My Car is Finally Here!

[Nelson Atwell]

It is in town at the Customs Inspection Center. I pick it up tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. They're saying I can drive with my OK plates until the Poland plates come in about two weeks. I can't wait, since I am getting tired of walking, and taking public transportation everywhere.

 

[Mark Santini]

Congrats, Nelson,,,,,,,,,,,I can't imagine going that long w/out a vehicle. Is the inspection process there going to hold you up in actually 'driving' it amongst all of those beautiful women??

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Hey Nelson, All that walking will keep you in good shape. To bad you don't have your ST, that would really turn heads over there, but with European gas prices you're probably better off. Do they have any smog inspection over there?

 

[Gerald Pierce]

I know you are happy! Congrats on being reunited with your baby!

 

[Todd Z]

UM, so why are you posting here, GO GET IT !!!!



Todd Z

 

[Nelson Atwell]

ToddZ, It's only 5:21 a.m. I have to wait until 9:00 a.m.



Yes, the ST would have been nice in this snow and there are some cool places for off-roading, but the gas prices in the U.S. were bad enough. $4.50 here, so it would cost around $125 or more to fill up here. Plus there is a Mazda dealership here. There are no Ford dealerships here with ST parts. I would have to buy my Ford parts from the U.S. and the mail takes 3 - 4 weeks to arrive for letters. 1 - 3 months for boxes, so parts would be a big issue.



The inspection is minor, I'm told. I just have to pay around $125 for the inspection fee, and they sign off. Part of NATO's agreement is that we can bring in our foreign specs cars with no hassle. Since my car is less than six months old, I'm not expecting any problems.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Well, I didn't get my car out of customs, because of some paperwork, but I did see it. It is covered in road salt and muck from being hauled in an open vehicle carrier from Weisbaden, Germany the past two days. There don't appear to be any scratches or dents, but I won't know for sure until I wash two month's grime off. It was sad to see it in that state, since the day before I dropped it off in Dallas I had it detailed.



Oh well, the roads are covered in slush here anyway, so its not like it would have stayed clean anyway. I'll pick it up in the morning, so only one extra day of waiting...

 

[Josh Langel]

Hey Nelson,



Is MARS ROVER II AWD? If so, how does it handle? Have you had it in snow yet??

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Mars Rover II is front wheel drive. I drove it in snow in OKC in 5-inches of snow right before I left. It handles OK, but it has all-season, low profile tires (50 series on 17-inch rims). I'll probably throw some Blizzaks on it next fall or perhaps this weekend if a lot more snow is predicted. Right now, we are experiencing a thaw, and I suspect it won't snow much more this month. Next month I'll spend almost the entire month in England, so I doubt I'll need the tires this year.



I'd like to go to summer 18-inch chrome rims and 40-series tires, but I'm afraid the cobblestone roads and pot holes would kill the rims, tires and suspension. I'll have to see what is available when I am ready to upgrade, and see how these stock Goodyears handle in Poland. They were great in OKC, but it is mostly dry there with occasional heavy downpours.

 

[Gypsy me]

I'm sure all is ok Nelson, Glad you are getting your car soon! You take care over there be safe

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Picked up the car today. Filthy inside and out Otherwise, it is good as new (well it IS only 5 months old and nearly two months were in transit here).



I drove home today and found out how frustrating it can be to drive in Poland. I knew where I wanted to go, but all the streets seemed to be one-way -- the opposite direction I wanted to go. To make a long story short, I wound up getting lost for 45 minutes and my work is on the SAME street as my hotel. It took four times as long to drive as the trolley takes. I'll figure out the correct route tomorrow hopefully. It will be much better when I get into the flat (apartment). It is a straight shot down the highway from work instead of going towards the city.



I'll try to wash it tomorrow. I'm a little embarrassed right now, because it looks so bad. I'm not sure if people are staring because of the dirt or the Oklahoma license plate. The inspection center said I could have some problems with the side window tint and the U.S. spec headlights, but he passed me anyway. I figure a few tickets is cheaper than buying a new headlight assembly for a two-year tour, and then I'd have to put the US ones back on when I go home.



The insurance company had to charge a little over their normal premium, since the european-spec Mazda3s don't have 2.3L engines. Only the Mazda3 MPS (their equivalent of the MazdaSpeed 3) has the 2.3. The adjuster said "you have a good engine". I'll see how good when I try to get it serviced and they don't have my filters or parts. :unsure:



I'll get my Polish plates in 7 to 10 days, then I'll be ready for the first road trip to Berlin or Prague, after I get back from London on April 1st.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

By the way, it cost me $59.75 to fill the small tank in my Mazda3. Easily would have been $110 in the Trac.