Stelvio anyone ?
Discussion
I'm also a member (owner!) on the Fiat Coupe forum and this has already been posted as a possible trip on there too.
It's been done by a Coupe owner previously.
Would be a difficult choice of vehicle, but I'd be tempted to take the Fiat seeing as it's an Italian trip.
(YES, it will get there. NO, it won't break down. NO, the electrics won't fail. NO, it won't have rusted away by then. Etc etc
)
It's been done by a Coupe owner previously.
Would be a difficult choice of vehicle, but I'd be tempted to take the Fiat seeing as it's an Italian trip.
(YES, it will get there. NO, it won't break down. NO, the electrics won't fail. NO, it won't have rusted away by then. Etc etc
)Have done it in a motorsport elise and it's great fun.
although even with competition brakes and a lightweight 750kg car it was struggling near the end. It's also very hard work - if you're feeling even a little tired then you get about half way down and the rest is just torture.
There are better roads for a Monaro/VXR8 - stelvio pass favours lighter more nimble cars. Not saying it's not fun just don't want people treking a long way and being let down.
The scenery is nice too
Oh, and it wouldn't surprise me if the pass gets alot more tourists after top gear which also plays havoc as there's not a lot of room to begin with!
although even with competition brakes and a lightweight 750kg car it was struggling near the end. It's also very hard work - if you're feeling even a little tired then you get about half way down and the rest is just torture.
There are better roads for a Monaro/VXR8 - stelvio pass favours lighter more nimble cars. Not saying it's not fun just don't want people treking a long way and being let down.
The scenery is nice too
Oh, and it wouldn't surprise me if the pass gets alot more tourists after top gear which also plays havoc as there's not a lot of room to begin with!
Did it last year (+ all the other roads featured + many many many more) in the Monaro. The car performed brilliantly, but APs are a MUST and the car shows its weight throwing it in to the corners. Still each hairpin is an opportunity to drift 
.
Check out www.furball5000.co.uk for the best driving holiday you will ever have. I would have signed up again if registration was open.
. Check out www.furball5000.co.uk for the best driving holiday you will ever have. I would have signed up again if registration was open.
Really isn't the best road though, many more roads are better than that. Just do the Route Des Grandes Alpes from Menton up to the bottom of Lake Geneva, only 1000 Kms or so of alpine passes and stunning scenary 
.
Hairpin bend after hairpin bend ain't that exciting and becomes tiresome after a while.
.Hairpin bend after hairpin bend ain't that exciting and becomes tiresome after a while.
I wonder if half the attraction of the 'stelvio' is that its becoming as droppable in to showy conversation as 'nurburgring'....from what I am hear the road is pretty heavily congested in the summer and less than fun.
They did the Italian Lakes a disservice mind, we were there in the Monaro 3/4 weeks ago and the surrounding roads are beautiful. The petit san bernard was great in the vxr.
If you care more about driving then you would not believe any of these roads are permitted:
Llamgadog - A4069 (the best road in the uk, former rally stage reg used by Top / Fifth gear).
A470 Brecon (towards Merthyr) on to A4054. (wide open speed and then clear sighted corners)
Upper Chapel Mountain road to Brecon. (hehe)
Rhayder (B4518) to Devils bridge (slow v. scenic and then mad road)
Give the Devils staircase a miss, I did this in a Viper and spent the entire time scraping the underside on the road at 2mph regretting the decision...
If you tie it in with a stop at a hotel in Crickhowell and a trip to the nantiffin cider mill (superb restaurant) you will still have change out of your fuel and ferry costs of going to Italy.
Bennno
They did the Italian Lakes a disservice mind, we were there in the Monaro 3/4 weeks ago and the surrounding roads are beautiful. The petit san bernard was great in the vxr.
If you care more about driving then you would not believe any of these roads are permitted:
Llamgadog - A4069 (the best road in the uk, former rally stage reg used by Top / Fifth gear).
A470 Brecon (towards Merthyr) on to A4054. (wide open speed and then clear sighted corners)
Upper Chapel Mountain road to Brecon. (hehe)
Rhayder (B4518) to Devils bridge (slow v. scenic and then mad road)
Give the Devils staircase a miss, I did this in a Viper and spent the entire time scraping the underside on the road at 2mph regretting the decision...
If you tie it in with a stop at a hotel in Crickhowell and a trip to the nantiffin cider mill (superb restaurant) you will still have change out of your fuel and ferry costs of going to Italy.
Bennno
Yeah, have to agree there are lot of great roads in the UK, I used to go to North Wales a fair bit, and then there is also the pennines with the Snake, the Cat & Fiddle road etc...
I guess the thing that promotes the Stelvio is it makes for such a stunning photo from the top of the valley. It looks like driving heaven even if the reality is a little different.
I guess the thing that promotes the Stelvio is it makes for such a stunning photo from the top of the valley. It looks like driving heaven even if the reality is a little different.
bennno said:
I wonder if half the attraction of the 'stelvio' is that its becoming as droppable in to showy conversation as 'nurburgring'
Agreed. bennno said:
from what I am hear the road is pretty heavily congested in the summer and less than fun.
It was ok when I went in June. I got up especially early to go up and down a few times. Anyway TG went down the wrong side, the other side (although not as visually stunning) is a much better driving road. Believe it or not we had a snowball fight at the top, drove 30 mins to the bottom and needed the AC on at 32 degrees!
How many miles now rich?
My 6L has come and gone btw.....just the one trip to Germany in this one.
House move looming large, but if it doesnt happen I am being offered a very good deal or a SC VXR8 or a standard car with exhaust / sat nav for December..... hmmmm, not quite as nice looking as the Monaro but a very good drive
Bennno
My 6L has come and gone btw.....just the one trip to Germany in this one.
House move looming large, but if it doesnt happen I am being offered a very good deal or a SC VXR8 or a standard car with exhaust / sat nav for December..... hmmmm, not quite as nice looking as the Monaro but a very good drive
Bennno
bennno said:
I wonder if half the attraction of the 'stelvio' is that its becoming as droppable in to showy conversation as 'nurburgring'....from what I am hear the road is pretty heavily congested in the summer and less than fun.
They did the Italian Lakes a disservice mind, we were there in the Monaro 3/4 weeks ago and the surrounding roads are beautiful. The petit san bernard was great in the vxr.
If you care more about driving then you would not believe any of these roads are permitted:
Llamgadog - A4069 (the best road in the uk, former rally stage reg used by Top / Fifth gear).
A470 Brecon (towards Merthyr) on to A4054. (wide open speed and then clear sighted corners)
Upper Chapel Mountain road to Brecon. (hehe)
Rhayder (B4518) to Devils bridge (slow v. scenic and then mad road)
Give the Devils staircase a miss, I did this in a Viper and spent the entire time scraping the underside on the road at 2mph regretting the decision...
If you tie it in with a stop at a hotel in Crickhowell and a trip to the nantiffin cider mill (superb restaurant) you will still have change out of your fuel and ferry costs of going to Italy.
Bennno
They did the Italian Lakes a disservice mind, we were there in the Monaro 3/4 weeks ago and the surrounding roads are beautiful. The petit san bernard was great in the vxr.
If you care more about driving then you would not believe any of these roads are permitted:
Llamgadog - A4069 (the best road in the uk, former rally stage reg used by Top / Fifth gear).
A470 Brecon (towards Merthyr) on to A4054. (wide open speed and then clear sighted corners)
Upper Chapel Mountain road to Brecon. (hehe)
Rhayder (B4518) to Devils bridge (slow v. scenic and then mad road)
Give the Devils staircase a miss, I did this in a Viper and spent the entire time scraping the underside on the road at 2mph regretting the decision...
If you tie it in with a stop at a hotel in Crickhowell and a trip to the nantiffin cider mill (superb restaurant) you will still have change out of your fuel and ferry costs of going to Italy.
Bennno
I will have time to do some of this the week after next - anyone else around?
Gassing Station | HSV & Monaro | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff