Advice for long journey...
Discussion
Hello all,
I have decided to embark upon a long European road trip in my new Cerb. I have only had it for a few eeks and so am not overly familiar with all the quirks.I shall be going from Bedford to Amsterdam and then down to the Alps for two weeks and then down to Genoa and catch a ferry to Malta for 2 weeks followed by the long journey home. I think it is about 2 k miles in total.
What preparations should I take that ensure the well being of the Cerb? Will it be able to take 7-8 hour driving stints with no probs? What about the heat?
How extensive does my tool kit need to be...etc....
Tony
I have decided to embark upon a long European road trip in my new Cerb. I have only had it for a few eeks and so am not overly familiar with all the quirks.I shall be going from Bedford to Amsterdam and then down to the Alps for two weeks and then down to Genoa and catch a ferry to Malta for 2 weeks followed by the long journey home. I think it is about 2 k miles in total.
What preparations should I take that ensure the well being of the Cerb? Will it be able to take 7-8 hour driving stints with no probs? What about the heat?
How extensive does my tool kit need to be...etc....
Tony
I've never done that length of jouney in a Cerb but I have done it several times in both my 400se and my Chimera. In both cases the journeys were trouble free, aside from a couple of brake bulbs and a bit of oil consumption.
In fact I would go so far as to say that the long journeys really got them going well. TVRs seem to like a decent long hot thrash! The cars always felt better afterwards - smoother, more powerful and even a bit more economical.
IMHO, so long as the car is running well and there are no obvious signs of problems before you start out then you should be fine.
Make sure you have no high speed vibrations as 7 hours of this might cause a problem (We're lucky to get 7 minutes of continuous high speed normally!).
To be on the safe side you could take it to the dealer and ask him to give it the quick once over, bearing in mind your intentions.
Just remember to take some piccies on the trip and post them here when you get back. - Oh, and don't forget to take a Chammy leather - there'll be lots of fingerprints from attentive well wishers when you park up!
Good luck and have a great trip
Andy 400se
In fact I would go so far as to say that the long journeys really got them going well. TVRs seem to like a decent long hot thrash! The cars always felt better afterwards - smoother, more powerful and even a bit more economical.
IMHO, so long as the car is running well and there are no obvious signs of problems before you start out then you should be fine.
Make sure you have no high speed vibrations as 7 hours of this might cause a problem (We're lucky to get 7 minutes of continuous high speed normally!).
To be on the safe side you could take it to the dealer and ask him to give it the quick once over, bearing in mind your intentions.
Just remember to take some piccies on the trip and post them here when you get back. - Oh, and don't forget to take a Chammy leather - there'll be lots of fingerprints from attentive well wishers when you park up!
Good luck and have a great trip
Andy 400se
several 2k trips in my griff - have had several probs.
best advice is to ask for a "touring kit" from your dealer.
Penninsula - mine - "lent me" several items for the trip giving me piece of mind.
had to bike in a coil from milan to bologne one afternoon, as mine packed up.........nice!
get them to check hoses and belts thoroughly, as loss of either on the autoroutes is terminal!!!!!!!!
good luck - enjoy!
best advice is to ask for a "touring kit" from your dealer.
Penninsula - mine - "lent me" several items for the trip giving me piece of mind.
had to bike in a coil from milan to bologne one afternoon, as mine packed up.........nice!
get them to check hoses and belts thoroughly, as loss of either on the autoroutes is terminal!!!!!!!!
good luck - enjoy!
Did 2000 odd miles touring in France a couple of weeks ago in the 350i - my first trip abroad in a TIV.
It used about a litre of oil and the fuse on the rad fans got a bit hot about one hour outside Calais on the way back. It was a very hot day and we got stuck in a toll booth for ages. Luckilly I spotted the water temperature rising and there was a convenient spot for us to stop just after the booth for me find the problem and we were on our way in about 15 minutes.
I took a few spares but it was fine.
If the car is brand new I would suggest you use it as much as possible before you leave - just to ensure any foibles have emerged prior to you leaving!
Have fun
Danny
It used about a litre of oil and the fuse on the rad fans got a bit hot about one hour outside Calais on the way back. It was a very hot day and we got stuck in a toll booth for ages. Luckilly I spotted the water temperature rising and there was a convenient spot for us to stop just after the booth for me find the problem and we were on our way in about 15 minutes.
I took a few spares but it was fine.
If the car is brand new I would suggest you use it as much as possible before you leave - just to ensure any foibles have emerged prior to you leaving!
Have fun
Danny
Of course I'll wave. I'll be so chuffed to have made it that far. After speaking to the insurance company I may have to get the ferry via Sicily and not Tunis - in which case I'll be arrivng in Valletta on the 25th.
Fuses are on the large list of things to buy. Replacement seems quite easy via the box in the boot. Where are the ones in the engine?Do you know what type they are?
Need to get some of that RainX stuff. Will halfords or somewhere like that sell it?I might be able to pick a lot of useful stuff up at Duxford hopefully.
Leaving at 5am on
Sunday11th. Getting quite excited.
Thanks
Tony
Fuses are on the large list of things to buy. Replacement seems quite easy via the box in the boot. Where are the ones in the engine?Do you know what type they are?
Need to get some of that RainX stuff. Will halfords or somewhere like that sell it?I might be able to pick a lot of useful stuff up at Duxford hopefully.
Leaving at 5am on
Sunday11th. Getting quite excited. Thanks
Tony
So. Have we heard from Noodles yet?
What a brave chap, after driving a bleedin' Kia Avella around Malta for a few days I just hope he goes really careful
Looks to me like they couldn't be arsed to fill in the craters the WW2 bombs left in the tarmac.
What a laugh though rallying your hire car for a few days in the 'A' and 'B' roads.
It didn't half have a rattle underneath when I gave it back
What a brave chap, after driving a bleedin' Kia Avella around Malta for a few days I just hope he goes really careful
Looks to me like they couldn't be arsed to fill in the craters the WW2 bombs left in the tarmac.
What a laugh though rallying your hire car for a few days in the 'A' and 'B' roads.
It didn't half have a rattle underneath when I gave it back
I am back - I have been back for a week. I just drove to Morzine/Chamonix Area. It was a great journey of about 2k miles. The Cerb was superb. I have some great pics of the TVR - but will have to wait until my passenger returns from Malta with my camera memory card. The rest of the group continued to Malta via Sicily (in an Astra! full of the mountain bikes). I unfortunately had to return home.
The French roads all seemed to be silky smooth and I only saw one Gendarme in 2 weeks! I am not sure what shocked the sleepy French the most - the sounds from the Cerb or a mates all over tattoos. Both seemed to cause a few jaws to drop.
Will let you have a look at the pics when the card returns.
Tony
The French roads all seemed to be silky smooth and I only saw one Gendarme in 2 weeks! I am not sure what shocked the sleepy French the most - the sounds from the Cerb or a mates all over tattoos. Both seemed to cause a few jaws to drop.
Will let you have a look at the pics when the card returns.
Tony
Had this waiting for me when I got back though - nasty.
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