Best way to the Algarve in a Boxster Spyder

[2010spy]

This is Spyder related in that I will be travelling in late July with no air conditioning with a five year old. What's the best route - answers on a postcard.

[Zyp]

A five year old?

Good luck!

[TryHarder]

Which ever route you take at that time of year as soon as you get to Spain you are potentially in trouble, it can get very hot and driving along you can start to get sun stroke and not realise until to late. I've done it and it's not nice even for an adult you fell pretty sick, then you are stuck without A/C. At that time of year it can get to high 30's sometimes more and it's proper hot heat (if that makes any sense)

You'll have to chill out during the day and cruise at night !

[DS240]

As you sit there sweating and your 5 yr old is moaning away in your ear, you can at least sit there and appreciate the 5kg saved in weight as you note the sharper steering response, better braking etc etc that this weight saving measure gains you on a road car!

Tongue in cheek..

[TryHarder]

P.S great OPC westbound N125 just after the airport at Faro.

Just in case.

[Zyp]

DS240 said:

As you sit there sweating and your 5 yr old is moaning away in your ear, you can at least sit there and appreciate the 5kg saved in weight as you note the sharper steering response, better braking etc etc that this weight saving measure gains you on a road car!

Tongue in cheek..

Some on here would take that seriously....

[2010spy]

Thanks for the advice so far. But I forgot to mention that it's white, which means that it's faster so won't take long to get there and it will reflect all the heat. There's also the prospect of that very nice GP track only 40 minutes away.

[Hilux2400]

Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and then down through central Spain. Plenty of overnight stops on the autoroutes and lazy lunches out of the noon sun. The central autoroutes have cheaper tolls than the coastal routes and are less troubled by those wanting to take advantage of the unwary. For universal recovery join ADAC at 70Euros.

H

[2010spy]

Thanks, only 30 minutes from Portsmouth, so sounds good. How long once off the ferry if I was on my own and could do it in one go?

Hilux2400 said:

Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and then down through central Spain. Plenty of overnight stops on the autoroutes and lazy lunches out of the noon sun. The central autoroutes have cheaper tolls than the coastal routes and are less troubled by those wanting to take advantage of the unwary. For universal recovery join ADAC at 70Euros.

H

[Wozy68]

Hilux2400 said:

Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and then down through central Spain. Plenty of overnight stops on the autoroutes and lazy lunches out of the noon sun. The central autoroutes have cheaper tolls than the coastal routes and are less troubled by those wanting to take advantage of the unwary. For universal recovery join ADAC at 70Euros.

H

Pants . I did northbound Cadiz to Toledo and then on to Santander last summer and came across absoluty not one toll above Seville.

I would not do central Spain in mid summer in a convertible with the roof down. We hit over 100degrees at 7pm in the evening..

Seville to Faro about 100 miles.

Edited by Wozy68 on Thursday 24th January 21:15

[Fattrader]

I am driving down to Faro in May. Portsmouth to Caen to Biarritz. Then Biarritz on to Faro. I anticipate 8 hours Caen to Biarritz. Arrive 5ish evening. Early mroning start 10 hours to Faro arrive same time ish. Need searly morning starts. I would be concerned about the sun in an open to especilay in late June it can be fierce. A good hat and plenty of factor 50.!! what ever you do enjoy.

[Peter Cee]

In Seville area in July with no air conditioning - Really bad idea!

When I was last there it was 33 Deg.C at 1:00am in the morning.

Every day saw the mid 40's Deg.C really unpleasant.

All the driving was done with the hood and windows tightly closed and aircon on full blast.

You should have got a Boxster S....

[2010spy]

Thanks. The sensible advice sounds like not to bother!

[willfinch36]

Last year I did Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander, then Santander to (A22 in Portugal) Lagos( 10 hours non stop).

Was tempted to drive the 911 down to Lagos this year, but think I would rather just fly and spend time on the boat than in the car!

[TryHarder]

2010spy said:

Thanks. The sensible advice sounds like not to bother!

Whether to bother is up to you, but I think what we are saying is we are concerned it won't be enjoyable, and thats no fun for you. Much better idea is Nice, Monaco, around there, at least there is some shade and plenty of places to shelter. Or further on if you want Italy can be fab.

I guess thats no help at all if you need to be in the Algarve, but unless you have a car with good A/C 10.30am to 7.30pm is a killer stuck in (to) a car seat. No so bad in land up in the hills a bit but I'm guessing you had ideas of a coastal run !

Also I had the same idea along the Florida Keys in September, sounded perfect but middle of the day roof down you literally cook and you are breathing hot air, not the dreamy idea it seems in the pictures. Lovely place neck deep in water with a beer though :-)

[Vixpy1]

We drove from Calais to Marbella last year, the air con broke in... Calais

It was fine in France, but I almost got divorced in Spain due to the heat.

[Zyp]

This just goes to show that a Spyder is useless without aircon.

[Trev450]

Zyp said:

This just goes to show that a Spyder is useless without aircon.

But only outside the UK

[DS240]

Zyp said:

This just goes to show that a Spyder is useless without aircon.

No, not true..... You gain 0.10 sec per lap compared to a heavy ac spyder with the dramatic weight saving. Plus 0.05 sec every other ten laps as you lose body weight sweating in the hot cabin.

[Old Trout]

Driving around during the day in Mallorca at around 30C was pretty unpleasant with the roof down for more than 20 minutes. And we had zircon!

I would conclude very unpleasant for an adult and a serious risk for a 5 year old.