What fun car for a road trip across Europe?

What fun car for a road trip across Europe?

Author
Discussion

740EVTORQUES

510 posts

2 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
omniflow said:
braddo said:
omniflow said:
A Maserati Gran Cabrio MC.
For mulitple track visits?
Yeah - ok, I missed that bit. When he said a visit to a racetrack, I took that to mean popping into the visitors centre, I didn't spot "capable on track". Please ignore my first post.

Although.....

I'm not sure I'd be taking a car on track that I was then planning to do several '000 miles in when I was nowhere close to home or any garage I know and trust and also with potential language issues.
Ahem, 911. They'll do it without batting an eyelid, even old ones if properly serviced, awesome machines.

omniflow

2,611 posts

152 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
740EVTORQUES said:
Ahem, 911. They'll do it without batting an eyelid, even old ones if properly serviced, awesome machines.
Do they have self-healing bodywork?

Overcook a corner slightly, into the gravel or the tyres or maybe even another car

Ken_Code

773 posts

3 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
omniflow said:
Do they have self-healing bodywork?

Overcook a corner slightly, into the gravel or the tyres or maybe even another car
It’s probably a good idea not to do those things then. Most people manage decades of driving without; a couple of thousand miles across Europe shouldn’t be too challenging.

BricktopST205

1,080 posts

135 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
911 is the obvious choice but also the most boring. (Not that a 911 is boring).

If your budget is 100k why not do it proper and get a Fezza 550M or if you want something a little smaller and cheaper a 360 Spider.


740EVTORQUES

510 posts

2 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
BricktopST205 said:
911 is the obvious choice but also the most boring. (Not that a 911 is boring).

If your budget is 100k why not do it proper and get a Fezza 550M or if you want something a little smaller and cheaper a 360 Spider.
You've driven a 911 and a 550/ 360 in order to make that rather bold statement I take it?

There's nothing boring about a 911 on full song, believe me.

BricktopST205

1,080 posts

135 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
740EVTORQUES said:
You've driven a 911 and a 550/ 360 in order to make that rather bold statement I take it?

There's nothing boring about a 911 on full song, believe me.
I never said a 911 is boring. I said it was the boring choice.

Doing a European road trip in a Fezza is a bucket list thing.

Ken_Code

773 posts

3 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
BricktopST205 said:
I never said a 911 is boring. I said it was the boring choice.

Doing a European road trip in a Fezza is a bucket list thing.
I’m thinking of doing that next month, but am equivocating between the car and a motorbike.

BricktopST205

1,080 posts

135 months

Saturday 11th May
quotequote all
Ken_Code said:
I’m thinking of doing that next month, but am equivocating between the car and a motorbike.
Motorbike for me.

Ken_Code

773 posts

3 months

Saturday 11th May
quotequote all
BricktopST205 said:
Motorbike for me.
It probably will be, on my new R1300GS, but it could also be my last hurrah in my 650s before I sell it.

Squadrone Rosso

2,766 posts

148 months

Saturday 11th May
quotequote all
I’m currently 1200 miles / half way through a France & Italian road trip in a Abarth 595 Comp & my mate is in his Porsche Spyder.

Abarth had been brilliant. No cruise through.

Edited to add that I’m not one to conform with the norm.


Ken_Code

773 posts

3 months

Saturday 11th May
quotequote all
I found the lack of cruise in mine to be a real pain (literally) when I was commuting to Amsterdam in it.

cayman-black

12,694 posts

217 months

Sunday 12th May
quotequote all
LunarOne said:
Username checks out.
Your right , i didnt like it too much.

LunarOne

5,349 posts

138 months

Sunday 12th May
quotequote all
cayman-black said:
LunarOne said:
Username checks out.
Your right , i didnt like it too much.
What about my left? Is that more your cup of tea?

biggles330d

1,550 posts

151 months

Sunday 12th May
quotequote all
Alpine A110. That's what i bought mine for anyway. Been on one Euro trip and two more planned for this summer. Why? Well, it's comfortable inside and the suspension is supple and it's economic. Like it or not, big European trips mean long motorway slogs and 40+mpg really does give 400 miles+ per tank full (and it's not a big tank). Plus, it's refined and quiet, at least mine is without the sports exhaust. And the ride quality is great on 17inch wheels. That's important and why I spec'd it that way. Someone previously mentioned the chance you'd venture onto some quite rough roads if you are exploring.. the Alp has good ground clearance and doesn't beat you up like many a Porsche does with rock hard German spec 'sport' suspension.
It's light and superb fun when you get to your destination. Not stupidly quick, but short geared punchy enough to keep up with some fairly serious machinery but importantly it's fun at any speed so you don't need to be going mad for it to be rewarding.
Despite being small, pack light and use all the space and 2-3 weeks of luggage isn't an issue so long as you are occasionally staying somewhere with a washing machine.

I'd say 1000 miles is a bit unambitious for a European trip? I'm in Scotland and it's 500+ miles to even get to the Channel Tunnel. Each of the trips this year will be 2500 miles +. Absolutely can't wait to get going on them!

The one thing that would make it better is if they'd made the A110 a targa for a bit of open roof. Thats all I think its missing.

Edited by biggles330d on Sunday 12th May 15:47

mythdat

29 posts

62 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
How about a Lexus LC500 or RCF?

Both have the brilliant Lexus/Yamaha 5.0L N/A V8, all the modern electronic conveniences Inc cruise control, some of the most comfortable and well built interiors in production, and of course they're Lexus so about as reliable as you can possibly get. And both quite rare/unusual if that's important to you.

The RCF is more hooligan/muscle car in character and the LC more of a GT cruiser. LC is available as convertible or tin top.

pissonheads

51 posts

2 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
Top spec Porsche 718 or a lower spec 911 is the obvious choice but I can't help but feel it is a little uninspired. There's a reason so many people get a Porsche for such a trip though, I can't argue they are a worthy candidate - Porsche owners seem to never like hearing there might be other options to their beloved.

Im a sucker for top down motoring and a lot of those below are available in spider/convertible form:
Aston Martin Vantage, or even an older v12 but on the limit of the 10 year rule
Nissan GTR
Mclaren 570s (crazy value)
Ferrari California (will struggle a tad on the track but it is a Ferrari if that's your jam)
Lotus Exige v6 (if you're willing to make some compromises to packing this would be my choice)

Left field and breaks so many of the rules but you could just buy some good goretex, be very brave, avoid long motorway stretches and have the time of your life in a Caterham 420r.