C.P. Nel Motors Oudtshoorn – Thanks!

C.P. Nel Motors Oudtshoorn – Thanks! Mid-February my wife and I was returning to Pretoria after a delightful caravanning holiday at Jongensfontein, in the southeastern Cape. We decided to go via Meiring****rt and Beaufort West as there were less passes and long outstretched uphill stretches towards our first destination to overnight, Colesberg. But our trusted 2003 Isuzu 3.0 Tdi had other intentions as just before De Doorns in the foothills of the Swartberge, it spluttered to a halt, caravan in tow. We limped to De Doorns and asked at the Caltex garage for assistance. “Nei Meneer. Hie is gin workshop nie. Maar die baas van daai wit bakkie doer – hy ken van Isuzus,” a friendly petrol assistant advised. So I approached the gentleman and a local farmer claiming to be Isuzu trained, started to look for the problem. After a new diesel filter and some scrutinizing, the problem was still there and he said our only option was to go back to Oudtshoorn and ask the Isuzu agents for help. I parked caravan and wife under a tree in a side road in town and drove at 60 km\h back to Oudtshoorn praying as the 20+ km road seems never ending. I clocked in at CP Nel, the Isuzu agents, about 11.30 am and begged for help, knowing full well that cars are taken in by appointment only. At reception, a mechanic was immediately called, and after hearing my explanation supported by the information of the friendly expert in De Doorns, he said they will try their best to find and fix the bakkie. Long story short: I was back at wife and caravan by 5 pm and we made it to the Karoo National Park at 8 pm that night. But here is the punchline. I was stressing a lot about the cost of getting the car fixed at an agent (you know why!), but walked away after testing and removing, welding and fitting of the diesel tank with a bill of under R1100! Thank you CP Nel, Oudtshoorn!