Rant: The AA

[Beetnik]

They used to salute to warn of roadside speed checks. So I'm lead to believe.
Always sorted my problems out even if they couldn't fix it

No!

Salute = no problems ahead.

No salute = speed check ahead.

Couldn't then be criticised for taking positive action to warn motorists about speed checks ahead.

 

[Beetnik]

Oh - and ditched the AA in 1970 when the mechanic attending my breakdown stripped the thread on the points adjusting nut and refused to admit it.

So don't get nostalgic about the old days!

 

[Dryce]

'its an accident Sir, we only deal with breakdowns though for £150 we will call a recovery firm for you'.

That was the last day of AA membership.

Shocking.

We noticed them starting to play up a bit a few years ago. My wife got caught late at night with two tyres wrecked by road debris. They prevaricated for quite a while trying to find a tyre supplier who would come out which we didn't want (chances are nobody would have two tyres, and if they did they'd be overpriced or overpriced cr*p). I drove out to stay with her and when she mentioned her husband had checked her wheels they wanted to defer the car recovery to the next day (ie. another chance to find a tyre supplier). We demanded a rescue and eventually a subcontractor appeared.

 

[219]

Any of you folks recall when the AA driver had to salute your motor if it was sporting the metal AA grill badge?

This is an oft recounted piece of motoring folklore , probably quite true .

Only , wasn't it the RAC , which I think may be the older organisation ?

 

[Charles Morgan]

In the old days, being a member of the RAC was something very select - it was both a club and a motoring organisation. The clubhouse on Pall Mall is a period gem, oozing with motor memorabilia. I am told they have dispensed with the pudding chariot though, something immensely wonderful. A very good wine list too.

The AA was always a bit more middle class, but I think the problem started when it was owned by British Gas, an organisation dedicated to the highest standards of frustrating the needs of its customers, and now, with added private equity ownership, the customer is obviously the absolute bottom of the pile.

 

[Chrishazle]

This is an oft recounted piece of motoring folklore , probably quite true .

Only , wasn't it the RAC , which I think may be the older organisation ?

This is not folklore, it is fact, and it was certainly true of the AA. I can clearly remember my father being saluted by an AA patrolman on his motorbike and sidecar outfit - and as has been mentioned above, if you did not get a salute you were careful to watch out just down the road for the boys in blue! This was in the late 1950's and quite possibly the early 1960's.

 

[219]

Documented here

Trust RAC Breakdown Cover, 6 millions members

 

[poormansporsche]

I've probably called the aa 20 times in the last 5 years or so (vans and bangers rule my roost). And not once have they even lifted the bonnet just recovery.

Once when the pas pump went on my lowered vectra I rang the aa and said send out a flatbed as my garage is 25 miles away, 2 hours later a small transit turns up, "you need a flatbed mate" - I know that " will get one sent out" - 2 hours later another transit turns up " you need a flatbed mate", will get one sent out, 3 hours later another 2 transits turn up at the same time, obviously by this time I'm completely steaming, so I just said $ollocks and left my keys with one of drivers and buggered off home ( a 2 mile walk). Apparently the flatbed turned up at 4am a whole 20 hours after the original call.

 

[bpsorrel]

Been an RAC member for a shocking 20 years and never once had a problem! Always polite and efficient, even when I ran out of petrol once!

I too have an original RAC call box key and remember my Dad (also a member for more years than he can recall!) getting saluted by the RAC patrolman! Those were the days!

 

[219]

Yes , I still have some of those keys kicking around , don't think there are many call boxes left nowadays though.

I also have a metal RAC badge which was passed down from my dad on the Ponton , along with the metal RAC 'GB' plate on the bootlid , and a 1955 members' handbook in the glovebox .

I was a member for a couple of years lately , by virtue of being insured with RAC but apart from that have never bothered with breakdown services - my train of thought being that Mercedes cars are very reliable and what I save in annual subscriptions more than covers the cost of paying for the odd recovery ( in fact , I have only once needed recovery in 30 odd years of Mercedes motoring following diff failure on a W124 , which cost me £75 to get the car brought home ) . How much would I have spent on membership over all these years ?

I remember being canvassed outside a supermarket years ago by a guy selling AA memberships , and leaving him speechless by replying ' I don't need it , I have a Mercedes-Benz ' , then a couple of minutes later giving him a toot and a wave as I passed in the Ponton .

I did get a couple of years free AA membership back in 1976 when I bought a new Austin All-aggro : I certainly used it a few times with the frequent breakdowns until I got rid of it after only six months .

 

[renault12ts]

I'm not a member of either organisation. But do have cover with my car insurance. When my battery was on it's last legs, they were very efficient at coming out and giving me a jump start.

Then last Autumn I was recovered from home to my Indie when the car refused to start (needed new plastic fuel pipes). Again, a very efficient service...provided as part of the policy. Why would I pay extra, especially having read all the above?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I'm sure there is a photo knocking about of an AA van being repaired by an RAC technician at the roadside, I just can't seem to find it on the Internet

 

[timskemp]

My experience from Portsmouth with the RAC was good. They came to the scene of my incident withing about 45 mins. Waited until contract flatbed arrived, took me to Ollie's. Accident recovery is chargeable, but again they attended quick, got me to Northampton where they had a loan car for me and brought my car back up in a couple of days.

My membership is with my bank account (Barclays Premier). Only times I've had them to my mercs have been for flat tyres, never a problem.

 

[nick mercedes]

I've been an AA member since 1995, and they've always been very good, last time I needed them was when my fan belt snapped, a patrol followed me from Portsmouth to Beconsfield, where a truck was waiting to get me home.

5* service.

 

[219]

I've been an AA member since 1995, and they've always been very good, last time I needed them was when my fan belt snapped, a patrol followed me from Portsmouth to Beconsfield, where a truck was waiting to get me home.

5* service.

Nice to read a positive report for balance .

 

[LTD]

I'm sure there is a photo knocking about of an AA van being repaired by an RAC technician at the roadside, I just can't seem to find it on the Internet

Similar vein

 

[nick mercedes]

Similar vein

""Had it been two or three weeks ago, it would have been an AA truck.'' The AA contract with Volkswagen came to an end on 31 March.

''The van was recovered to a garage for repairs. It was a simple breakdown. Vans break down like cars do. These things happen. It was because it was under warranty.''"

 

[MD5]

 

[jonnyboy]

Fantastic Mike, nice one!