so I'm going to university 140 mile from home. I was goign to go with my mam and girlfriend in here car but at the last moment I decided to go alone. so off I set in the fun bus.

on the day before my journey I noticed the clutch just felt a little different. It's always been high, and although the bite was in the same place, pressing the pedal felt weird, it felt like it was going down and coming up in steps. I even said to my father 'I think my clutch is on it's way' - that was at 11PM

the next day I set off to Bolton and it was fine. it felt a little funny still but for the most part it drove perfectly. the iopen day finished and I set off back home to go out for a meal. I'm estimating that I was 200 yards away fromt he exit of the uni, waiting at the lights to go right onto the A666, I moved off let the clutch up and it just slipped, tried again - same thing. it died on me!

phoned the RAC, they were not able to recover me back to sunderland, so got me a quote for private recovery - £350. the guy was extremly helpful and rang round some local garages for me to have the work completed in bolton. I had to have a friend pick me up and I stopped over there and I'm currently waiting to go pick the fun up and I REALLY want to get home!

I'm amazed at how rapidly the clutch failed. I mean from the first signs of it going to the time it went was only 140 miles (mostly motorway driving - very little gear changes)

the place up here have charged me £250 + VAT for a new clutch fitted, I don't know if that is good or not - I know that whatever it was I could have had it done cheaper at home but then I would have also had to have the vehicle recovered 140 miles.

you win some you lose some I guess but my hat goes off to the RAC patrol guy. he bent the rules a little for me.

joys of motoring.

It depends on what part of the clutch fails, and on how the car is driven. If the clutch is just slipping through a worn friction disc, with care it could last a long time, but it sounds like part of the release mecahnism or maybe the springs in the clutch cover failed on yours.

If you're in Bolton my mechanic can do the job for about £150 thats how much a new clutch and fitting was for my Felicia back in Jan 2008

My clutch failed at about 100k miles. The release bearing went. Was coming home and it was increasingly difficult to change gear. Parked up and thought I'll get it looked at tomorrow. Next day it wouldn't go into gear!!

Was fortunate as I was at home so didn't have to call the RAC or anyone except my mechanic who took the car. Only downside was I had to hire a car for a week, when doing that make sure you dont hire a Matiz!!!

Only downside was I had to hire a car for a week, when doing that make sure you dont hire a Matiz!!!

Never driven one. Are they that dreadful?

Yes the Matiz is that bad.

The engine sounds willing and is OK to drive round town town.

Downpoints? on motorway bends it is wallowy, I was clinging on to life going round a bend praying it woudn't tip over!!!! This was at 65mph.

My verdict was buy something else. Save your money buy a Felicia/Micra of Fiesta or anything but this, if hiring then spend the extra money

Older but better driving cars. I will not touch a Matiz again!!! Made me appreciate my Felicia and sisters Micra so much more!!!

If you're in Bolton my mechanic can do the job for about £150 thats how much a new clutch and fitting was for my Felicia back in Jan 2008

damn, I paid 285 fitted. had no choice though totaly stuck between a rock and a hard place :( 140 miles from home.

I'll be moving to bolton in september, so I'm going to be looking for a decent mechanic that I can trust, so i'll get some details off you!

since I posted the OP I spoke to the mechanic who was really nice. He used to work for skoda. He told me the clutch had just worn, but looked like it was the result of a bad adjustement. my local garage adjusted the clutch for me at it's last service less than a year ago.

I'm not too sure of the technicalities but he told me it had been adjusted 'in' when it should have been adjusted 'out' which would have lowered the pedal to it's propper height ( it was around 2.5 inches too high!) and made the clutch last longer. He said it looked like the previous garage's saturday boy did it :/ I was just really suprised how quickly it degraded to failure from the first signs.

The guy LOVED the car. i've found most mechanics and garage folk love the funs! we had a right good crack on.

[edit]

forgot to add - I'm back home now. I drove back to sunderland straight from the garage. the clutch took a few moments to get used to; it does feel a lot different. I don't know if I prefer it to the way it was (before it totaly broke) but time will tell.

A Fun owner in Bolton!!! I haven't seen any Funs round my way.

All my parts I get from either Parkside or Jorily.

My Mechanic does the rest.

Also Parkside are quite competitive on price when it comes to the exhaust and shock absorbers.

When you get to Bolton give us a shout If the Malthouse meets are still on then join us. I havent been to the NW ones yet which is my next aim.

The Matiz is dire, and small with it. A female friend of mine had one, and the 2 of us had no choice but to rub shoulders when we went out together in it! No complaints except that we've never been that kind of friend!