Euro road trip in an old car - tips

[PistonHeed1667]

Hey all,

Thinking of doing a 3000 mile round trip through europe. Cars a 2004 Renault Clio 1.2 16v with 50,000 miles on the clocks. Not very PH I know but being 18 it's all I can afford.

I know anything can go wrong but anything I should have looked at before I go?

I have AA with European cover and I'm thinking of having the cam belt changed. It's only done 50k but I'm told it's 5 years or 70k and it's never done it done.

It's just had a service and an MOT with no advisories. The car was bought a couple of months ago, it had been left for about 3 years but just before selling, the seller had a new water pump, radiator, spark plugs, injectors, 4 new tyres and new brake pads and discs fitted. Receipts were provided for all the work.

Any other advice appreciated and thanks in advance.

[Gaspode]

Good idea to get the cam belt changed before you go, but don't do it just before you go, you need a couple of weeks of running around to make sure everything's ok.

Oh, and a 10 year old car is not 'old'. It'll be fine, and you'll have a hoot.

[Steffan]

It would be very wise to take the various bits required by continental driving including the rear triangle etc bulbs and so on. IMO this is not an old car. Minimum spares are always a good idead. Being of French manufacture spares should be available in the EU. I regularly drive old cars abroad primarily MG and Alfa Romeo but these are 50 ++ years old. Very rarely have a breakdown even with these oldies. That car should be fine I would not be concerned about it personally. Best of luck to you.

[buzzer]

I thought to change a water pump, you had to remove the cambelt? Surely they would have changed it?


My advice... Buy some good maps... Even if you are using a satnav

[buzzer]

I thought to change a water pump, you had to remove the cambelt? Surely they would have changed it?


My advice... Buy some good maps... Even if you are using a satnav

[0a]

That's not old at all.

My advice would be to jump in it tomorrow and go and visit a friend 50-100 miles away - you'll soon learn whether there's anything wrong with the car. Better to have an issue manifest itself in the UK than abroad.

[Cliftonite]

I had great fun driving around France (in old cars!!!) on many occasions during my early 20s.
Absolutely loved it and had no unpleasant car troubles.

Just remember to drive on the right (concentrate especially at roundabouts and when leaving hotels, filling stations, parking etc) and to look out for priorité à droite :

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t...

Oh! To be aged 20 once more!!!

[t400ble]

Clio is a good pick really.

Cam belt a good shout, and change the auxiliary belt while you're at it

[ben5732]

You'll be fine with that I've taken a 24 year old abroad did 3000 miles then a day at the ring and it didn't miss a beat. A 180k E30. Get the cambelt done and get it a service before you go

[EskimoArapaho]

I'm about to do the same in a car bought just today, and it's 4 years older and 50000m further down the road. Like they said above, I do plan to put some miles on it between now and then and get a more familiar with how it drives and feels and get some of the overdue jobs done.

If your path crosses a V-reg LS400 stuffed to the brim with cheese/wine/assorted scoff, then give us a wave.

[PistonHeed1667]

Thanks for the advice guys. Will see if maybe the belt was changed. The receipt only lists water pump.

I've been driving the car for 3 months and have done 4000 miles already. So far the car has been great. I guess when you look at it its basically just doing the miles I've already done but in a shorter space of time.

I also have the kit required. The family is just back from a road trip to Turkey so have everything needed. The roads were amazing, especially through Austria.

Edited by PistonHeed1667 on Saturday 2nd August 21:30

[Qwert1e]

Gaspode said:

Oh, and a 10 year old car is not 'old'.

Quite. I think the various breakdown insurances available from Eurotunnel, the AA, etc don't disqualify cars until they are 12 or 14 years old. Even then you can still get cover from many other places.

[ubbs]

Judging by the amount of 2cv's and Renault 5s you'll see I'm pretty sure you'll be okay, we go in 2 weeks although the wife's car is fairly new my bro in law always takes his 2001 merc diesel which has done 180k.
Ubbs


Ps French roads are great by the way!

[ubbs]

Judging by the amount of 2cv's and Renault 5s you'll see I'm pretty sure you'll be okay, we go in 2 weeks although the wife's car is fairly new my bro in law always takes his 2001 merc diesel which has done 180k.
Ubbs


Ps French roads are great by the way!

[Hooli]

That's a new car with feck all miles on OP, HTH.

[leafspring]

10year old Clio in it's homeland... you won't have any serious problems.

Spare:

• air filter,
• fanbelt (auxiliary drive belt or what ever they fking call it these days),
• spare bulbs,
• decent spare tyre,

a high vis jacket,
tyre pump,
bottle of rad weld,
a petrol can,
and an AA card.

(*) oh and tools to change these



I know a guy who takes his 50 year Land Rover camper van to Morocco every year... when he gets home he clears the sand out, services it and uses it to get to work.

Now that is ballsy

Edited by leafspring on Saturday 2nd August 22:07

[lamboman100]

18, going on 80

Just jump in and drive and enjoy the freedom and worry about any problems later

[TheInternet]

leafspring said:

Spare:

• air filter

Not this.

[H100S]

Car will be fine, these supermini's are hardy little things. Cambelt is a great idea I'd probably get the tensioner done at the same time.

For the journey a 1 litre top up of oil is worth taking, personally I also take some glass cleaner I hate dirty windows on a road trip.

Tyre pressure check prior to going too.

Get familiar with rules of the road in the countries you intend to travel in. Then just enjoy your trip!

[Oilchange]

I did a 3k Euro trip, after a thorough service I made sure I had:
Passports x2
Credit card
a good spare wheel,
a few simple tools/bulbs/fuses/oil/coolant,
RAC euro cover plus holiday insurance,
a tom tom and my smart phone with Google maps plus a paper Euro map,
a good plan for F1 hotels and camp sites with them programmed into the tom tom and
a hearty appetite for adventure!