrow from anyone).
Apparently the issue with AAA is that the cop called the tow truck and they say in order for them to cover it I have to make the call. Grrrrrrrrrr.
Now every day the car sits there it cost another $32. by 4am I will have probably have about $140. But come tomorrow the price will have gone up to $198.
[This message has been edited by Gecko (edited 10-20-2008).]
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03:55 PM
PFF
System Bot
partfiero Member
Posts: 6923 From: Tucson, Arizona Registered: Jan 2002
If i cant fix it, i get a free tow from my insurance company. Guy down the street ( works for a tow company ) has a flat bed carrier so it wont destroy my car.
If it's just a flat, I'll throw the donut on it and take it to the shop. Otherwise I call Don. I think we have roadside service with our insurance now.
Jane
------------------ Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality
If it's just a flat, I'll throw the donut on it and take it to the shop. Otherwise I call Don. I think we have roadside service with our insurance now.
Jane
My wife does the same thing. Im AAA, in effect.
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05:44 PM
proff Member
Posts: 7393 From: The bottom of the world Registered: Oct 2004
What fee? . It ha certainly gone up over the years though. I remember it being $20 then $25 then NRMA went private and the next jump was to about $45. Now it is $80.
if you are memeber or not you still get a fee, depending on the distance. i did a ingnition moudule one day and i didn't have anyone handie to i got charged $90 for a tow home at a distance of 35 km
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07:33 PM
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
Originally posted by cliffw: Puffs up chest...... My cars don't break down on the road......., only in the driveway . Nah, I carry tools and most breakdowns are minor. Anything inconvenient and I do have roadside assistance through my insurance company. The last time I used it, I had them deliver me parts. It is also available from most cell phone providers. Usually I will call my wife to come get me and then I will go after it with my tow dolly.
Ditto here Cliff mine only brake in the driveway.
But I am of course roadside assistance to my family and friends. There ain’t much I can’t fix offsite than I can here.
I hate waiting for someone else to do something to my cars.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't. Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
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07:36 PM
MonteC Member
Posts: 502 From: Summerville, SC, USA Registered: Jun 2007
i am the one who gets the calls. ive broke down once in 4 years. didn't have much choice, cept limp 30 miles home doing 10mph, you do the math. but anyway, i called a friend of my dad's. dad drives truck so didn't have him to call at the at particular incident.
otherwise i can call my dad and he can bring my trailer to the rescue. haha, glad i bought that baby, if i should need it.
if you are memeber or not you still get a fee, depending on the distance. i did a ingnition moudule one day and i didn't have anyone handie to i got charged $90 for a tow home at a distance of 35 km
You got ripped off. Contact head office. I have had cars towed, cars unlocked, break downs fixed. Has never cost a cent. Hell on one tow we even got a lift home after the car got dropped at the garage. You don't pay to join roadside service to have to pay as well.
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08:28 PM
PFF
System Bot
Oct 21st, 2008
proff Member
Posts: 7393 From: The bottom of the world Registered: Oct 2004
Now I don't take any car out unless its Ok If it breaks down I call julie and tell her to bring the car trailer
quote
Originally posted by AusFiero:
You got ripped off. Contact head office. I have had cars towed, cars unlocked, break downs fixed. Has never cost a cent. Hell on one tow we even got a lift home after the car got dropped at the garage. You don't pay to join roadside service to have to pay as well.
I am Not a member of the NRMA
[This message has been edited by proff (edited 10-21-2008).]
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05:34 AM
FieroJam Member
Posts: 1118 From: Zephyrhills, FL Registered: Feb 2008
I didn't have much choice in my early 20s. I went to the library and copied what I needed and fixed my own car. Sometimes hopefully before it stranded me on the roadside. I couldn't afford a tow. A family member would tow it to my place for me and tell me what I needed to fix. My uncle Sonny. He was the best.
Jane
------------------ Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality
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05:42 PM
proff Member
Posts: 7393 From: The bottom of the world Registered: Oct 2004
I didn't have much choice in my early 20s. I went to the library and copied what I needed and fixed my own car. Sometimes hopefully before it stranded me on the roadside. I couldn't afford a tow. A family member would tow it to my place for me and tell me what I needed to fix. My uncle Sonny. He was the best.
Jane
if i was over there in the USA near your area i would be happy to help you
Just Thursday night, I and a friend changed the fuel pump in my '99 Silverado. Had to drop the tank with 30 gallons of gasoline in it. Did it in a parking lot of a grain elevator with a couple of 4X4's and a 2X4 lever and basic hand tools.
Oh yeah, it was well after dark.
I don't want to do that again.
John Stricker
quote
Originally posted by buddycraigg:
AAA.
but (beating my chest) i once replaced Polly's starter, in a parking lot of a gas station, in the snow, while my leg was in a cast and i was on crutches. top that
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07:31 PM
MonteC Member
Posts: 502 From: Summerville, SC, USA Registered: Jun 2007
I travel out of state alot to see my family(ies) The wife and i were on our way to see her parents in NC and our cars timing belt broke 40 miles from her parents house, 200 miles from our house. We had it towed at 10 at night on a friday the 40 miles. Im a mechanic and her dad is a retired mechanic so we BS'ed around saturday and drank beers while we fixed the car. Then left sunday night as planned.
If i or any of my family that lives around me break down around town i just borrow my dads truck (next door) and hook on to my tow dolly. I mainly have Tripple A for out of state drives. 100 free miles is handy.
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07:41 PM
Wht&BluGT Member
Posts: 1175 From: Waterford, MI Registered: Jan 2005
I've got AAA, used them a couple times, locked keys in car, left the lights on (darn early miata's don't a buzzer), and I had the a/c recharged and the alternator somehow got disconnected.
I can remember everytime my dad took either his Corvette or Camaro (both '69) out, half the time, they would leave under their own power and comeback on a flat bed, it was really kind of amusing.