What car for road trip to Budapest?

[jmcc500]

Thinking of doing a road trip to Budapest this summer. Route here:

http://tinyurl.com/2012RoadtripMcC3

Have been looking at getting a new car, and tempted by a small hot hatch (106XSi/GTI, Saxo VTS type thing). How would something like that stand up to this? Not worried about outright speed (usually use my camper for trans-European road trips!), but needs to be reasonably liveable in.

Started thinking a convertible barge (3-series, Audi Cabrio) might be a good option for summer cruising, but then realised that route goes through the Alps so something slightly more involving/chuckable might be good.

Budget (for arguments sake) is £2k.

[TheHeretic]

Just remember that roads over here in Eastern Europe are not billiard table smooth. Something with suspension may be of use!

[jmcc500]

I would take my BX but not sure it would be up to that sort of distance!

ETA: Have you driven in the UK recently? Not sure the roads over there can be much worse!

[mwcr85]

Petrol BXs and Saxo/106s have the tu engine. why dont you think the BX would make it?

[Wigeon Incognito]

Combine the two ideas and get a mint Mk1 MX-5 or a Mk2 MR2 T-Bar.

I drove to Budapest in my MX-5 and loved every minute of it.

[jmcc500]

My BX is coming up towards 190k miles and is getting quite ropey! Is a TD so good on paper, but I'm not sure it would be on one piece after a journey like that. Also not sure I'd particularly enjoy hustling a BX over the Alps

MX5 an interesting proposition (v. PH) but (don't shoot me) I prefer FWD and chuckability. Would consider a bargey RWD where the 'point' is cruising rather than 'proper' driving.

[frosted]

You can never get anything better than a vag diesel for such trips

[mwcr85]

frosted said:

You can never get anything better than a vag diesel for such trips

Skoda felicia with the 1.9 vag diesel. Built for czech roads. I'd probably sort the BX out and take that depending on price of parts/ability to fix yourself.

[richyb]

I looked at a road trip to Budapest a few years ago and thought I'd take something like a Volvo 850 or VX Omega.

[jmcc500]

Really?

Would you not think something more suited to 'spirited' driving would be more suitable for Alps, albeit with compromises on the less good roads?

[marshalla]

Mine! I'll drive - you buy the fuel.

[jmcc500]

Was looking at Activas but there aren't many about and I hear bad things about what happens to your bank account when things go wrong!

French cars of a certain age ought to cope with lumpy roads based on experience, even hottish hatches have reasonable compliance by modern standards as you say.

[BaronVonVTEC]

If you're heading down to Rijeka way, it's worth doing a detour and heading to Porec, Rovinj and Pula. The roads down that way are fantastic too.

[rajkohli81]

E46 3 series convertible

There's a nice looking 2000 E46 323Ci convertible on for £2.5k right now...nice spec..suprisingly economical these things and a lovely drive

Edited by rajkohli81 on Wednesday 15th February 18:39

[matty_doh]

Not a comment on the car but the trip itself, you are going very close to Bratislava - I'd recommend a diversion to visit, lovely place (and another country to tick off on your tour!)

[jmcc500]

Thanks for the tips guys! Not a part of the world I know much about so all advice gratefully received.

On the car front, what about a 306 GTI-6? Any experience/thoughts? Seem to recall question marks over gearbox durability...

[vrsmxtb]

The road conditions are being exaggerated a bit - vast majority of the major routes in/around Budapest are just same standard as the rest of Europe, it'sonly the rural roads which can be very rough. They tend not to fix the roads it seemed when we drove around Hungary, only warn of bumpy roads and potholes on road signs! Driving standards pretty good to be honest.

[Wigeon Incognito]

Well with chuckable rear wheel drive out how about - Alfa GTV or Spider, Honda Prelude or CRX Del Sol, Toyota Celica, Ford Puma, or Mitsubishi FTO?

[C8PPO]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the Alps bit unless your plans specifically involve spending some time there. Depending on your plans, you'll take, what, 2-3 days getting there of which potentially only a few hours will be Alpine? Go for comfort, broader interest and dependability!

[Vocal Minority]

I can recommend an Alfa GTV. I sold mine very recently, and am not entirely sure I don't regret it.

Give me until tomorrow morning, and I am pretty sure I will