It’s the last Friday of month which means the wages I have earned between the days between 6 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago are landed in my bank account, and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Today I forked out the hefty sum of £383.87 to the local garage for a service and MOT on my Peugeot 206. Turns out it needed a reasonable amount of work done on it, and in the short drive from the forecourt to our driveway there is a noticeable difference.

I already knew that I would need new front wheel arch lining (that greyish bit of plastic that stops dirt and rubble from flying up from under the wheels and in to the engine) but was more surprised to find out one of the wheel rims had a buckle in it, which had ultimately caused tyre damage so those needed swapping. There was also a puncture in another tyre caused by a screw but that was able to be repaired. Few other bits and pieces thrown in for the service were new brake pads, a rear wipe blade and a couple of litres of anti-freeze.

This owning a car business has never been cheap. In January I paid in the region of £400 to have the head gasket replaced on my Vauxhall Corsa, and even then the car left the garage with an engine starting problem. That car was ultimately sold a few weeks later for £350 leaving me somewhat out of pocket. I was pleased to get my 206 though, for what I consider a steal at £3,300. That may seem like a lot of dough but at a mere 3 years old and less than 25k miles on the clock, you won’t find a 206 like that for a better price. In truth, it is my dream car, the car I would own if money was no object (in addition to the Porsche 911, Lotus Elise and the APC from Aliens).

Now, the breaks don’t squeak and the steering wheel doesn’t vibrate (funny how I’d never really noticed it vibrate until after it was fixed). It could use a bit of a clean when the sun comes back out.

With the cheque soon to clear, the plans for a new 32″ TV might have to be put on hold.