Mick Hartley

Just collected my car after its annual service. The man in the office was on the phone…

"Yes, well, these Mercedes are notorious for having problems with the gears after thirty thousand miles or so, which I believe is about the mileage on your car….Yes, we had the gear specialist in. There are two parts to the gear box: the electronic part and the mechanical part. The electronic part's fine, absolutely fine. It's the mechanical part….yes, we had the expert in, the problem's with the mechanical part: all the clutches, they're badly worn, which is why you were having this problem with it being stuck in high gear….well, yes, it's a major job, you see. Inevitably it's all going to add up. The engine has to come out, and these Mercedes parts don't come cheap…."

Ah, schadenfreude…