M.O.T Bad news or VERY bad news?

My little baby went for its mot today and sadly failed. It wasn't anything small either. The garage told me he couldn't believe it was the same car when he looked underneath. He said I barley had a chassis!! He said ideally it needs a complete rebuild! But for now it will need welding plus a few other bits an bobs. Quoted ?400 which I didn't think was that bad but that was an estimate. But now I am really worried that I have bought a car that looks mint but really isn't anywhere near! Have I been driving an unsafe car? I really don't want to get rid. I can't imagine life without my Aubs. So what I want to know is this…

How serious is this?
Anyone else had a similar problem?
Should I rebuild? and if so how much will this cost? and anyone know anywhere near Leeds who could do it?
Was my car a death trap?

Oh yeah and he said my car is covered in tar underneath so its a bonfire waiting to happen!! I've just had all my seats done!!!

Please someone make me feel better!!!

A very upset Gem.

I really would get a second opinion!!

I'd say the 'TAR' is underseal (should be there!!) and if the underneath was as bad as you were told it would need more than ?400 worth of welding

if you can get some pics of the underneath and post them up here that would help… chances are the serious rot he was on about could be around the rear axle mounts or along the sill.. I've replaced the sill on mine with NO previous welding experience, and would probably be able to do the axle points.. if I can do it anyone can  

get it to another garage and see what they say, and get some pics so we'd have a better idea  :wink:

don't panic just yet. if you can get a few quotes together. do you know anyone who can recomend a garage? i am a bit mistrusting when it comes to garages , is the garage doing the mot doing the work ? always worth a second opinion if you can.whats listed on your fail sheet ? good luck.

Yeah, get a second opinion, If the mot is conected to the garage, they may be tring to generate work. Get a guy to go with you (one that looks like a bouncer) Attitudes do change on apperance.

I went to a builders merchant on a weekend with the misses and got quoted big money for stuff for the house, went in the week in work clothes and van, prices halved……

Good luck

I don't think they are ripping me off as they are sort of friends of the family. The garage didn't do the mot, he took it to another place to get it done. Other things on fail list were break pipes, rear tyre and nearside sill. Thanks for all your help

fair enough if you know them. i know ?400 is a lot to pay out , but sometimes better the devil you know and stick with your car at least you will know what work has been done . keep with it and you'll get another 20 years out of her…….

Get a few quotes to have the work done properly. Be prepared to get rid if finances are your priority - there are plenty of nice Cabs out there for decent money. Some cars are just not worth pouring money into.

Its possible that the area they identified, isn't that huge, but would need the interior, fuel tank and rear suspension removing, to get to. Obviously, this is quite an amount of work, so the labour price goes up and up. Garages are obviously indoors (outdoors is safer to work on fuel systems!) and they probably have a number of health & safety issues they have to overcome. I had a fuel tank problem with another car once, and I had to try a few garages before I found one which would remove and replace it.

If you can do a lot of the stripping yourself, then find a 'mobile' mechanic who can weld, it would probably cost ?50-100.

PS have a look at this rustproofing thread, I reckon stonechip is better to use underneath a car than (bitumen-based) underseal!