Euro road trip car
Discussion
So, the better half and I are hopefully doing a little euro trip next year and i'd like some advice re a suitable chariot....
Roughly the plan is; Ferry to Spain, probably Santander or Bilbao. Drive to Barcelona, then follow the coast through south of France into Italy.
My grandad is buried in the war cemetary at Naples so a visit there would be nice and mrs Chazwozza wants to stay at the first dates hotels in France and Italy on route. Then back up via the lakes and through the Alps, Switzerland, Germany (ahem, 'ring... although may not drive it this time) into Holland then ferry back ftom Holland.
All in about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks.
My current 120d as reliable as it is just doesn't have the appeal.
Rough criteria are - petrol, RWD, manual but not all are essential other than petrol really. About £5k budget.
My choice would probably be a Triumph Spitfire (with a socket set in the boot...!) but open to any suggestions.
This is all obviously subject to corona...
Thanks PH'ers
Chazwozza
Roughly the plan is; Ferry to Spain, probably Santander or Bilbao. Drive to Barcelona, then follow the coast through south of France into Italy.
My grandad is buried in the war cemetary at Naples so a visit there would be nice and mrs Chazwozza wants to stay at the first dates hotels in France and Italy on route. Then back up via the lakes and through the Alps, Switzerland, Germany (ahem, 'ring... although may not drive it this time) into Holland then ferry back ftom Holland.
All in about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks.
My current 120d as reliable as it is just doesn't have the appeal.
Rough criteria are - petrol, RWD, manual but not all are essential other than petrol really. About £5k budget.
My choice would probably be a Triumph Spitfire (with a socket set in the boot...!) but open to any suggestions.
This is all obviously subject to corona...
Thanks PH'ers
Chazwozza
For 5K you may get a decent 350Z, would be an earlier one but good boot space for 2 people (ish), fast enough, comfortable.
For me, I'd be going 350Z, Z4, Boxster (if good ones still in price range). If I was taking a classic I'd be wanting to own it/drive it for a while before so you know it's reliability levels, I am cynical, though
For me, I'd be going 350Z, Z4, Boxster (if good ones still in price range). If I was taking a classic I'd be wanting to own it/drive it for a while before so you know it's reliability levels, I am cynical, though
Cliche, but definitely an MX5.
I did a banger race for charity - cars of max £500, drive to the south of France and back.
Everyone else was in old BMWs, Citroen Picasso etc etc....I got a red MX5, badged it as a Ferrari then dressed as a Priest and persuaded a pal to come along likewise....an homage to Dean Martin/Sammy David Jr from Cannonball Run.
Possibly the best driving experience I've ever had.
The car was superb, even though is was a dog. With 10x the budget you'll get a nice variant.
I can fully recommend driving through France dressed as a Priest too.....HYSTERICAL fun.
I did a banger race for charity - cars of max £500, drive to the south of France and back.
Everyone else was in old BMWs, Citroen Picasso etc etc....I got a red MX5, badged it as a Ferrari then dressed as a Priest and persuaded a pal to come along likewise....an homage to Dean Martin/Sammy David Jr from Cannonball Run.
Possibly the best driving experience I've ever had.
The car was superb, even though is was a dog. With 10x the budget you'll get a nice variant.
I can fully recommend driving through France dressed as a Priest too.....HYSTERICAL fun.
My choice for a Euro road trip is always what the locals drive - then if it breaks any village garage can fix it quickly and cheaply with parts off the shelf and it also has to be something I don't give a toss about if it picks up a dent or scrape - just like the locals don't.
I've put tens of thousands of miles in total driving round Euroland on Citroen Saxos and Berlingos and a Renault 5 and 18 and a Kangoo van and last summer spent a month driving round western France in a Skoda Roomster.
Cheap and comfy and entirely grief and worry free works best IMO.
I've put tens of thousands of miles in total driving round Euroland on Citroen Saxos and Berlingos and a Renault 5 and 18 and a Kangoo van and last summer spent a month driving round western France in a Skoda Roomster.
Cheap and comfy and entirely grief and worry free works best IMO.
Did a similar trip last year myself, albeit travelling via the Eurotunnel so driving both to and from Calais, but I took my 2004 Z4 and it was perfect. The roads on the continent are typically much better than the UK, so the firm ride of the Z4 wasn't jarring or tiring. The M54 engine in the 03-05 cars is known to be exceptionally reliable with very few potential issues.
I would go for a convertible and something that would handle in the mountains
eg
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
or a svelte GT
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
eg
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
or a svelte GT
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
This is indeed surely a job for a convertible.
A Boxster is the obvious choice but I’ll throw an Alfa spider in there as a left-field option. It obviously won’t have the performance of the Porsche but you’ll get the romance of road tripping an Italian car in Italy.
There’s a few on Autotrader within budget.
A Boxster is the obvious choice but I’ll throw an Alfa spider in there as a left-field option. It obviously won’t have the performance of the Porsche but you’ll get the romance of road tripping an Italian car in Italy.
There’s a few on Autotrader within budget.
Apologies, not great at tech irocfan but having considered an MGB GT i'd have to have a triumph for personal reasons!! Not as sentimental on modern cars..
Having looked at Boxsters i'm now swinging very much in favour of a 350z... Realistically I think I prefer a solid roof on modern motors having given it thought.
Side note, best driving roads near the Pyrenees (excuse spelling if wrong). Looking for good vistas etc...
Having looked at Boxsters i'm now swinging very much in favour of a 350z... Realistically I think I prefer a solid roof on modern motors having given it thought.
Side note, best driving roads near the Pyrenees (excuse spelling if wrong). Looking for good vistas etc...
blueovercream said:
This is indeed surely a job for a convertible.
A Boxster is the obvious choice but I’ll throw an Alfa spider in there as a left-field option. It obviously won’t have the performance of the Porsche but you’ll get the romance of road tripping an Italian car in Italy.
There’s a few on Autotrader within budget.
Dam it, got me confused now as they are nice 😆😆
A Boxster is the obvious choice but I’ll throw an Alfa spider in there as a left-field option. It obviously won’t have the performance of the Porsche but you’ll get the romance of road tripping an Italian car in Italy.
There’s a few on Autotrader within budget.
Dam it, got me confused now as they are nice 😆😆
Everyone is wrong, the answer is the humble Mini
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-63-MINI-COOPER1-6-...
And not the Convertible but the roadster, up your budget a touch and you would find a Cooper S. Otherwise I would be a 986.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-63-MINI-COOPER1-6-...
And not the Convertible but the roadster, up your budget a touch and you would find a Cooper S. Otherwise I would be a 986.
I wouldn't be brave enough to contemplate a trip like that in a £5K classic!
But I like the SLK, 350Z, 3 Series, Z4, Boxster and XK8 suggestions. MX5 is always suggested but I'm sure I read somewhere that boot space is limited, and my experience of trips that long with the OH means you need plenty!
Whatever the OP decides upon it sounds like a great trip anyway.
But I like the SLK, 350Z, 3 Series, Z4, Boxster and XK8 suggestions. MX5 is always suggested but I'm sure I read somewhere that boot space is limited, and my experience of trips that long with the OH means you need plenty!
Whatever the OP decides upon it sounds like a great trip anyway.
Something with aircon!
Depends when you doing it but ive done a trip through Germany to Italy down to Rome and the Amalfi coast in an Elise in August and it was the wrong car choice it was far too warm for covering miles durning the day!
Most of your driving is plodding along id go for something comfy and abit sporty and cheap to run which you already have haha
Dont get me wrong some of the roads were amazing that i drove and the Elise was the best car for the job then but only for 1% of the time, im going to do something similar later this year and it will be in a 640d or Jag XJ
Depends when you doing it but ive done a trip through Germany to Italy down to Rome and the Amalfi coast in an Elise in August and it was the wrong car choice it was far too warm for covering miles durning the day!
Most of your driving is plodding along id go for something comfy and abit sporty and cheap to run which you already have haha
Dont get me wrong some of the roads were amazing that i drove and the Elise was the best car for the job then but only for 1% of the time, im going to do something similar later this year and it will be in a 640d or Jag XJ
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