Seat Ibiza SXi

[bub2006]

Sturdy sized trailer and suited tow car should do the job. O you still need to carry breathalysers in cars when in France?

[HMC]

Bet that 760 makes a brilliant tow car; lazy torque and rwd. All the best Mr B!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yeah its really gr9 for towing, auto box too. Only gripe is the lock-up engages at about 61mph which is the optimum towing speed so sometimes I get the gearbox hunting a bit while towing. And the rear suspension is a bit soft, I've got some of those rubber doughnuts in the rear coils but I think I bought the wrong size, they were a bit too easy to get in and i don't think they're doing much.

[garbaldy]

Yeah I've got a whole boot full of straps, ramps, spare wheel, tools, boiler suit, hi-viz, torches, oil, bulbs, spare trailer wheel bearings and gawd knows what else!!!! As usual I was bricking it before I set off, but it towed really nicely this morning and the stress level is dwindling.

Sounds like your prepared but have you got RAC cover? Or a friend who has a passport and a tow vehicle.

[spartacus]

Nice one, looking forward to some progress on this. Like many on here I remember these from bitd, I drive a 1.0 once and thought it was OK, so a 1.5 should be a positive rocket! Good luck with the collection, I've seen the French towing big trailers like this, it allows you to travel at a higher cruising speed and also return to your chosen lane sooner than you would normally after overtaking... Bizarre!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Looking forward to this, shite repatriation missions were always a highlight. I still think the recovery mission of that Starlet was probably the best story from "the old days". Good luck.

Cheers Dave_Hirst!!!! You're right about that starlet, defo one of my best ever shite collections that. Just a great adventure, one of my favourite memories in fact. Lovely job.

[Lacquer Peel]

Good luck with the mission.

 

The rear suspension on these old things gets quite soggy with age. Does yours have IRS? Even with soggy rear suspension they're great towing rigs.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yes, IRS on this one

[dollywobbler]

Do you still need to carry breathalysers in cars when in France?

 

This farcical law doesn't actually exist. Well, technically, you are meant to carry them, but they can't prosecute you if you don't. Sounds like a breathalyser manufacturer thought he was on to a good thing.

[scruff]

Safe travels Reg, looking out the window at the gloom and on a 'comedown' from a violent 48 hour stomach evacuation and feeling rather envious.

[Jon]

I remember parts of the Starlet collection - well, the bit where you bought it cheap and the other bit where you offloaded it to an Irish bloke for a profit but I reckon those less fortunate to have been here in the earlier days (I'm a newbie at a mere 7 years) would appreciate a re-write, should you get the chance.

 

Likewise for Nigel, since he's reading this thread - your A-framing of an Estafette behind a SAAB 900 was legendary, to me at least. 

 

Anyway, good luck with the journey, I'm sure it'll be fine. I towed a 205 GTI home all of 100 odd miles  a while back, using a hired trailer and an Audi 200 Turbo quattro (manual) as a tow car and was bricking it but it went fine and I proper enjoyed the experience once I was out of the Auckland traffic. 

[nigel bickle]

When you're practiced, that you know what you are doing, ( as Boll certainly does) the fear becomes stupidly irrational - but always remains.

It's probably a good thing , to keep you ' on your toes', it's complacency that causes the accidents.

You know, within 100 yards, if you have a problem, or its all going smoothly. Most do, but occasionally......

 

Boll& I talked about this, as I run two mk1 Bitsas regularly ( - in fact one today) so I confirmed what rims would fit, run, hubs etc etc.

However he's elected for the safer route, since his trailer is now a known commodity. Probably a good idea, to give it a good run with a light load first time in anger, but it has cost him money in the ferry/ tunnel, additional charges and enhanced consumption. I hope it proves ' unnecessary' in that the Seat is just a reluctant runner, and not a dog.

 

Would I have A framed this? Yes - cos I'm a skinflint, but I understand the concern whilst towing in Europe.

Germany is the one Country I'd think about , and it would need to be a night time run. Switzerland? No. France & Belgium? Sure, no issues. Prefer it to the uk, actually.

 

Have a good weekend Rich.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I completed the first half of the journey without catastrophe thankfully.... I'm now chillaxin' at Mutha_Nutsack's place like a boss.

 

Last time I used the trailer there was a proper annoying (and tiring) vibration between 50 and 60 mph. I got the trailers' wheels balanced but that didnt fix it. Then I found the Volvo's prop bearing was parped, so i fitted a new one just after Xmas. I'm disappointed to report that the vibes are still there, I am gonna have to have another look at the trailer's hubs and wheels cos somehting is not quite right. I want a trailer that I can't tell I'm towing!!! The axles have a bit of play in them so that probably doesn't help - I have a plan for that.

 

Stopped for a few hours kip in a service area near Rouen. Was surprised to find some other hardcore car-sleepers in this mustard-coloured chrome bumper SD1 V8 with carlos fandango wheels!!!!!

 

 

V8, carbs & roofrack!!!! See you later petrol!!!!! Cool way to travel though

[hairnet]

thats nuts

 

ps b yer a hero even with a trailer

[Isaac Hunt]

I do like your adventures MrBol. Kipping in the car, not quite as confy as the camper van though. Hope the Rubery Owens hold out on you

[Alexg]

Is that a UK registered SD1?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yes!!!! R-reg I think

[Alexg]

Superb.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Cranked up the COLLECTION FREAD ACTIVITY today when i went to the beautiful market town of Loches and sat in a café drinking coffee and reading 'Gazoline'

 

 

Weather is a bit miserable though

[nigel bickle]

Gor it yet, tosh?

[mat_the_cat]

This thread contains three things I enjoy greatly: road trips, old cars, and France. To combine all three makes me slightly jealous.

 

Enjoy, and best of luck!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Just got home after driving for like 17 hours or something, my back is killing me

 

 

Will tell you all about it tomorrow!!!! I now need a LH rear side window for a Seat ibiza 3-dr if anyone's got any bright ideas

[andrew e]

Yes, IRS on this one

[Ratdat]

Nice one M. Balls. What happened to the window? Did it fall out on the way or something?

[HMC]

Top work Mr B! Quite literally inspirational. Looking fwd to reading about it when your back is better.

[nigel bickle]

Well done, hope it's scrummy.....

 

Did he forget to mention the broken glass? It's a near flat panel, held in with a standard rubber seal, so a sheet of Perspex would sort it short/ medium term.

 

Happy to whip mine out ( Ooohhh, matron!) for you to get copied, if you can.

 

Pilkingtons can copy some glass, or it's a peruse of Breakerlink, but I don't know of any scrappers in the UK.

[dave21478]

Is this red one in my local any use?

 

 

Postage is likely to be strong though by the time its boxed well enough to survive transit.

 

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Hells bells, that is exactly what I need

[dave21478]

I am happy to snag it. Dunno what price they might charge for it....probably not too much. However a quick shifty at the likes of TNT and others suggests delivery of between 70 and 100€ which is a fucking joke. If you can arrange pickup from your end via a reasonable courier I can easy wrap it up for transport.

[Ratdat]

My mate is coming over from France end of next month but he's near Montournais so still a good 500km from dave21478 but if it's cheaper to post it internally to him and you're not in a hurry it's an option.