Tuscan road trip
Discussion
The last 12 months have not been that great car wise. After needing an engine rebuild at the end of 2007 after the timing chain broke in Spain, I then broke my ankle at the start of the year - just 2 weeks after getting the car back! This meant another 3 months of not being able to drive it, and then soon after I got back behind the wheel again my engine let go for a second time, so I decided to send the car up to TVR Power to have the job done properly.
While I was laid up with my leg in plaster back in January, myself and some friends started planning a driving holiday for September, however with my car engine-less with just a couple of weeks to go, I was starting to think that I'd end up having to do the trip in a hire car even though Dom assured me that it would be done in time - even despite them suffering a major fire at their workshops. I needn't have worried though - Dom and the guys at TVR Power were true to their word, and I picked the freshly rebuilt car up just 1 day before I was due to set off!
Having to take it easy and run the engine in on the trip was a bit of a pain, but definitely a much better option than anything Hertz could have offered!!
After having hardly driven the car for a year, and having several issues with it along the way, it was great to spend some quality time with it again and start to forget how much money I'd spent on it!
We covered 3000 miles, visited 4 countries and drove through snow, torrential downpours and baking hot sunshine, and the car behaved perfectly! There aren't many things more pleasurable than hooning through the Tuscan countryside in a Tuscan with the roof off on a warm sunny day
Here are a few photos of the trip.
A bit of snow over the Sustenpass
The old St Gotthard pass
Inside Monza circuit
Tuscan in Tuscany
Just before a torrential downpour on the Col de Vence
While I was laid up with my leg in plaster back in January, myself and some friends started planning a driving holiday for September, however with my car engine-less with just a couple of weeks to go, I was starting to think that I'd end up having to do the trip in a hire car even though Dom assured me that it would be done in time - even despite them suffering a major fire at their workshops. I needn't have worried though - Dom and the guys at TVR Power were true to their word, and I picked the freshly rebuilt car up just 1 day before I was due to set off!
Having to take it easy and run the engine in on the trip was a bit of a pain, but definitely a much better option than anything Hertz could have offered!!
After having hardly driven the car for a year, and having several issues with it along the way, it was great to spend some quality time with it again and start to forget how much money I'd spent on it!
We covered 3000 miles, visited 4 countries and drove through snow, torrential downpours and baking hot sunshine, and the car behaved perfectly! There aren't many things more pleasurable than hooning through the Tuscan countryside in a Tuscan with the roof off on a warm sunny day
Here are a few photos of the trip.
A bit of snow over the Sustenpass
The old St Gotthard pass
Inside Monza circuit
Tuscan in Tuscany
Just before a torrential downpour on the Col de Vence
Nice pics, even better car ! So, as you covered 3k, did you give it some beans? that’s a great way to run your engine in.
Was thinking of taking mine to Europe next year, but not too many miles, my better half loves the car, but not living in it all day, so i thought Belgium, Holland, poss Denmark, any body else done this?, if so, recommend good places to stop?
Was thinking of taking mine to Europe next year, but not too many miles, my better half loves the car, but not living in it all day, so i thought Belgium, Holland, poss Denmark, any body else done this?, if so, recommend good places to stop?
I bet even sticking to 3000rpm or so you could still stick with that Exige!
Mark A S said:
Nice pics, even better car ! So, as you covered 3k, did you give it some beans? that’s a great way to run your engine in.
Thanks 
No, I was really careful to run the engine per TVR Power's recommendations, so couldn't give it many beans, but to be honest - even at running in pace it's still a quick car
da_murphster said:
What happened to your original engine?
I have the mental capacity to cope with one engine rebuild but two could finish me off!
Long story! I'm still in discussions with the garage that did the original rebuild, so can't say anything more on here other than there is a difference of opinion over what caused the failure and who is to blame, and it may well end up in court.I have the mental capacity to cope with one engine rebuild but two could finish me off!
tomTVR said:
Just out of interest what colour black is it?
Moonraker blackcustardkid said:
good work, keep the faith, its journeys like that that make the months that the car is a way bearable!
Very true! The moment you hit some of these amazing roads, you soon forget about all the hassle and expense!Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff