Eurotrip in a clio?!
Discussion
Its as bad as it sounds!
Im looking to spend a week or two driving around Europe, Nuburgring, Stelvio etc. However as im only 18 and only have a 1.2 clio 16v mk2 im worried if it will be worth going! Cant help feel it will be horrendously out of its depth? Any ideas from people who have done it in a less than powerfull car.
Cheers
Im looking to spend a week or two driving around Europe, Nuburgring, Stelvio etc. However as im only 18 and only have a 1.2 clio 16v mk2 im worried if it will be worth going! Cant help feel it will be horrendously out of its depth? Any ideas from people who have done it in a less than powerfull car.
Cheers
I haven't done the mountain passes and so on, but I drove to the south of France and back in my old Rover 213 a good few years ago - it was fine. Not the fastest car in the world but there's no reason that cars break down just because they're on the wrong side of the road!
Get the car serviced and maybe replace the brakes before you go if you need a bit more peace of mind.
Get the car serviced and maybe replace the brakes before you go if you need a bit more peace of mind.
Maxximus said:
Its as bad as it sounds!
Im looking to spend a week or two driving around Europe, Nuburgring, Stelvio etc. However as im only 18 and only have a 1.2 clio 16v mk2 im worried if it will be worth going! Cant help feel it will be horrendously out of its depth? Any ideas from people who have done it in a less than powerfull car.
Cheers
I am also 18, and I am looking to do the whole Europe, stelvio type thing. Only thing is I dont have enough money to go with the a bunch of supercar owners... I guess that you would be in a similar situation as me. Let me know what your gunna do if u want a few other cars to travel too. My mates got a Clio and i'm sure would be up for this sort of thing... Im looking to spend a week or two driving around Europe, Nuburgring, Stelvio etc. However as im only 18 and only have a 1.2 clio 16v mk2 im worried if it will be worth going! Cant help feel it will be horrendously out of its depth? Any ideas from people who have done it in a less than powerfull car.
Cheers
To be honest if your car is fun to drive then you'll have a great time supercar or hatchback.
just make sure your car is serviced, the brakes are particularly important, and you have euro breakdown cover.
try not to do too many miles in one day as you will find yourself pondering longer than you expect (or repeating particularly good roads!) and book your hotels in advance as availability can be tough to find sometimes.
Take lots of photos as you'll regret it when you come back if you dont!
just make sure your car is serviced, the brakes are particularly important, and you have euro breakdown cover.
try not to do too many miles in one day as you will find yourself pondering longer than you expect (or repeating particularly good roads!) and book your hotels in advance as availability can be tough to find sometimes.
Take lots of photos as you'll regret it when you come back if you dont!
Should be no problems at all - but some advice :
Get the car serviced well before you go.
Check your car insurance policy and if travelling through Spain, take any legal cover you are offered ( as to prevent your car being seized as a bond payment )
Make sure you get AA Breakdown Cover (or similar). Should only cost £50 max for the week - well worth it if your car does breakdown at all.
Make sure you have a VISA card or cash to pay for fuel - as a lot of the service stations don't take Amex / Maestro / switch.
Always have cash in your car for the tolls on the motorway - or ideally rent an automated payment system. You'll need to leave a £80 deposit on the device and have the account running for around 3 months whilst the tolls are taken by direct debit ( a month before you go + at least 2 months afterwards.) You can then close your account down and get a refund on the hardware.
Oh - and tripadvisor.com for finding cheap hotels with decent reviews before you set off
Get the car serviced well before you go.
Check your car insurance policy and if travelling through Spain, take any legal cover you are offered ( as to prevent your car being seized as a bond payment )
Make sure you get AA Breakdown Cover (or similar). Should only cost £50 max for the week - well worth it if your car does breakdown at all.
Make sure you have a VISA card or cash to pay for fuel - as a lot of the service stations don't take Amex / Maestro / switch.
Always have cash in your car for the tolls on the motorway - or ideally rent an automated payment system. You'll need to leave a £80 deposit on the device and have the account running for around 3 months whilst the tolls are taken by direct debit ( a month before you go + at least 2 months afterwards.) You can then close your account down and get a refund on the hardware.
Oh - and tripadvisor.com for finding cheap hotels with decent reviews before you set off
Edited by dpollard on Tuesday 26th May 15:19
You would have a great time, the Clio will let you drive to its limit, practice being smooth and it will be great fun. Maybe buy a set of Mintex 1144 pads if available, and if you are getting tyres try a set of Toyo T1-Rs, cheapish and very good. You could go plenty fast enough on those passes in a 1.2 Clio, no problem! Just be careful, especially if you have not had you licence very long.
Done a Eurotrip many a time in a variety of cars, one being a Lancia Y10 (not the Turbo this time Harsh 
) 4 up and no worries at all. Don't have to drive fast, take it all in, but as mentioned make sure the car is fit enough to do the trip (as previously mentioned)-recent service, check tyres, etc, etc.
) 4 up and no worries at all. Don't have to drive fast, take it all in, but as mentioned make sure the car is fit enough to do the trip (as previously mentioned)-recent service, check tyres, etc, etc.As said make sure its fit to do a couple thousand miles and you wont have a problem.
I did it with a mate while at uni in my 2ltr rear wheel drive Volve GLS and it was the best fun i'd had with my clothes on....some of the roads where that quiet we even got to practice some difting round damp roundabouts....!
Although I do remember the drive down the M1 at 5am to catch the ferry over to france and the speedo cable braking so spent most of the holiday trying to convert our RPM from MPH to KPH, which was quite fun at times.
Although now older I dont condone this action.
Maxximus said:
Its as bad as it sounds!
Im looking to spend a week or two driving around Europe, Nuburgring, Stelvio etc. However as im only 18 and only have a 1.2 clio 16v mk2 im worried if it will be worth going! Cant help feel it will be horrendously out of its depth? Any ideas from people who have done it in a less than powerfull car.
Cheers
As long as your car is reliable & has been recently serviced you've got nothing to worry about! Im looking to spend a week or two driving around Europe, Nuburgring, Stelvio etc. However as im only 18 and only have a 1.2 clio 16v mk2 im worried if it will be worth going! Cant help feel it will be horrendously out of its depth? Any ideas from people who have done it in a less than powerfull car.
Cheers
http://www.ridelust.com/smart-fortwo-wins-cannonba...thefuzzter said:
this sounds like a crackin idea !! im only 18 myself and have a 1.0 citreon ax i think this should go ahead ill definitely try to be there
Wow, I thought all those had disappeared into small piles of rust now.Whatever happens - going on a road trip in a small car will ALWAYS give you memories.
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