Trip to S.France - White or Yellow Porsche ??
Trip to S.France - White or Yellow Porsche ??
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Discussion

Sandy59

Original Poster:

2,733 posts

242 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all


As above, bit of a dilemma - or is it ?? scratchchin
October, two up, no excessive speed allowed, ferry crossing probably, to Agde.

Originally thought no brainer GT3, quite comfy, sat nav, air/con, enough luggage space (hopefully), but what if we get a puncture - potential nightmare scenario and banned from taking it ever again !!

The 968, still comfy but harder suspension, Tom Tom, sunroof, bit more luggage space and a spare wheel, seems a more sensible choice ??

Love driving both cars, worrying about a puncture seems a really crap reason not to take the GT3, but would definitely sleep easier with the 968 !!

Going from Aberdeen and will probably take a ferry from Newcastle or Hull, any suggestions for route/sights do's/dont's etc appreciated, probably 5 days driving all in - will be going over the Millau bridge for sure.
Cheers

plenty

5,036 posts

217 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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Enviable decision. The AC would be the dealbreaker/maker for me. Taking the 968 sunroof out helps, but it's a bit of a pain to remove and that black interior quickly becomes oppressive in the sunshine. I went south through France and Germany last summer and remember thinking at the time there was no way I could done that trip in the 968.

Otherwise the 968 is actually an excellent GT - it soaks up the miles effortlessly, NVH is more than tolerable and 28-29 mpg is achievable when cruising. Lots and lots of luggage space too.

In terms of route, Reims and Route Napoleon are the must-dos, and possibly an excursion in the French Alps around Grenoble.

mr pg

2,068 posts

236 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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Don't you just hate people who not only have one great car, but two?

bcnrml

2,107 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
GT3.

Air con is key.

Roads are very good. Never had a puncture on the Continent - their roads are swept and kept clean far more often and better than in the UK.

Agde? Route after Millau Viaduc is fantastic for any decent car, especially the GT3. But watch out for the cameras.

You've lots of good routes to see. Make sure you've updated your Tom Tom with every speed camera database you can find for France! Stay at 140km/h max on the speedo and don't be the fastest car at any time, especially within a few KM of a toll booth.

I'll pop back later with some more route tips. You're in for a treat. thumbup

Wozy68

5,436 posts

201 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
CS all the way, absolutly love driving mine in Northern Spain (including once driving down through France over the bridge)

Take the N116 Perpignan to Puigcerda then take the N260n Trans Pyrennees road ........ fantastic

Saying that, two things to remember, you will boil in August so roof out all day (suncream on though, believe me you will burn) and August is a shocking time on the roads anywhere in Southern France as its French/Spanish holiday month. Any other time the roads are empty.

P.S Do not speed in France. Mucho trouble if they catch you. My advice in future would be to get the ferry straight to Spain and stay out of France.



Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 27th July 20:14

SFO

5,191 posts

214 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Sandy59 said:
Originally thought no brainer GT3, quite comfy, sat nav, air/con, enough luggage space (hopefully), but what if we get a puncture - potential nightmare scenario and banned from taking it ever again !!
Porsche Assist will sort you out smile

Sandy59

Original Poster:

2,733 posts

242 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Some great info thanks, still looks like a coin toss on the car though !!

Nurburgsingh

5,561 posts

269 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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Worst "I've got 2 porsches" thread ever!!

Take the gt3 and some tyre weld.

Is there any concrete motorway on the route? That's a killer in a hard suspension 968. That's why I trailered mine to spa/ring

plenty

5,036 posts

217 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
AH ok - just reread the post. October, and ferry to Agde.

At the time of year the heat won't be so much of an issue.

Was just touring through the Pyrenees last week - some incredible roads, up there with the best of the Alps, particularly around Vielha.

all2ofme

855 posts

219 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Erm, the light blue (silver?) A-class? smile

The yellow CS looked so good on the road when I saw it, but I can imagine there being times on the trip you'll have an open, well-sighted, un-policed stretch of road ahead of you and you'll wish you could have made the GT3 shriek.

I've had some great drives in France (almost as many as I have in Scotland...), but the ones that have stuck in my mind are:
- http://bit.ly/ou2Kku (Bergerac to Angoulême along the D709 (if memory serves, I'll feel terrible if you go and it wasn't the road I thought, especially because it's a bit of a detour)
- Route Napoléon from Grasse up to Escragnolles, Castellane (had a good meal there just off the square - check out the bonkers churches parked up on the cliffs, too), Digne-les-Bains, Gap etc.

Great roads. I was heading north in both cases and got back on the autoroute after that, knackered.

Have a great trip come October!

6C4GTS

5,186 posts

209 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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Sandy - plenty of route ideas here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Angelus

2,209 posts

195 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
6C4GTS said:
Sandy - plenty of route ideas here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
hehe Great minds, just had that conversation with Sandy off line.

OllyHill

1,066 posts

231 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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The one with aircon! I did a roadtrip to the S of France in my old Boxster with no aircon and it did become uncomfortable. With the roof down you could feel the sun burn, and with it up it was sweltering! Looking forward to this year's trip now I've got aircon!
I'll second how good the roads in the Pyrenees are - lucky my parents live there - I'm planning on leaving the girlfriend by the pool one day and just going out to try to find some great roads.
Enjoy your drive, whichever one you take!

6C4GTS

5,186 posts

209 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Angelus said:
6C4GTS said:
Sandy - plenty of route ideas here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
hehe Great minds, just had that conversation with Sandy off line.
3000 miles in a Black 993 TurboS with no sunroof and no aircon.................only one outcome!



eek

Angelus

2,209 posts

195 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
I'm getting my air con fixed, don't worry I wont upset the locals when I get out the car.

Sandy59

Original Poster:

2,733 posts

242 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
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'Erm, the light blue (silver?) A-class?'

Actually that would solve the various 'issues', and the O/H's actual preferred option would you believe - not going to happen though !!

Great info folks, really looking forward to the trip in the ........ we'll see !!

rlw

3,590 posts

268 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
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Oviously not the GT£ as you will put a couple of thousand miles on it, thereby devaluing it further as it will be a high miler come sale time..............

Diesel130

1,549 posts

243 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
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what the big issue with a puncture, doesn't the gt3 have a space saver or some of that squidgy stuff?

pork911

7,365 posts

214 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
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one each and swap at regular intervals? wink

Mutt

1,115 posts

222 months

Thursday 28th July 2011
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pork911 said:
one each and swap at regular intervals? wink
I can't believe I didn't think of that! Pure genius.