Italy here we come!
Discussion
So we set off from Kaprun in Austria hoping for a glorious day over the Grossglockener. Unfortunatly we were faced with this.
So we just plugged our destination on the Italian side and took the direct route. As the hours passed the weather improved.
We eventually ended up in brassenone in a stunning chalet on the side of a hill.
So we just plugged our destination on the Italian side and took the direct route. As the hours passed the weather improved.
We eventually ended up in brassenone in a stunning chalet on the side of a hill.
We set off yesterday from brassenone to our final destination just outside of Bologna and decided to take the scenic route around lake Garda.
It was great slowly making our way down but bloody hell it was hot. Didn't seem to bother the car though, fans kicking in nicely when needed to bring the temp down.
So we arrived yesterday afternoon, just over 1500 miles, no water used about 200mls of oil and averaged 26.2mpg which quite frankly I am astonished by. We even reach a high of 29.1 for one tank. I am not an mpg nerd btw just tracking the journey and it works it it for me!
After 6 months of ownership a fair few quid and hours spent I think I can finally say it's a good un!
It was great slowly making our way down but bloody hell it was hot. Didn't seem to bother the car though, fans kicking in nicely when needed to bring the temp down.
So we arrived yesterday afternoon, just over 1500 miles, no water used about 200mls of oil and averaged 26.2mpg which quite frankly I am astonished by. We even reach a high of 29.1 for one tank. I am not an mpg nerd btw just tracking the journey and it works it it for me!
After 6 months of ownership a fair few quid and hours spent I think I can finally say it's a good un!
Spent the last few days chilling out with an odd trip out. The Ferrari museum was pretty good and there were lots of ferraris buzzing about although people seemed more interested in the little Blackpool beauty.
The last two nights we have ventured out late afternoon and driven into Ferrara and Parma for a wander and a bite to eat. It was an hour each way but what a way to go out to dinner cruising in the warm evening breeze, roof down.
There are however a few downsides to this heat (38 in the day) firstly I have 3rd degree burns from not only pulling the roof struts down but also handing the roof panel. It is also a little disconcerting listening to the dahsboard veneer slowly peeling itself away. And how hot does the bloody gear knob get? Well nuclear hot as it happens.
Desperately seeking shade.
Tonight is the last night here before we venture back. We are doing the return journey in 3 nights rather than the leisurely 6 on the way down so 350 miles tomorrow over the Alps and into southern Germany .
The last two nights we have ventured out late afternoon and driven into Ferrara and Parma for a wander and a bite to eat. It was an hour each way but what a way to go out to dinner cruising in the warm evening breeze, roof down.
There are however a few downsides to this heat (38 in the day) firstly I have 3rd degree burns from not only pulling the roof struts down but also handing the roof panel. It is also a little disconcerting listening to the dahsboard veneer slowly peeling itself away. And how hot does the bloody gear knob get? Well nuclear hot as it happens.
Desperately seeking shade.
Tonight is the last night here before we venture back. We are doing the return journey in 3 nights rather than the leisurely 6 on the way down so 350 miles tomorrow over the Alps and into southern Germany .
Well we have made it to Northern Germany after a gruelling 16 hours over two days and 600 miles. The was in full sun and late 30s. If I never see another German set of road works it will be too soon. I feared for the car for the first time as I sat in 3 lanes of stationary traffic with no hard shoulder and watched the temp needle creep over 90 for the first time, for a while It was struggling to tickover each time the fans kicked in but we pulled off for a rest and a bite to eat and completed the rest of the journey with no issues.
Worst of all I drove all the way with a belting hangover after a very friendly German guest house owner kept feeding us free shots last night, after much wheat beer
I shall leave you with one picture of what, amongst many things, the Germans do so well. Meat and beer!
Just in case anyone was wondering, yes I am still enjoying myself
Worst of all I drove all the way with a belting hangover after a very friendly German guest house owner kept feeding us free shots last night, after much wheat beer
I shall leave you with one picture of what, amongst many things, the Germans do so well. Meat and beer!
Just in case anyone was wondering, yes I am still enjoying myself
Edited by Danblez on Thursday 6th August 17:20
Well fella, this has been an epic experience for you and I can assure you that you will be wanting to return to Europe as soon as possible. My pals and I have done the Germany, Austria, Italy trip a few times and it never fails to impress. Your own experience of bonnet rattle was as my own in 2012 when I decided that I wasn't keen on seeing what happened to the bonnet if I added a few more mph to my current 140! We did the Brenner and Stelvio passes in one day and the photos are incredible. I even started to write a longish article for Sprint mag but never got round to finishing it. The moral of the tale is, if you own a TVR drive it and drive it often. The summer/dry only cars are the ones that let the marque down, not the ones that do 6000+ per annum!
FYI, the best country for car trips in Europe (for you will definitely be wanting to know that after this trip!) is........Spain. Perhaps if you have some time in September you may want to join us. We shall be returning for our fourth trip there next month and it is by far my favourite. Obviously I must state that other countries are available too!
Orrabest.
FYI, the best country for car trips in Europe (for you will definitely be wanting to know that after this trip!) is........Spain. Perhaps if you have some time in September you may want to join us. We shall be returning for our fourth trip there next month and it is by far my favourite. Obviously I must state that other countries are available too!
Orrabest.
More than slightly envious. 
Give the porker some beans and enjoy the A/C in all that heat! 
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