pfft my car broke down.. whos problem

Hybrids · 3 Mar 2006 at 06:58

Right as the topic says my car broke down the other morning and failed to restart, only problem is that I wasnt the one driving the car. I've been out of the country for over a month now and my step father has been using my car. I recieved a email from my mother saying they can't get it started and they are going to wait for me to come home so I can resolve the problem!

I sent replied to the email explaining that I was annoyed and I expect it to be fixed when I get back. This is the second time I've lent them the car, first time was for three months, I came back to find my car never starting first time.

Should I be the one spending time/money fixing this problem or should my parents be the ones sorting this out?

Could an argument "your car, your property" stand?

Hybrids

Zip · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:03

If it was their fault that it broke down then they should pay.
But if it was just something on the car that was on its way out then i would say you should pay.

Hybrids · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:11

All cars break down in time, I'm not sure whether something was about to go or not, I wouldnt say that bad driving or something on my step dads part caused it to break down.

If I didnt go away would the car still break down? Its something we'll never know.

But it did happened while being under they're supervision.

If I lent you my skateboard for a few weeks and the wheels just happened to fall off surely its not my fault and you would have to pay?

Hybrids

Lostkat · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:11

They have had the car for over a month, so they should at least take it to be repaired and pay some of the cost imo. I borrowed my brother's car for a year when I came out of uni. During that time, I replaced the tyres and glow plugs, paid to get it through the MOT and changed the brake pads. Nothing went wrong with it in that time, but I would have at least contributed to the cost if it had. You can't just borrow peoples' belongings and then give them back when they don't work anymore.

Insanity · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:28

I think its their problem regardless of if somethin' was on its way out anyway.

You were nice enough to let 'em use it (for free i assume), they killed it, they should fix it.

End of story.

Hybrids · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:32

Insanity said:
I think its their problem regardless of if somethin' was on its way out anyway.

You were nice enough to let 'em use it (for free i assume), they killed it, they should fix it.

End of story.

Yup for free and I left them nearly a full tank of petrol

geez im a nice guy

<(Multi)> · 3 Mar 2006 at 08:15

Ultimately it should be your responsibility to fix the car. HOWEVER, I'd expect them to pay at least half the cost, as you'd done them a favour, and it did die under their care.

Oh, and I'd also expect them to fix the car before you got home and then ask you for your 50% costs.

wonder_lander · 3 Mar 2006 at 08:37

I borrowed a friends frontera to go to a funeral up the other end of the country. Unfortunately when i was 10 miles away from our destination the head gasket failed!

I forked out 600quid to have the car repaired as I felt I should give it back to them exactly in the condition that they lent it to me in.

If they aren't going to pay towards then I would personally not lend them it again!

matthew_o50 · 3 Mar 2006 at 08:42

It is your car mate. It could just easily have broken down on you and it is afterall your responsibility for allowing them to drive it but it would only be right that they give something towards fixing it. First of all find out what the problem is and how much it will cost to fix then see if your parents will contribute something towards the cost of repair.

William · 3 Mar 2006 at 08:45

Depends entirely on what is broken and why.

Deka · 3 Mar 2006 at 09:43

Personally, if I lent my car to someone (probably wouldn't but still...) I wouldn't expect them to pay for anything other than petrol really, unless they actually damaged something. Normal wear and tear I would expect to pay myself, even to the point of tyres etc, unless they were destroyed by misuse etc.

4T5 · 3 Mar 2006 at 10:30

I change my motors all the time and am forever without one so always borrowing.
Not only would the car be fixed and running perfectly on your return it would also be valeted to the max and have More petrol/diesel in than when you gave it me.
Now if the engine problem turned out to be a problem that was not my fault and just general wear and tear i would expect you to contribute. Having said that it would have been fixed by me or a mate, the parts would have been obtained trade and it would have cost a fraction of a garages price.
The above for me is the way to go but unfortunetly others do not live by my rules.
***
Rather than end up falling out over it i would just get it sorted myself on return and set about my step dad whilst he is asleep with a Baseball bat.

***= A joke odviously for those that are ready with razors attached to there keyboards.