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Brilliant aren't they.
Seemed like my turbocharger had blown near Oxford services - hour later back on the road. Collar that attached the turbo pipe to engine had disconnected and was fixed there and then.
Even followed me for a few miles to check all was well.
Took two hours to get to me last week when the ATS fitters snapped two wheel bolts off. AA strictly shouldn't have taken me to the local garage for a repair as the 'damage' was caused by a third party - i.e. garage should have sorted it. Fortunately he towed me.
I once had a plastic fitting snap off a window wiper - in the rain. AA fitted a temporary repair clip, and rain-x'ed my windscreen then followed me 50 miles to our caravan 'just in-case'.
That said, my son had a dreadful time in Begium last year with AA Euro Cover, but it wasn't AA themselves, more the sub-contractors.
Hmmmm, mixed feelings myself about the RAC. When we broke down in France last summer some aspects of the response were spot on but others horrific. Can't say I'd recommend them.
pretty poor the couple of times I used them. Long waits and poor service
I've only had to use them twice ever - both times absolutely fab.
Recent was a suspension damper failure that they diagnosed, and corrdinated getting fixed in jig time. Superb.
The other was years ago (like '97), when it was Christmas time and hoofing it down with rain, in the dark, driving down the A96 from Aberdeen. The driver side windscreen wiper retaining bolt disappeared so the wiper was just hingin. Drove like the Blues Brothers to a lay-by and the AA fella was amazing in the awful weather getting it sorted. Wouldn't let me get out the car at any point to get wet, took care of it.
We had a big hamper in the back seat that was heading to parents, but we liberated a bottle of whisky and stuck it out window for him when done. His face lit up, and we felt dead christmassy. Job jobbed!
PS It's expensive anyway - family cover with home start but we've gone years without using it, then more recently with the ATS issue, and my son tends to break his modified car on a regular basis so needs a tow.
God knows how much the cost would be if you didn't have any cover and needed recovery. Nearly had to call them out on Bank Holiday monday - MrsF's battery went flat whilst I was listening to just the radio in the car for 45 minutes at the beach. Fortunately a friend had jump leads. New battery time.
We had to call the RAC couple of Sundays back (bank holiday weekend), they were great. Took an hour to come, bug we were visiting my parents so no bother. Car was misfireing and engine warning light came on. Had us up and running an hour and a half later and able to get home as he went to a near by parts place for a new coil. Much better than waiting for a row truck able to take car and family with a dog on a bank holiday weekend....
I switch between the AA and RAC every year as its far cheaper than doing the renewal which seems to go up each year + I go through Quidco for an extra £70ish cashback....
AA call out last year for a puncture I couldn't fix (1/2inch gash in tyre and no spare - can of tyre weld wouldn't fix). Came in 20mins and got me home.
God knows how much the cost would be if you didn’t have any cover and needed recovery
Its possible to sign up for AA or RAC cover and call them out immediately - I've had to do this in the past. Obviously very reliant on phone signal and what funds you have in the bank at the time. Now the Mrs is driving she insists we have year round cover.
Had good green flag experience as well.
Had poor AA in France as well but once abroad it's always going to be tougher with language barriers etc. Got there in the end with some persistence, i.e. I was such a pita the garage sorted me for free to get rid.
Yea I suppose I was lucky in that I was in a popular area and just grateful it was fixed
Aviva were great for me last year. Midnight phone call to say my uncle was dying. 2.5 hours away so jumped in the car and got a blow out in the arse end of nowhere. Phoned through the breakdown, explained the situation and 20 minutes later the recovery boy phoned from Stirling. He said he’d be as quick as he could and did I want anything at the garage on the way 🤣❤️. 2 hours later he’s got me on the truck and down the road quick style. He even dropped the car at Kwik Fit and brought the keys back to the hospital. He definitely earned his tip that night.
Our friends Morris Traveller shat its head gasket the other year when we were in convoy. I was well impressed with the fold out Optimus prime style towing dolly the AA bloke had in the back of his VW Transporter
Yeah, running 2 old bangers we used them a fair amount. They had some thing where if they can't fix at the roadside they'll tow to garage of your choice and pay the first £500 of the repair. Used that loooooooads. Probably didn't quite cover the sub, but was certainly close most years! Alternators, batteries, glow plugs, wiring looms, power steering, destroyed alloy wheels, thermostats, timing belt complete engine ****s....all sorts. They were always really helpful and friendly, though often had to wait an hour or so.