whats your ideal car for a 2 week europe tour?
Discussion
GrandAndrew said:
I'm going to do about 10 days down to the Alpes in June in my 986 Boxster S. Don't have any fixed plans at the moment, just want to drive some great roads and look out over some amazing views. Might take a tent and camp for some of it. Couple of good books and a few beers, should be very relaxing indeed!
Good boot space as well. Wife could read her magazine at steady 100 with the roof down too
Ideally, I would be looking at an AM Rapide, Maserati QP, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio or BMW M6 Gran Coupe if I needed four seats or a AM V8V Roadster or Ferrari F355 Spider if I didn't.
However, taking it a bit steadier in a classic really appeals. A 1960s Mercedes 280 SE Cab if I needed four seats or maybe a 1950s/1960s Mercedes SL or possibly a Triumph TR6 if I didn't.
The best (and only in fact) cars that I have taken a long Euro road trip in are a "Blobeye" Impreza WRX Wagon and an early 90s (E30) BMW 325i Cabriolet. Both were fantastic. The BMW more of a comfortable, efortless, top-down cruiser with a sonorous engine note and the Subaru giving stronger performance and more precise handling on the twisties and yet still being very comfortable, refined and fast on the motorways.
Not much help to you though, as the only thing on my list in budget possibly is a QP but a cheap one might be a bit of a money pit.
I would be looking at an E39 M5 or E46 M3, maybe a Jaguar XJR or Porsche 911 too (996)?
If you want a bit less "bork" factor, Audi S4 Cab with the V8 but make sure it's an auto not a manual, BMW 330i/335i Cab, Mercedes-Benz CLK Cab, Nissan 350Z, mk2 Focus RS, perhaps a W124 Mercedes E320 Cab if you want something more classic. An open roof and a sonorous engine note would be fantastic for a Euro road trip.
Not sure what your problem is with the MINI. I daily a 2010 MINI Cooper (R56) and it's the lightest, most compact, nimble car that I have owned since my Peugeot 205 GTi. It would be a blast on a European road trip for sure, although it could do with a bit more power, so a later R56 MINI Cooper S for me with the upgraded 184bhp engine (so 2012/2013?). Convertible even better but the latest 2014- MINI does absolutely nothing for me.
However, taking it a bit steadier in a classic really appeals. A 1960s Mercedes 280 SE Cab if I needed four seats or maybe a 1950s/1960s Mercedes SL or possibly a Triumph TR6 if I didn't.
The best (and only in fact) cars that I have taken a long Euro road trip in are a "Blobeye" Impreza WRX Wagon and an early 90s (E30) BMW 325i Cabriolet. Both were fantastic. The BMW more of a comfortable, efortless, top-down cruiser with a sonorous engine note and the Subaru giving stronger performance and more precise handling on the twisties and yet still being very comfortable, refined and fast on the motorways.
Not much help to you though, as the only thing on my list in budget possibly is a QP but a cheap one might be a bit of a money pit.
I would be looking at an E39 M5 or E46 M3, maybe a Jaguar XJR or Porsche 911 too (996)?
If you want a bit less "bork" factor, Audi S4 Cab with the V8 but make sure it's an auto not a manual, BMW 330i/335i Cab, Mercedes-Benz CLK Cab, Nissan 350Z, mk2 Focus RS, perhaps a W124 Mercedes E320 Cab if you want something more classic. An open roof and a sonorous engine note would be fantastic for a Euro road trip.
Not sure what your problem is with the MINI. I daily a 2010 MINI Cooper (R56) and it's the lightest, most compact, nimble car that I have owned since my Peugeot 205 GTi. It would be a blast on a European road trip for sure, although it could do with a bit more power, so a later R56 MINI Cooper S for me with the upgraded 184bhp engine (so 2012/2013?). Convertible even better but the latest 2014- MINI does absolutely nothing for me.
Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 15th March 15:11
kiethton said:
it would be the ideal car for a 2 week tour - good on the motorways, still good fun in the twisties, convertible and with a fair amount of storage space (although still not enough for my GF!)
At more sensible money a Boxster S would be just as good.I did a few Euro trips in my old Cayman S which was brilliant. Nice to be able to take the roof off at times though.
We had 4 great trips in my old SLK350 varying between 10 - 14 days. Looking forward to this year as I now have an R172 SLK55, taking that back to Germany to do the Deutsche AlpenStrasse and a bit of the Tyrol. Never had any issues with luggage for that length of time even with my wife's "need" to take far too much clothing. I can thoroughly recommend RoadsterBags to anyone planning similar.
Whilst an R172 is out of budget, a R171 55 or 350 would be a good choice in my opinion.
Whilst an R172 is out of budget, a R171 55 or 350 would be a good choice in my opinion.
One of the new (991.2) 911 Targas. With a manual and cruise control. In Miami Blue if you could get it.
Good luggage space with the back seats, surprising fuel economy with the turbo. Would be great on the back roads and that Targa bar has the perfect retro cool factor.
Have a look at renting one.
Good luggage space with the back seats, surprising fuel economy with the turbo. Would be great on the back roads and that Targa bar has the perfect retro cool factor.
Have a look at renting one.
The mammoth European road trips i've done have been on banger rally's and both cars did brilliantly. First was a 1989 Volvo 740 G (the "LE") fell off in a Cardiff car wash when we picked it up - was a bit hot without air con, but the sunroof and overdrive worked great.
Second time was in a 1988 Honda Legend bound for the scrapyard due to rust. That never missed a beat and was an effortless cruiser. Also sounded good going up the Stelvio pass as we removed the air filter. Brakes got a little "hot" on the descent though......
For me it would have to be an S2000 or RS4. Money no object, my mates Vanquish S would do nicely.
Second time was in a 1988 Honda Legend bound for the scrapyard due to rust. That never missed a beat and was an effortless cruiser. Also sounded good going up the Stelvio pass as we removed the air filter. Brakes got a little "hot" on the descent though......
For me it would have to be an S2000 or RS4. Money no object, my mates Vanquish S would do nicely.
Two weeks in this was just never enough. It was totally addictive. Each day at a different hotel in a different European or Scandinavian city, town, village or just a hotel in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
Sometimes I regret selling it - most often when I look at pictures like this:
Sometimes I regret selling it - most often when I look at pictures like this:
It isn't the car but the journey . Having driven through Germany and France in a 67 Beetle cabrio,to Imola in a Uno Turbo, around the Mille Miglia route in a Panda , across Italy France and Switzerland in a 306 DT , Champagne country in an AXGT, Alsace in a 205 1,1 and just about all the above in sundry Gold Gtis trust me- it's the route !
coppice said:
It isn't the car but the journey . Having driven through Germany and France in a 67 Beetle cabrio,to Imola in a Uno Turbo, around the Mille Miglia route in a Panda , across Italy France and Switzerland in a 306 DT , Champagne country in an AXGT, Alsace in a 205 1,1 and just about all the above in sundry Gold Gtis trust me- it's the route !
Yeah but the route becomes far more special in certain cars.Are you telling me that a Beetle will be as comfortable or as entertaining as say a 600bhp V10 M6 on the Autobahn? sound as good as a V8 TVR through the tunnels? As good as an Exige in the mountains etc?
I get what your saying, but doing these trips in certain cars must be an unbelievable experience, I mean imagine doing it in a 650 Spyder like the chap earlier in the thread or something even more extraordinary like a Zonda?!? Watching Richard Hammond drive through a tunnel in a Zonda Roadster on TV is a memory I'll never forget let alone doing it myself
From 2:15 here for memory sakes
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIoFnfMhq_Y
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff