Cerbie dilema....
Discussion
I am contemplating driving to Switzerland with the missus for New Year, for about 5 days. I have a choice of 3 cars I could take, the Cerb, an MR2 or an MPV. Given the fact that I would be driving a long way on the autobahn (and I haven't driven on them yet!) I'd love to take the Cerb to stretch its legs and enjoy some super fast cruising. However, given that it is winter and there may be snow around, plus the heating in the cabin is very poor and I might need snowchains etc, I'm thinking it may be a silly idea. The MPV is a safe bet but is slow and boring, and the MR2 sits in the middle but is very tricky on snow etc. Can anyone shed some light on the realities of driving to Switzerland via Germany at this time of year? I don't intend on going up mountains to ski resorts etc, just sticking to A roads etc. My heart says do it, but my mind says MPV!! Also can anyone recommend a good european breakdown/recovery policy. And are the autobahns as unrestricted as people make out, or is the reality that I will be held up at normal speeds for most of the journey? Any comments greatly appreciated!!
There will be snow in the south of Germany and Switzerland that time of the year. The Autobahns should be ice free because they will have been gritted - but this means salty roads. But go off the main routes and you'll have to really lucky, to never encounter any snow.
A Cerb with it's normal, wide, road tyres will be a nightmare in the snow. But if your determined to take it, I'd advise you fit some good winter tyres.
And if you do take it, which I probably would - enjoy it
A Cerb with it's normal, wide, road tyres will be a nightmare in the snow. But if your determined to take it, I'd advise you fit some good winter tyres.
And if you do take it, which I probably would - enjoy it
Edited by JensenA on Friday 5th December 16:16
If you don't want to stretch to snow tyres, I'd seriously avoid chains for a whole host of reasons, not to mention how tricky they can be to put on or take off in the cold... if you can find some the right size, this type are worth every penny for the grief they save:
http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/weisssock.htm
Plus I've broken more chains than I care to recall...
Use to get into the Alps 3 or 4 times a year - hence the strong opinion
http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/weisssock.htm
Plus I've broken more chains than I care to recall...
Use to get into the Alps 3 or 4 times a year - hence the strong opinion
longbow said:
I am contemplating driving to Switzerland with the missus for New Year, for about 5 days. I have a choice of 3 cars I could take, the Cerb, an MR2 or an MPV. Given the fact that I would be driving a long way on the autobahn (and I haven't driven on them yet!) I'd love to take the Cerb to stretch its legs and enjoy some super fast cruising. However, given that it is winter and there may be snow around, plus the heating in the cabin is very poor and I might need snowchains etc, I'm thinking it may be a silly idea. The MPV is a safe bet but is slow and boring, and the MR2 sits in the middle but is very tricky on snow etc. Can anyone shed some light on the realities of driving to Switzerland via Germany at this time of year? I don't intend on going up mountains to ski resorts etc, just sticking to A roads etc. My heart says do it, but my mind says MPV!! Also can anyone recommend a good european breakdown/recovery policy. And are the autobahns as unrestricted as people make out, or is the reality that I will be held up at normal speeds for most of the journey? Any comments greatly appreciated!!
Your a soldier!.Lead by example......
Decided to take the Cerb afterall. Spoke to my insurer, Hagerty, who was brilliant and reassured me that the fully comprehensive policy remained fully comp in any European country plus I took their gold plated breakdown/recovery package for £30 so if the worst happens I only need to make one phone call! I'm going to buy a pair of those weissocks for the 255 rears only and hope I won't need them. Just booked the Eurotunnel now. If the weather is kind I reckon I'll make some good progress on those Autobahns 
Oh wait, isn't the Nurburgring on route too 
Oh wait, isn't the Nurburgring on route too 
longbow said:
Decided to take the Cerb afterall. Spoke to my insurer, Hagerty, who was brilliant and reassured me that the fully comprehensive policy remained fully comp in any European country plus I took their gold plated breakdown/recovery package for £30 so if the worst happens I only need to make one phone call! I'm going to buy a pair of those weissocks for the 255 rears only and hope I won't need them. Just booked the Eurotunnel now. If the weather is kind I reckon I'll make some good progress on those Autobahns Oh wait, isn't the Nurburgring on route too
Good man Oh wait, isn't the Nurburgring on route too 
Mmmm, but am uncovering a few interesting issues. Firstly, it appears that you can't buy headlamp beam convertors (i.e. that adjust the beam pattern for driving on the right) for HID lights!?!? When I had my headlight conversion done, I opted for the HIDs, so that begs the question - what have others with the HID lights done when abroad??? I do know that the illumination on the nearside in the UK is very bright - it illuminates roadsigns quite a way away so I suspect this will blind oncoming drivers, not ideal at the best of times but especially in winter!! Have sorted the snowchain issue - am hiring some from roofbox (RUC Classic automatic) for the rears only for £38, not bad really. Also just ordered the vignette for Switzerland.
Ref the Nurburging, it will be a 'touristenfahrten' day when I pass by on the 28 Dec - I take it this is an open day for anyone? Can anyone who knows the Ring advise on a nice but not too pricey place to overnight? Cheers!!
Ref the Nurburging, it will be a 'touristenfahrten' day when I pass by on the 28 Dec - I take it this is an open day for anyone? Can anyone who knows the Ring advise on a nice but not too pricey place to overnight? Cheers!!
if you have the hella conversions with 4.5 LW look (ie 4 lamps) you can just rotate the lens after undoing a couple of screws on the back to tilt the beam pattern the other way. if you're still on single headlamps I don't think there's much you can do other than bits of sticky tape as masks.
Been there done that....
Took my two boys skiing in Switzerland a couple of years ago. Went down through France, it just rained. Got to the resort, all OK (apart from crossing into Switzerland, someone had told me that the Swiss frown on anything very noisy, wasn't sure if they would like my sports exhaust, so I freewheeled down the hill past the border guys). Spent a few days up the mountain, got back down to the cable car carpark to find a load of white piles of snow, and couldn't remember where I left it.... had to dig into about 5 snow drifts before I found my car. Dug it out, heart in mouth as I pressed the button, started first time !!!!!
On the way back through France, it snowed BIG TIME. It was at that moment that I discovered the truth that a 4.5 Cerb wouldn't drive in the snow. On the Autoroute I was doing about 15-20 MPH top, the car was all over the place, at one point I thought I'd end up in the ditch. I came off and we spent the rest of the night in the services. Not really sure that snow chains would have helped a great deal, or indeed snow tyres. In all seriousness, up in the mountains in heavy snow would be suicidal.
However, on the plus side they look after the roads really well, the only reason we got caught in the snow was because it was near Dijon, and I don't think they really expected it - the mountains were fine. Also, anyone that's taken a Cerb to Europe will agree with me here - you could not get more attention if you tried, and going through those mountain tunnels in third...... fantastic !!!!! Highlight was bombing round Lake Geneva on the way there, we had to catch the last cable car ride up the mountain to where we were staying (Alpen Hotel in Fiesheralp - highly recomended), and I was running late, so I opened it up a bit (a lot).
So on balance - DO IT !
Took my two boys skiing in Switzerland a couple of years ago. Went down through France, it just rained. Got to the resort, all OK (apart from crossing into Switzerland, someone had told me that the Swiss frown on anything very noisy, wasn't sure if they would like my sports exhaust, so I freewheeled down the hill past the border guys). Spent a few days up the mountain, got back down to the cable car carpark to find a load of white piles of snow, and couldn't remember where I left it.... had to dig into about 5 snow drifts before I found my car. Dug it out, heart in mouth as I pressed the button, started first time !!!!!
On the way back through France, it snowed BIG TIME. It was at that moment that I discovered the truth that a 4.5 Cerb wouldn't drive in the snow. On the Autoroute I was doing about 15-20 MPH top, the car was all over the place, at one point I thought I'd end up in the ditch. I came off and we spent the rest of the night in the services. Not really sure that snow chains would have helped a great deal, or indeed snow tyres. In all seriousness, up in the mountains in heavy snow would be suicidal.
However, on the plus side they look after the roads really well, the only reason we got caught in the snow was because it was near Dijon, and I don't think they really expected it - the mountains were fine. Also, anyone that's taken a Cerb to Europe will agree with me here - you could not get more attention if you tried, and going through those mountain tunnels in third...... fantastic !!!!! Highlight was bombing round Lake Geneva on the way there, we had to catch the last cable car ride up the mountain to where we were staying (Alpen Hotel in Fiesheralp - highly recomended), and I was running late, so I opened it up a bit (a lot).
So on balance - DO IT !
Edited by guydw on Sunday 7th December 17:21
longbow said:
Ref the Nurburging, it will be a 'touristenfahrten' day when I pass by on the 28 Dec - I take it this is an open day for anyone? Can anyone who knows the Ring advise on a nice but not too pricey place to overnight? Cheers!!
Windsor, as you are making the pilgrimage to the 'Ring, it would be rude not to stay at the famed Am Tiergarten Hotel (of Sabine Schmidt fame) and dine in the legendary Pistonklause on one of thier fab 'steaks on a hot stone. http://www.am-tiergarten.de/en/home/
IIRC a single room costs about 80 euros a night. You can get slightly cheaper but for the sake of 15-20 euros, IMO, its worth it
guydw said:
Been there done that....
Took my two boys skiing in Switzerland a couple of years ago. Went down through France, it just rained. Got to the resort, all OK (apart from crossing into Switzerland, someone had told me that the Swiss frown on anything very noisy, wasn't sure if they would like my sports exhaust, so I freewheeled down the hill past the border guys). Spent a few days up the mountain, got back down to the cable car carpark to find a load of white piles of snow, and couldn't remember where I left it.... had to dig into about 5 snow drifts before I found my car. Dug it out, heart in mouth as I pressed the button, started first time !!!!!
On the way back through France, it snowed BIG TIME. It was at that moment that I discovered the truth that a 4.5 Cerb wouldn't drive in the snow. On the Autoroute I was doing about 15-20 MPH top, the car was all over the place, at one point I thought I'd end up in the ditch. I came off and we spent the rest of the night in the services. Not really sure that snow chains would have helped a great deal, or indeed snow tyres. In all seriousness, up in the mountains in heavy snow would be suicidal.
However, on the plus side they look after the roads really well, the only reason we got caught in the snow was because it was near Dijon, and I don't think they really expected it - the mountains were fine. Also, anyone that's taken a Cerb to Europe will agree with me here - you could not get more attention if you tried, and going through those mountain tunnels in third...... fantastic !!!!! Highlight was bombing round Lake Geneva on the way there, we had to catch the last cable car ride up the mountain to where we were staying (Alpen Hotel in Fiesheralp - highly recomended), and I was running late, so I opened it up a bit (a lot).
So on balance - DO IT !
Hi Guy, how's you? Took my two boys skiing in Switzerland a couple of years ago. Went down through France, it just rained. Got to the resort, all OK (apart from crossing into Switzerland, someone had told me that the Swiss frown on anything very noisy, wasn't sure if they would like my sports exhaust, so I freewheeled down the hill past the border guys). Spent a few days up the mountain, got back down to the cable car carpark to find a load of white piles of snow, and couldn't remember where I left it.... had to dig into about 5 snow drifts before I found my car. Dug it out, heart in mouth as I pressed the button, started first time !!!!!
On the way back through France, it snowed BIG TIME. It was at that moment that I discovered the truth that a 4.5 Cerb wouldn't drive in the snow. On the Autoroute I was doing about 15-20 MPH top, the car was all over the place, at one point I thought I'd end up in the ditch. I came off and we spent the rest of the night in the services. Not really sure that snow chains would have helped a great deal, or indeed snow tyres. In all seriousness, up in the mountains in heavy snow would be suicidal.
However, on the plus side they look after the roads really well, the only reason we got caught in the snow was because it was near Dijon, and I don't think they really expected it - the mountains were fine. Also, anyone that's taken a Cerb to Europe will agree with me here - you could not get more attention if you tried, and going through those mountain tunnels in third...... fantastic !!!!! Highlight was bombing round Lake Geneva on the way there, we had to catch the last cable car ride up the mountain to where we were staying (Alpen Hotel in Fiesheralp - highly recomended), and I was running late, so I opened it up a bit (a lot).
So on balance - DO IT !
Edited by guydw on Sunday 7th December 17:21
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