Gutted :(

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there are a couple of points really..

1) your wife is being totally unreasonable and if she gives a monkeys about the relationship then she'll calm down and see reason, giving each other ultimatums is no way to stay together. Maybe its time to stand up to her a bit and call her bluff, is she really going to divorce you and be a single mum over an £800 clutch? Doubtful if you have a good relationship (which I'd question because of the thread tbh but thats not for here!)

2) Your car has the potential for reasonable running costs but a clutch and 2 sets of fronts in 20k miles points to the fact you drive like a tit, you're a father, you shouldn't be launching everywhere like your hair is on fire.

So.. my suggestion would be to get the vxr forum (is there one?) to suggest a reasonable local garage and then perhaps look at getting a clutch from a breaker, one of the joys of having a hot car is that other ones will get wrapped around trees and give up spare parts.

Alternatively get it fixed and promise the wife you'll stop eating tyres and clutches?

Maybe get it unmapped? Was it a permanent map or can you wipe it like a bluefin?

To be honest a moderately hot saloon shouldn't be chucking clutches and eating tyres so you need to take that on yourself but unless you change you'll go to another car and just do the same and sooner or later give yourself a real bill for a smashed up car or worse.

I've gone in the direction of similar debates in my house, my Focus ST I've had from new needed a new turbo at 60k miles and I got the whole "if it didn't have a turbo it couldn't blow up" thing which was sort of fair enough (until the father in laws tdci turbo went costing more :)) but then my tyres last almost 20k each and I don't batter the crap out of my clutch, 78k and still going strong.

Either way, she wouldn't consider ever threatening me with leaving for anything other than cheating in which case she wouldn't even bother wasting time threatening me and I think thats fair! She can disapprove of my car and have the odd moan about why can't I get something a bit more normal but she knows it means something to me so it never goes very far.

Man up, apologise, get it fixed, promise to look after it better and then demonstrate it.
 
mate of mine reckons you can still drive a car that has the clutch gone.

If i put the car in gear and lift the clutch, it doesnt stall. Apply some gas and it just revs the engine like its in neutral. This is the behaviour of a knackered clutch isnt it ?
 
MrLOL if you need a hand towing the car to a garage I may be able to help out, will save you any recovery costs
 
MrLOL said:
mate of mine reckons you can still drive a car that has the clutch gone.

If i put the car in gear and lift the clutch, it doesnt stall. Apply some gas and it just revs the engine like its in neutral. This is the behaviour of a knackered clutch isnt it ?
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Definatly slipped imo, think you need to heed the words about your mrs though - being placed with such a demand doesnt seem fair.
 
If the Vectra is your daily transport and hobby/passion then the costs are relatively cheap. You'll not get a cheaper to run car that will have kid carrying capabilites and fill that same hole IMO, assuming you own it outright.

I'd let her cool off, spend the time drawing up some numbers and put forward your case to her. I think you're jumping the gun a bit and your o/h is having a selfish moment (assuming the car does not cut into your quality of life funds). These things happen, I hope you find the usual compromise :)
 
MrLOL said:
mate of mine reckons you can still drive a car that has the clutch gone.

If i put the car in gear and lift the clutch, it doesnt stall. Apply some gas and it just revs the engine like its in neutral. This is the behaviour of a knackered clutch isnt it ?
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If the clutch is gone it can't possibly but if a clutch cable snaps it is possible to drive the car if you know what your doing.
 
Don't worry, I have a cunning plan..

Replace your expensive x" wheels and replace them with 15"ers. She gets cheap tyres; you get a lowered car. Win win. ;)
 
Looks as if thes been looking for a reason to do this for a while and an £800 bill just clicked the "goin to war" button. =/

Seems like she's going a bit OTT over it but i understand her mood somewhat if its going to leave you short at christmas, wonder if her reaction woulda been any different had it happened a month or 2 later.
 
Jonny ///M said:
if a clutch cable snaps it is possible to drive the car if you know what your doing.
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I never figured out how you get the car started in the first place with no clutch control (unless you just start in first and destroy the starter motor a short while later) and stop at traffic lights (unless the same)?
 
miniyazz said:
I never figured out how you get the car started in the first place with no clutch control (unless you just start in first and destroy the starter motor a short while later) and stop at traffic lights (unless the same)?
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yeah thats how you do it, you wont wreck the starter unless you make a habit of it. If the car doesn't even move at all then the clutch must be totally obliterated. I've never heard of that, usually even with a totally fubar clutch you can still drive if you go really gently but it'll lose its grip as soon as you get on the gas.
 
I'll bet she's spent more than £2k on makeup, shampoo and haircuts in the last 18 months. Honestly, £25 a week for your hobby is not that much.
 
iaind said:
That's the type of ammo that could be used to settle the situation with indisputable logic
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We are dealing here with a Woman who does not drive....

The only thing in this thread that's indisputable is , I'm afraid, the OP is shafted...

I feel for the OP, but agree that a relationship (that's worth fighting for) is the better thing to hang on to than a Car, regardless of what sort of car it is.

A Banger & relationship Bliss is better than an M5 (or VXR / whatever) with matching misery....

The OP feels "Gutted" at the moment, no where near as gutted as one feels after a failed relationship & part time parenting at weekends / when the silly bitch* deems suitable.... Believe me, I know.

* A reference toward my ex rather than the OP's other half!

MrLOL said:
i'm a little bit perplexed as to why its lasted this short

also confused as to how it went from perfect to completely knackered in 3 weeks. As soon as it started showing signs of playing up it hasnt been driven hard. Its been nursed to and from work so i dont know how its escaled this quick.

But thats beside the point. its definately the clutch and its not in warranty, so only thing to do is replace it.
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Once it starts to go it is a slippery slope, its not that surprising to me that its failed relatively quickly, especially given the recent re-map.
 
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How about selling the Vectra and annoying her with Cheap Barges and the other 'interesting' cars available for sub £2,000? Even less in most cases. You get to have a bit of 'fun' with cars, but make it look like you're making an advice effort to 'downsize'

Servicing them at home and doing the minor maintenance yourself (Discs, pads, the odd belt change, etc), and if/when something rather expensive does go, simply replace it with another car of the same ethos?

I'm sure after a few months of having a 20 year old rusty BMW 7 Series on the driveway, I'm sure she'd BEG you to get something 'Modern'. Then see this as a blank check for getting something that is one up on the Vectra, then when she begins complaining about running costs again, simply tell her that she was the one who told you to buy it ;).
 
This sounds like a typical female overreaction, I'm sure it will blow over. Either way you are going to be left short and now she wants to make you take the depreciation hit on it as well. If she's really sticking to her guns, buy banger after banger and she'll soon cave in.

It'll be a real shame if it goes as it's one of the nicest VXRs around.
 
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