Italy here we come!
Discussion
Part of the dream of owning a TVR was to travel to europe over the Alps and since buying my car in January I have been busy getting it ready for the trip. It was touch and go for a while if we were going to make it including a last minute change of clutch master cylinder on Tuesday but I am glad to report we have made it to the chunnel!
I am really excited but a bit apprehensive, got a stack of spares and a few tools so hopefully should be ok.
I know it probably feels like nothing to some of you who seem to pop over all the time and I am sure confidence will build with the trip.
Already had two people stop for a chat who used to own them in the past. I love my TVR.
I am really excited but a bit apprehensive, got a stack of spares and a few tools so hopefully should be ok.
I know it probably feels like nothing to some of you who seem to pop over all the time and I am sure confidence will build with the trip.
Already had two people stop for a chat who used to own them in the past. I love my TVR.
Cheers all I will keep you posted.
Really lucky getting to the Chunnel. Sounded like a complete nightmare with 2 hour delays when you have managed to get to the port. Somehow managed to make it almost without stopping and even got on an earlier train!
Next destination Aachen Germany!
Really lucky getting to the Chunnel. Sounded like a complete nightmare with 2 hour delays when you have managed to get to the port. Somehow managed to make it almost without stopping and even got on an earlier train!
Next destination Aachen Germany!
Had a great drive down to Aachen not going to tempt fate by saying how well the car is running! Ha! Steady 75mph and returning 27mpg. Happy with that although autobahn tomorrow will change that!
First services we stopped at ended like this after the remote boot release failed. My fault really as I forgot to solder in a wire someone had just stuffed into a socket when they fitted it. Anyway all sorted, I can only wonder what the English family were thinking as they passed me holding a bunch of wires and my multimeter!
Better pics to come!
Down to Lindau tomorrow and then 2 days doing the alpenstrasse, can't wait.
http://www.deutsche-alpenstrasse.de/en/home/
First services we stopped at ended like this after the remote boot release failed. My fault really as I forgot to solder in a wire someone had just stuffed into a socket when they fitted it. Anyway all sorted, I can only wonder what the English family were thinking as they passed me holding a bunch of wires and my multimeter!
Better pics to come!
Down to Lindau tomorrow and then 2 days doing the alpenstrasse, can't wait.
http://www.deutsche-alpenstrasse.de/en/home/
Edited by Danblez on Friday 24th July 19:19
Almost 1200 miles in and all going well. We had a bit of a miserable drive through Germany as we were chased all the way by a big storm. We mostly saw this all day.
What made up for the miserable weather was the interest in the car and some very excited thumbs up from other drivers.
Towards the end of the day we saw a bit more sun and then had a little fun along the unlimited autobahn.
http://youtu.be/Kx47uDQdOGg
Does anyone else have an inbuilt speed safety device in the passenger seat? To be fair that was as fast as I wanted to go as the weather was really gusty and it felt like the roof was about to depart.
Day three saw us set off from Lindau alone the start of the alpenstrasse. The weather was good so the roof of course was down and we drove along some stunning roads. Unfortunately it was really busy so it was a day of cruising along rather than having some fun.
I see the Alps!
We stopped halfway along the alpenstrasse last night in oberamagau, which is a beautiful town then got up bright and early. Weather was poor early on but this soon changed and we had fantastic day. Roads were much quieter than the weekend and we had a real mix of driving with occasional moderate hoonage.
Day started well behind a nice Dino. Some classic car rally was on with a few interesting motors about.
We are chilling out for a couple of nights now ahead of the Grossglockener pass apparently the highest route over the Alps in Austria.
This is such a beautiful part of the world and even better in a TVR!
What made up for the miserable weather was the interest in the car and some very excited thumbs up from other drivers.
Towards the end of the day we saw a bit more sun and then had a little fun along the unlimited autobahn.
http://youtu.be/Kx47uDQdOGg
Does anyone else have an inbuilt speed safety device in the passenger seat? To be fair that was as fast as I wanted to go as the weather was really gusty and it felt like the roof was about to depart.
Day three saw us set off from Lindau alone the start of the alpenstrasse. The weather was good so the roof of course was down and we drove along some stunning roads. Unfortunately it was really busy so it was a day of cruising along rather than having some fun.
I see the Alps!
We stopped halfway along the alpenstrasse last night in oberamagau, which is a beautiful town then got up bright and early. Weather was poor early on but this soon changed and we had fantastic day. Roads were much quieter than the weekend and we had a real mix of driving with occasional moderate hoonage.
Day started well behind a nice Dino. Some classic car rally was on with a few interesting motors about.
We are chilling out for a couple of nights now ahead of the Grossglockener pass apparently the highest route over the Alps in Austria.
This is such a beautiful part of the world and even better in a TVR!
Edited by Danblez on Monday 27th July 17:25
Hehe, yep my wife was quite concerned and asked if the bonnet should be doing that!
I also forgot to say last night at the hotel all the chefs came out and gathered around the car. I couldn't tell what they were saying but could tell they were discussing what on earth it was, the only word I understood was Austin!
I also forgot to say last night at the hotel all the chefs came out and gathered around the car. I couldn't tell what they were saying but could tell they were discussing what on earth it was, the only word I understood was Austin!
Edited by Danblez on Monday 27th July 17:33
Wooohoooo, we made it and the car didn't miss a beat!
We were a bit disappointed we didn't get to enjoy the Grossglockener as the weather was so bad we took a smaller pass and more direct route. Bad weather has chased us all the way but we landed at our final destination yesterday in 38 degrees of sunshine. The car behaved faultlessly even in this temp with the needle never moving above 88 degrees.
What a fantastic journey, loved every mile and the car had so much attention, people genuinely interested in it.
Just heading out the the Ferrari museum now as guess what? Yep raining again! No pics at the moment because the wifi is sulking!
We were a bit disappointed we didn't get to enjoy the Grossglockener as the weather was so bad we took a smaller pass and more direct route. Bad weather has chased us all the way but we landed at our final destination yesterday in 38 degrees of sunshine. The car behaved faultlessly even in this temp with the needle never moving above 88 degrees.
What a fantastic journey, loved every mile and the car had so much attention, people genuinely interested in it.
Just heading out the the Ferrari museum now as guess what? Yep raining again! No pics at the moment because the wifi is sulking!
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
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff