From the keyboard of Dr Jan

I was driving home last night and the engine started making an extra noise.

This morning on the way to work, I got to Denham and lost all drive.

Fortunately Green Flag Rescue came along and took me to BL Autos and Sons in Welwyn Garden City. The problem was diagnosed as a knackered gearbox. So that’s probably the end of the Xantia as we know it

Amusingly enough, Green Flag’s hold music is ‘Rescue Me’ by Fontella Bass

I’ve borrowed BL’s courtesy car, the racing AX, which has a 1.0 litre engine, 4 forward gears and, quaintly, a manual choke.

BL can get a second hand gear box with 64,000 miles on it for GBP991.88 installed.

I guess it’s time to start looking out for a lower mileage V6. This one got up to 171,000 miles(!)

Damn, I’ve just renewed the road tax as well

Maybe now is the time to look out for something more economical to use. The problem with all this, of course, is that I have bugger all money at the moment, so that’s not helping

The Mercedes C43 AMG is in the garage as well today, for an MOT and to resolve the gearbox problem it’s having.

Maybe the Xantia came out in sympathy for the Benz, who knows?