Another MOT Pass

[Ninanina]

Just had the Prius serviced and MOT'd at my local Toyota dealer

It only failed on a split anti roll bar gaiter which I had them do and with a full annual service & new wipers, was just £300 which I think was a bit of a bargain

The original bill was nearer £360 but Lee, the service manager, always does a good deal for us

Colin has a huge Toyota Land Cruiser V8 4x4 (Amazon) which is about 19 years old and used to tow our caravan and last year had to have the front brake/discs/calipers replaced at a cost of nearly £2,500 but Toyota UK has some sort of scheme to keep 'older' Toyota's on the road so did a massive discount and we only paid about £600, bargain. The last, non Toyota dealer, lost the alloy wheel locking nut key so Toyota had to get a welder in to remove the nuts

I've done a calculation of fuel used on the Prius vs my old Merc and I've saved about £280 on fuel and about £250 on tax so £500 odd saved per year which can't be bad

I do still miss my Merc for it's comfort but the Prius has saved me loads of money

[walpurgis]

I bought my Suzuki Alto SZ to save money four years ago. Seems to be working. A claimed 74 mpg (more like 65 mpg in reality) and zero road tax fee. I bought it new and only pay around £12 monthly for the maintenance plan, which covers everything including an annual MOT. I'd be lucky to run a motorbike for less. It's a nippy little thing, even decent on motorways for a such small motor, it cruises happily at 80/90 mph and isn't slowed by gradients like most sub 1000cc cars. No doubt I'll need to replace it one day, but as I'm only doing 3500 miles a year, that could be quite a while away.

[Ninanina]

That sounds good Geoff. Zero tax is great, mine costs a tenner per year

The Japs certainly do make a very reliable car indeed

The only Suzuki I have experience of was the Swift and that was a real hoot to drive..

[walpurgis]

The only Suzuki I have experience of was the Swift and that was a real hoot to drive..

My mate has the sport version. Seems impressed with it. Might be a bit shaded by his Merc 350 SLK though.

[struth]

mine costs a fortune and its not fair. I only do about 2000 miles a year but need it .

[Ninanina]

That's a shame Grant

I only do about 4,000 a year these days so cheap motoring is a must for me

[struth]

should just be on the petrol tax.

[Ninanina]

Geoff what is the latest Alto equivalent from Suzuki ?

[Ninanina]

I have to have an auto now though..

I know it's lazy but I can't be bothered to change gear these days and Portsmouth traffic is a nightmare without an auto box...

[Ian7633]

The only Japanese car I've ever owned was an original Nissan Micra. Bearing in mind that I'm 6'2" and 24 stone it was a source of great amusement among my friends but I found it extremely comfortable and dirt cheap to run. It was more a case of putting it on rather than getting in.