Club126UK
Welcome to the CLUB126UK Forum => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: Ricardo Regalo on January 26, 2018, 05:38:02 PM
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Hello everyone,
it's great to be a member of Club126UK. I have no idea if there is anyone else Portuguese on the club. If I'm the first, bigger the honor. I'll be quite proud to represent my country.
I confess that I had been checking the forum "from afar" for some time now. But only now decided to join. I'm really not, one to socialize online, (no facebook, instagram etc, for me). So this will be my social media. ;D Already posted one mechanical subject, and you guys were excellent with your help.
I've been an enthusiastic of the 126 for a very long time, (almost my entire adult life). It has been my dream car ever since I first met a friend of mine that had one. However, I only became a proud owner 4 years ago. I had this idea to travel to Poland, to get a cheaper and newer version, for some time already. The opportunity arose, when a Polish shipmate, (and good friend) of mine, was staying home, for a few months. My friend bought the car for me. He's father has a car shop, so my Maluch got a complete overall before I traveled to Gdynia. I'll always be grateful for what they did for me.
The plan was to drive the car back to Portugal, taking our time through the "scenic route", which was: travelling south to Chec Republic, and then to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, taking the ferry to Italy (to avoid the Alps), crossing to the other side of Italy and again taking the ferry to Spain for the final stretch to Portugal. I admit now that I may have been to ambitious. Because we (me and the missus) end up not being able to finish the trip. Maluch broke down 100 km from the Croatian border (crankshaft seal leaking). But I have to say that, we were unlucky, not because of the breakdown, but because of the assistance we had afterwards.
We were towed to Siofok, which is a major lake summer resort, to a local car shop. This was my worst mistake (I should have asked to be towed back to Budapest). The guys on the shop were the biggest crooks I've ever met. >:( They didn't speak any English (or said they didn't, only Hungarian, or German). They stalled for days saying that they needed a part to arrive. In the end, they charged me more than 300€. Did nothing, and suggested that I keep on, driving to Portugal with the car leaking oil, with the pulley spraying it on the exhaust, with the most likely outcome being a fire. :o I've got nothing against Hungary, but I have to say that, disappointment, would be an huge understatement regarding my experience there. :(
The end of the adventure was to arrange a tow back to Budapeste to send the car to Portugal by truck, and the plane for us (I had no more time left to complete the voyage). Still, between the time I spent in Poland, and the itinerary that we accomplished, it were the greatest vacations. It was nothing less than EPIC. ;D
So, now Maluch is my everyday car for which I'm delighted. A few problems now and then, but that's part of it's "charm". Not planning to part with it in the future (not my "thing"). If anything I would get another, eheheh. ;)
Happy to be part of Club126UK.
Greetings to you all.
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Welcome to Club126uk Ricardo it's good to have you aboard. :welcome
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Hey Ricardo :welcome To the club :D
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Welcome, great story! :D ;)