Impromptu European Road Trip

[Swine Enthusiast]

Have been dreaming since I was a little boy watching Top Gear and their road trips across Europe to do one of my own. Recently (March) purchased my first Porsche (C987.2 S) and after a few blasts to Goodwood and Silverstone, the promise I made myself to just set off towards the horizon has been blocked by "life" and "reality".

So after a bit of wrangling managed to procure a week off of work and am pointing the car south for my first road trip.

The route, while flexible has some direction:

• Calais to Circuit du Reims.
• Reims to Baden-Baden
• Baden-Baden to Lake Lucerne
• Lucerne to Como.
• Como to Strasboug.
• Strasbourg to Calais

Hoping to tick off the B500, St Gottard Pass, Furka Pass, Sustenpass and perhaps more! Any advice for where to head, where to avoid, sites to see or areas to head for would be greatly appreciated.

Likewise anything to look out for in the Cayman, tips on getting the best out of it, must take items to pack (I have spare mobil1 oil, water, euro driving kit, jumper cables, tyre pump etc), do I need coolant etc?

Appreciate the replies!

[John Laverick]

I've done many similar trips .... my personal recommendation for must have items to pack are a tent and sleeping bag. Camping in the Alps on a road trip is fantastic.

[Trgasy]

don't forget nuffenen pass (highest in swiss)
in black forest, so many nice road and speed limit is 20km higher!
from baaden to forbach baierbron/allerheim etc... great great roads not to be missed!
around reims, so many nice roads as well thanks to vineyards hill!

around como, roads are narrower and u cruise more than drive fast but it is great as well!
enjoy!

[mr pg]

If using the French toll roads a SANEF transponder for the TAG lanes is very useful if on your own.
We were at Andermatt 3 weeks, ago and there's some very long southbound tailbacks on the Gotthard Pass area. Check it out before you choose with pass to do (we did the old cobbled road this time).
Caymans are great for these trips (we have a 981S). Nufenen Pass is well worth including as suggested.

[Swine Enthusiast]

mr pg said:

If using the French toll roads a SANEF transponder for the TAG lanes is very useful if on your own.
We were at Andermatt 3 weeks, ago and there's some very long southbound tailbacks on the Gotthard Pass area. Check it out before you choose with pass to do (we did the old cobbled road this time).
Caymans are great for these trips (we have a 981S). Nufenen Pass is well worth including as suggested.

Thanks, I've heard the Gotthard Pass can get quite busy! I will check out the Nufenen Pass too!

Did you take anything car maintenance wise?

[TonyG2003]

Lots of fabulous passes in Switzerland including the Nufenen. The Andermatt side of the Furka is often single carriageway on the Andermatt side. If you get busses or caravans coming the other way it’s a tight squeeze. I’d just run to the top of the Furka from the Obergoms side and go back down. Also add the Grimsel pass to you list - it’s a great road.

[mr pg]

Swine Enthusiast said:

Thanks, I've heard the Gotthard Pass can get quite busy! I will check out the Nufenen Pass too!

Did you take anything car maintenance wise?

Some oil in case of top but my car has never needed any apart from at services in over 4 years. Some cleaning stuff in particular to keep windows clear and that's it.
With 2 of us for 2 weeks, the car is full to the brim, and have breakdown cover (car still warrantied) for such eventualities.

[Boxster7]

TonyG2003 said:

Lots of fabulous passes in Switzerland including the Nufenen. The Andermatt side of the Furka is often single carriageway on the Andermatt side. If you get busses or caravans coming the other way it’s a tight squeeze. I’d just run to the top of the Furka from the Obergoms side and go back down. Also add the Grimsel pass to you list - it’s a great road.

Another massive fan of the Grimsel pass...
For a perfect early morning blast, Grimsel.... Susuten.... Furka....
Then head down the valley past Obergoms to Brig and up over the Simplon pass into Italy....

Also did the passes in the Dolomites this year for the first time.... again excellent roads and passes heading for Cortina...

Likewise I don't take any special bits for my cars... they always run like a Swiss Clock :-)

[Boxster7]

Oh and if you've got time, head for the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Grindlewald, just the most spectacular scenery !!
Check out the Staldenbachfall (waterfall) and the take the Cable car up to the Schilthorn.

Travel guide over..... now back to the cars !!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Fantastic stuff guys, thank you!

Have several items to head for, will do a write up when I am back - so excited - seems the Cayman is the perfect weapon (biased) for this kind of European trip; comfortable, good luggage space, well equipped, fast and nimble.

[Swine Enthusiast]

Boxster7 said:

Another massive fan of the Grimsel pass...
For a perfect early morning blast, Grimsel.... Susuten.... Furka....
Then head down the valley past Obergoms to Brig and up over the Simplon pass into Italy....

Also did the passes in the Dolomites this year for the first time.... again excellent roads and passes heading for Cortina...

Likewise I don't take any special bits for my cars... they always run like a Swiss Clock :-)

I am tempted to wake up at about 6am while the Mrs is still asleep, grab the keys and blast these out myself. Shall we say she prefers more of an ambling pace checking the scenery.....

Thanks!

[moonigan]

Check the passes are open before you set off for the day as some of the higher swiss passes will probably still have snow on them and can be open one day and closed the next. I did Grimsel, Furka and Gotthard on the same day in early Sept (albeit on a push bike) and Grimsel and Furka were beautiful and sunny but when we got to Gotthard it was thick with fog and we just about got down the cobbled bit.

[Boxster7]

Foggy you say

[Boxster7]

That’s more like it :-)

On top of Grimsel

[Boxster7]

Swine Enthusiast said:

Boxster7 said:

Another massive fan of the Grimsel pass...
For a perfect early morning blast, Grimsel.... Susuten.... Furka....
Then head down the valley past Obergoms to Brig and up over the Simplon pass into Italy....

Also did the passes in the Dolomites this year for the first time.... again excellent roads and passes heading for Cortina...

Likewise I don't take any special bits for my cars... they always run like a Swiss Clock :-)

I am tempted to wake up at about 6am while the Mrs is still asleep, grab the keys and blast these out myself. Shall we say she prefers more of an ambling pace checking the scenery.....

Thanks!

I feel your pain... Mrs Boxster7 is not a fan of a mountain pass either.... we’ve had tears before...
So this time I put her on a flight and my mate came out to play

[Yellow T]

It's certainly a dream of mine to do a Euro trip and cover many of the roads and passes mentioned here. Contemplating a manual GT3 or Boxster Spyder for this - obviously 2 very different price points but I can't help but think that the Spyder would be better suited being open top and narrower. Would appreciate any thoughts on this as the GT3 is my dream car but in reality the Spyder might be more practical and easier to drive through mountain passes etc.

[heebeegeetee]

The only thing I'd add is to remind that central France, Massif Central and French alps are ime vastly less populated, less trafficked and less touristic than the 'headline' alpine passes, and are possibly much better drivers roads. Roads like Col de la Machine, where you can stand right on the edge of Europe's deepest gorge (I believe), many 'balcony' roads, countless miles of current and past Monte Carlo rally routes, rarely seem to get a mention, and they're all nearer Calais.

This is the road away from Col de la Machine https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1817458164972082

ETA its right in the heart of endless fabulous driving country. I wonder if it's the best in the world?
https://goo.gl/maps/m5Qu98d1epmHVSuk6

Edited by heebeegeetee on Thursday 22 August 15:49

[Far Cough]

Make sure you have plenty of Tyre and Brakes as the constant switchbacks and fast downhill sections will take their toll.

[GT3Gooner]

Yellow T said:

It's certainly a dream of mine to do a Euro trip and cover many of the roads and passes mentioned here. Contemplating a manual GT3 or Boxster Spyder for this - obviously 2 very different price points but I can't help but think that the Spyder would be better suited being open top and narrower. Would appreciate any thoughts on this as the GT3 is my dream car but in reality the Spyder might be more practical and easier to drive through mountain passes etc.

I have an RS60 Spyder Boxster and a 996 GT3 CS. Have taken both into Europe but the GT3 only once and the Boxster 6 trips and counting (back again in a couple of weeks). To my mind the GT3 is too compromised for Alps passes with hard ride, low ground clearance and limited storage. The Boxster on the other hand is the perfect tool for these trips for all the opposite reasons plus open roof and mid engined handling. Don’t get my wrong, the GT3 is the most awesome car and is a keeper, but not my choice for that kind of trip, especially if you want to keep the other half on board!!!

[Yellow T]

GT3Gooner said:

Yellow T said:

It's certainly a dream of mine to do a Euro trip and cover many of the roads and passes mentioned here. Contemplating a manual GT3 or Boxster Spyder for this - obviously 2 very different price points but I can't help but think that the Spyder would be better suited being open top and narrower. Would appreciate any thoughts on this as the GT3 is my dream car but in reality the Spyder might be more practical and easier to drive through mountain passes etc.

I have an RS60 Spyder Boxster and a 996 GT3 CS. Have taken both into Europe but the GT3 only once and the Boxster 6 trips and counting (back again in a couple of weeks). To my mind the GT3 is too compromised for Alps passes with hard ride, low ground clearance and limited storage. The Boxster on the other hand is the perfect tool for these trips for all the opposite reasons plus open roof and mid engined handling. Don’t get my wrong, the GT3 is the most awesome car and is a keeper, but not my choice for that kind of trip, especially if you want to keep the other half on board!!!

Thanks for your feedback - I guess a 996 GT3 is super raw compared to the 991.2, however, time and time again I hear how people prefer a Boxster over a GT3 for these sorts of trips. And if a Boxster Spyder is better for this then it makes buying a GT3 a bit of a white elephant.