Iceland in a Seven

[AHB]

Hi,

Since September I am the big-grinned owner of a Caterham Seven 165 (160) and was thinking of going to Iceland with it this summer. Has anyone been to Iceland and know if it is possible to drive there in anything as low as a Caterham? Most pictures of Iceland seem to have 4x4's in them.

Thanks!

[JQ]

AHB said:

Hi,

Since September I am the big-grinned owner of a Caterham Seven 165 (160) and was thinking of going to Iceland with it this summer. Has anyone been to Iceland and know if it is possible to drive there in anything as low as a Caterham? Most pictures of Iceland seem to have 4x4's in them.

Thanks!

It'll be fine, but may limit some of the places you can get to if you go inland. My BiL has a TVR over there. You may just wish to check it's legal to drive on the roads over there in a 7 - kit cars are illegal (but that may just be a "registering a car in Iceland" issue). It took several months to get the TVR through Customs as this was a bit of an issue as they considered the TVR a kit car at first.

I'm not sure it would be my first choice of location for a driving holiday in a 7 however, most roads are straight and long, it's cold and windy and the police are very aggressive when it comes to speeding. And once you head inland in the summer you'll be on dirt roads throwing up dust clouds in your face when sitting behind other cars.

I'd also be interested how you plan to get the car there, I know there used to be ferries via the Shetlands, but thought they'd ceased the service? If there is an easy way to get there in a car I'd certainly be interested.

[AHB]

Thanks! The dust and stones might be a problem, I took the unpainted body panels. About it not being an ideal country for a road trip: really want to see Iceland and don't fancy flying over there and renting a car. It isn't a road trip as such, it's such a car vacation... but the 7 will make it a bit more interesting I think :-). I would go for about 10 days to see as much as possible-so not only the main ring road- but also the inland.

Mine isn't really a kit car, it's factory built and it has a European COC. Us landfolk don't hav the option of building one ourselves and in Belgium, where I'm from, they are just as strict as in Iceland I guess when it comes to registering cars. Anything out of the ordinary is near impossible to register over here, so a European COC is a blessing...

To get the car over there, I would take the ferry in Denmark (about 1000 km from my house. Price is OK if you choose the right time.

[fandango_c]

I think there's a ferry from Denmark that takes a couple of days to get there. Plus the time to drive to Denmark.

I went to Iceland a couple of years ago and looked at taking a car from the UK, but decided against it as it would take far too long compared to a couple of hours on a plane from Gatwick.

The main roads are very good over there. Some of the inland "roads" won't are tricky in anything other than a 4x4. Weather, even in summer, can be very windy, wet and cold.

[XJ Flyer]

JQ said:

AHB said:

Hi,

Since September I am the big-grinned owner of a Caterham Seven 165 (160) and was thinking of going to Iceland with it this summer. Has anyone been to Iceland and know if it is possible to drive there in anything as low as a Caterham? Most pictures of Iceland seem to have 4x4's in them.

Thanks!

It'll be fine, but may limit some of the places you can get to if you go inland. My BiL has a TVR over there. You may just wish to check it's legal to drive on the roads over there in a 7 - kit cars are illegal (but that may just be a "registering a car in Iceland" issue). It took several months to get the TVR through Customs as this was a bit of an issue as they considered the TVR a kit car at first.

I'm not sure it would be my first choice of location for a driving holiday in a 7 however, most roads are straight and long, it's cold and windy and the police are very aggressive when it comes to speeding. And once you head inland in the summer you'll be on dirt roads throwing up dust clouds in your face when sitting behind other cars.

I'd also be interested how you plan to get the car there, I know there used to be ferries via the Shetlands, but thought they'd ceased the service? If there is an easy way to get there in a car I'd certainly be interested.

I think the usual Scotland-Shetlands-Faroes-Iceland route is still all available.Certainly the Torshavn-Seydisfjordur sector at least.I've often thought about a trip there but always decided to return to the Mediterranean Islands like Sardinia instead for the better weather and better driving environment.

[nyt]

Most roads are excellent. You'll be able to see all of the tourist areas around Reykjavik without any problem.
Away from the capital thinks get tricky- unpaved roads etc.
Some routes that I took had very long tunnels under fjords. There wasn't much traffic but I guess they could get very smokey. Not great in a soft.top without air recirculation.
You do have a heater?

There is a low speed limit of 90kp/h if I recall so it may not be the greatest fun. Having said that I didn't ever see a police vehicle but the locals seem to keep to the limits religiously so I suspect there must be enforcement.

If you want to go walking you'll probably need weather gear which might be hard to fit in a caterham. You certainly won't be able to drive in waling boots

Enjoy.

[Stephanie Plum]

Drove some 3500kms around Iceland a few years ago in a Landcruiser. Roads away from the Reykavik area are ash/gravel and wouldn't be fun following anything. Weather can be inclement. Most il,and roads will be impassable to you. Any that are will often be infested with midges if there is any water nearby which could also make life unpleasant.

Head to Norway with the Caterham and head well north of Oslo. Superb roads and scenery and fly and hire in Iceland would be my choice.

[AHB]

Mhh... mixed feelings. I think I might put Iceland on hold until when I can get my hands on a Defender.

Maybe take the 7 to Britain (Wales perhaps)? Never really been to the UK on holiday.

Thanks for all your comments!

[Matt Sketch]

nyt said:

There is a low speed limit of 90kp/h if I recall so it may not be the greatest fun. Having said that I didn't ever see a police vehicle but the locals seem to keep to the limits religiously so I suspect there must be enforcement.

Having had my collar felt by the Iclandic police for going over the limit, I can confirm that there certianly is enforcement. in my defense, the 55mph speed limit is cripplingly low

[Stephanie Plum]

AHB said:

Mhh... mixed feelings. I think I might put Iceland on hold until when I can get my hands on a Defender.

Maybe take the 7 to Britain (Wales perhaps)? Never really been to the UK on holiday.

Thanks for all your comments!

Scotland then.

seot