I feel that the original Ive passed my IVA post didnt do justice to the amount of work time and effort put into preparing my car for IVA by Andy @ Saturn so Ived decided to write this to make plain to everyone how much of a shared achievement this IVA pass is.

I had gotten to the point where I was at verge of quitting my build when a call to Andy for some advice ( a regular call I might add) found me spilling to him exactly how despondent i was with the whole thing, it was a combination of being over worked and not having time to do the car despite it being promised for use to deliver th bride groom to his wedding on sept 18th this year! so after some careful consideration and planning we took the plunge and entered into an agreement with Saturn about completing the car.

When the car was trailered up it was about 80% complete, alot of the wiring was run but not connected or poorly connected the engine didnt run and the brakes were incomplete, the bodywork was fitted but to a poor standard.

After it arrived Andy put it up on the ramps and we had a look over it prioritising the work and planning costs. as always this spiralled but that due to me adding bits here and there.

Andy did fantastic work keeping a spreadsheet of costs and work done for me and even put up with my calling daily often multiple times.

A couple of weeks ago the car was best part complete so with our IVA date looming a test run was conducted and Disaster the gearbox was shot, this wasnt the first problem we had hit, a fried MegaJolt (prob by me welding the chassis with it attached, take note guys) and a set of engine core plugs leaking!! anyway the gearbox, After begging borrowing and stealing on locostbuilders and ebay and a few 100 miles driven i arrived at Saturns workshop early Saturday morning after coffee we dropped the old gearbox out checked the new one out and put it in, one run later nice Tight gears and big smiles all round.

So Andy carrys on with the finishing touches over the next week and the day before the IVA spent with Saturn and Andy Getting the car finalised, checking the emissions setting up the speedo and fuel sender, we had a few problems with air locks but that was all resolved when Andy spotted a bit of silicon blocking the expansion tank return. this done and one of the beaded hose joiners replaced with a home made item and we were ready to load up.

5am we set off for Beverly testing station and I cant express how nervous I was, we arrived and got the car off the trailer before warming it up for the examiner, visual inspections done and fault 1) wing stays too close to brake union, found we proceeded to the emissions, no problems here we went onto the lift and whilst i worked the brakes and controls Andy shot about under th car cable tying this and that that the inspector asked to be adjusted. this done the ramp was lowered and the head lamps checked, disater failer point 2) they were dipping to the wrong side! well we thought that was it but carried on thinking to get a sheet letting us know what needed to be done, the brake test was carried out by the tester with ym biting my nails the whole time, this was the unknown area what with this being the first roadster we knew of with rear discs fitted for IVA, but the brakes were perfect! on to the speedo check, accurate to 0.5mph over the acutal speed, perfect! on to the noise test, never went about 96Db, agian spot on.

So were loading the car onto the trailer feeling a little dissapointed at the only 2 realatively minor fail points, when were informed if we can get it sorted to his satisfaction before he comes back from lunch he will pass the car! Mad rush onto the internet to find some lights, collect and fit those on the trailer outside the testing station, removed the wings and stays before begging the use of some equiptment from a local fabricator, a drink later and the stays are modded to the testers requirements. we refit them and drive in in time for the tester to come out, bingo lights are tested but ive wired my side up wrong dip and main are reversed, 30 seconds later the terminals are swapped and all is well with the world.

we load the car onto the trailer and while Andy straps it down I collect the certifcate of Pass.

on the drive back to Saturn Andy informs me that as I wont be taking the car away with me that day he is going to get his GRP fabricator to buff out any of the minor scratches on the GRP ready for when I collect it.

So all in all I cant Express how much hard work patience and dedication to a good customer service that I have recieved from Saturn and Andy himself.

Well firstly nice one on getting the car through IVA and secondly it's nice to hear someone singing the praises of a company as it goes to show that good customer service is not completely dead and buried.

Now all you need to do is get out on the roads and enjoy the product of all your hard work, enjoy

Well done carl, I will pop over when its back to have a look!!

Conggrat's i dont think there are many that pass first time ?

so................... EXETER?

Dont think I will be going to exeter but stafford is definately on the cards