What’s wrong with my car?!

Last Friday morning, I get into my mini cooper to go to work and it doesn’t start. Argh. Not this again. My brand new mini was plagued with problems the first year I had it until they replaced the computer that they say was the cause of the problems. Sad experience for my first new car. Now this. I’ve been having a rough couple of months so this was the last thing I needed. I got a ride with Josh to work, thank goodness I only work 3 miles away. A friend of mine at work drove me back home for Mini Roadside Assistance to tow my car to the dealer.

The dealer called later that afternoon…. the problem… here goes…. a RAT was living under the hood of my car! Three things go through my head:

1. Wha?
2. The engine barely fits under the hood of a mini cooper, how does a rat find room to live under there?
3. Where did this rat come from??

They said this rat lived under there for a while because they found rat droppings (but I drive the car everyday! granted it’s only 10 miles of driving a day… but still!). They also found the rat alive. So they pulled it out and killed it. They say they have photos of this rat because it’s the largest rat they’ve ever seen. I guess it’s a common thing the dealer says they get about 30 of these a year… is it just minis?!

So the rat apparantly did $2000 worth of damage to a few electrical wires as well as the engine harness. It was a Friday at 4 so of course the insurance company is closed. I opened a claim and just today they sent an inspector out there to look at the damage. They say they can now start the repair, but need to order parts. It’s looking like I get my mini back on Friday or Saturday. Glad the insurance covers it and I only pay my $500 deductible. They insist my insurance premiums will not go up, but I find it hard to believe. So I got names of the people that said it won’t!

Photos of said rat to come when I get my car on Friday or Saturday.