panhard65 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 What breakdown cover have you got? Might be worth getting some if we are going to be lone wolves coming home...I am with Swintons with personal cover including Europe it's about 15 quid a month. I have had to call them twice in France over the last 8 years or so I have been with them and the service was brilliant far better than when I have broken down in the UK. The girl I spoke to on the phone double checked the policy and said there was no age restriction and as long as the car was legal it didn't matter where it was registered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled_Tat_Gatherer Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 I've offered elsewhere - but as some of you may be passing by - If I'm not able to join (I'll be a late confirm if I can) - my place is available as a rest stop or recovery/service bay if/when needed. Its open ended but of course anything trudging from Bulgo via Belgo to Britto is more than welcome.......... chodweaver, The Moog, pilninggas and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 The Moog, on 21 Jan 2018 - 8:03 PM, said:So current potential plan is; Thursday - Arrive and beers Friday - Car hunting daySaturday - Car hunting/fixing day/bbq/beer/local liquerSunday - set off back back towards the motherland Monday - continue homeTuesday - have to be in Zebrugge at 7pm for ferry back to Hull. I don't want to be Buzz Killington, but I think the timing is very ambitious there - both on the finding / fixing side, and on the return journey. Approx. 2000 miles in 2.5 days would mean 800 miles per day, or 10 hours averaging 80 mph. It can be done with longer driving stints and lower speeds, but a smidgin of luck would need to be on your side. The Moog, catsinthewelder and dave21478 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 I don't want to be Buzz Killington, but I think the timing is very ambitious there - both on the finding / fixing side, and on the return journey. Approx. 2000 miles in 2.5 days would mean 800 miles per day, or 10 hours averaging 80 mph. It can be done with longer driving stints and lower speeds, but a smidgin of luck would need to be on your side.Fair point. Google maps say 1300 miles and 22 hrs in total. so spread over 2.5 days I am hoping that is doable, although as you say any issues may kill timetable. If that happens will divert and not go to hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Hmm, Got to agree with John there....one, possibly two days to find and buy a car.....obviously this depends on the concentration of cars for sale in the area, but I forsee a mad rush to "just buy something" and ending up buying a mkIII Astra with no sills. Ideally you need to be in or near a massive city with loads for sale and possibly some bomb-site/back yard dealers to maximise your chances because if its the countryside you will be struggling.Maybe one of the resident shiters could clarify, but if its anything at all like France its a massive pain in the balls to try to visit more than a couple of cars a day outside of a city. Do you have a worst case plan? ie easyjet home again? Confucious say "I would rather try and fail than buy something I dont want." The Moog, catsinthewelder and John F 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Might it be worth blitzing the 'for sale' sections a couple of days in advance, and - with Andy or Alex's assistance - arrange a few viewings before you fly out? eddyramrod and The Moog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Approx. 2000 miles in 2.5 days would mean 800 miles per day, or 10 hours averaging 80 mph. Nah, about 34 hours straight averaging 60mph & a slab of Red Bull Aston Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 Sofia will be car hunting ground for me I think, as you say need to find cars that arent miles away. Plan B will be train or flight - If I havent spent £500 on a car then will have cash left for that. DeeJay and dave21478 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 What about 2 people ideally one of whom could speak the language going out a few days earlier and sourcing the vehicles people have enquired about already - obviously they would need there costs covered but it could potentially free up more chod hunting time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kringle Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 What about 2 people ideally one of whom could speak the language going out a few days earlier and sourcing the vehicles people have enquired about already - obviously they would need there costs covered but it could potentially free up more chod hunting time?This is wise ^ eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJay Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Nah, about 34 hours straight averaging 60mph & a slab of Red Bull strangeangel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 If anyone wants to try and find a Blitz for Eddy I'll happily help drive it back. I've had a rethink and don't think I can buy a car but I'm happy to be a backup driver.Consider also that a van could double as conspicuous free accommodation... eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 I think back up drivers will be very welcome for a bit of company. Also, extra hands when it comes to tinkering. catsinthewelder, Brodders and The Moog 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skattrd Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Sorry, but I'm going to drop out of this.I've got too much going on and can't say how things will be for me in May, so I think it's best that I stop trying to fit this in ... another time folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 Sorry to hear that Skattard. I am sure after the success* of this trip there will be others. A sensible plan would be for the cars to be sourced in advance. Should we have a whip round for 320touring to fly out and purchase the beasties? Three options A) get there find a reasonable car. Have a bit of a fettle. Have a laugh and drive home B ) can't find a reasonable car. Have a laugh and fly/train home C) somewhere in between but with breakdown cover in place it should be ok. Craig is sharing driving with me so that should make things easier - plus as DW said if things go awry then it is an extra set of hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel bickle Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Sadly, I'm with John & Dave numbers on this one. Inexperience is making you over optimistic. I used to bulk import Trabbies ( back when Germany unified) collecting 5 every fortnight This was with a local friend collecting them, inspecting them, forewarning on issues etc. It still took 2 days flat out fettling to get them home ( just from Germany ) with " proof of personal import" pics then required by Doovla. .Thats Dave, not me! It takes time to find the right vehicle(s) & it's unlikely to be in a city. So you'll need transport - from the off. Be prepared to travel many miles, & encounter disappointment. Look at Martins Seat hearse. He's an experienced restorer, but the vendors ' optimistic' description has him struggling - hopefully to succeed. Can you? Bulgaria - Uk is a long schlep on roads you aren't used to, in cars that aren't used to distance or servicing.Whilst we could all do those daily distanc s in Uk/ Northern Europe - it's too much to expect on southern roads. I could go on- I won't, because it I sound like my Dad! But you need more time, lowered expectations and alternate plans at every stage. It's fun, but those timings will just exhaust you Soap Distant, egg and The Moog 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 I'll be gutted if I can't find a car, but rather that than over 2000 miles in the wrong one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcars Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Were prices for Trabbies better in Australia? DeeJay and Yoss 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 Thanks for the advice Mr Bickle. You certainly have the pedigree Its all useful to know. catsinthewelder and nigel bickle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 CBs or the little Baofangs hand held radios would be handy if convoying also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Must admit I was planning on a week for the return journey, and even that's going some. To put it into perspective, when I did the BXagon Rally, I think that covered over 3000 miles around the perimeter of France, which was on fast non-autoroute roads for most of it. We had one rest day, and it took 17 days in total, and it was bloody hard work. I think 350 miles was the most we covered in any one day. I'm also pretty sure I'm going to end up buying something before we actually get there, but we'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soap Distant Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 If it's a Warburg 2 stroke you're getting - learn to do head gaskets on the side of the road (actually bloody easy). Trying to drive one that distance back after it's only been pottering around; you're sure to blow one.If it's a Trabbi 2 stroke you're getting - learn to do head gaskets on teh side of the road. I fact don't agree to buy a Trab until you've heard it. If it has the crank rattle of doom, take a spare engine. Like Nigel, I used to go to Germany in the early 90s with a few mates and buy Trabbis to drive back home. They were plentiful and fairly unloved over there still but had a bit of a cult following for a short time over here (summat to do with some popular rock combo apparently). A few didn't make it when they rattled their last on the way back but most managed it. We bought out of the papers when over there. If there was none we liked the look of or thought wouldn't make it back we just came back home again. Mostly saloons and the occasional combi but never any tramps. Only ever bought one 1.1 back and one mate kept as his everyday car in the end. I also bought a 1957 311 from just over the border in Poland and drove that back. But not before I bought a good 353 engine and slotted that in for the drive back to blighty, trusting a 1957 three cylinder, two stroke engine of a capacity that differed from the 353 (smaller capacity in the early ones) - no thanks. The original engine found it's way back via a contact in Guildford who bought it unknowing it was from my car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 This is all interesting stuff, even for us who aren't going, keep up the content folks! I'll keep restricting my leboncoin searches to nord-pas-de-calais (62) I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 Bucketeer is going to speak to his people so they will speak to some Bulgarian people to see if we can prepurchase some chod. So moving forward get your people to keep the diaries free and we will be back to touch base. It might be that a Wartburg is a step too far for me and in that case some odd 90s chod would do. DodgeRover and Brodders 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 A shite convoy of Warty Tourists is required. Yoss 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Having a browse tonight, there seemed to be a TON of Mazdas, even 323Fs. All seemed pretty cheap. Maybe we test the theory with more modern shite. Can always plan another trip once we've got the basics sussed. Or, I wonder if Bulgarian chums would be willish to stash a Warty away to be collected another day? The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 When I had a search for wartys they were all well out of town. In Sofia if you want something up to 2000 there are some very interesting cars, and if they are more likely to get back that would be cool. So guys that are going - do you have a budget per night? I was going to look at a house potentially in Sofia Thurs, Fri and sat night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Can't say I've really budgeted at all for this trip. Which is probably a bad idea... Naturally, whatever seems most cost-effective is definitely appealing. But, hiring a house very ties us to that area, and I wonder if more flexibility might be required. I accept having a base has advantages too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 My thoughts were that we get somewhere with a drive so if stuff does need minor fettling we can do that. Can always travel to see cars Plus then Friday or Saturday night we can have a BBQ and chill dollywobbler 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Which, of course, means we do without the expense of eating out. Though someone I know is in Bulgaria at the moment, and it cost four euros for a pizza and a beer! The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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