Well I was off to Basingstoke to meet up with some mates, just pulled off the motorway enjoying my car. It was performing brilliantly went over a roundabout onto a dual carridgeway put my foot down and the car responded with a bang followed by smoke everywhere and bits of engine rattling onto the floor. I coasted to a stop called the police about the oil as I'd just left a trail of oil over the road. Called my insurance and got car recovered home.

It's only a 57 plate Astra VXR with about 58k on the clock. But tuned to 310bhp, its not a weak engine as I know loads of people running that sort of level of tune with no problems. I guess I just got the short straw.

A new bottom end of the engine from Vauxhall would be about 4 grand fitted, but I know plenty of people in the know and reckon I can get it sorted and rebuilt myself for a couple grand.

I guess its an opportunity to rebuild it with stronger rods and crank etc so it doesn't happen again as those parts need placing anyway its worth paying the extra 10% for the decent parts..

Gutted as there was no sign of a problem until it suddenly just let go.. but I was ok about it, what can you do. No point geting upset about it.

Once car was recovered we went out to pub here anyway as they followed the recovery truck back home and I had a couple drinks to celebrate my achivement.

Just felt like getting it off my chest.

Not sure about half of what you just said but my condolences mate!

/not much of a car guy

All you need to know is car went bang big bill waiting now I'm thinking Hmm how am I gonna get to work in the morning?! haha

How far is work? Really expensive taxi?

Alternatively you could get someone you work with to give you lifts for a while, good opportunity for building workplace relationships. Anyone you like at work?

15 miles each way, I can get a lift to a near by town with my mum and then get train from there I guess.

No one I work with lives near me. Now if it were my old job then a woman across the street worked at the same place haha.

Rabbid, a similar thing happened to me so I thought what the heck and started cycling; fantastic way to increase your workout and, in my case, confidence about my physical appearance - turned a negative into a positive!