Shetland road trip - car suggestions
Discussion
I was born in Shetland.
The roads are ok if they're empty. Passing opportunities aren't great if there's traffic. Petrol stations are sparse.
The pace of everything is slower there. The A90 is a crap road with Gatsos every couple of miles and scamera vans in between.
Not sure my Cerbera would get over the ferry ramp, but that's your mate's problem.
The roads are ok if they're empty. Passing opportunities aren't great if there's traffic. Petrol stations are sparse.
The pace of everything is slower there. The A90 is a crap road with Gatsos every couple of miles and scamera vans in between.
Not sure my Cerbera would get over the ferry ramp, but that's your mate's problem.
Range Rover.
It'll be better than all your mates' cars on the journey up there and just as fast.
Once onto the proper stuff you'll be faster than them as you'll be able to use all of the road on corners that they can't see through and you won't be slowing for holes.
Supercharged Sport should do the trick rather nicely. Especially as your mates will laugh when you turn up and be weeping by the time you arrive in the Shetlands.
It'll be better than all your mates' cars on the journey up there and just as fast.
Once onto the proper stuff you'll be faster than them as you'll be able to use all of the road on corners that they can't see through and you won't be slowing for holes.
Supercharged Sport should do the trick rather nicely. Especially as your mates will laugh when you turn up and be weeping by the time you arrive in the Shetlands.
MK1RS Bruce said:
SteveSteveson said:
Shetland seems like an odd place. It is a wonderful place to go, but hardly a drivers paradise. Mainland is only about 50 miles long. It's only 52 miles of road from Sullom Voe to Sumburgh, and driving to Aberdeen is not going to set your world alight. Having done it a fair few times in my life (I lived there for a while) I would recommend just flying if you have to go there for something, or want to enjoy the island, or finding somewhere else to go if it is about the road trip.
Otherwise, I would not worry too much about what car you get, as Aberdeen is not that great a place to drive too and Shetland is not a great place to drive. It all depends on where else you want to go on your road trip.
Firstly shetland is the worst place in the world, I would rather go to war torn Afghanistan than to shetland if I had the choice. Otherwise, I would not worry too much about what car you get, as Aberdeen is not that great a place to drive too and Shetland is not a great place to drive. It all depends on where else you want to go on your road trip.
Secondly drive to Aberdeen will not be very impressive but once you pass aberdeen most of the country roads north and west are awesome, having said that the west coast is meant to be where it is at for driving roads and scenery, would also recommend the ISLE of Skye if you are set on going to an island for a few good reasons
1. it has a bridge
2. Accomodation in Shetland in May will be terribly expensive and difficult to come by (offshore season in full swing)
Another cool place to go if you are set on a ferry trip is stornoway as they have a bit of a car following over there.
I really can't tell you how horrible Shetland is!!! Just thinking about the midges alone puts the shivers up me!
DonkeyApple said:
Range Rover.
It'll be better than all your mates' cars on the journey up there and just as fast.
Once onto the proper stuff you'll be faster than them as you'll be able to use all of the road on corners that they can't see through and you won't be slowing for holes.
Supercharged Sport should do the trick rather nicely. Especially as your mates will laugh when you turn up and be weeping by the time you arrive in the Shetlands.
Ironically the Cerbera driver sold his Supercharged Sport a few months agoIt'll be better than all your mates' cars on the journey up there and just as fast.
Once onto the proper stuff you'll be faster than them as you'll be able to use all of the road on corners that they can't see through and you won't be slowing for holes.
Supercharged Sport should do the trick rather nicely. Especially as your mates will laugh when you turn up and be weeping by the time you arrive in the Shetlands.
rex said:
DonkeyApple said:
Range Rover.
It'll be better than all your mates' cars on the journey up there and just as fast.
Once onto the proper stuff you'll be faster than them as you'll be able to use all of the road on corners that they can't see through and you won't be slowing for holes.
Supercharged Sport should do the trick rather nicely. Especially as your mates will laugh when you turn up and be weeping by the time you arrive in the Shetlands.
Ironically the Cerbera driver sold his Supercharged Sport a few months agoIt'll be better than all your mates' cars on the journey up there and just as fast.
Once onto the proper stuff you'll be faster than them as you'll be able to use all of the road on corners that they can't see through and you won't be slowing for holes.
Supercharged Sport should do the trick rather nicely. Especially as your mates will laugh when you turn up and be weeping by the time you arrive in the Shetlands.
I bowled around Orkney in an old Rangie Classic while doing a lap of Scotland and it was amusing just how quick the old barge was simply because you can see for miles and for very many corners you can straighten them out as you know there is nothing coming the other way. With the Tiv I'd have had one eye focussed on pothole/ crappy surface avoidance and the other eye trying to peer round blind corners like some swivel eyed loon permanently on the brink of soiling myself.
The speed and handling advantage of low down sports cars gets quite compromised on closed in roads while the viewing advantage of the slower more lumbering shed becomes a massive advantage.
Donkey Apple, I would pass Rex when he is in the petrol station;-)
Only sold my supercharged sport 6 or so months ago but it would not have been the right car for this trip.
I don't think the Cerbera will be the car to struggle for ground clearance to get on and off the ferries, we may well have an exige with us and that has way less ground clearance than the Cerb.
Just to update this thread, Rex has now bought a car for the trip but I will let him tell you what but it should make it a fun trip for him..
Regarding the route we are looking for a scenic route from Glasgow to Aberdeen but not too slow as we will be leaving from Leeds on a Friday morning and getting the ferry the same evening. We obviously want good driving roads and no cameras or police, won't be going mad but a little spirited driving is bound to break out at times.
Final destination is Unst for a couple of days then a boat back to London in one day the following Wednesday.
I lived on Unst for a while as did one of the others and we both just fancy a trip back and a bunch of mates fancy it as well, hence the trip which will be over the early May bank holiday next year.
Only sold my supercharged sport 6 or so months ago but it would not have been the right car for this trip.
I don't think the Cerbera will be the car to struggle for ground clearance to get on and off the ferries, we may well have an exige with us and that has way less ground clearance than the Cerb.
Just to update this thread, Rex has now bought a car for the trip but I will let him tell you what but it should make it a fun trip for him..
Regarding the route we are looking for a scenic route from Glasgow to Aberdeen but not too slow as we will be leaving from Leeds on a Friday morning and getting the ferry the same evening. We obviously want good driving roads and no cameras or police, won't be going mad but a little spirited driving is bound to break out at times.
Final destination is Unst for a couple of days then a boat back to London in one day the following Wednesday.
I lived on Unst for a while as did one of the others and we both just fancy a trip back and a bunch of mates fancy it as well, hence the trip which will be over the early May bank holiday next year.
God there's some b
ks spouted on here. I work there and basically spend half my life there, it's a truly wonderful place, with amazing people, stunning scenery and while I've driven on better roads (Alps etc), there are some fantastic driving roads as long as you don't want to do crazy fast. It's the sort of place where you would have an amazing time in an MX5 but wonder why you came in a GT3. Sorry to say this to any locals on here, but they are on a par with the worst drivers I've ever seen, I regularly get overtaken in my works Focus (limited to speed limit) round the outside of blind bends. Basically most of them seem to work on the principle that it is very unlikely anyone else will be coming when they overtake......
It sounds like you know where to go but if you want any advice or something checking out then please PM me. I took a day trip upto Unst a few months ago and had a brilliant time, well worth driving to the carpark and walking upto see Muckle Flugga. If you don't get much joy on here there's plenty of Shetlanders on the Scotland part of PH. If you drive past Scatsta on the way to the ferry terminal then wave at the Helicopters taking off as that will probably be me
ks spouted on here. I work there and basically spend half my life there, it's a truly wonderful place, with amazing people, stunning scenery and while I've driven on better roads (Alps etc), there are some fantastic driving roads as long as you don't want to do crazy fast. It's the sort of place where you would have an amazing time in an MX5 but wonder why you came in a GT3. Sorry to say this to any locals on here, but they are on a par with the worst drivers I've ever seen, I regularly get overtaken in my works Focus (limited to speed limit) round the outside of blind bends. Basically most of them seem to work on the principle that it is very unlikely anyone else will be coming when they overtake......It sounds like you know where to go but if you want any advice or something checking out then please PM me. I took a day trip upto Unst a few months ago and had a brilliant time, well worth driving to the carpark and walking upto see Muckle Flugga. If you don't get much joy on here there's plenty of Shetlanders on the Scotland part of PH. If you drive past Scatsta on the way to the ferry terminal then wave at the Helicopters taking off as that will probably be me
Edited by Siko on Sunday 18th October 18:57
Well car purchased. Pistonheads classified on Wednesday, phoned on Thursday, viewed on Friday, picked up on Saturday. Very little research, but went with gut feeling of the car and the owner. Spent 3 hours pouring over the car, looking underneath as ramp available and now the smiling owner of a Jap import MR2 turbo with some nice modifications.
Very period looking in immaculate rust free white with adjustable coil overs excellent quality matching tyres and putting out 280 bhp. Oh and it's a T-bar. Pops and whoosh like a old school turbo.
So many smiles for so little money.
May get the ride height increased for the Shetland trip though..
Thanks for everyone's input. Roll on May
Very period looking in immaculate rust free white with adjustable coil overs excellent quality matching tyres and putting out 280 bhp. Oh and it's a T-bar. Pops and whoosh like a old school turbo.
So many smiles for so little money.
May get the ride height increased for the Shetland trip though..
Thanks for everyone's input. Roll on May
Edited by rex on Sunday 18th October 22:56
Welcome to the hairdresser's club Rex- I can't think of a car that better reflects your personality. I'll bring the mobile hair dryer if you bring the rollers and peroxide...
T Bar! what's not to like? I think the only issue we may have is potential grounding out when getting on/off the inter island ferries- it all depends on the tides, but usually approaching the ramp at an angle can resolve this.
I'm really looking forward to this trip, the last time I was there the roads were very well maintained- you could quite easily take the cattle grids at 80mph (which of course I didn't, as that would've been illegal). I think the infrastructure was funded by EU money or something like it.
Bring it on !
T Bar! what's not to like? I think the only issue we may have is potential grounding out when getting on/off the inter island ferries- it all depends on the tides, but usually approaching the ramp at an angle can resolve this.
I'm really looking forward to this trip, the last time I was there the roads were very well maintained- you could quite easily take the cattle grids at 80mph (which of course I didn't, as that would've been illegal). I think the infrastructure was funded by EU money or something like it.
Bring it on !
Thrapperthorpe said:
Welcome to the hairdresser's club Rex- I can't think of a car that better reflects your personality. I'll bring the mobile hair dryer if you bring the rollers and peroxide...
T Bar! what's not to like? I think the only issue we may have is potential grounding out when getting on/off the inter island ferries- it all depends on the tides, but usually approaching the ramp at an angle can resolve this.
I'm really looking forward to this trip, the last time I was there the roads were very well maintained- you could quite easily take the cattle grids at 80mph (which of course I didn't, as that would've been illegal). I think the infrastructure was funded by EU money or something like it.
Bring it on !
Oil money paid for the roads - astute thinking ahead and negotiating by the then Zetland County Council.T Bar! what's not to like? I think the only issue we may have is potential grounding out when getting on/off the inter island ferries- it all depends on the tides, but usually approaching the ramp at an angle can resolve this.
I'm really looking forward to this trip, the last time I was there the roads were very well maintained- you could quite easily take the cattle grids at 80mph (which of course I didn't, as that would've been illegal). I think the infrastructure was funded by EU money or something like it.
Bring it on !
http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2013/04/05/shetland...
rex said:
Well car purchased. Pistonheads classified on Wednesday, phoned on Thursday, viewed on Friday, picked up on Saturday. Very little research, but went with gut feeling of the car and the owner. Spent 3 hours pouring over the car, looking underneath as ramp available and now the smiling owner of a Jap import MR2 turbo with some nice modifications.
Very period looking in immaculate rust free white with adjustable coil overs excellent quality matching tyres and putting out 280 bhp. Oh and it's a T-bar. Pops and whoosh like a old school turbo.
So many smiles for so little money.
May get the ride height increased for the Shetland trip though..
Thanks for everyone's input. Roll on May
No photos / spec?Very period looking in immaculate rust free white with adjustable coil overs excellent quality matching tyres and putting out 280 bhp. Oh and it's a T-bar. Pops and whoosh like a old school turbo.
So many smiles for so little money.
May get the ride height increased for the Shetland trip though..
Thanks for everyone's input. Roll on May
Edited by rex on Sunday 18th October 22:56
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