FSO Polonez CE 1984

[SambaS]

[SambaS]

Ok. From the start. I've wanted one of these since primary school age. I saw one for sale in 2005 but bought a Daihatsu Charade GTti instead! Anyway they just got rarer so when I saw the Practical Classics mag that said <5 were left I stepped my game up a bit. This was on eBay a few times for 7 or 8 hundred at a time when I really couldn't afford a 4th car. Eventually it came up for £500 Buy It Now so I did. It was 400 miles away and a very understanding mate took me down with a trailor to collect it. I had no idea what state it would be in but would have handed the cash over whatever I found.

[dave stew]

I like the BBS alloys on the Audi...

[kamilb1998]

That is really crap, I like it! I remember these still being run as people's daily cars 5-6 years ago in Poland, don't see many of them there now though.

[SambaS]

That was September 2011. I stashed it at my mates scrapyard until Jan this year when I took a punt at MOTing it. It failed on a seized rear caliper (disks all round), handbrake issue, tyres and lhd headlamps. Got it all sorted under £200 mot inclusive. The mechanic (laughed. A lot) said he was amazed how solid it was. I was shocked, all my cars have needed sticking back together with a MIG welder =)

[SambaS]

So 2 weeks ago I insured it on the chassis number, took a bunch of forms and stuff to DVLA et voila. Today she's on the road with UK plates

[irob]

When I was a kid I used to visit family in Poland every summer. Everyone had a fiat 126 or as they were called over there a 'maluch'

One of my uncles was a bit well off so he ran a polonez! In metallic silver no less. The only thing I remember about it was the gear stick was at a funny angle and it was converted to Gas.

[SambaS]

[SambaS]

Now the seller CockneyFilmCars had loads of Polish stuff, 80s UK stuff and some US police cars. He said it would be in Spooks but I never saw it or any Polish theme. So.

[r1ch]

What do these things drive like? Never seen one before, any interior pics?

[SambaS]

It's agricultural to drive. For a clear view of what these are like go on YouTube and search Jeremy Clarkson Polonez

[SambaS]

[r1ch]

Sounds pretty shocking judging by the Clarkson video. But still sounds like fun!

[CDP]

r1ch said:

What do these things drive like? Never seen one before, any interior pics?

You can't begin to imagine how awful the driving experience is.

Rattly, gutless engine
Heavy, vague steering
Amazing top heavy wobbly handling, RWD just wasn't a factor
Dreadful, uncomfortable seats and a poundland interior.
Gearchange was OK, as were the brakes, the poor dampers didn't help stopping distances though.

My car was 3 years old, one owner and 13,000 miles so not exactly a worn out old nail. I only paid £800 for it in 1992 which tells you what the market thought of them.

I'd previously had a 1300 saloon. (£500 at 4 years old). That was about 250kg lighter which judging from the handling on the Polonez I suspect was all in the roof. I guess the 1300 still had some Fiat DNA left.

[SambaS]

well put Sir

[SambaS]

Today I discovered an extra two inch of travel in the accelerator pedal and in doing so exceeded 100km/h

[r1ch]

Certainly interesting, even if it is awful.

The gear stick looks in a really awkward position. Somewhere between a normal car and an Civic EP3.

[SambaS]

It's only awkward in that being a LHD car its on the wrong side. I always feared LHD would be no good but its just fine. I daresay a Delta Integrale may be a pain, as you'd often find yourself wanting to overtake. I havn't so far

[Chunkychucky]

SambaS said:

There's at least some potential there, with the pedals being well spaced for heel and toe

SambaS said:

I daresay a Delta Integrale may be a pain, as you'd often find yourself wanting to overtake. I havn't so far

Kudos on the different choice of car

[mig25_foxbat2003]

I'm glad that there's someone like you preserving cars like this for posterity.

I am even more glad that that person isn't me...