UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Not sure if this is the right place to write this but you might want to know if you lowering your polo and are in the RAC
My polo sits about 5inch off the floor on a set of coilovers and porsche wheels, smooth bumper and a few other little mods,
I was on my way home from work coming up to a roundabout near heathrow airport where I work as an engineer, I tried to pull away but I had no drive, all the gears but nothing down to the wheels, So as you do I pulled out my RAC card ring them up, I told them the car was lowered and I thought the diff had gone , so I was looking to be towed home. Fair play the RAC guy turned up within the half hour. He looks at my car and said , " that not a stardard polo" and has a look under the bonnet. confirms yer its the diff, we have get you towed home,
He then said "oh you do know that it will cost you extra, due to your car being lowered" , I was like ok, thinking I just really want to get home and not really wanting my car sitting in the road, he said "Its only a small fee, for SPECIALISED LIFTING EQUIPMENT" then he rings the RAC centre for me to pay, lucky for me I asked how much is the fee, 100 quid plus extras and vat, So in the end I told them to stick it, called a mate out in his van and he towed me home,

I rang their members line the day later to ask whats the measurements that requires a "lowered car" to require specialised lifting equipment, they said its down to the patrol man, So if you got a lowered car watch out, its in you members t and c's which I pointed out to the call centre that everyone I spoken to havnt received theirs,
But the thing that really got my goat was that I keep seeing them trying to sell membership to guys and girls like us at shows, for modified cars which 90% if not more are lowered ,

P.s It was the driveshaft flanged bolt that had came loose damaging the diff, casing and snapping the flange, So at the minute Its all in my garage and I been reduced to driving round in a 106, 1.1

Hmmm...thank you for your posting, I'm sure it will prove useful to other members of the forum.

However, I agree that sounds like scam to get more money out of you.

I know of another forum member who has his lowered Polo towed but they didn't charge extra. Think they should make you aware of this when you join up, they ask for modifications when quoting insurance, why not roadside assistance. Hang on, I've been towed in the past by VW Assistance and they never even had problem with it, come to think of it they never even asked if it was lowered, mind you mine isn't lowered that much!

ok my polo is only lowered about 30-35mm but back in january when my cv joint went, called RAC out and the guy didn't say anything about it? he pulled out this really fancy hydraulic ramp out the back of his van, was in fact the first time he was using it! when it came to putting the car on the ramp, it only just cleared.. the only thing he did ask me about was the wheels cuz if they're 7 inches or more they won't sit on the ramps... lucky for me mine are only 6.5inches!

find it really odd the guy made a fuss about your car and refused to tow it, the guy i dealt was really cool about it! even tho he wasn't sure it would make it onto the ramp, he said he would just tow it the old fashioned way if it didn't..

I was lucky when the tensioner went on my engine, the recovery truck that rescued me had a 'special' ramp that adjusted in the middle, to allow a better angle to get the car on, with out ripping my front splitter off!!

There was no extra charge, the driver was sound and it was there within half an hour!!

I was impressed!!

What happens if you have a super car like a ferrari or something that at standard is already has very little clearance off the road?

they said its in your t and c's in your members handbook which I never got, Thats a mad thing because thinking about it when I first got my polo the gearbox went and the RAC towed me before when it was lowered. I think what it comes down to was because it was a friday afternoon and the guy didnt want to get stuck on the m25 with me and then get stuck on the way home in all the traffic( I was last job for him), But the funny thing is my mate got to use his new metal towbar with no problems. I was told from the customer conplains guy not all RAC patrol carry this bar, I guess its all down to he wont a very nice man, oh sorry thats the AA,

i reckon if u have a ferrari and break down, u won't be calling RAC to come and help!! most prestige cars have their own recovery service.. probably come lift the car by helicopter or something?!

one less member of the RAC , joined the AA day and I have a ref number and name of the guy to say they wont charge me if I break down in my "lowered car" got the car back together cost just over 400 quid ,