Advice please. Anyone driven to northern Italy?
Discussion
Thinking of taking my 458S in the summer thru northern france, switzerland and then around northern italy - the lakes, verona, bologna, portofino - and back. Some mates have said it sounds way better than reality - poor roads, summer hassle. Has anyone done a similar trip in a similar machine? Would be great to know if your experience was different or same above. Many thanks.
Done similar in the past in Ferrari360 plus a couple of Gallardos. I always go from Calais into Belgium then Germany to get to Switzerland as motorways are free plus you can go fast in Germany. My advice is don't speed in Switzerland as it is mighty expensive. Avoid school holiday times plus German holidays as lots of caravans/ motorhomes. Trucks were not allowed on German motorways on Sundays but might have changed now. Roads around Davos and Stelvio good but can get busy. From Bormio to the Italian lakes are some great roads and not much traffic. The lakes can get busy but if you go off the main lakeside roads there are some great roads and not much traffic.
Well worth doing and if you plan it properly you can tie in trips around Ferrari, Lamborghini and Zonda factories but need to book in advance.
Just do it, you won't regret it. Late June/ early July is good time to go as the high passes in Switzerland are all open by then. I hope this helps.
Well worth doing and if you plan it properly you can tie in trips around Ferrari, Lamborghini and Zonda factories but need to book in advance.
Just do it, you won't regret it. Late June/ early July is good time to go as the high passes in Switzerland are all open by then. I hope this helps.
iandc said:
I always go from Calais into Belgium then Germany to get to Switzerland as motorways are free
You have a Ferrari and you are concerned about a handful of Euros in toll fees? 
French autoroutes are amongst the best in the world and when you get bored of them, their A roads (Routes Nationales) are also amongst the best in the world.
The exact route I'd recommend depends how long you want to take and when you are going. Summer traffic volumes vary massively. Avoid the peak UK school time and the peak August French/Italian nightmare weekends and you'll have fun. Autoroutes on Sundays are empty of lorries. Autostrada relatively empty of them, too.
I used to live in Germany and drove from there to Italy a few times. From the UK, I'd prefer the French route via the Frejus tunnel. But why not do both and report back?
Behemoth said:
You have a Ferrari and you are concerned about a handful of Euros in toll fees?
French autoroutes are amongst the best in the world and when you get bored of them, their A roads (Routes Nationales) are also amongst the best in the world.
The exact route I'd recommend depends how long you want to take and when you are going. Summer traffic volumes vary massively. Avoid the peak UK school time and the peak August French/Italian nightmare weekends and you'll have fun. Autoroutes on Sundays are empty of lorries. Autostrada relatively empty of them, too.
I used to live in Germany and drove from there to Italy a few times. From the UK, I'd prefer the French route via the Frejus tunnel. But why not do both and report back?
Fewer speed limits on the German motorways and great on a Sunday if outside the school holiday times. It cost me a fortune on French motorways going from Calais to Spain (another trip!) plus you need to keep stopping at the toll booths.French autoroutes are amongst the best in the world and when you get bored of them, their A roads (Routes Nationales) are also amongst the best in the world.
The exact route I'd recommend depends how long you want to take and when you are going. Summer traffic volumes vary massively. Avoid the peak UK school time and the peak August French/Italian nightmare weekends and you'll have fun. Autoroutes on Sundays are empty of lorries. Autostrada relatively empty of them, too.
I used to live in Germany and drove from there to Italy a few times. From the UK, I'd prefer the French route via the Frejus tunnel. But why not do both and report back?
Toll booths aren't really an issue as you can sign up for an electronic tag which comes straight out of your UK bank account
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
Very good advice on speeding in Switzerland, the cameras aren't an issue but if you get stopped it's expensive. I got caught doing 15 km/h over the limit in a 70 km/h zone when going skiing over Christmas. I was in a line of cars all doing the same speed but the only foreign car so I was the one that got stopped...CHF 480 fine! Ouch.
When I drive down there I go down through France and then just south of Dijon head across country through to Lausanne....great driving roads and not much traffic at all. Once you hit Lausanne/Lake Geneva you can head for the Grand St Bernard Pass (Italian Job/Muira) and into Italy.
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
Very good advice on speeding in Switzerland, the cameras aren't an issue but if you get stopped it's expensive. I got caught doing 15 km/h over the limit in a 70 km/h zone when going skiing over Christmas. I was in a line of cars all doing the same speed but the only foreign car so I was the one that got stopped...CHF 480 fine! Ouch.
When I drive down there I go down through France and then just south of Dijon head across country through to Lausanne....great driving roads and not much traffic at all. Once you hit Lausanne/Lake Geneva you can head for the Grand St Bernard Pass (Italian Job/Muira) and into Italy.
Have done the exact same trip in late July in my Maser GT-S and traffic can be very problematic. I tend to take the French route as their roads are wonderful, the route is shorter, avoids Belgium (truly appalling roads and often congested)and if you have the electronic tag, means the toll booths are not so much of an issue. However, at that time of year the French police are out in force, particularly on Friday and Saturday and if you are speeding in a GB plate car, they will stop you and ask for a large wad of cash or if you were really pressing on, confiscate your car! The days when you could go over to France and simply cruise at 120mph+ are well and truly over, unless it is late at night!
Once in Italy, things are somewhat more relaxed and the Italians really appreciate their cars so there will be lots of thumbs up and people trying to get a good look. The roads round the lakes at that time of year are generally very busy, coupled with the fact that they are often narrow with limited passing opportunities, means progress can be slow. That said, you will be in a Ferrari going through some of the most wonderful scenery the world has to offer and if you can get off the beaten track traffic will ease and some serious fun can be had. I say just do it!
Once in Italy, things are somewhat more relaxed and the Italians really appreciate their cars so there will be lots of thumbs up and people trying to get a good look. The roads round the lakes at that time of year are generally very busy, coupled with the fact that they are often narrow with limited passing opportunities, means progress can be slow. That said, you will be in a Ferrari going through some of the most wonderful scenery the world has to offer and if you can get off the beaten track traffic will ease and some serious fun can be had. I say just do it!
Last 2 weeks of July not recommended as lots of holiday traffic (Motorhomes etc). I always go late June or early July as the high passes in Switzerland always open by then and too early for the school holidays. Good point regarding French police. I was talking to a French equivalent to out Highways Agency guys in France and he said the French police will pull GB cars even if not speeding but they think they have speed detectors. As stated it is not cheap if they stop you.
I did Calais -> Champéry -> Asti (region) -> Maranello via Portofino -> Monza -> Bologna -> Como -> back to Champéry via the alps last summer in my 355.
The leg from Portofino to Maranello was hell. Portofino itself wasn't much better.
edit: The rest of the trip was fantastic though. The St Bernard pass on the way into Italy and the St Gottard on the way out were amazing. Also drove the Furka pass by accident and that was stunning, if a little scary, too.
The route I took from Portofino to Maranello was the most direct, cross country route. It involved lots of fairly tight, steep hill roads which had awful surfaces. And it was foggy and chucking it down with rain when I drove it...
The leg from Portofino to Maranello was hell. Portofino itself wasn't much better.
edit: The rest of the trip was fantastic though. The St Bernard pass on the way into Italy and the St Gottard on the way out were amazing. Also drove the Furka pass by accident and that was stunning, if a little scary, too.
The route I took from Portofino to Maranello was the most direct, cross country route. It involved lots of fairly tight, steep hill roads which had awful surfaces. And it was foggy and chucking it down with rain when I drove it...
Edited by tomtom on Wednesday 21st January 13:12
I get the ferry to Amsterdam, then drive down through Germany to Italy. The only issues for me have been the lakeside roads, after either autobahn blasting or alps hooning they feel dreadfully slow, and you don't feel like you're making much progress. Traffic plus constant town speed limits.
If you're looking at Bellagio at Lake Como, try and avoid the roads to it and get the ferry across. The roads up the peninsula to Bellagio are very narrow, and the locals are stereotypical Italian drivers
If you're looking at Bellagio at Lake Como, try and avoid the roads to it and get the ferry across. The roads up the peninsula to Bellagio are very narrow, and the locals are stereotypical Italian drivers
Swiss regs are just too dull. They've never liked sports cars since 1955.
In France, I would be very careful and eagle-eyed on the autoroutes. Also bear in mind they have been known to check toll gate to toll gate averages. In high summer, the empty stretches of the A26 over repeated crests and valleys are obvious trap locations (usually the valleys). Further south there are other favourite haunts.
There are also favoured times of day. For example, I've never, ever seen them out and about with their laser guns at the sacred midi lunchtime break
I expect that only happens on Le Mans weekend when it must be like catching fish in a barrel for the autoroute flic.
Once in Italy, just avoid using your rear view mirror because it will frighten you
In France, I would be very careful and eagle-eyed on the autoroutes. Also bear in mind they have been known to check toll gate to toll gate averages. In high summer, the empty stretches of the A26 over repeated crests and valleys are obvious trap locations (usually the valleys). Further south there are other favourite haunts.
There are also favoured times of day. For example, I've never, ever seen them out and about with their laser guns at the sacred midi lunchtime break
I expect that only happens on Le Mans weekend when it must be like catching fish in a barrel for the autoroute flic.Once in Italy, just avoid using your rear view mirror because it will frighten you
Agree about the tail gaters in Italy. If you are in an Italian sports car even with GB plates the police never seemed to bother about speeding (warning they might do now, that was a couple of years ago). I was in a Lamborghini and got alongside a police car when the driver wound his window down and beckoned for me to go faster! I thought it was a trap but no he really was happy for me to speed past him. As I say might be different now with the police needing the money.
If you have the time the Dolomites have some great passes and far less traffic than the Alps.
If you have the time the Dolomites have some great passes and far less traffic than the Alps.
Checkout http://youtu.be/z_DScGjkbwo for some inspiration and a route from Calais to Northern Italy via Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. We avoided France due to draconian speeding laws.
Nothing quite like a trip through the Alps/Dolomite's in supercar.
Nothing quite like a trip through the Alps/Dolomite's in supercar.
redback911 said:
Checkout http://youtu.be/z_DScGjkbwo for some inspiration and a route from Calais to Northern Italy via Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. We avoided France due to draconian speeding laws.
Nothing quite like a trip through the Alps/Dolomite's in supercar.
Looks great! I love the way there is snow everywhere but they manage to keep the roads clear. 1cm of snow in the UK and life grinds to a halt!Nothing quite like a trip through the Alps/Dolomite's in supercar.
Behemoth said:
Don't imagine for one moment that you can get away with speeding in Germany. I've had more tickets there than anywhere, including the UK.
I think given they let you do any speed on the unrestricted bits the "quid pro quo" is you keep to the limits when in force. Not a bad trade off. They were pulling over (mostly German) cars speeding in the roadworks last time I was on the autobahn.
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff