Which Car to take to on an Italian Roadtrip: 911 or 330d?

[sday12]

Driving down to Italy (staying in Tuscany) with two small children(under 4)this August.

Shall I take the 911 for an Autobahn hooning and italian twisties or the uber pratical and economical 330d Coupe?

Heart says Porsche and sod the x2 fuel bill for the laughs.

Head (and wife) says cruise in diesel economy, and the beemer is no slouch on the autobahn or flawed in the corners.

What would PHers do? [/justification]

[kambites]

This is Pistonheads - anyone who votes for the diesel BMW deserves to be banned.

[shirt]

wife & kids in the beemer taking the direct route, you and a big grin in the pork going the long way.

[Froggy porker]

Look, when I did a road trip in Italy I had 3 kids and loads of baggage, so had to take the Espace smelling of nappies and baby vom, leaving the porker at home. Every one of the lovely hotels we visited had a few nice sportscars parked outside, reminding me of the missed hooning opportunity as I parked up the vom-mobile.

Therefore by definition your poll makes grumpy, as even the BMW will be a very pleasant drive on the autostrada. So rent an Espace instead and be miserable...

[Renn Sport]

You are not going to exactly been hooning it with the wife and kids in the 993 are you?

Is this trip designed to purely enjoy the roads or the final destination?


Sell the die-sel(f) and get an M5 E39 and you'll all be happy.

[Hub]

Depends on the kid's comfort to be honest... though a 'road trip' would normally deserve something interesting!

[aka_kerrly]

shirt said:

wife & kids in the beemer taking the direct route, you and a big grin in the pork going the long way.

Haha good luck explaining that to the wife (sound idea though) or trailer the 911?

[marctwo]

Screaming children will ruin any road trip, no matter what the car. 330d

[RedWhiteMonkey]

You'll probably need the back seats for luggage so I suggest you strap the kids to a roof rack on the 911.

Speaking as a 330d owner, I like my car as an everyday workhorse but if I have the chance to drive to Italy in it or in a 911 and didn't have to worry about fuel costs I don't think I need to I'd need to think twice (I wouldn't be stopping off at the diesel pump before hitting the road).

[theturbs]

I voted for the 993, assuming that it is really an option (i.e. missus won't dig her heels in about taking it, all luggage will fit into it, etc.).

OP - make sure you post which car you actually take on the trip

[mat205125]

marctwo said:

Screaming children will ruin any road trip, no matter what the car. 330d

Fly the wife and kids there, and do a Top Gear race to meet them at the airport when they land

[Liontail]

mat205125 said:

Fly the wife and kids there, and do a Top Gear race to meet them at the airport when they land

This ^

[R12HCO]

330d. Goes plenty fast enough, whilst longer between fuel stops. I imagine it will be more comfortable (never been in 993). Quieter so kiddies will sleep better and not hassle you. More luggage capability.

[Zod]

All comes down to whether you can get the luggage into the Porsche.

PS I'm doing it with three under six next week. No option to take the Aston for me. X5 with roofbox, but at least it's not a diesel.

[MattOz]

R12HCO said:

330d. Goes plenty fast enough, whilst longer between fuel stops. I imagine it will be more comfortable (never been in 993). Quieter so kiddies will sleep better and not hassle you. More luggage capability.

+1. Although with kids and better half in tow, I suspect they'll be stopping every couple of hours anyway. Took our 330cd on a very similar trip last year and it did everything brilliantly. If I was the OP and going on my own, I'd take the 993. Otherwise, it has to be the BMW.

[Egbert Nobacon]

Liontail said:

mat205125 said:

Fly the wife and kids there

This ^

What I have always done.

[LukeBird]

If you don't do it with the kids in the 911 now, you won't ever, in a year or two they certainly wouldn't want to be cooped up in the back of a 911 for all that time.
911 all the way!

[anonymous-user]

Is this a joke?

[Chicane-UK]

St John Smythe said:

Is this a joke?

Was just wondering the same! The Porsche.. surely!!

[roachcoach]

Would you want to be properly hooning it in a 911 with kids in the back?

In other words, would you wring out suitable performance differences between the cars, with all those on board to make the cost/ear bending worthwhile?

Heresy I know.