Impromptu European Road Trip

[Bispal]

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.

This was exactly my dilemma and I tried both the 991.2 GT3 manual and 981 Spyder, as well as several other cars (991.2 GTS manual & PDK), 991.2 T (manual) McLaren 650S, 720S, 570S, 570GT, Exige 350 sport and 430 CUP, 996 Turbo, Alfa Gulia QF.) We do one long euro trip a year lasting around 18 days. The new car was to replace a McLaren 12C.

The 981 Spyder won. It looks glorious, has a snickety 6 speed box, the steering is agile (even though EPAS), the suspension is firm but complaint, proper LSD, roof comes off, has AC, stereo & good refinements, 2 boots.....oh and a 6 cyl NA 3.8L flat six engine that sounds out of this world! I also could not resist the 430 CUP and as the Spyder was below my budget I bought that too. That's how good the Spyder is it out-shone cars twice the price (inc. the 991.2 GT3 Manual...for touring) and got the thumbs up from Mrs Bispal.

We completed this years 3,030 mile tour London - Annercy (via D996 - awesome road) - Antibes (via Route Napoleon) - Monaco, no time for col de turini :-( - Lake Garda & Verona - Val Gardena - Cortina (Best passes ever, I preferred to the Swiss passes - Falzarego / Gardena / Pordoi / Giau ) - Alpach (unfortunately Grossglockner was closed) - Kristalwald - Krimml Falls (awesome) - High alpine Road - Konstanz - Baden Baden - Nurburgring. Averaged just over 30 mpg in temperatures -5 - +30, snow, rain, sun, 160 mph on autobahn, a lap of the 'ring' and the car was faultless, not even a stone chip! I got the roof up / down times to around 20 seconds.

My only very minor criticisms are the ride is a tad firm in the UK at 30mph (gets better then faster you go) but was fine on the continent (shows how bad the roads are here & Belgium) Its not an issue just acclimatising from a McLaren. I also always get stuck with seat choice with Porsche, too many options and non-ideal. 918 buckets too hard and upright, folding buckets looks awesome and are very comfy but don't recline, comfort seats look rubbish in a 'special' car and i can never get comfy in them. So I went carbon folding buckets and we put up with the lack of recline adjustment and actually pulled the cushions out, bought some foam, and sculpted the shape to what we wanted then but the seat cushions back and it was great.

I love driving the 981 Spyder and have no immediate plans to change it as it is a great all round touring car. I did wonder if we should have tried a Ferrari California but I have had a Ferrari before and didn't like the ownership experience and my choice was verified when we met a Portafino owner in our Hotel in Annecy who's roof had stuck half open and would not budge!

To the OP I would recommend some of the places and passes we went, to Yellow T try a 981 Spyder I am sure you will enjoy it. Watch these youtube videos and your mind will be made up. Some pics of mine on our trip below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MSMM1nTLvw&t=2s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Bmi-2Yk20&t=321s

[Swine Enthusiast]

Boxster7 said:

That’s more like it :-)

On top of Grimsel

Amazing photo!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Far Cough said:

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

Tyres were new three months ago with about 2k of mostly sedate driving and the brake fluid is being replaced today, (discs and pads at 15% wear too). Thanks!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Bispal said:

This was exactly my dilemma and I tried both the 991.2 GT3 manual and 981 Spyder, as well as several other cars (991.2 GTS manual & PDK), 991.2 T (manual) McLaren 650S, 720S, 570S, 570GT, Exige 350 sport and 430 CUP, 996 Turbo, Alfa Gulia QF.) We do one long euro trip a year lasting around 18 days. The new car was to replace a McLaren 12C.

The 981 Spyder won. It looks glorious, has a snickety 6 speed box, the steering is agile (even though EPAS), the suspension is firm but complaint, proper LSD, roof comes off, has AC, stereo & good refinements, 2 boots.....oh and a 6 cyl NA 3.8L flat six engine that sounds out of this world! I also could not resist the 430 CUP and as the Spyder was below my budget I bought that too. That's how good the Spyder is it out-shone cars twice the price (inc. the 991.2 GT3 Manual...for touring) and got the thumbs up from Mrs Bispal.

We completed this years 3,030 mile tour London - Annercy (via D996 - awesome road) - Antibes (via Route Napoleon) - Monaco, no time for col de turini :-( - Lake Garda & Verona - Val Gardena - Cortina (Best passes ever, I preferred to the Swiss passes - Falzarego / Gardena / Pordoi / Giau ) - Alpach (unfortunately Grossglockner was closed) - Kristalwald - Krimml Falls (awesome) - High alpine Road - Konstanz - Baden Baden - Nurburgring. Averaged just over 30 mpg in temperatures -5 - +30, snow, rain, sun, 160 mph on autobahn, a lap of the 'ring' and the car was faultless, not even a stone chip! I got the roof up / down times to around 20 seconds.

My only very minor criticisms are the ride is a tad firm in the UK at 30mph (gets better then faster you go) but was fine on the continent (shows how bad the roads are here & Belgium) Its not an issue just acclimatising from a McLaren. I also always get stuck with seat choice with Porsche, too many options and non-ideal. 918 buckets too hard and upright, folding buckets looks awesome and are very comfy but don't recline, comfort seats look rubbish in a 'special' car and i can never get comfy in them. So I went carbon folding buckets and we put up with the lack of recline adjustment and actually pulled the cushions out, bought some foam, and sculpted the shape to what we wanted then but the seat cushions back and it was great.

I love driving the 981 Spyder and have no immediate plans to change it as it is a great all round touring car. I did wonder if we should have tried a Ferrari California but I have had a Ferrari before and didn't like the ownership experience and my choice was verified when we met a Portafino owner in our Hotel in Annecy who's roof had stuck half open and would not budge!

To the OP I would recommend some of the places and passes we went, to Yellow T try a 981 Spyder I am sure you will enjoy it. Watch these youtube videos and your mind will be made up. Some pics of mine on our trip below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MSMM1nTLvw&t=2s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Bmi-2Yk20&t=321s

Thanks, think this will be a yearly drive to different locations across Europe. Last year me and two mates went down to N260 Pyrenees route in a 991.1 GT3 RS and a 718 Cayman S. Both cars were epic and the driving was fantastic.

So many options!

[Yellow T]

[quote=Bispal]

To the OP I would recommend some of the places and passes we went, to Yellow T try a 981 Spyder I am sure you will enjoy it. Watch these youtube videos and your mind will be made up.

Thanks Bispal for yet another solid recommendation. I've watched every Boxster Spyder and GT3 video on You Tube and this morning I've put a deposit down on a .... Spyder of course! As I already have the T which incidentally I really love, it made more sense to get the Spyder being N/A, mid-engined and convertible for a total contrast. For me the sound is key which is why I'm not interested in the 718, not that I would get a slot, but it's nice to know that actually the 981 is genuinely my preferred choice as I like the juvenile crackles and pops and from what I can see it's lighter, more fuel efficient and won't suffer any stop/start function etc.

[Bispal]

Yellow T said:

Bispal said:

To the OP I would recommend some of the places and passes we went, to Yellow T try a 981 Spyder I am sure you will enjoy it. Watch these youtube videos and your mind will be made up.

Thanks Bispal for yet another solid recommendation. I've watched every Boxster Spyder and GT3 video on You Tube and this morning I've put a deposit down on a .... Spyder of course! As I already have the T which incidentally I really love, it made more sense to get the Spyder being N/A, mid-engined and convertible for a total contrast. For me the sound is key which is why I'm not interested in the 718, not that I would get a slot, but it's nice to know that actually the 981 is genuinely my preferred choice as I like the juvenile crackles and pops and from what I can see it's lighter, more fuel efficient and won't suffer any stop/start function etc.

Congratulations you will have a great time with the 981 I am sure :-) The 6 speed manual is very different to the 7 speed in the T (is your T a manual or PDK?). I decided after a lot of drives that manual / NA / 6 speed box were my main Porsche requirements :-) Look forward to seeing some pics, what colour and spec did you go for? There is a good little forum on FB www.facebook.com/groups/PorscheSpyder/

Edited by Bispal on Friday 23 August 14:44

[mr pg]

Shame the Grossglockner was closed for you. We were there in July, and at 9am it was gloriously empty, apart from groups of Porsches. :-)
My highlight of the holiday, including the Dolomites and Andermatt area.

[Johnniem]

OP, enjoy all of the places suggested here. Over the last 10 years our little crowd of annual Eurohooners has done the most of them and they are all amazing. Once you have done the best bits of main parts of Europe go to Spain and just do that. It has become our destination of choice. Fantastic roads, excellent weather and the brilliant chain of hotels that is Paradores. Not so many rozzers compared to most parts of Europe either! France....don't speed in France, anywhere! A mate of mine came home from Bordeaux, non-stop, in his 911 and despite being fairly sensible (no more than 10 kph over motorways speed limits) managed four speeding tickets with a couple of weeks of getting home. I know, I know, he was speeding.

Do the Alps (all parts), get a taste of an autobahn and then just go to Spain the next time.

PS - Food and wine is awesome too!

[Boxster7]

Bispal said:

Yellow T said:

Bispal said:

To the OP I would recommend some of the places and passes we went, to Yellow T try a 981 Spyder I am sure you will enjoy it. Watch these youtube videos and your mind will be made up.

Thanks Bispal for yet another solid recommendation. I've watched every Boxster Spyder and GT3 video on You Tube and this morning I've put a deposit down on a .... Spyder of course! As I already have the T which incidentally I really love, it made more sense to get the Spyder being N/A, mid-engined and convertible for a total contrast. For me the sound is key which is why I'm not interested in the 718, not that I would get a slot, but it's nice to know that actually the 981 is genuinely my preferred choice as I like the juvenile crackles and pops and from what I can see it's lighter, more fuel efficient and won't suffer any stop/start function etc.

Congratulations you will have a great time with the 981 I am sure :-) The 6 speed manual is very different to the 7 speed in the T (is your T a manual or PDK?). I decided after a lot of drives that manual / NA / 6 speed box were my main Porsche requirements :-) Look forward to seeing some pics, what colour and spec did you go for? There is a good little forum on FB www.facebook.com/groups/PorscheSpyder/

Edited by Bispal on Friday 23 August 14:44

For all the reasons that have been mentioned in this thread I honestly can not think of a better car for this purpose.
Cars are only going to get more complicated / constrained from here until full eco power....
I have no intention of ever parting with mine..
Lets see how many miles we can put on these great machines... 22k and counting for me.

[Zagamuffin1]

Johnniem said:

OP, enjoy all of the places suggested here. Over the last 10 years our little crowd of annual Eurohooners has done the most of them and they are all amazing. Once you have done the best bits of main parts of Europe go to Spain and just do that. It has become our destination of choice. Fantastic roads, excellent weather and the brilliant chain of hotels that is Paradores. Not so many rozzers compared to most parts of Europe either! France....don't speed in France, anywhere! A mate of mine came home from Bordeaux, non-stop, in his 911 and despite being fairly sensible (no more than 10 kph over motorways speed limits) managed four speeding tickets with a couple of weeks of getting home. I know, I know, he was speeding.

Do the Alps (all parts), get a taste of an autobahn and then just go to Spain the next time.

PS - Food and wine is awesome too!

So how do they enforce the fines from France ??

[Yellow T]

Bispal said:

Congratulations you will have a great time with the 981 I am sure :-) The 6 speed manual is very different to the 7 speed in the T (is your T a manual or PDK?). I decided after a lot of drives that manual / NA / 6 speed box were my main Porsche requirements :-) Look forward to seeing some pics, what colour and spec did you go for? There is a good little forum on FB www.facebook.com/groups/PorscheSpyder/

Edited by Bispal on Friday 23 August 14:44

Thank you. My T is a manual with its short throw but can imagine 6 speed will be even better. The Spyder’s clutch is supposedly a bit heavier?? I went for a white one, LWB's (have those in the T and they work for me although folding would have been good too), full leather (more practical for a convertible) with full red stitching, silver wheels, Bi-zenon's, smoked taillights, net wind deflector, 64-litre fuel tank, light design, cruise control, climate control, reversing camera etc etc. Silly low miles but that will change!

[Yellow T]

... actually mine is identical (inside and out) to the one 'Cars with Luke' is driving. Can't wait to actually drive it so I can stop watching You Tube videos.

[David W.]

Zagamuffin1 said:

So how do they enforce the fines from France ??

If you dont pay the fixed penalty charges they look out for you when you return.

[Zagamuffin1]

David W. said:

If you dont pay the fixed penalty charges they look out for you when you return.

Doesn’t make sense, how would they get your details, name and address and how would they know if you were the same owner/driver the following year ??

[Pericoloso]

Zagamuffin1 said:

David W. said:

If you dont pay the fixed penalty charges they look out for you when you return.

Doesn’t make sense, how would they get your details, name and address and how would they know if you were the same owner/driver the following year ??

There is an exchange of details agreement in place.
France contacts DVLA,gets name and address,sends fine .
Other countries use it too but not all.

[Swine Enthusiast]

Johnniem said:

OP, enjoy all of the places suggested here. Over the last 10 years our little crowd of annual Eurohooners has done the most of them and they are all amazing. Once you have done the best bits of main parts of Europe go to Spain and just do that. It has become our destination of choice. Fantastic roads, excellent weather and the brilliant chain of hotels that is Paradores. Not so many rozzers compared to most parts of Europe either! France....don't speed in France, anywhere! A mate of mine came home from Bordeaux, non-stop, in his 911 and despite being fairly sensible (no more than 10 kph over motorways speed limits) managed four speeding tickets with a couple of weeks of getting home. I know, I know, he was speeding.

Do the Alps (all parts), get a taste of an autobahn and then just go to Spain the next time.

PS - Food and wine is awesome too!

Thanks! Have done the N260 road in the Pyrenees but Spain and the Picos would be amazing! Funnily a mate just text me (who I went with last year) got home after his trip to a ticket from the french police - 8kph over... ouch!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Zagamuffin1 said:

David W. said:

If you dont pay the fixed penalty charges they look out for you when you return.

Doesn’t make sense, how would they get your details, name and address and how would they know if you were the same owner/driver the following year ??

He hasd a letter land on his doorstep within a week of returning.

[Swine Enthusiast]

Yellow T said:

Bispal said:

Congratulations you will have a great time with the 981 I am sure :-) The 6 speed manual is very different to the 7 speed in the T (is your T a manual or PDK?). I decided after a lot of drives that manual / NA / 6 speed box were my main Porsche requirements :-) Look forward to seeing some pics, what colour and spec did you go for? There is a good little forum on FB www.facebook.com/groups/PorscheSpyder/

Edited by Bispal on Friday 23 August 14:44

Thank you. My T is a manual with its short throw but can imagine 6 speed will be even better. The Spyder’s clutch is supposedly a bit heavier?? I went for a white one, LWB's (have those in the T and they work for me although folding would have been good too), full leather (more practical for a convertible) with full red stitching, silver wheels, Bi-zenon's, smoked taillights, net wind deflector, 64-litre fuel tank, light design, cruise control, climate control, reversing camera etc etc. Silly low miles but that will change!

Mine has the short shift kit optioned from the factory. Does make a difference.

[Zagamuffin1]

Pericoloso said:

Zagamuffin1 said:

David W. said:

If you dont pay the fixed penalty charges they look out for you when you return.

Doesn’t make sense, how would they get your details, name and address and how would they know if you were the same owner/driver the following year ??

There is an exchange of details agreement in place.
France contacts DVLA,gets name and address,sends fine .
Other countries use it too but not all.

Ah we are lucky so in Ireland that we signed nothing lol

[Johnniem]

Zagamuffin1 said:

Johnniem said:

OP, enjoy all of the places suggested here. Over the last 10 years our little crowd of annual Eurohooners has done the most of them and they are all amazing. Once you have done the best bits of main parts of Europe go to Spain and just do that. It has become our destination of choice. Fantastic roads, excellent weather and the brilliant chain of hotels that is Paradores. Not so many rozzers compared to most parts of Europe either! France....don't speed in France, anywhere! A mate of mine came home from Bordeaux, non-stop, in his 911 and despite being fairly sensible (no more than 10 kph over motorways speed limits) managed four speeding tickets with a couple of weeks of getting home. I know, I know, he was speeding.

Do the Alps (all parts), get a taste of an autobahn and then just go to Spain the next time.

PS - Food and wine is awesome too!

So how do they enforce the fines from France ??

What do you mean? If the person receiving the fine doesn't pay? Well, I guess they can't but it would rather limit you ever going back to France (or any other country fining you) in your car. Having said that, there may well be a way to enforce payment. All police forces are now connected and therefore anything is possible but I personally doubt they would bother. Perhaps you just change your car before you travel to France next time and just hope that the fine is linked to a reg plate rather than a name and address? It's a bit of a trawl all round really isn't it. Why not just pay? Points are not an issue here.