1000 mile trip into Austria........to start with

[DrYazz]

Herr Damen und Herren,

In March or April (once the temperatures creep above freezing point), I intend to take the Ferrari F355 into Europe for several months, where I work.

Final destination is Vienna, about 1000 miles from Berkshire.

We will use Vienna as a base to drive north at the weekends into Prague, East into Bratislava and Budapest, South into Italy and West to head back home via Switzerland or Germany/ France.

I will of course be contacting the insurance company, the AA, Austrian work colleagues, FOC and the Embassy, but I suspect the most useful snippets of information will come from PH members.

Questions are:

- has anybody else performed such a lengthy tour in their exotica, and if so, what feedback have you?
- where to obtain most accurate and relevant rules and regulations regarding driving in these various countries?
- any particular spectacular roads to drive; or even routes to avoid
- what SatNav systems would you recommend?

Mit Freundlichen GruBen.

[ferrari spider]

I do a similar trip every summer (August-Sep in a 355 spider), but i tot up about 2500 miles. Last year i drove through France, Monaco, Italy, San Marino, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and Holland.
Great roads i drove are the Route Napoleon, Stelvio pass and the mighty Dolomite mountains.
I visit the usual museums while in the specific areas, Galleria, Zonda, Lamborghini and maranello Rosso (San Marino). One particularly nice place to visit while driving down from france is the old F1 pits on the public roads, its called the "Le Circuit de Gueux. Its recommended as a good historic visit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqRNLJL9uEc
I use the Tom Tom 910 my self and it has served me well in the 5 years i have been driving Europe.
Any specific questions i would be happy to answer.

[RiccardoG]

I've been doing something similar for the past year and a half, albeit with an S2000 Honda. Its worked well so am now considering upgrading to an F 360. I actually keep the car in Italy and then use it at weekends for trips, mostly Switzerland as its close by.

Keep in mind that many UK insurance companies only cover you fully Comp for 30 to 90 days. You can get extensions with some brokers (I did with A-Plan) or you can even get a full 365 day policy with someone like Collins Stewart.

Your car will need to be taxed and MOTd in the UK, so make sure they're both long.

[AndrewD]

Given your route, this would be a great place for you to stop off and browse - it is located in NE Switzerland. I've been and it is wonderful

http://www.autobau.ch/eng/

[ferrari spider]

AndrewD said:

Given your route, this would be a great place for you to stop off and browse - it is located in NE Switzerland. I've been and it is wonderful

http://www.autobau.ch/eng/

Mmm thanks for that mate, thats new to me. I shall be adding that to my trip this year Basing this years europe trip around the Belgian F1 GP for 8 days.

[Lambochick]

I found the AA website quite useful for rules in various countries with regards to things like hi-vis jackets, warning triangles, fire extinguishers etc.

[RallyRider]

Drove that way last year and found our Tom Tom ok apart from when exiting the tunnels wherby most of the time is got completley lost for a few seconds and wanted to direct us off the imediate exit

[AndrewD]

ferrari spider said:

AndrewD said:

Given your route, this would be a great place for you to stop off and browse - it is located in NE Switzerland. I've been and it is wonderful

http://www.autobau.ch/eng/

Mmm thanks for that mate, thats new to me. I shall be adding that to my trip this year Basing this years europe trip around the Belgian F1 GP for 8 days.

No problem - it's worth a visit. As well as classics and racing cars, there are some weird Rinspeed specials.

Your Euro trip sounds great!

[pilbeam_mp62]

DrYazz said:

Questions are:

- has anybody else performed such a lengthy tour in their exotica, and if so, what feedback have you?

I, and my daughter, have travelled extensively around Europe 3 times now, in exotic machinery (although in each case the cars did not come back with us, as we unceremoniously scrapped each car at the final destination, before flying home !)

In 2006 we went down to Madrid in just 4 days, in a Nissan Serena via Calais, Geneva, Menton and Barcelona.


In 2007 we ended up in Rimini via Calais, Basle, Como and Cortina in a 1981 Mini Metro - another 4 day run, taking in 5 Alpine passes of over 7000 feet including the Stelvio at 9000 ft +


In 2009 we went all the way up to the Arctic Circle to Bodo, via The Hague, Copenhagen, Bergen and Trondheim in a fine example of Dagenham's best - a Ford Escort Estate.


Regards

[PorkerSean]

Well when I finally get a Ferrari in my garage, which currently looks like next year (for my 40th birthday) I intend doing an "Italian Job" run in the alps through the St Bernard pass near Mt Blanc and also up the Nivolet pass where the end sequence of the film was filmed near Ceresole Reale. Yeah I know there was no Ferrari in the Italian Job, but there should have been.....

Your car? Pretty car......

[christer]

DrYazz said:

Herr Damen und Herren,
Mit Freundlichen GruBen.

lol

du bist ein berliner...? ^^


ffs

[DrYazz]

What items would be considered manadatory for such an excursion? Luggage space is at a premium. Cabin space is a little limited too.

[kryten22uk]

DrYazz said:

What items would be considered manadatory for such an excursion? Luggage space is at a premium. Cabin space is a little limited too.

If you're asking that sort of question, I imagine lipstick and petticoats are high on the list. Who worries about what to pack? Ya big girl!

Seriously though, the "Roads" forum is the perfect place for this topic. Many many examples and experience.