McLaren to Monaco
Discussion
McLaren to Monaco
I recently returned from a long-time planned trip to Monaco with 11 other cars and thought I would take a bit of time to share my thoughts about the trip, my car, the other cars that came and the route we took. Unfortunately this is a really, really long post because there is so much to say. Flick to the next thread if that offends you!
Over the last few years I have done a number of similar trips, mainly with the same group of friends (including wives/partners) and this year a number of friends of friends were added. The whole group was full of really great people...and really great cars. Two Aventadors, two 458 Spiders, a 458 Speciale, a Bentley GTC, an Audi R8 V10, a 991 C2S, a 430, a California, an XKR Cab and my 12C Spider. A cool group of cars and fascinating to notice the differences. A trip of 2,500 miles following each other around the alps and the Italian lakes is enough to really get to know all the vehicles and how they compare, in a way that is not possible by simply seeing or following the same cars in the UK. I'll get into details later but suffice to say, there was not a bad car among them and each had some pretty major merits.
So, the route. Our philosophy was to use back roads wherever possible but to try and keep each day's driving under 8 hours including lunch and fuel stops. This did mean that autoroute could not be avoided but it was, thankfully, kept to a minimum. We headed from Calais to Epernay across country, then to a small village called Vonnas (near Lyon), again across country. The third day saw us ending up in Monaco having taken the autoroute to Grenoble and then the Route Napoleon, which, so far, is the best day's road driving I've ever had - it's a bit of effort to get there but well worth it. From Monaco we headed back over the mountains via Borgo San Dalmazzo to Lake Maggiore, then across the Simplon pass to Geneva and back via Reims. The 'direct' route from Geneva to Reims was also a really good run, especially using the so-called 'Porsche' roads near Dijon (the 959 and 996 for example). Overall, the pace was strong and the roads were quiet.
One thing we planned badly was the time of year - better to do late May/early June because the 'high passes' - Furka, Gotthard and the like would have been open. I've done them before and they are much better than the Simplon pass. Still, there is a cracking mountain road from Ascona on Lake Maggiore to Domodossola, which is where the Italian end of the Simplon pass starts, that is almost unknown but really fantastic.
Before I mention what we discovered about the cars, I'll talk about what kind of car I discovered in my 12C Spider. In some senses it was bought for this trip - or at least, this trip and others like it that I hope to do in the future. My thinking was that a lot of friends have 458s, I like the open roof motoring thing but also want the car to be stiff, with no scuttle shake and able to turn down the ride to a softer setting when either my backside or left ear start aching....
So, adding all that up, I felt that a 12C would fit the bill well and at least be a bit different from the obvious choice of a 458 Spider.
Well, no regrets. The 12C has its own personality and way of doing things. It is shatteringly fast - seriously, your body breaks (literally) before the car gives up and any more speed is not needed for the road. The old criticism of the car not being fun is irrelevant on a trip like this - not that I ever agreed with it anyway. I had fantastic fun hurling the thing around tight, twisty switchbacks and launching out of countless bends like a missile towards the horizon. It is completely engaging in the "if I don't concentrate here I'm toast" sort of way. Six hours of this each day and your brain literally fizzes, helping you to arrive exhausted and completely wired. The key thing is that the car is fast, agile, involving, extremely capable and allows you to drive at a highly energetic pace over long periods.
The carbon tub, as the marketing blurb says, is key to the experience - especially for the 12C Spider. Having the roof open and still feeling the crisp handling only really possible with an ultra-stiff chassis is a real boon. Even more so when you consider the car's speed. You pile on mph's at a rate of, er, knots. The turbo engine means you don't need to go to the red line always and the torque is in the right place for a road car. I constantly found myself exactly on boost slingshotting out of both tight hairpins and sweeping curves. Despite this, wherever possible, the engine still rewards when you want to wind it out to the maximum at 8,500rpm. You have to be a little careful doing this though because in, say, third gear at 8,500 rpm you will arrive at the next turn in serious peril if you don't know what you're doing. In second gear the torque so easily overwhelms the tyres that they need to be properly warm and the road dry to even have a chance of putting it all down under full throttle. People often criticise the 'nannies' in these new breed Supercars but if you want to be 'on it' all day it is certainly faster to have them and probably more fun too. The trip is not really manageable at the pace we used over such long driving periods without them.
Brake steer (the first time I have really felt it in earnest) is not the intrusive 'cheat' I feared it might be. It helps you keep a fast pace on a thousand corners you are meeting for the first time and allows the nose to remain tucked into the apex time after time, which just feels....better. It helps you get a flow going and, yes, older cars don't have this sophistication which means they rely on your skill more but they can't do what the 12C does. It doesn't invalidate the old way of doing things it merely provides a new and alternative experience. I liked it, and on occasions I loved it.
When really pushing on with tight left, right, left, right, left type bends you get to feel the car managing its weight transfer quickly. There is so much grip and poise that you basically make yourself sick! I have a pretty strong constitution but honestly, this is like a warp speed go kart. You can only take so much of it before you have to back off for a bit to recover. The chassis is very agile and intuitive - the car came to me rather than me have to accommodate it. Some cars have what is often referred to as 'character' - little foibles that you have to learn to drive around which can be fun, but is ultimately some form of compromise. Not so much in the 12C. The car quickly felt wrapped around me and an extension of my thoughts.
The only real thing that could be classed as a weakness was that on uneven surfaces at high speeds the car was moving around and following the tramlines more than I expected. Even in 'normal' suspension mode this was happening. Not the worst problem to have but a little unnerving on occasions all the same.
I was on the normal road tyres and felt that they were a limiting factor on the car, although, what I would have done with more grip and therefore cornering speed over 2,500 fast back road miles I'm not really sure. When it was wet, the 12C was impeccable too so if the trade-off for Corsa tyres is less surety in the wet, it wouldn't have been worth it.
The noise, often criticised again, is always subjective but Ferrari and Lamborghini drivers all commented positively on it. I have the sports exhaust which just chats away and then screams thunder under full throttle and especially in the tunnels. Not as loud as my CS, not quite as sonorous either but with a great appeal and its own enticing sound all the same. I was surprised how often and how many people told me how well it sounded.
The gear change was always an ally and I never once thought "ooh, that wasn't instantaneous". When you're fully giving the beans you focus on the key things - weight transfer, stability, speed, the road and getting the right braking, line and power delivery through a bend. You only notice the gear change if it is doing something badly. I can't recall a single change where I thought the car was working against me. It worked well and the fact I don't remember too much about it seems like a good thing - it was certainly seamless, as described.
The car was pretty practical overall, although space is a bit limiting in the Spider compared with the coupe. We (well, I) had to pack carefully (a pair of shoes for each night, seriously?!) The seats were extremely comfortable and hold you in position well while at the same time communicating a great amount of information about what the chassis is doing. All the switchgear worked faultlessly and was easy to use - this takes on added importance at speed and over long hours. Even the paddle 'clicks' proved useful - you clearly know you have selected a gear, which sounds like a stupid comment when you realise there is a pretty noisy engine behind your ear that should tell you the same thing. I can only say that I personally found the tell-tale clicking really helpful.
At first I thought my steel brakes might be a weakness but after a while I realised you can still stand on them even when they are extremely hot and they will give good bite. It does sometimes feel that the pressure needed to deliver a certain amount of braking is not consistent but it didn't spoil the fun. I have turned my bright orange calipers a dark shade of grey though!
And the coolest thing about the 12C? Yep, that airbrake had people trying to follow me to see it working. I have no idea how much retardation is provided by it but I assume from the laws of physics that it must work. Whatever, it looks so good.
Never as good as those two Lamborghinis though. Dressed in a rare but beautiful shade of orange and the other one in the specific yellow colour that indicated it was a 50th anniversary 720hp car, they looked fantastic and easily the sharpest cars to my eyes. Unsurprisingly they attracted plenty of attention. Having followed the yellow one along fast road heading towards Digne it did seem that its driver was having a hard time. I could see that big V12 tugging at the rear under cornering loads and speeds that the 12C was just taking in its stride. The Lambos were fast but the 12C could comfortably pull away - nothing to do with the drivers either; both were driven by very experienced Supercar owners and drivers. The gear change was a fight for them, although driving behind it you can actually hear the metallic change happening in the 'box, which, when allied to that unbelievable sounding engine made for not just the best sounding cars on our trip but some of the best sounding cars you can hear anywhere. Still, I suspect both owners will not stay long with the Lambos in their garage.
At the other end of the scale, the Jag XKR was the kind of car that surprised. It had no business even trying to keep up with some of the metal on our trip, it not being the 510 hp car. If the trip was 50/50 motorway and back roads then he would have been fine. As it was, most were surprised what speed could be got out of a heavier car with an auto box that gave up 300 hp to some of the cars we had along. Its driver had to work harder and be braver than most but the thing set a cracking pace....except when it got wet. The mid engined cars and the 991 pulled away with ease. A great car but a little outgunned. Looked and sounded good though.
The 991 was a C2S. A deeply impressive car. That is one fast 911 and although the drivers said they were less experienced you would never have known. If they were ever out of view it was never by much and the car was faithful over all manner of twisting, dipping, rolling and sweeping curves with that rear hanging lump never providing any handling troubles. Its owner was well pleased and a very happy chap!
The Bentley drivers chose motorway route mainly and arrived looking great and fully refreshed! I dare say the car could have made a good fist of the twisties but it would have been harder work, no doubt. The 430 (I have owned one of those) is a great car. This one has been owned from new by my friend and is an 07 coupe. The 430 is still an epic car and is able to keep up with all but the most committed drives from the fastest cars, meanwhile, at whatever speed he is doing, a 430 driver is having a great steer. The 430 is still one of the most exciting yet approachable Supercars you can buy. He will move to a 458 soon though. The 458 is a simply spectacular car.
It is sweet, rewarding, fast, described by the Speciale owner as a 'game changer' (he owned one previously). The yellow Lambo driver still has one and reckons the Lambo is nowhere near as sorted and capable. However, it is hard for a 458 to keep up with a 12C and if it can it will only be because of a relative difference in driver skill. The key to the 458 is in its friendliness, linear power delivery and sound.
The California (I had one previously too) is a surprising car. It is virtually as quick as a 458 - go figure. The one on our trip was driven by a really good driver who was prepared to push. Even in a 12C it took a bit of effort to lose him. Ultimately though, he couldn't stay. However, at speeds needed to lose him my left ear began to ache again so I had to slow 'oh-so-slightly' and there he was again. Full respect earned there.
The R8 was driven by a great guy, older, but a good driver nonetheless. Didn't believe in SatNav and so used the map. Had even more fun than the rest of us I think! His car was a manual which he said was the only way to go on the R8.
So, this just leaves the Speciale. I was very interested in this comparison. Perhaps if the owner reads this he may not agree with what I thought but here goes. I think, for 90% of drivers the 12C is faster over ground. I led most of the route and the hardest car to lose was definitely the Speciale but I think over a long distance and across differing roads, the 12C would be ahead, just. In the wet the story was even more exacerbated - the 12C on standard tyres was so sure-footed, whereas I had the distinct impression that the Speciale was becoming more of a handful, despite Ferrari's claims about its tyres being suited to track but still good in the wet.
At the very least, the Speciale would overall not lose the 12C. That, though, doesn't really say anything, does it? The yellow Lambo owner drove the Speciale too. His conclusion was "I used to think the 458 was a 10/10 car. Well, I now rate the 458 7/10 and the Speciale 10; it's that good. The best car I have ever driven."
And....whatever you think about the pictures of the car, in red, with two grey stripes, it looks b-e-a-utiful (to quote Bruce Almighty)! I think if there was a vote about best car in our group by our group, the Speciale would comfortably get it.
"Ahhh, but does the roof come off?!"
I didn't drive the Speciale and maybe if I did I would say "forget the open roof, I need that car!" But as I drove through Europe in my 12C Spider, I felt as though there was not another car I would rather be in (well, not one that I can afford anyway). The 12C was the perfect blend of speed, entertainment, style and comfort and if you're thinking of a similar trip in a 12C Spider, I doubt anyone else will bring a car with a better blend of skills for the week ahead of you.
"Thanks McLaren"; I feel compelled to say it. Your marketing hasn't been the best but you know how to make great cars. That much is for sure.
I recently returned from a long-time planned trip to Monaco with 11 other cars and thought I would take a bit of time to share my thoughts about the trip, my car, the other cars that came and the route we took. Unfortunately this is a really, really long post because there is so much to say. Flick to the next thread if that offends you!
Over the last few years I have done a number of similar trips, mainly with the same group of friends (including wives/partners) and this year a number of friends of friends were added. The whole group was full of really great people...and really great cars. Two Aventadors, two 458 Spiders, a 458 Speciale, a Bentley GTC, an Audi R8 V10, a 991 C2S, a 430, a California, an XKR Cab and my 12C Spider. A cool group of cars and fascinating to notice the differences. A trip of 2,500 miles following each other around the alps and the Italian lakes is enough to really get to know all the vehicles and how they compare, in a way that is not possible by simply seeing or following the same cars in the UK. I'll get into details later but suffice to say, there was not a bad car among them and each had some pretty major merits.
So, the route. Our philosophy was to use back roads wherever possible but to try and keep each day's driving under 8 hours including lunch and fuel stops. This did mean that autoroute could not be avoided but it was, thankfully, kept to a minimum. We headed from Calais to Epernay across country, then to a small village called Vonnas (near Lyon), again across country. The third day saw us ending up in Monaco having taken the autoroute to Grenoble and then the Route Napoleon, which, so far, is the best day's road driving I've ever had - it's a bit of effort to get there but well worth it. From Monaco we headed back over the mountains via Borgo San Dalmazzo to Lake Maggiore, then across the Simplon pass to Geneva and back via Reims. The 'direct' route from Geneva to Reims was also a really good run, especially using the so-called 'Porsche' roads near Dijon (the 959 and 996 for example). Overall, the pace was strong and the roads were quiet.
One thing we planned badly was the time of year - better to do late May/early June because the 'high passes' - Furka, Gotthard and the like would have been open. I've done them before and they are much better than the Simplon pass. Still, there is a cracking mountain road from Ascona on Lake Maggiore to Domodossola, which is where the Italian end of the Simplon pass starts, that is almost unknown but really fantastic.
Before I mention what we discovered about the cars, I'll talk about what kind of car I discovered in my 12C Spider. In some senses it was bought for this trip - or at least, this trip and others like it that I hope to do in the future. My thinking was that a lot of friends have 458s, I like the open roof motoring thing but also want the car to be stiff, with no scuttle shake and able to turn down the ride to a softer setting when either my backside or left ear start aching....
So, adding all that up, I felt that a 12C would fit the bill well and at least be a bit different from the obvious choice of a 458 Spider.
Well, no regrets. The 12C has its own personality and way of doing things. It is shatteringly fast - seriously, your body breaks (literally) before the car gives up and any more speed is not needed for the road. The old criticism of the car not being fun is irrelevant on a trip like this - not that I ever agreed with it anyway. I had fantastic fun hurling the thing around tight, twisty switchbacks and launching out of countless bends like a missile towards the horizon. It is completely engaging in the "if I don't concentrate here I'm toast" sort of way. Six hours of this each day and your brain literally fizzes, helping you to arrive exhausted and completely wired. The key thing is that the car is fast, agile, involving, extremely capable and allows you to drive at a highly energetic pace over long periods.
The carbon tub, as the marketing blurb says, is key to the experience - especially for the 12C Spider. Having the roof open and still feeling the crisp handling only really possible with an ultra-stiff chassis is a real boon. Even more so when you consider the car's speed. You pile on mph's at a rate of, er, knots. The turbo engine means you don't need to go to the red line always and the torque is in the right place for a road car. I constantly found myself exactly on boost slingshotting out of both tight hairpins and sweeping curves. Despite this, wherever possible, the engine still rewards when you want to wind it out to the maximum at 8,500rpm. You have to be a little careful doing this though because in, say, third gear at 8,500 rpm you will arrive at the next turn in serious peril if you don't know what you're doing. In second gear the torque so easily overwhelms the tyres that they need to be properly warm and the road dry to even have a chance of putting it all down under full throttle. People often criticise the 'nannies' in these new breed Supercars but if you want to be 'on it' all day it is certainly faster to have them and probably more fun too. The trip is not really manageable at the pace we used over such long driving periods without them.
Brake steer (the first time I have really felt it in earnest) is not the intrusive 'cheat' I feared it might be. It helps you keep a fast pace on a thousand corners you are meeting for the first time and allows the nose to remain tucked into the apex time after time, which just feels....better. It helps you get a flow going and, yes, older cars don't have this sophistication which means they rely on your skill more but they can't do what the 12C does. It doesn't invalidate the old way of doing things it merely provides a new and alternative experience. I liked it, and on occasions I loved it.
When really pushing on with tight left, right, left, right, left type bends you get to feel the car managing its weight transfer quickly. There is so much grip and poise that you basically make yourself sick! I have a pretty strong constitution but honestly, this is like a warp speed go kart. You can only take so much of it before you have to back off for a bit to recover. The chassis is very agile and intuitive - the car came to me rather than me have to accommodate it. Some cars have what is often referred to as 'character' - little foibles that you have to learn to drive around which can be fun, but is ultimately some form of compromise. Not so much in the 12C. The car quickly felt wrapped around me and an extension of my thoughts.
The only real thing that could be classed as a weakness was that on uneven surfaces at high speeds the car was moving around and following the tramlines more than I expected. Even in 'normal' suspension mode this was happening. Not the worst problem to have but a little unnerving on occasions all the same.
I was on the normal road tyres and felt that they were a limiting factor on the car, although, what I would have done with more grip and therefore cornering speed over 2,500 fast back road miles I'm not really sure. When it was wet, the 12C was impeccable too so if the trade-off for Corsa tyres is less surety in the wet, it wouldn't have been worth it.
The noise, often criticised again, is always subjective but Ferrari and Lamborghini drivers all commented positively on it. I have the sports exhaust which just chats away and then screams thunder under full throttle and especially in the tunnels. Not as loud as my CS, not quite as sonorous either but with a great appeal and its own enticing sound all the same. I was surprised how often and how many people told me how well it sounded.
The gear change was always an ally and I never once thought "ooh, that wasn't instantaneous". When you're fully giving the beans you focus on the key things - weight transfer, stability, speed, the road and getting the right braking, line and power delivery through a bend. You only notice the gear change if it is doing something badly. I can't recall a single change where I thought the car was working against me. It worked well and the fact I don't remember too much about it seems like a good thing - it was certainly seamless, as described.
The car was pretty practical overall, although space is a bit limiting in the Spider compared with the coupe. We (well, I) had to pack carefully (a pair of shoes for each night, seriously?!) The seats were extremely comfortable and hold you in position well while at the same time communicating a great amount of information about what the chassis is doing. All the switchgear worked faultlessly and was easy to use - this takes on added importance at speed and over long hours. Even the paddle 'clicks' proved useful - you clearly know you have selected a gear, which sounds like a stupid comment when you realise there is a pretty noisy engine behind your ear that should tell you the same thing. I can only say that I personally found the tell-tale clicking really helpful.
At first I thought my steel brakes might be a weakness but after a while I realised you can still stand on them even when they are extremely hot and they will give good bite. It does sometimes feel that the pressure needed to deliver a certain amount of braking is not consistent but it didn't spoil the fun. I have turned my bright orange calipers a dark shade of grey though!
And the coolest thing about the 12C? Yep, that airbrake had people trying to follow me to see it working. I have no idea how much retardation is provided by it but I assume from the laws of physics that it must work. Whatever, it looks so good.
Never as good as those two Lamborghinis though. Dressed in a rare but beautiful shade of orange and the other one in the specific yellow colour that indicated it was a 50th anniversary 720hp car, they looked fantastic and easily the sharpest cars to my eyes. Unsurprisingly they attracted plenty of attention. Having followed the yellow one along fast road heading towards Digne it did seem that its driver was having a hard time. I could see that big V12 tugging at the rear under cornering loads and speeds that the 12C was just taking in its stride. The Lambos were fast but the 12C could comfortably pull away - nothing to do with the drivers either; both were driven by very experienced Supercar owners and drivers. The gear change was a fight for them, although driving behind it you can actually hear the metallic change happening in the 'box, which, when allied to that unbelievable sounding engine made for not just the best sounding cars on our trip but some of the best sounding cars you can hear anywhere. Still, I suspect both owners will not stay long with the Lambos in their garage.
At the other end of the scale, the Jag XKR was the kind of car that surprised. It had no business even trying to keep up with some of the metal on our trip, it not being the 510 hp car. If the trip was 50/50 motorway and back roads then he would have been fine. As it was, most were surprised what speed could be got out of a heavier car with an auto box that gave up 300 hp to some of the cars we had along. Its driver had to work harder and be braver than most but the thing set a cracking pace....except when it got wet. The mid engined cars and the 991 pulled away with ease. A great car but a little outgunned. Looked and sounded good though.
The 991 was a C2S. A deeply impressive car. That is one fast 911 and although the drivers said they were less experienced you would never have known. If they were ever out of view it was never by much and the car was faithful over all manner of twisting, dipping, rolling and sweeping curves with that rear hanging lump never providing any handling troubles. Its owner was well pleased and a very happy chap!
The Bentley drivers chose motorway route mainly and arrived looking great and fully refreshed! I dare say the car could have made a good fist of the twisties but it would have been harder work, no doubt. The 430 (I have owned one of those) is a great car. This one has been owned from new by my friend and is an 07 coupe. The 430 is still an epic car and is able to keep up with all but the most committed drives from the fastest cars, meanwhile, at whatever speed he is doing, a 430 driver is having a great steer. The 430 is still one of the most exciting yet approachable Supercars you can buy. He will move to a 458 soon though. The 458 is a simply spectacular car.
It is sweet, rewarding, fast, described by the Speciale owner as a 'game changer' (he owned one previously). The yellow Lambo driver still has one and reckons the Lambo is nowhere near as sorted and capable. However, it is hard for a 458 to keep up with a 12C and if it can it will only be because of a relative difference in driver skill. The key to the 458 is in its friendliness, linear power delivery and sound.
The California (I had one previously too) is a surprising car. It is virtually as quick as a 458 - go figure. The one on our trip was driven by a really good driver who was prepared to push. Even in a 12C it took a bit of effort to lose him. Ultimately though, he couldn't stay. However, at speeds needed to lose him my left ear began to ache again so I had to slow 'oh-so-slightly' and there he was again. Full respect earned there.
The R8 was driven by a great guy, older, but a good driver nonetheless. Didn't believe in SatNav and so used the map. Had even more fun than the rest of us I think! His car was a manual which he said was the only way to go on the R8.
So, this just leaves the Speciale. I was very interested in this comparison. Perhaps if the owner reads this he may not agree with what I thought but here goes. I think, for 90% of drivers the 12C is faster over ground. I led most of the route and the hardest car to lose was definitely the Speciale but I think over a long distance and across differing roads, the 12C would be ahead, just. In the wet the story was even more exacerbated - the 12C on standard tyres was so sure-footed, whereas I had the distinct impression that the Speciale was becoming more of a handful, despite Ferrari's claims about its tyres being suited to track but still good in the wet.
At the very least, the Speciale would overall not lose the 12C. That, though, doesn't really say anything, does it? The yellow Lambo owner drove the Speciale too. His conclusion was "I used to think the 458 was a 10/10 car. Well, I now rate the 458 7/10 and the Speciale 10; it's that good. The best car I have ever driven."
And....whatever you think about the pictures of the car, in red, with two grey stripes, it looks b-e-a-utiful (to quote Bruce Almighty)! I think if there was a vote about best car in our group by our group, the Speciale would comfortably get it.
"Ahhh, but does the roof come off?!"
I didn't drive the Speciale and maybe if I did I would say "forget the open roof, I need that car!" But as I drove through Europe in my 12C Spider, I felt as though there was not another car I would rather be in (well, not one that I can afford anyway). The 12C was the perfect blend of speed, entertainment, style and comfort and if you're thinking of a similar trip in a 12C Spider, I doubt anyone else will bring a car with a better blend of skills for the week ahead of you.
"Thanks McLaren"; I feel compelled to say it. Your marketing hasn't been the best but you know how to make great cars. That much is for sure.
Great stuff. I've done several similar trips and they are just brilliant fun. You can keep your Gumball type events.
Any pics?
How did you plot the route? pick good hotels at suitable points and then check the roads?
I've done trips and booked places which gives about 5 hours driving each day avoiding autoroutes and that was just about spot on.
Any pics?
How did you plot the route? pick good hotels at suitable points and then check the roads?
I've done trips and booked places which gives about 5 hours driving each day avoiding autoroutes and that was just about spot on.
red_duke said:
That was a great read Andy, thanks for posting!
I have one question however. When you say ...
"I have turned my bright orange calipers a dark shade of grey though!"
is that through heat discolouration or brake dust?
Brake dust - a good clean should see it all sorted. The wheel damage from a hotel valet is another issue. Won't be doing that again.I have one question however. When you say ...
"I have turned my bright orange calipers a dark shade of grey though!"
is that through heat discolouration or brake dust?
Davey S2 said:
Great stuff. I've done several similar trips and they are just brilliant fun. You can keep your Gumball type events.
Any pics?
How did you plot the route? pick good hotels at suitable points and then check the roads?
I've done trips and booked places which gives about 5 hours driving each day avoiding autoroutes and that was just about spot on.
I'll try and post a few pics when I have time. We chose hotels that we either knew or felt looked great and in places we wanted to visit and plotted routes from there. We knew roughly how far apart we wanted the stopovers and once the destination was set as Monaco, the rest sort of worked itself out.Any pics?
How did you plot the route? pick good hotels at suitable points and then check the roads?
I've done trips and booked places which gives about 5 hours driving each day avoiding autoroutes and that was just about spot on.
Actually, the organising is quite a lot of fun, except now that it has come and gone so quickly, I need to plan another one! Already have some ideas on that though.
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This is what these cars are really made for.. my trips through the French Alps have been amongst the best I've ever done.. Finding the right time of the year is indeed crucial, too early and the mountain passes will be closed.. too late and you will get the Families and Cyclists raiding the same roads..
For this reason I found the Route Napoleon a bit disappointing.. too much traffic and too much Police.. impossible to really push. I went down through Vercors last year in a 991 C2S (the valley to the west of the N85) and found some canyon (yes canyons..) roads that were truly epic and completely deserted even in July..
Posers who buy these cars and drive them 900 miles in South East England just cannot appreciate what driving pleasure these cars can bring on a good deserted twisty mountain road.
For this reason I found the Route Napoleon a bit disappointing.. too much traffic and too much Police.. impossible to really push. I went down through Vercors last year in a 991 C2S (the valley to the west of the N85) and found some canyon (yes canyons..) roads that were truly epic and completely deserted even in July..
Posers who buy these cars and drive them 900 miles in South East England just cannot appreciate what driving pleasure these cars can bring on a good deserted twisty mountain road.
rosino said:
This is what these cars are really made for.. my trips through the French Alps have been amongst the best I've ever done.. Finding the right time of the year is indeed crucial, too early and the mountain passes will be closed.. too late and you will get the Families and Cyclists raiding the same roads..
For this reason I found the Route Napoleon a bit disappointing.. too much traffic and too much Police.. impossible to really push. I went down through Vercors last year in a 991 C2S (the valley to the west of the N85) and found some canyon (yes canyons..) roads that were truly epic and completely deserted even in July..
Posers who buy these cars and drive them 900 miles in South East England just cannot appreciate what driving pleasure these cars can bring on a good deserted twisty mountain road.
We took the 1075 from Grenoble to Sisteron then on to the Route Napoleon at Digne and through Castellane and Grasse. Very low traffic, no police and one epic day's driving. It was fantastic. Perhaps that was the trade-off for going earlier and having the passes closed? (N.b. Grasse was a pain in the neck - should have cut off before and done the cols into Monaco.)For this reason I found the Route Napoleon a bit disappointing.. too much traffic and too much Police.. impossible to really push. I went down through Vercors last year in a 991 C2S (the valley to the west of the N85) and found some canyon (yes canyons..) roads that were truly epic and completely deserted even in July..
Posers who buy these cars and drive them 900 miles in South East England just cannot appreciate what driving pleasure these cars can bring on a good deserted twisty mountain road.
Next time I think we will go in early September after the summer holiday traffic and still warm enough.
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