Road Trip....would you confidently drive Europe?
Road Trip....would you confidently drive Europe?
Author
Discussion

da_murphster

Original Poster:

1,053 posts

276 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
Sort of another "is it reliable" question. - sorry!

Would you owners happily take your tuscan (looking about 2000 engine) across Europe?

Definately something I intend to do - hillwalking in Austria (maybe a sneaky Nurenburg trip on the way back....

Would be am uinhappy chappy if the car did not get me there or ended up being the theme of the holiday (ie needing constant repairs)


Whitey

2,508 posts

313 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
It is a car. Assuming it's in good tune and condition and been recently serviced by someone that know's what they are doing then it will be fine. Take basic tools and a spare accelerator cable.

The only thing I would add/worry about is if you have done more than 15K without changing the slave cylinders seals, then IMHO that's running on borrowed time, but for circa £400 you could have then done first.

Vroooom into europe.

davido140

9,614 posts

255 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
Get an AA European breakdown policy before you go. Then just go for it!

If it goes pop (which it probably wont) it doesnt matter, AA will re-patriate your car for you to the garage of your choice and provide alternate transport for you, be it plane, train, or automobile! smile

I had cause to use them once when I wrote off my M3 about 100 miles south of paris on the way to the alps.

AA offered me a hire car but I declined, so they stuck me in a cab to the local station, then on a train to paris, sleeper train to the alps, cab waiting to take me to my resort. then gave me an open-ended option to return, you call us when you would like to go home sir!! I ended up staying 2 days extra they then got a cab to take me all the way to geneva (3-400 euro fare!) and flew me home on what must have been the most expensive easy-jet flight in the world as it was booked 1 day in advance in the height of the ski season! paid for itself many many times over!



Tuscan Six

40 posts

251 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
I did a 2,500 mile European road trip in 2004 (see my profile photo in Swiss alps) and had no problems. I totally agree on the AA cover point - it cost me £70 for 2 weeks cover (although I didn't use it I had peace of mind). Perhaps get it serviced before you go if not too out of cycle or get it checked over/oil changed? Biggest thing is getting used to the locals photographing you and the police stopping you for a chat about the car! Enjoy!

lowest

296 posts

253 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
I intend to tour France following England during the rugby world cup and have no fears the car will be fine. It's was new March 2006 and has 25,000 miles and 13 track days under it's belt already.

pete

1,634 posts

313 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
I'm heading of in 6 weeks to do exactly that - Italian GP via the alps and Cote d'Azur, then back through Switzerland. Should be around 2,500 miles in total.

The only prep I'm going to do is get my suspension sorted out, then have Fernhurst give the car a quick inspection. With AA cover there's nothing to worry about.

Pete

custardkid

2,514 posts

253 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
1200 miles round normandy and to lemans.

as reliable as friends 350z, but faster, bigger boot and got french people stopping in the middle of the road wanting to fnd out more about the car (and completely ignoring the 350z laugh )

take out AA cover and do it!!

thumbup
custard

Tuscan Bev

310 posts

259 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
having taken the tuscan to france twice in 2 weeks and done ~3000 miles in total I would do it. Although do agree take out RAC cover just for piece of mind

BigJL

563 posts

230 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
Hello!

I'm planning on purchasing a Tuscan around the middle of August if my flat is sold by then... it's going to be the FIRST thing I do with the money! smile If I can find one I like I'm also planning on travelling into Europe, maybe down to the Route Napoleon at the end of August.

My question is, do you think it's better to have the car for a few months before I attempt the journey, just in case it has any problems to iron out? Or will there be more chance of it being ok considering it would have just come from the dealer?

Cheers!
J

twizellb

2,786 posts

241 months

Friday 20th July 2007
quotequote all
Have just got back after a 2,700ml trip around europe starting in holland then thro germany into austria and italy down to the south of france before heading back via the millau bridge to calais-dover no problems.
Would recommend taking AA cover though for peace of mind and go for it,the attention the Tuscan attracts is incredible, everyone loves them,this makes the sad position the company is now in doubly tragic, how did it all go so wrong from the position they were in at the start of the decade producing the stunning looking cars at the time.
You will love it and the best of luck.


au

b2tus

952 posts

288 months

Monday 23rd July 2007
quotequote all
Answer.....YES and I do it often. Useful living 20 minutes from the tunnel!!
Have been to South of France, Le Mans, Epernay, Antwerp plus plus plus.
No problems other than the attention it gets. Also no problems forgetting where you parked it...just look for the crowds!
If I had one Euro for every photo taken, I could buy TVR from Moleskins!!
AA full European breakdown cover for 1 year available by direct debit at around £88. No limit to number of trips and a bargain considering 1 days cover is over £10.

ehasler

8,579 posts

312 months

Tuesday 24th July 2007
quotequote all
Absolutely! thumbup

Mine's done several short (500-1000 mile) trips, and last year I did the Eurohoon which went all the way down to Monaco and back via some amazing roads. I did also try and drive it to Tuscany about 3 years ago, but the clutch went just outside Dijon, so make sure you have good European cover just in case (mine was with the AA, who were great and got me in an Alfa hire car for the rest of the trip).

I'm booked on Eurohoon again, so will be taking it to Spain in about 6 weeks - can't wait!! biggrin

so called

9,160 posts

238 months

Tuesday 24th July 2007
quotequote all
I've been driving TVR's for quite a few years now.
Just drive the car as you would any other.
I used to drive to work in Switzerland in my Wedge. Then up to Germany.
When I got my Chimaera I drove back and to to Germany and am now doing the same in
my Tuscan.
Two round trips to Germany this year and next week touring France with my
better half.
Cant wait.

Luca Brazzi

3,983 posts

294 months

Tuesday 24th July 2007
quotequote all
Have a read of this....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

3,500 miles in total, in searing temps....best adventure of my life.

Get the car properly prepared beforehand, PROPERLY, and enjoy yourself. Things will go wrong while away, but if you're friendly with your dealer, call them and they may be able to help over the phone.

YOU WILL NOT REGRET THE EXPERIENCE, or EVER forget it.

LBsmile

allanm

4 posts

311 months

Tuesday 24th July 2007
quotequote all
I took my April 2000 Tuscan Red Rose on a 7-country European tour in June 2000. Covered c. 3k miles. As far as I know mine was the first Tuscan to visit many of the countries we went to. Some mates thought I was daft, but if you've taken out European recovery insurance, then just do it. Any car can brake down, but if we worried about that we'd never leave the driveway. Have a geat trip.

timmybob

486 posts

301 months

Wednesday 25th July 2007
quotequote all
Just returned from 2 weeks in France with mine and would echo the sentiments already expressed. Make sure your car has been recently serviced, fix any niggly problems that could get worse before you go, and take out EU breakdown cover (RAC for me after previous problems with the AA). You won't regret it. Even if you do have 'issues' (which could happen to any car). The reaction the car gets is astounding - I had people taking photographs, almost dropping their shopping when they saw it and a group of children cheering as I drove out of a car park!

delamars

152 posts

275 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Took mine on an 8 country Euro tour cover 1500 miles in July last year.

Rear-ended by an uninsured Rumanian in Germany and an engine mounting broke in Nuremberg but it still went all the way to Budapest and Back !

I wouldn't call them bullet-proof but I doubt you'll be left stranded at the roadside.

Agree with others though. Get a good Euro cover insurance that includes a replacement car and you'll have a whale of a time.

tobeee

1,436 posts

297 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
da_murphster said:
...hillwalking in Austria...
I just came back from Astria! Long hikes in the mountains, canyoning, downhill biking - all that manly stuff! Where are you planning to go and what else will you be doing?

Just to bring this back on thread, I hope to get a new tiv very soon in time to visit my folks in France.