Which car?

[belfry]

(I've also posted a similar post in general gassing, but I imagine there might be more actual first-hand experience here)

I have taken a rare week off work so that I can drive to Maranello the week after next. I plan to have tours of the Ferrari and Maserati factories. I will be going alone and need to be back after 5 days.

I am lucky to have a choice of cars to take: Maserati Quattroporte or Ferrari 360 Modena. The QP might be the sensible choice whilst the 360 might be the petrolheads choice.
Has anyone done this trip and which car would you take? And why?

I haven't worked out a route but I'd like to avoid mindless days on autoroutes (although the odd stretch is fine). Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Neither car has winter tyres so I understand that might rule out Austria and possibly Switzerland as I plan to be back in the UK by the 15th April.

Thanks in advance.

[Yipper]

Gotta be the 360. More visceral drive.

Some folks go via the French coast and Monaco (to avoid Alps / get flashy).

Others go via Munich (to max out the autobahns / hit the prettiest Austrian and Italian passes).

Shouldn't need snow chains or anything like that. There is almost no snow below 2000m on most roads. It has been a very warm Winter.

[belfry]

I understand that winter tyres are mandatory in Austria until the 15th April, so that'll be a gamechanger for me.

[lucido grigio]

There are signs about winter tyres being required in winter months on the autostrada out of

the Mont Blanc tunnel too.

I drove to Modena in late November 2014 without winters.

[Yipper]

They rarely check in April. Should be fine. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast and avoid any snowfall.

[mike01606]

belfry said:

I understand that winter tyres are mandatory in Austria until the 15th April, so that'll be a gamechanger for me.

I was there last week without winter tyres.....First I've heard I needed them!

There was no snow at low levels and very much like Spring. I know that can change quickly though.

Ps I'd take the 360 but I'm biased.

Edited by mike01606 on Sunday 2nd April 00:11

[voicey]

Take the 360 and phone the factory ahead to reserve a parking spot by the front gate.

[cayman-black]

lucido grigio said:

There are signs about winter tyres being required in winter months on the autostrada out of

the Mont Blanc tunnel too.

I drove to Modena in late November 2014 without winters.

Yes winter tyres are required until 16th April on Autostrada. But i would not worry as this year its very mild .

[LukeyLikey]

I've done this many times. Take the 360, use Route Napoleon one way and Simplon pass the other. Not the greatest pass but the only one open now and good enough. Also worth cutting across country north of Lake Leman (from a point just north and east of Geneva, through the Jura) I think heading to Besancon and then towards Dijon across country. Use the 'Porsche roads' around Dijon area (basically any road that ends in a Porsche number - D996, D959 for example).

Use the motorway from about Reims to Calais because its too hard to find nice roads there.

[belfry]

LukeyLikey said:

I've done this many times. Take the 360, use Route Napoleon one way and Simplon pass the other. Not the greatest pass but the only one open now and good enough. Also worth cutting across country north of Lake Leman (from a point just north and east of Geneva, through the Jura) I think heading to Besancon and then towards Dijon across country. Use the 'Porsche roads' around Dijon area (basically any road that ends in a Porsche number - D996, D959 for example).

Use the motorway from about Reims to Calais because its too hard to find nice roads there.

Super helpful. Thank you.

[Mattjevans]

I'd take whatever car you don't mind putting c.2000 miles on... noting Ferrari buyers seem to be way more mileage sensitive

[belfry]

I wish that I hadn't taken so long to do this trip. Thank you to everyone on here who offered advice.