2 weeks and 2000 miles

[H5V VE]

Just got back from driving around south west France for 2 weeks and can I just say what a fantastic cruiser the VXR8 is (if only it was a bit more frugal). It fits 4 people in comfort and all the gear (ok - so it needed a roof box as well for that part) - but the boot is still cavernous.

The French motorways are a joy and 130kph just about hits the VXR8 sweetspot in terms of mpg.

Anyway, apart from loads of looks varying from "wow - what is that" - to "mon dieu - what is that noisy lump of metal", there are some lovely roads to drive around there.

To the point of this post though. If any of you get the chance, the drive over the Pyrenees from France in Andorra is just breath taking - you can leave Stelvio behind for this one. There is a tunnel through if you really want to, but up and over is by far the best option - exhaust in 2nd and third echoes nicely off the side of the mountain as you go around the hair pins :-)

As an added benefit, there is also a 2km tunnel between Foix and Andorra that you get as a free bonus! If i can find the camera again, will post up a few pics.

Highly recommended.

[S800VXR]

We are off on the 23rd Aug for 10 days and about 4k, really looking forward to it as saved the pennies for fuel already (£10.50 should do it!)

[H5V VE]

Enjoy!

Just make sure that you time your trip around Paris and the motorways just south of there well. We head down overnight so it usually pretty quiet.

The other fun part is when you start up on the Eurotunnel trains in that enclosed space. Make sure you keep an eye in your rear mirror for that part :-)

(oh yeah - the factory satnav definitely covers all of France and Andorra - and the rest of Western Europe as well)

Edited by H5V VE on Sunday 27th July 08:22

[rytaylor]

I'm heading down that way for a couple of weeks soon. Wasn't going to go as far as Andorra but we did talk about it. Sounds worth it for the roads alone. Any pics or route recommendations would be good.

[ringram]

S800VXR said:

We are off on the 23rd Aug for 10 days and about 4k, really looking forward to it as saved the pennies for fuel already (£10.50 should do it!)

6 days and 3,500 to vasteras return is probably the record for the forum.
And probably 3,200 of those miles are done in 4 days.

But 4k is a good stint.

[S800VXR]

ringram said:

6 days and 3,500 to vasteras return is probably the record for the forum.
And probably 3,200 of those miles are done in 4 days.

But 4k is a good stint.

Did a google map calc and it's closer to 4.5 but we will see. Aiming for, mid alps, Nice, Monaco, somewhere along the coast to Itally, Modena, Stelvio, Davos, somewhere in Switzerland then up toCochem in Germany for the annual pilgramidge to the wine festival.

Shame I couldn't do Vasteras but no holiday spare this year.