Do people actual go on Grand tours these days?

[Thankyou4calling]

Car journalists often refer to vehicles as being ideally suited for driving to the south of France and then taking a trip along the Cote D'Azur before crossing the Alps into Italy.

All done with a beautiful woman in a car with fitted luggage.

Do many actually do this type of thing or am I out of touch?

[illmonkey]

Very popular on here, we've done a few over the last few years. Great fun and a good way to see lots.

[Spooge]

Planning on doing it late this summer

[Esseesse]

I bought my e39 530d so I could do this comfortably, without breaking the bank on fuel. Have been on one such trip in it so far.

[ZOLLAR]

^^
It appears the answer is yes!

My parents have done a few trips down to the south of france and to italy before in the car, although they weren't in a GT

[Thankyou4calling]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't actually meaning doing the trip in a 530D BMW to save on fuel ( a man after my own heart)

[Lee540]

Yes, in 2011 drove from Cornwall (home) to Dover, across into France, down to Italy via Switzerland and down to Lucca

Return trip slightly alternative route to spend some time in France.

BMW 330Ci Sport

[Davey S2]

I've done lots on here and with various groups / owners clubs.

Absolutely brilliant.

[Esseesse]

Thankyou4calling said:

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't actually meaning doing the trip in a 530D BMW to save on fuel ( a man after my own heart)

How do you mean? I don't do many miles normally, but I wanted a car so if the opportunity came up I wouldn't pass it up because of the fuel costs of taking an M5 (or 530i) down to southern Italy. Diesel is cheaper on the continent. IMO for 'normal' people, comfortable German barges are the ideal GT car.

[zeb]

yes

alps/italy/stelvio

south of france twice

italian lakes this year

complete with blond trophy wife (mine!)

all in 911 turbo....perfick

[Vaud]

Yes, honeymoon. Including the Italian GP.

[luckystrike]

Yup. 2 mates and myself managed a 2,500 mile trip in 4 days in a B5 audi A4 a few years back. Absolutely fantastic time, will do it again but in less of a rush and in more cars.

[joncon]

yes
classic le mans
millau
cannes
Monaco
Portofino
pisa
sienna
lake maggiore
nevers
tours
honfleur
home
17 days 3700 miles... tvr chimaera

[mwstewart]

Yes, I do. Even in a mundane car http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=137...

[billzeebub]

The only kind of holidays I actually like or , indeed, go on

[AndrewCrown]

Over summer

Epernay
Lyon
Bonnieux
Avignon
Toulon
Porto Vecchio
Bordeaux

2100 miles... in the GT

[Tannedbaldhead]

Yup Edinburgh to Cassis in a Mazda MX5. Roof off all the was arrived dazed and confused in a sun/heatstroke kinda way.

Stirling to Modena in 24 hours in my Dad's Vauxhall Zafira.

A Grand Continental Tour with my ex wife in a Citroen Xantia, probably the best mile muncher I have ever driven (ex C and E Class owner and regular 525d driver).

A tour of Italy in a FIAT Panda for my honeymoon. It did the job surprisingly well and I came back with a lot of affection for little blue car.

[anonymous-user]

I've done a few trips from the UK to the South of France, Italy and from North to South of Spain after getting the ferry to Santander.

Personally, I cannot think of a better way to discover the beautiful landscapes and wonderful villages and towns of mainland Europe.

Should be doing France again this year... just can't get enough!!

[Spooge]

zeb said:

alps/italy/stelvio

Pretty much my plan, with a stay in the Italian lakes and a brief jaunt over to Monaco.

Anyone taken the ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge? Is it as st as I imagine?

[nlm13]

I reckon over half of the 103000 miles on my car have been due to tours of Europe over the last 5 years, trips to the alps in winter for snowboarding, and south of France, Italian lakes etc in summer. Also taken my wife's Boxster (perfect car for this!) and my mums A5 cabrio (to give it a decent run, 3000 miles in 3 weeks).

I'm heading off in a couple of weeks for the next snowboarding trip, just need to decide on French alps or Italian dolomites!

Best holidays you can do I reckon.