That beige Polonez: EUROTRIP 2014

[mat_the_cat]

What a brilliant thread! Will it be making an appearence at Shitefest this year do you think?

[SambaS]

Thanks! We've had a lot of fun over the years with the FSOs! Was hoping to drive down in the Monza but will just have to see what's what closer to the date

[mat_the_cat]

Either would be good, but a photo of a Polonez parked next to a Stellar has a certain appeal...

Good luck with the MOTs!

[SambaS]

I fancy a go in the Stellar will that be possible?

[SambaS]

Failed on Friday:

 

001 O/S handbrake recording little or no effort

002 Parking brake efficiency 12%

 

So booked in for Monday to have that sorted and the retest.

[eddyramrod]

That's not too bad for a 30 year old car!  Well done Edd.

[SambaS]

Certainly can't complain eh Eddy! He must have either missed the numberplate lights or fixed them but he never said anything. The only other thing I've to do now is put a new rubber hangar on the back box as it is banging on the axle, and do an oil change.

 

On the 21st I'm off down to London in it to see a friend, probably a wiser choice than taking the MG, but in any case the MG has no TAX and I wont be putting any on until March.

[mat_the_cat]

I fancy a go in the Stellar will that be possible?

 

I doubt it'll be road legal, but assuming it can move under its own steam (hopefully not literally!) then I don't see why you couldn't take it round the field...

[SambaS]

Ooh missed this update at the back end of last year:

 

Rear silencer was blowing due to huge hole, next section just as bad so had full new exhaust fitted.

 

 

And the rear disks and pads were not much better so had them changed too.

 

 

 

So adjusting the handbrake "should" be a doddle on Monday for the garage.

[HMC]

What's parts availability like for these?

[SambaS]

I haven't had trouble with any parts, most have been available from my local motor factors, the 3rd bit of exhaust came from Germany as it wasn't available over here, or was that the first bit of exhaust maybe...

 

yeah pretty good! panels non existent though but fair easy to source in Poland, we did find a NOS entire floor and chassis panel, but to bring over from Poland would have needed a trailer, and it was almost £450 for the panel alone. Still could have fixed the worst of FSO Polonez or 125P with it!!

[SambaS]

Cor! I found it.

 

Sexual that is I'd have it mounted on the wall I think just to look at.

 

 

http://allegro.pl/podloga-nowa-fiat-125p-i-polonez-i3781890079.html

[wuvvum]

Hang on - the Polonez has disc brakes on the back?  CAPITALIST DECADENCE!!!

[stuboy]

i loved the seats in my old polonez

[SambaS]

£30 for the test and £40 to sort the handbrake and she's got a 12 month ticket. Best thing of all I didn't have to lift a finger.

 

Have rewired my tape player which hasn't worked since Clarkson and co had their hands on it so she's all set for the voyage to South East London in a couple of weeks.

[HMC]

SambaS are you going to shitefest and if so what will you bring? (Says the man who has never seen a polonez in the flesh)

[SambaS]

Yeah I plan to go to Shitefest, actually it's the only car thing I'm committing to this year. I will most likely be in the MG or the Monza, as I only plan to keep those two insured, but we'll see closer to the date.

 

God only knows what will happen between now and May, I could be in the Jimp!

[Guest benno]

I should be able to bring one of my caros all being well, but I can't bring the polonez as it wont be ready for May

[stuboy]

my old white one and mates red one

[SambaS]

Had a fair run out in the Polonez this weekend. MG is out of TAX and probably best to take the reliable car anyways...

 

 

4am Friday morning

 

 

4.15am Friday morning. This man was not very nice:

 

 

Purpose of trip, other than seeing my friend was to go to Fabric Live

 

 

 

On the way back from the club:

 

 

Sunday

 

 

 

SambaS at Nonsuch Park, Surrey.... last time I was there I was 3 or 4. We used to live in Sutton.

 

 

Let this in... was it you?

 

 

Other notable things:

 

Polonez managed a little under 30 MPGs for the trip with 4 or 5 people in the car

 

My mates mates record label brought his new release round on vinyl.. 3 years ago I was just teaching him how to mix, now he's got a record out

 

Got hit by an M+S lorry 5 miles into London

[HMC]

That was quite a road trip! Any probs along the way (beside the police?) what did they want anyway?

[stuboy]

what did the orificer want?

[SambaS]

I was driving through central London following the satnav wishing I was back in Yorkshire. These two police bikes decided to follow me, sticking too close to my wing and generally making me nervous to change lanes, I kept thinking they wanted to come by.

 

So I slowed so they would go away and they just slowed too, ended up pulling me for driving too slow and hanging about on junctions.

 

I'll tell you one thing driving in London is fucking mental!

 

And he was a complete c*nt about it all too. In a way only Police officers can be*

 

*some

 

 

I was just trying to not get lost like last year.

[SambaS]

 

[explosive-cabbage]

 

 

WTF?

[SambaS]

Someone tried to torch the Polonez on Friday night.

 

Car was at friend's laid up. Friend's neighbour had some arson attacks from deranged ex girlfriend of her current boyfriend.

 

She'd tried to burn her house down in April. And torch her car in April. Then this happens to mine.

[KruJoe]

I liked that, just so I could unlike it.

Lucky escape eh?!

[HMC]

Sounds like someone thought it belonged to your neighbour maybe?

 

Saddens me to hear of things like this, hope there's not too much mess to sort.

[Junkman]

pulling me for driving too slow

 

I beg your pardon?

[SambaS]

Part One. England:

 

 

 

So the decision was made, the MG was just too unreliable. The Polonez was insured and a list of jobs was wrote out of necessary items to be remedied. After the fire the petrol filler pipe was leaking when refuelling, the exhaust was not on properly and rattled, and the radio was shite. Also there was a very vague bearing noise so vague when I took it in to my local garage there was nothing to hear. I paid £50 for a length of petrol proof filler pipe, £60 for a new CD player. I also made sure I had Euro breakdown cover, this was free with my insurance. The mechanic couldn't fit the new pipe so we had to take it back and get a refund and we set off for Europe with a filler that dripped while fuelling up.

7:31 am Tuesday 17th June we filled up at Aiskew Garage and headed for the ferry. £57.15, 0 miles so far...