RE: NC500-friendly Grand Tourers| Buy Hard
Discussion
DanielSan said:
As I'd like to do the trip next year, and from reading the variety of comments on here I feel like I've made a correct choice when buying a car for once so I'll be taking this. Feels like it will be ideal especially once it's had the remap done to get rid of the mid range torque dip.
Had some very memorable drives around the 500 in a torque dip removed 86, great choice, superb on the smaller stuff. Lack of ballistic overtaking ability often needs some careful planning, usually very satisfying, occasionally frustrating.
blue al said:
No narrow roads on the 500? Good visibility around corners ?
I've not done the NC500, but 27 years of holidays on the West Coast and Hebrides has taught me that the roads are narrow, windey and bumpy and the locals, who know them like the backs of their hands, take their half out of the middle and always assume there is nothing coming the other way.Plus, I expect you'd have to take 2 or 3 bites at some corners in the Bentley. And spend a fair amount of time backing up to Passing Places.
Xfe said:
Paulm4 said:
Don't bother taking anything big or fast as at the moment you'll just be spending miles stuck behind an endless stream of motor homes and ropey transits with a mattress/stove in the back...
Load of b
ks, I’ve taken an F10 M5 at peak season and had an absolute blast. Single tracks were meh but they would be in almost anything except a Caterham. However a lot of the other roads let you put something like an M5 through its paces without worrying about traffic or speed cameras.My last run I would echo this first comment, peak season when is the question. Everyones on a staycation now, its vastly busier than I have ever seen it.
Quite a few people getting snared with dashcam footage too so be warned if anyone intends to hoon.
Whilst I enjoy a blast, its best enjoyed at a cruising speed for the scenery.
Xfe said:
Paulm4 said:
Don't bother taking anything big or fast as at the moment you'll just be spending miles stuck behind an endless stream of motor homes and ropey transits with a mattress/stove in the back...
Load of bks, I’ve taken an F10 M5 at peak season and had an absolute blast. Single tracks were meh but they would be in almost anything except a Caterham. However a lot of the other roads let you put something like an M5 through its paces without worrying about traffic or speed cameras.ks.... 
Simon Owen said:
DanielSan said:
As I'd like to do the trip next year, and from reading the variety of comments on here I feel like I've made a correct choice when buying a car for once so I'll be taking this. Feels like it will be ideal especially once it's had the remap done to get rid of the mid range torque dip.
Had some very memorable drives around the 500 in a torque dip removed 86, great choice, superb on the smaller stuff. Lack of ballistic overtaking ability often needs some careful planning, usually very satisfying, occasionally frustrating.romac said:
...
Get a little bit irritated by these Southerners who moan about the motorway miles to get there. Not everyone on PH is based in the sleepy south, yer know! It's all so clichéd (he said, somewhat ironically) and detracts from the story.
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I think that's a bit harsh - Applecross is 5 hours from Edinburgh and 8 hours from Manchester! Get a little bit irritated by these Southerners who moan about the motorway miles to get there. Not everyone on PH is based in the sleepy south, yer know! It's all so clichéd (he said, somewhat ironically) and detracts from the story.
...
It's a very long journey to the NC500 for the vast majority of the UK population.
coppice said:
The best way I found to enjoy the roads in NW Scotland was driving my Caterhams there a very long time before anyone even thought of the bloody NC500 . Wide cars are often useless , and closed cars miss the point of experiencing that wonderful environment . At least it was wonderful before everyone decided it was on their bucket list - 'cos it'd been on the telly innit .
I agree on driving it in a caterham or a convertible. But the route was given the NC500 brand by the Tourism Board in 2015, and was marketed from then on. This is the reason it’s so popular now; I don’t think you can blame people for wanting to visit.Oh I know all that, and anybody is as entitled as I am , and was to visit . But the sad fact is that its popularity has ruined so much of its appeal for me , and other s who knew what it was like before it became a thing . I've spent many weeks up there since the early 80s , driven sometimes for an hour without seeing a car and met some utterly barking and charming fellow addicts . I could have wept when I encountered convoys of misbehaving idiots on my last journey , all taking the same old cliched pictures . And don't even get me started on the litter ...
CoffeePls said:
A £50k budget? That's too easy.
How about a follow up article (Buy Hard 2: Buy Harder) with a budget of say £5k? For the rest of us.
This is 10% over the lowered budget but I think it would be perfect for the job:How about a follow up article (Buy Hard 2: Buy Harder) with a budget of say £5k? For the rest of us.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11587059
And all for 89% off the original budget.
Xfe said:
Paulm4 said:
Don't bother taking anything big or fast as at the moment you'll just be spending miles stuck behind an endless stream of motor homes and ropey transits with a mattress/stove in the back...
Load of bks, I’ve taken an F10 M5 at peak season and had an absolute blast. Single tracks were meh but they would be in almost anything except a Caterham. However a lot of the other roads let you put something like an M5 through its paces without worrying about traffic or speed cameras.How many times have you taken your M5 there when foreign travel has been all but banned and everyone is looking for something to do?
What a helmet.
drophead said:
Open top lightweight sports car (MX5, Boxster, Z4) so when you're stuck behind coaches winding their way to Glencoe, you're not too fussed. Or, do it the proper way; on a motorbike so you can still make progress no matter what the traffic.
Though it's particularly dicey in the wet.
The road surface is varied (especially as you head past Gairloch) as well so anything under 18" rims and softer suspension is ideal.
Absolutely this, all day long.Though it's particularly dicey in the wet.
The road surface is varied (especially as you head past Gairloch) as well so anything under 18" rims and softer suspension is ideal.
Edited by drophead on Sunday 20th June 10:38
Scotland is fantastic for biking and the locals are very bike aware. The 'Scotburgring' round Glencoe, both loops of Skye, most of the west coast (at least south of Applecross), all brilliant.
All this talk of doing it in Caterhams and convertibles is just because the wife won't let you have a bike.
We've taken a BMW 440i and a Mustang GT up there in peak season twice. Cars were great, roads were great, weather was mixed and the midges were brutal without skin soft spray. You don't need the last word in handling, we took two fairly heavy "muscle" style cars and threw them around without issue, and you don't need to be going fast to do it.
Just make sure you stop and actually take in the scenery every 10 minutes!!!
Just make sure you stop and actually take in the scenery every 10 minutes!!!
Dale487 said:
This is 10% over the lowered budget but I think it would be perfect for the job:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11587059
And all for 89% off the original budget.
That's more like it https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11587059
And all for 89% off the original budget.
Great find. Must close that ad window... 
blue al said:
No narrow roads on the 500? Good visibility around corners ?
The Lake District in a TT was a wheel curbing cringe fest with a series 3 landy or a bigger SUV oncoming in the middle of the road around every corner.
Lucky the wife was driving but at no stage did I want to repeat the experience in my own car.
Is the 500 really that suitable for a big Bentley or Aston?
Try this, far lower mileage and the savings it will pay for a lot of hotel nights, new tyres, fuel and still have enough in the bank account for another 5 trips
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11593046
I wouldnt worry too much about the NC500, the majority of it is wide open sighted A road style roads but with no traffic, the best scenery you'll encounter this side of the Alps and almost no traffic (outside of holiday season). The Lake District in a TT was a wheel curbing cringe fest with a series 3 landy or a bigger SUV oncoming in the middle of the road around every corner.
Lucky the wife was driving but at no stage did I want to repeat the experience in my own car.
Is the 500 really that suitable for a big Bentley or Aston?
Try this, far lower mileage and the savings it will pay for a lot of hotel nights, new tyres, fuel and still have enough in the bank account for another 5 trips
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11593046
Edited 4-3 by blue al too early to type 19th June 05:36
Edited by blue al on Saturday 19th June 09:13
The Lakes on the otherhand are awful to drive around due to hedges, narrow roads and other drivers.
Love seeing the Boxster Spyder on here, very bias as I took my 987 Spyder around NC500 a few years ago and it was amazing, lucky with days of sun which helped and no traffic but it was stunning to drive for hours. Agree however the shlep from Hampshire to the Loch Lomond was just tedious. Ended up putting my noise cancelling headphones on to drown out the motorway noise and save my hearing!
PH User said:
You went because you knew it would be good, you no doubt took lots of pictures on the way as well. Now you're complaining that others are doing the same?!
That's right - but we all know the feeling - like when your barely known, off the radar and favourite band suddenly has a hit . Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff