V12V S to Italy
Discussion
Just back from a very pleasant run down to Italy. 9 countries in 14 days, 2700 miles and the car didn't use a drop of oil or coolant.
No warning lights, no starting issues in the heat and LOTs of love and positivity from just about everyone that we met. We were chased up one Alpine route by a Dutch family in a BMW who then followed us into the rest (ice cream) area... They just wanted to look at the car and asked very sweetly if the father could have some photos with it.
Italy was a treat of young and old enthusiasts, wanting to hear the car, giving the thumbs up, blow kisses and similar.
We averaged 24mpg too! This despite some VERY enthusiastic driving of Alpine passes and rural roads in Tuscany, plus some obligatory high speed stuff in Germany)
Observations:
* A long hot run really 'cleaned out' the V12s lungs. The engine really feels fantastic now
* 100+ octane fuel is something I am going to miss.... (the difference is startling)
* The handling on Alpine roads was excellent. Good steering feel, fantastic brakes and strong grip. Even the ride was not too wearing!
* Ambient temperatures at 32+ deg C had the aircon struggling a bit
* The SS3 gearbox can get a bit fluffy at low speed/very high temperature combinations
* Bizarrely, the hotter the weather, the more reluctant the door mirrors were to fold! Normal service has been resumed back in cooler UK climes
It's going in for the annual service on Friday, and I have had to clean the car before sending it to the dealer. (It just didn't seem right to send her in covered in a billion bug carcases)
I may have to take her touring again next year
No warning lights, no starting issues in the heat and LOTs of love and positivity from just about everyone that we met. We were chased up one Alpine route by a Dutch family in a BMW who then followed us into the rest (ice cream) area... They just wanted to look at the car and asked very sweetly if the father could have some photos with it.
Italy was a treat of young and old enthusiasts, wanting to hear the car, giving the thumbs up, blow kisses and similar.
We averaged 24mpg too! This despite some VERY enthusiastic driving of Alpine passes and rural roads in Tuscany, plus some obligatory high speed stuff in Germany)
Observations:
* A long hot run really 'cleaned out' the V12s lungs. The engine really feels fantastic now
* 100+ octane fuel is something I am going to miss.... (the difference is startling)
* The handling on Alpine roads was excellent. Good steering feel, fantastic brakes and strong grip. Even the ride was not too wearing!
* Ambient temperatures at 32+ deg C had the aircon struggling a bit
* The SS3 gearbox can get a bit fluffy at low speed/very high temperature combinations
* Bizarrely, the hotter the weather, the more reluctant the door mirrors were to fold! Normal service has been resumed back in cooler UK climes
It's going in for the annual service on Friday, and I have had to clean the car before sending it to the dealer. (It just didn't seem right to send her in covered in a billion bug carcases)
I may have to take her touring again next year
Pericoloso said:
You didn't mention the state of the road surfaces.
I found them to be appalling ,just about everywhere.
I can summarise I found them to be appalling ,just about everywhere.
:France: OK, but a bit worn in places
Belgium: Quite possibly the noisiest motorways I have ever driven on!
Germany: It's Germany, so on the whole good, but not without issues. (on a separate matter, I can inform you that carbon ceramics work really well when you come round a bend to find a Police car stopped in the middle of the carriageway....
Austria: Generally very good
Italy: erm... crap. But at least quieter than Belgium....
San Marino: See Italy, but with more local suicide merchants
Switzerland: Wonderful
Luxembourg: See Belgium
Bestest most fun road? The SS67 in Northern Italy between Portico in Romagna and Dicomano. The Aston was immense on this.....
Thanks for sharing I agree these cars really come into their own on a decent trip
We had a week in Pesaro a few weeks back and although the passes where still closed we certainly enjoyed the swiss roads
Found Italy to be a real mixed bag condition wise but the driving deff gets worse the further south you go
We had a week in Pesaro a few weeks back and although the passes where still closed we certainly enjoyed the swiss roads
Found Italy to be a real mixed bag condition wise but the driving deff gets worse the further south you go
DB4DM said:
Great trip! Belgian motorways not only loudest, but narrowest too, not much fun overtaking trucks side by side, with one's passenger about a foot from the armco
You want to try the Dutch motorways for narrow jees. However, the road surfaces here are great (just all the roads I've discovered so far are dull as dishwater). It's quite comical with the roads from here to Spa, the noise and s
te surface tell you that you're over the border 
Belgian motorways are as dull as dishwater and loud as well (At least they are lit during nighttime so you can see the potholes). Closely followed by the M25. Italian motorways are expensive but generally quite good (espcially in the North) and the coffee at the Autogrills is by far superior than anywhere else. B roads in Germany and Austria are possibly the best and mostl come with a 100 km/h restriction which is adequate.I stay out of Switzerland if I can. Roads are fine but fines are life threatening.
Edited by hornbaek on Tuesday 2nd July 10:35
Currently planning to take the V12SV-R-SS soon. While I’m used to driving down to the Alpes and into Italy I don’t have much experience of other routes and am trying to avoid the boring drive through France, Am looking for any suggestions on fun roads to build in including Rue da Crete and Stelvio Pass so please do let me know any thoughts. This is my rough route.....
from Calais to Blackforest - what’s the best way? ( I would like to do Route Des Cretes but it means driving through the very dull bit of France OR get a train?)
Black Forest through to Switzerland (2 days)
Furka Pass to Milan/Monza (1 days)
Down to Ligurian coast and drive along Tuscan coast and Quick stop at Florence for lunch (2 days)
Back to coast and on to Rome (2 days)
Down to Sorrento (2 nights)
Cut across to Bari and get overnight ferry to Dubrovnik (1 day/night)
Drive up Croatian coast and into Slovenia (3 days)
Slovenia to Venice (2 days)
Venice through Dolomites to Garda (3 days)
Garda through Stelvio pass into Austria (1 day)
Innsbruck to Düsseldorf (on train)
Drive Back to Calais
from Calais to Blackforest - what’s the best way? ( I would like to do Route Des Cretes but it means driving through the very dull bit of France OR get a train?)
Black Forest through to Switzerland (2 days)
Furka Pass to Milan/Monza (1 days)
Down to Ligurian coast and drive along Tuscan coast and Quick stop at Florence for lunch (2 days)
Back to coast and on to Rome (2 days)
Down to Sorrento (2 nights)
Cut across to Bari and get overnight ferry to Dubrovnik (1 day/night)
Drive up Croatian coast and into Slovenia (3 days)
Slovenia to Venice (2 days)
Venice through Dolomites to Garda (3 days)
Garda through Stelvio pass into Austria (1 day)
Innsbruck to Düsseldorf (on train)
Drive Back to Calais
larger said:
from Calais to Blackforest - what’s the best way? ( I would like to do Route Des Cretes but it means driving through the very dull bit of France OR get a train?)
We did a similar route and it's not that bad, if you're not in a rush - break it up. Stop and spend some time at the Canadian war memorial and maybe spend a night in the beautiful city of Reims. The latter we planned on a stop and go but after a good evening meal and several beers my brother and I decided to not charge off in the morning and spent a good few hours looking around.larger said:
Currently planning to take the V12SV-R-SS soon. While I’m used to driving down to the Alpes and into Italy I don’t have much experience of other routes and am trying to avoid the boring drive through France, Am looking for any suggestions on fun roads to build in including Rue da Crete and Stelvio Pass so please do let me know any thoughts. This is my rough route.....
from Calais to Blackforest - what’s the best way? ( I would like to do Route Des Cretes but it means driving through the very dull bit of France OR get a train?)
Black Forest through to Switzerland (2 days)
Furka Pass to Milan/Monza (1 days)
Down to Ligurian coast and drive along Tuscan coast and Quick stop at Florence for lunch (2 days)
Back to coast and on to Rome (2 days)
Down to Sorrento (2 nights)
Cut across to Bari and get overnight ferry to Dubrovnik (1 day/night)
Drive up Croatian coast and into Slovenia (3 days)
Slovenia to Venice (2 days)
Venice through Dolomites to Garda (3 days)
Garda through Stelvio pass into Austria (1 day)
Innsbruck to Düsseldorf (on train)
Drive Back to Calais
Did similar a few years ago.from Calais to Blackforest - what’s the best way? ( I would like to do Route Des Cretes but it means driving through the very dull bit of France OR get a train?)
Black Forest through to Switzerland (2 days)
Furka Pass to Milan/Monza (1 days)
Down to Ligurian coast and drive along Tuscan coast and Quick stop at Florence for lunch (2 days)
Back to coast and on to Rome (2 days)
Down to Sorrento (2 nights)
Cut across to Bari and get overnight ferry to Dubrovnik (1 day/night)
Drive up Croatian coast and into Slovenia (3 days)
Slovenia to Venice (2 days)
Venice through Dolomites to Garda (3 days)
Garda through Stelvio pass into Austria (1 day)
Innsbruck to Düsseldorf (on train)
Drive Back to Calais
Rotterdam To Baden Baden first day. Let the Vanquish do what it was built for (160+ but not for long due to traffic).
Baden Baden to Grindelwald second day. Stayed there a few days to do the railway in the Eiger and to go to Murren and see the fantastic OHMSS exhibition at the Schilthorn.
Grindelwald to Andermatt via the Reichenback falls and Furka Pass. Stayed in the Chedi in Andermat, fantastic hotel.
After that my route turned south to Italy but only to Milan via the Contra dam and then on to Monte Carlo. More a Bond fan tour than a great roads tour but my wife loved it.
Buy your motorway pass for Switzerland at one of the German petrol stations before the boarder and you are waved through without any trouble.
Have a great holiday!
Edited by F1NDW on Tuesday 23 July 18:12
Edited by F1NDW on Thursday 25th July 04:59
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