agreed. They have had their chance now - there is clearly a major dispute between the mag and the garage which they are not owning up to and you are stuck in the middle. I would just pass it over to the solicitor now and get nasty regardless of any future friendship with the magazine. If not then you might as well write it off, put it down to experience, enjoy your lovely FTO and wait until the cows come home for the zed to turn up.