T350 to Italy and back with no probs
Discussion
Just got back from our holiday tour of Europe. Germany, Austria, Italy, 2,500 miles in 7 days. Car ran great and seemed to enjoy being trashed up mountain passes.
Firstly we went to the Nurburgring for a quick lap. This was not as daunting as I expected. Went out early on a Monday morning just after the roads began to dry after an early shower, the circuit was nice and quiet. Apart from 3 or 3 nasty corners which you need to know or you're in the armco, the track seemed OK to drive at a reasonable pace (not racing - I'm not stupid enough to think I know the circuit). Lots of Brits there as well as lots of mad bikers (who were not out on the track due to the slightly damp conditions). One thing for sure - Porsche 911s are common as muck out there. I can recommend the Dorint for a good local hotel - 80 Euros online price.
There was a black German registered Tuscan S at the race circuit on what appeared to be a track day - mixing it with the Porsches and appearing to manage very well
Then a nice blast to the A61 Autobahn (this road to the A61 was better than the 'ring
). Down through Germany at average pace due to traffic (95 mph cruise altitude). Stopped overnight in Garmisch Partenkirchen - nice Tyrolian type place.
Next day over into Italy down to Bolzano, stayed in a Sheraton with underground parking and did some sightseeing. Went up a few local mountain passes the next day.
Then drove up the Stelvio pass from the South. Brilliant. I wish someone would have warned me about the single lane tunnels near the bottom though. Had to reverse out when I met a pikey wagon followed by a bunch of cars coming down the tunnel. Of course the biker behind me wouldn't move so I had to reverse around him in the dark. Thanks mate. Stelvio was fun, but no more than most of the other passes we went over.
Then it was over to the Cortina area for a few nights. Fanstastic road called the Eggental out of Bolzano - you drive up a narrow gorge and it feels like you're in a computer game.
Had sunshine most of the time, but some very very wet weather in Austria on the way home on Saturday. The car didn't miss a beat. I think it was pinking a little at high altitude (by this I mean 2000+ metres), but only at the highest revs which weren't needed too much.
Had a nice blast back up North, stopping in Trier overnight (averaging 125+mph for the last 90 minutes of the journey - on nice empty Autobahns past Kaiserslauten). Back through the Eurotunnel (fast and efficient as always), around the Road to Hell and home.
Everywhere we stopped people were looking at the car trying to work out what it was. It got one helluva lot of attention and many photos were taken by people to take home and show friends.
Would I do it again tomorrow? Oh yes
Firstly we went to the Nurburgring for a quick lap. This was not as daunting as I expected. Went out early on a Monday morning just after the roads began to dry after an early shower, the circuit was nice and quiet. Apart from 3 or 3 nasty corners which you need to know or you're in the armco, the track seemed OK to drive at a reasonable pace (not racing - I'm not stupid enough to think I know the circuit). Lots of Brits there as well as lots of mad bikers (who were not out on the track due to the slightly damp conditions). One thing for sure - Porsche 911s are common as muck out there. I can recommend the Dorint for a good local hotel - 80 Euros online price.
There was a black German registered Tuscan S at the race circuit on what appeared to be a track day - mixing it with the Porsches and appearing to manage very well
Then a nice blast to the A61 Autobahn (this road to the A61 was better than the 'ring
). Down through Germany at average pace due to traffic (95 mph cruise altitude). Stopped overnight in Garmisch Partenkirchen - nice Tyrolian type place. Next day over into Italy down to Bolzano, stayed in a Sheraton with underground parking and did some sightseeing. Went up a few local mountain passes the next day.
Then drove up the Stelvio pass from the South. Brilliant. I wish someone would have warned me about the single lane tunnels near the bottom though. Had to reverse out when I met a pikey wagon followed by a bunch of cars coming down the tunnel. Of course the biker behind me wouldn't move so I had to reverse around him in the dark. Thanks mate. Stelvio was fun, but no more than most of the other passes we went over.
Then it was over to the Cortina area for a few nights. Fanstastic road called the Eggental out of Bolzano - you drive up a narrow gorge and it feels like you're in a computer game.
Had sunshine most of the time, but some very very wet weather in Austria on the way home on Saturday. The car didn't miss a beat. I think it was pinking a little at high altitude (by this I mean 2000+ metres), but only at the highest revs which weren't needed too much.
Had a nice blast back up North, stopping in Trier overnight (averaging 125+mph for the last 90 minutes of the journey - on nice empty Autobahns past Kaiserslauten). Back through the Eurotunnel (fast and efficient as always), around the Road to Hell and home.
Everywhere we stopped people were looking at the car trying to work out what it was. It got one helluva lot of attention and many photos were taken by people to take home and show friends.
Would I do it again tomorrow? Oh yes
Some, I will try to upload them tonight so I can post them here.
I always plan to take more shots. Thing is, after I've zoomed along a road, passing lots of cars etc. I feel a right pillock stopping, taking pictures and having them all gawp at me sniggering to their passengers how I wasn't any quicker in the end etc.
I always plan to take more shots. Thing is, after I've zoomed along a road, passing lots of cars etc. I feel a right pillock stopping, taking pictures and having them all gawp at me sniggering to their passengers how I wasn't any quicker in the end etc.
I know what you mean.
Look forward to the shots and don't forget to send your details over to
www.t350r.co.uk
Nasz - we took the Eurotunnel, past Dunkerke, Brugge, Brussels, Liege, down to the Nurburgring (good stopover even if you don't take in a lap or two of the 'ring yourself - petrolhead central). We then took the A61 down past Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, turned South on the A7 (I think) at ULM and down to Fussen. Stopped over in Garmisch Partenkirchen (reasonable Best Western Hotel, but good parking), typical cute Tyrolian town. Then South to Innsbruck, then along the Autostrada to Bolzano. Dead simple when you look at the map. Avoids all French toll roads.
BTW - Belgian roads are sh1t!
BTW - Belgian roads are sh1t!
N17 TVR said:
Great pictures and a great colour for the car.
I would imagine that even the Italians with their history of automative design must have just gawped at the T350, it's looks compete with anything that Ferrari, Maserati et al produce.
Makes you proud to be British........
Proud indeedski!
They didn't have a clue! Got loads of close looks whereever I stopped. One or two more savvy types asked if was a Triumph (better than being called an MG I guess
). Gets worrying when you see the Police around your car taking pictures though
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