After the service we were told the windscreen had a “stress fracture”, caused by bad fitting in manufacture. We can’t see it but we understand it can cause the glass to shatter. Then we learnt “the manufacturer is unable to assist with the repair”. The garage showed us some small print that told us glass was guaranteed only for the first 600 miles or three months.
But how would anyone know there was a fault? The “specialist” will not see a car until its first service, long after the glass guarantee runs out. A guarantee is only as good as the people who give it, and in this case it appears we have been duped twice — first by the supplier and more disgracefully by a highly reputable manufacturer.
Clive and Pauline Harris
London
INSURANCE SOLUTION: Am I missing the plot regarding the alleged difficulties of preventing vehicles being driven while uninsured (Letters, last week)? In France it is compulsory for a current insurance “certificate” to be fixed to the inside of the windscreen. If we had such a system any passing police officer could see immediately if the vehicle was insured, and if not, clamping or removal would improve the present situation dramatically.
Sam Lawson
London
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JENSEN ‘REBORN’: Although your article on Jensen was correct (The knowledge, last week), there is a chapter of the Jensen story missing. Jensen had its assets liquidated at the end of 2002, but the story does not end there. Cirencester-based SV Automotive has the sole manufacturing rights to build the S-V8 convertible under licence from Jensen. This will allow another 12 vehicles to be completed from the unfinished chassis. The number is limited as the jigs and moulds have, it is believed, been destroyed.
SV also holds a large quantity of spares that will help keep these cars on the road for many years to come.
Jensen seems to be related to the phoenix: every time it is pronounced dead, it bounces back. The end of Jensen this time? Highly unlikely! The Jensen name is now owned by a Swiss company that aims to design and build two new models. It is finalising funding for the venture.
Graham Henly
Director, SV Automotive
LEG-PULLER: It made my day last Sunday when I saw the photo of the young man with one leg, who had the registration number HA5 1 LEG (Car clinic, last week). I had thought that I was maybe the only person with such a sense of humour. I am also an amputee and my registration is JU5 1 LEG.
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Michael Heward
Grimsby
CUTTING PREMIUMS: With reference to Matthew Wall’s article (Cut the cost of painful premiums, August 8), he said “only a few insurers” recognise the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ qualification and “any saving is likely to be small”. In fact there are nine insurers on our brokers’ panel (from Allianz Cornhill to Royal & SunAlliance) that offer up to 22.5% discount to drivers who have passed the IAM’s advanced driving test. Insurance benefits may not be the main reason to improve your driving — but they don’t do any harm!
Vince Yearley
Institute of Advanced Motorists
HAVE YOUR SAY
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