Evaluate my European road trip please

[nickpan]

Hello All

I have a week off at the start of December so am
planning to visit the Porsche museum in my newly acquired 996 Carrera 2.

I’ll be flying solo and meeting my wife in Amsterdam the following weekend.

I’m using the Scenic app to route plan avoiding motorways where possible. I’m most excited about the Black Forrest.

Anyone have any recommendations on routes to take, places to stay ... that sort of thing?

Current route as follows:

Monday: London to Reims



Tuesday: Reims to Strasbourg



Wednesday: Strasbourg to Stuttgart



Thursday: Stuttgart to Cologne



Friday: Cologne to Amsterdam



Thank you all!!

Nick

[Superleg48]

Why would you want to avoid motorways where possible? Especially in Germany, where you could stretch the cars legs nicely on sections of Autobahn? I get the desire for some scenic stuff, but surely you will do some German Autobahn?

[Pericoloso]

The Porsche museum won't take up a whole day so pop in to the Mercedes museum too ,same city, just a couple of miles away.

[nickpan]

Superleg48 said:

Why would you want to avoid motorways where possible? Especially in Germany, where you could stretch the cars legs nicely on sections of Autobahn? I get the desire for some scenic stuff, but surely you will do some German Autobahn?

Good point! I’m not actually planning on avoiding motorways from Stuttgart Onwards but I hadn’t thought about the fun I’ll be able to have on the Autobahn. Cheers

[nickpan]

Pericoloso said:

The Porsche museum won't take up a whole day so pop in to the Mercedes museum too ,same city, just a couple of miles away.

Excellent - thank you.

[mr pg]

Don't forget that the fun roads in France are now 80km/h, and a large increase in cameras. We stayed at a lovely B&B near Epernay (close to Reims) called Clos d'Ay.
You can do the Porsche museum and factory in a day. Factory needs to be pre-booked.

[psi310398]

nickpan said:

Good point! I’m not actually planning on avoiding motorways from Stuttgart Onwards but I hadn’t thought about the fun I’ll be able to have on the Autobahn. Cheers

The A5 is quite cluttered so silly speeds are not often achievable.

The Black Forest High Road is a good drive, much loved of bikers - details (including hotels) here: https://www.black-forest-travel.com/high-road/. There is any number of decent hotels in Baden-Baden.

I often take my Alfa Spider on a leisurely spin when on my way back to the UK from Italy.

[churchie2856]

Are winter tyres a requirement for driving in Germany during the winter months?

[Superleg48]

churchie2856 said:

Are winter tyres a requirement for driving in Germany during the winter months?

No

[PTT]

visit https://www.klassikstadt.de/ at Frankfurt and
https://www.motorworld.de/ in Stuttgart and Koln ( Schumacher F1 collection )

small roads at the Black Forest are all good, the road to this hotel is a nice drive https://www.schoeneaussicht.com/

Enjoy your trip..

[David W.]

Can’t remember how much of the A26 to Reims is autoroute but if your on your own in a rh drive car one of these is useful.
https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/

[Pericoloso]

David W. said:

Can’t remember how much of the A26 to Reims is autoroute but if your on your own in a rh drive car one of these is useful.
https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/

It's autoroute the whole way,one ticket toll at Reims north and pickup another ticket either south or east .
OP.....you might need an emissions "umwelt" sticker to enter Stuttgart .
Google umwelt to check what your car requires,it's only about £5 from online sources.

[paua]

nickpan said:

Pericoloso said:

The Porsche museum won't take up a whole day so pop in to the Mercedes museum too ,same city, just a couple of miles away.

Excellent - thank you.

You could spend a whole day at the MB Museum, though - it is worth the effort.

[Corky]

David W. said:

Can’t remember how much of the A26 to Reims is autoroute but if your on your own in a rh drive car one of these is useful.
https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/

Highly recommended, I have just come back from a round trip to Maranello, they are worth their weight in gold, no hassle, straight through everytime time.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Superleg48 said:

churchie2856 said:

Are winter tyres a requirement for driving in Germany during the winter months?

No

Technically correct, but if you have an accident in winter and don't have them fitted you are opening yourself up to prosecution. It all depends on the exact circumstances of course.

[psi310398]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Superleg48 said:

churchie2856 said:

Are winter tyres a requirement for driving in Germany during the winter months?

No

Technically correct, but if you have an accident in winter and don't have them fitted you are opening yourself up to prosecution. It all depends on the exact circumstances of course.

Which, of course, would also apply in spades to fault allocation in the event of a high speed accident on derestricted sections of the autobahn.

More practically, whatever the law says, I overnighted in a village in the hills outside Baden Baden on a couple of occasions last winter and do not think I'd have made it up there, less still down again in one piece, without winter tyres on either occasion. One visit was with FWD (Alfa 156 GTA) and one RWD (Mercedes SLK).

You also need to consider stopping distances - I also witnessed someone having to brake suddenly on the High Black Forest Road to avoid hitting a badger on an icy descent early one morning - I'm not sure normal tyres would have stopped her in time.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

psi310398 said:

Which, of course, would also apply in spades to fault allocation in the event of a high speed accident on derestricted sections of the autobahn.

More practically, whatever the law says, I overnighted in a village in the hills outside Baden Baden on a couple of occasions last winter and do not think I'd have made it up there, less still down again in one piece, without winter tyres on either occasion. One visit was with FWD (Alfa 156 GTA) and one RWD (Mercedes SLK).

You also need to consider stopping distances - I also witnessed someone having to brake suddenly on the High Black Forest Road to avoid hitting a badger on an icy descent early one morning - I'm not sure normal tyres would have stopped her in time.

Oh, I would definately advocate having them, especially if they are planning to go through the Black Forest in December. I live just north of Stuttgart and it was -1 when I set off for work this morning.

[chrisABP]

churchie2856 said:

Are winter tyres a requirement for driving in Germany during the winter months?

That reminds me...….

I must get around to advertising my old 997 GTS winter tyres! Full set of hardly used N rated Pirelli SottoZero in 235/35x19 and 295/30x19....

Planned trip sounds great by the way - have fun!

[coldel]

For many European cities now they can enforce a pollution ban, so your car will need a sticker of some sort to allow you to drive it if the pollution reduction process is activated. Unlikely in winter but still worth a watch out, Strasbourg is definitely one of those cities.

Also if you are stopping in Reims (pronounced rrrance) I would recommend dropping into the pommery champagne caves and do the tour, really fascinating and the caves are usually adorned with art etc.

[generationx]

Another minor point - certainly in Cologne for the time you're planning the Christmas markets are in full swing, so if you want to stay in the city you should probably check for accomodation availability.

Have a great time!