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For those of you who haven't seen the "How much is a Starlet worth" thread .... My uncle gave me my granddad's old Starlet last night. Only problem is, the thing is in Gibraltar (that's the Gibraltar on the edge of Europe, not the one near Aylesbury) So ... I have this morning booked a one way flight to Gib on the 27th April and a one way ferry crossing at 2am on the 2nd May from Dunkirk back to blighty. The AA route thingy says it is a total of 1338 miles and will take 23 hrs and 33 minutes to complete the journey. I can't believe how excited I am about this lol I have never done a mission like this before, and I want it to be NOW that I go, but I need to be practical about these things, which is where you guys come in: The car hasn't really been driven for a year or so, and since we're flying over, lots of tools are not an option SO ... Advice please!! Those of you who have done these sorts of missions before, please tell me your top tips for coming back alive!!!!! Ooooh I'm so excited ..... god I'm a muppet
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Last Edit: Mar 3, 2006 9:16:25 GMT by Peaches
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том
Posted a lot
"If in doubt, flat out!"
Posts: 2,707
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when ever i get a new car, i always take a mechanic mate to drive me up, so if anything goes wrong on the way back, he can fix it ;D
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1988 V8 Rangey Bobtail :: 1968 Volvo Amazon 133 Ratrod :: 1977 Land Rover 88 :: 1985 Opel Monza GSE :: 1983 MKII Fiesta
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Very wise indeed - unfortunately the closest I can come to that is someone who does a good line in head scratching and swearing at any offending broken bits. Oh god I'm doomed!!!
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Good on ya! Just take a few tools, jubilee clips, cable ties gaffa tape and a mobile phone, that’s all you need. My experience of long-distance starlet recovery missions is that you needn’t take anything, but that’s probably pushing your luck.
Do they drive on the left or the right in Gibraltar?
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Here's what I would do:
1 - euro breakdown cover!
Most of them (RAC, AA etc) want more wonga for cars over a certain age (iirc, over 10 years old) but usually waive this if you're a member of one of the classic car clubs that they have breakdown schemes with. When I drove my Amazon to Germany a few years ago, because I was a member of the Morris Minor OC, I got the normal rate (ie for a car less than 10 years old) from the RAC.
2 - a mobile phone that works in Europe!
3 - small slection of tools (ie what you can check-in on the plane as most airlines won't accept them as hand luggage) - small socket set, small spanner set, spare plugs, fan belt, big roll of duck tape, hose clips, coat hangers (for 'repairing' exhaust mounts), a couple of screw drivers, WD40 & what ever else you can fit in the bag & still be under the weight limit!
Best of luck with everything!
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Check, I shall make sure I pack all of the above
Methinks a helpful Haynes might be a good investment too lol
They drive on the wrong side of the road there because of the frontier with Spain. Could you imagine trying to get traffic from the left to the right hand side of the road whilst crossing the runway, dodging scooters and various "la mamma" scuttling/ waddling across roads with three ton of shopping in tow?!?!?! lol
Actually, I might suggest that as a new law - extreme frontier crossing!! lol
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Are you going on your own?
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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No, I'd never be forgiven if I didn't take Keefy with me, especially since it's him who wants the Starlet.
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yeooooow, i'm mega keen to see this starlet now, is it defo the old RWD effort? 3 or 5 door?
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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I'm waiting for the details, I can't remember off the top of my head because I haven't seen it in years, it was only used for small trips after granddad died and never when I was there. As soon as I have the details, I'll put them straight up here
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Be careful its not one of these: Not worth getting out of bed for!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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I have found that if you are a 'foriegner' (to them) in Europe that when you break down local village garages are very friendly and helpful and will stop what ever they are doing to help you on your way.
**Talks from personal experiance in France**
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Awwww, that's a little harsh isn't it? <sunday school teacher mode> They're all God's Blessed Automobiles and they#re all special in their own little way </sunday school teacher mode> Feel free Lewis, wouldn't wish 24hrs stuck in a car with me and Keith on you though ... especially since there'll be a map involved
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TwinCam - they'd have to be VERY accomodating, I don't speak french lol
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Mr_Bo11ox!
I know those latter onEs are FWD but they do-there-job and are utterly dependable as a cheep hack...if it's low millage/good nick ...GO FOR IT!
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I only speak a little (and NO mechanical words at all) So I just grunt, point, wimper ...and SMILE! ...and then give them a Bottle of good red wine for their kindness.
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So fake lashes to flutter also need to be packed? Excellent, thanks for the warning!!
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So fake lashes to flutter also need to be packed? Excellent, thanks for the warning!! What, for Keefy?
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том
Posted a lot
"If in doubt, flat out!"
Posts: 2,707
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on my recent trip to the land of beautiful women and garlic, i had a blow out on the trailer, no spare and no Europe cover. Pulled over called from one of those SOS boxes, 20 mins later a man arrived in a big truck, looked what was wrong, called in for a new tyre then waited behind us with lights flashin so no one killed us. 30 min later another bloke turned up, le mechanic, didn't have a spare tyre, so he hauled the trailer onto his recovery truck, took it back to his garage, (this is at about 11 at night btw). Told us it would be ready at 10 the next morning, and the trailer with all our stuff in would be in a lock up all night. Then he phoned a hotel and booked us in. Arrived at the hotel, got our room, went for food, when we got to the dining room, reception had phoned ahead and booked a table, and gave us a bottle of wine coz we'd had a rough night. Next morning went to pick the trailer up, all done as promised. Everyone involved went above and beyond, or maybe people in this country just don't do enough, i just know i was well impressed.
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1988 V8 Rangey Bobtail :: 1968 Volvo Amazon 133 Ratrod :: 1977 Land Rover 88 :: 1985 Opel Monza GSE :: 1983 MKII Fiesta
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