RE: NC500-friendly Grand Tourers| Buy Hard
Discussion
leglessAlex said:
Did it with my Evora, seemed ideal to me other than the lack of a removable roof.
Loads of luggage space, really good suspension that isn't overly stiff, not that wide, long or low.
I'd go with an Evora also but then I own one. Must do the NC500 some day but living down south, the Alps aren't really any further. Loads of luggage space, really good suspension that isn't overly stiff, not that wide, long or low.
scoobyc said:
Unless you just plan to cruise around it and take in the views don't go for the Aston or Bentley imho. I've lived in Thurso on the NC500 for over 40 years and when I had my new at the time F10 M5, I felt it was too big and heavy for progressive driving on these roads before you take into consideration the order of magnitude increase in vehicles on the road up here now. Get any hire car if you want to admire the scenery and if you want the drive to be the most important part pick anything that's B road friendly and handles undulating and broken roads - mx5, any boxster/cayman/911, hot hatches like golf r, etc. Its great in supercars too that have compliant suspension but it's not a lot better if that makes sense, think laws of diminishing returns. All in my humble opinion of driving some of these roads nearly every day.
Thanks for the balanced inputs, great real world view. This is on my list to do and we were going to take our Rapide which isn’t too big, does have a compliant ride and can pick up its skirts even with the kids onboard. I think after reading this, sleeper train and hire car for a week may be a better option
McFarnsworth said:
"NC500-friendly Grand Tourers"
Pistonheads: Here are some cars ideal for schlepping up and down the motorway on the way to and from the NC500 but won't do you much good once you get there.
I did it in my Ferrari 456 GT. Ideal for eating miles and plenty of luggage space and not too wide for the roads up there.Pistonheads: Here are some cars ideal for schlepping up and down the motorway on the way to and from the NC500 but won't do you much good once you get there.
hornbaek said:
I did the NC500 in my newly restored V8 Vantage form 1978. I loved every bit of the trip but be prepared to have as many stone chips as dead moskitos on your front splitter after the tour. Worth every penny of a re-spray though.
I love how the other half is in the car checking her phone while you take another photo of one of your bloody cars (possibly 
) Sounds like a great trip.
I did it in my old Jaguar XJ8 and it was spot on. Too many other cars(even in March) to really wring the neck of anything small and sporty. The roads are generally passing place or proper single carriageway so width didn’t come into it. Bit of punch for the hills and well sighted flats and quite amusing in the corners. For a first time I wouldn’t (personally) go 10/10 flat out on a road I didn’t know well.
Although… had my retiree parents in the back, so in fairness a Golf R might have been pretty bad for familial harmony…
Although… had my retiree parents in the back, so in fairness a Golf R might have been pretty bad for familial harmony…
I live on the route. Don't bother taking anything big or fast as at the moment you'll just be spending miles stuck behind an endless stream of motor homes and ropey transits with a mattress/stove in the back...
MX5 with the roof down or an Ignis Sport would be cheerful fun, wait for winter too
MX5 with the roof down or an Ignis Sport would be cheerful fun, wait for winter too
Paulm4 said:
Don't bother taking anything big or fast as at the moment you'll just be spending miles stuck behind an endless stream of motor homes and ropey transits with a mattress/stove in the back...
Load of b
ks, I’ve taken an F10 M5 at peak season and had an absolute blast. Single tracks were meh but they would be in almost anything except a Caterham. However a lot of the other roads let you put something like an M5 through its paces without worrying about traffic or speed cameras.My wife and I did the NC500 back in 2015. It's an excellent experience, but press-on driving in a GT car probably isn't the best idea. There are speed cameras here and there, and you will almost certainly encounter a few bigger, wider, and heavier vehicles coming in the opposite direction. Usually driven by busy locals familiar with the roads.
I can vividly remember a loony transit van coming at us in the middle of the road, coming downhill, on a narrow stretch, too fast in torrential rain, as we drove north out of Ullapool. By some miracle, and with millimeters to spare we avoided an off-set head-on collision. The noises from the nearside front wheel as it dipped off the edge of the road were excruciating, and I felt sure we'd lost our damage excess on our rented Mercedes. However, by some miracle, we actually emerged unscathed. It was the only serious "moment" of the trip, but it probably saved us from something worse later on. You also need to consider the wildlife and livestock (especially suicidal sheep) that will stray onto the road in front of you.
There are many parts of the NC500 where a good GT car would definitely be very pleasurable, However, about 35% of the loop, especially on the Western side is best tackled in a good (smaller hot hatch). We did it in a Mercedes C200 (2-litre turbo petrol). I had planned to do it in something more tactile, like an MX-5, but nothing was available within a reasonable price range. As it turned out the C200 worked out well. Depending on your luck you're likely to encounter the "four seasons in one week" type of Scottish weather. The scenery is breathtaking and although we took 4 stops, starting at Nairn, then Gairloch, Bettyhill, and finally Letter Finlay (then "home"). I think it would have been even more enjoyable if we'd taken even longer. Our moving average speed on the northwestern side (Gairloch to Bettyhill) was 33 mph. Going much faster (on public roads) in the range of weather encountered would have been irresponsible. We did pass several people who'd lost it and ended up stuck in the soft stuff.
If I was going to do the NC500 again, and I could pick anything for the trip, my recommendation would be to drive it in a hot hatch. My personal preference would be a Golf GTI or Polo GTI, but a Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Type R Honda, or one of the Renaultsport or maybe a Hyundai i30N or i20N would all work well for me. If I was going to really go hard it (and had the money for it) that it would probably be a Porsche Cayman or 911. If you decide to use a ragtop for the NC500 make sure it's watertight!
I can vividly remember a loony transit van coming at us in the middle of the road, coming downhill, on a narrow stretch, too fast in torrential rain, as we drove north out of Ullapool. By some miracle, and with millimeters to spare we avoided an off-set head-on collision. The noises from the nearside front wheel as it dipped off the edge of the road were excruciating, and I felt sure we'd lost our damage excess on our rented Mercedes. However, by some miracle, we actually emerged unscathed. It was the only serious "moment" of the trip, but it probably saved us from something worse later on. You also need to consider the wildlife and livestock (especially suicidal sheep) that will stray onto the road in front of you.
There are many parts of the NC500 where a good GT car would definitely be very pleasurable, However, about 35% of the loop, especially on the Western side is best tackled in a good (smaller hot hatch). We did it in a Mercedes C200 (2-litre turbo petrol). I had planned to do it in something more tactile, like an MX-5, but nothing was available within a reasonable price range. As it turned out the C200 worked out well. Depending on your luck you're likely to encounter the "four seasons in one week" type of Scottish weather. The scenery is breathtaking and although we took 4 stops, starting at Nairn, then Gairloch, Bettyhill, and finally Letter Finlay (then "home"). I think it would have been even more enjoyable if we'd taken even longer. Our moving average speed on the northwestern side (Gairloch to Bettyhill) was 33 mph. Going much faster (on public roads) in the range of weather encountered would have been irresponsible. We did pass several people who'd lost it and ended up stuck in the soft stuff.
If I was going to do the NC500 again, and I could pick anything for the trip, my recommendation would be to drive it in a hot hatch. My personal preference would be a Golf GTI or Polo GTI, but a Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Type R Honda, or one of the Renaultsport or maybe a Hyundai i30N or i20N would all work well for me. If I was going to really go hard it (and had the money for it) that it would probably be a Porsche Cayman or 911. If you decide to use a ragtop for the NC500 make sure it's watertight!
As I'd like to do the trip next year, and from reading the variety of comments on here I feel like I've made a correct choice when buying a car for once so I'll be taking this. Feels like it will be ideal especially once it's had the remap done to get rid of the mid range torque dip.
hornbaek said:
I did the NC500 in my newly restored V8 Vantage form 1978. I loved every bit of the trip but be prepared to have as many stone chips as dead moskitos on your front splitter after the tour. Worth every penny of a re-spray though.
You're the winner I absolutely love old Astons, especially the V8 Vantage.
I'm planning to do the NC500 once all this covid stuff calms down. It'll be in my manual E92 330d. I can think of a lot more fun cars to do it in but it'll be better than a huge expensive GT car as i don't have to be too precious about it. Adequate power and a 5-600 mile range
Open top lightweight sports car (MX5, Boxster, Z4) so when you're stuck behind coaches winding their way to Glencoe, you're not too fussed. Or, do it the proper way; on a motorbike so you can still make progress no matter what the traffic.
Though it's particularly dicey in the wet.
The road surface is varied (especially as you head past Gairloch) as well so anything under 18" rims and softer suspension is ideal.
Though it's particularly dicey in the wet.
The road surface is varied (especially as you head past Gairloch) as well so anything under 18" rims and softer suspension is ideal.
Edited by drophead on Sunday 20th June 10:38
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff