Collecting new toy from Stuttgart - route suggestions?
Discussion
OK, this time next week, I'll be collecting my GT3 from Stuttgart 
Not sure whether I'm best off posting here or in General/Travel but figured I'd try here first.
I am trying to figure out routes and was thinking of heading home via the Alps and just wondering if those who have driven the area could comment on whether I'm being overly ambitious about the distances. I'd also really appreciate any recommendations for 'car friendly' places to stay along the route - ideally somewhere with secure parking!!
Obviously a lot depends on the weather - no plan B as such if it turns nasty as I'm being positive!
I'm taking my Dad and we fly out on Wednesday afternoon - I've got an open return on the tunnel but am planning to come back sometime on Sunday.
Thurs: Collect car, do factory tour/Porsche Museum
Drive from Stuttgart down to somewhere around Lake Constance (Bodensee) and find somewhere to stay, probably around Bergenz which is 250km from Stuttgart (A81 and then A98/E54 along the north bank).
If we make good time, I may go a little further south to take some mileage off the next day's driving (possibly Chur?)
Friday: The plan is to try to take in the Davos->Stelvio route, heading into Italy towards Lake Como, though I'm not sure if that's a bit far. Google maps seems to have some issues with several of the passes, but what I've managed to figure out is:
Bergenz to Davos on the A13/E43 is about 115km.
Davos to Stelvio (Route 28 - Fluelapass, Susch (Ofenpass), St Maria) which looks like about 65km.
Probably then go down the other side (to Trafoi) and back up before heading on to Bormio (50km)
Then from Bormio head South along SS38 before it turns West towards Colico on the Eastern edge of Lake Como (100km) and hopefully on to Lugano for the night (60km).
So, that gives me about 390km for the day - is that too much if I was to take our time and admire the views and have a good few stops?
Saturday: Head back up through a few more passes
Lugano to Airlo on the A2 (85km), coming off the A2 for the San Gottardo pass and then in a loop going West taking in Furkapasse, Grimsel Pass, North to Interkirchen and East across Susten Pass to Wassen (120km)
From there I was thinking of rejoining the A2 and heading up to Luzern 65km.
Might stay in Luzern (making at 270km day), but that would leave a really long drive to Calais on Sunday (850km) so I'd probably aim to get a bit further back - open to suggestions for where!
Not sure whether I'm best off posting here or in General/Travel but figured I'd try here first.I am trying to figure out routes and was thinking of heading home via the Alps and just wondering if those who have driven the area could comment on whether I'm being overly ambitious about the distances. I'd also really appreciate any recommendations for 'car friendly' places to stay along the route - ideally somewhere with secure parking!!
Obviously a lot depends on the weather - no plan B as such if it turns nasty as I'm being positive!
I'm taking my Dad and we fly out on Wednesday afternoon - I've got an open return on the tunnel but am planning to come back sometime on Sunday.
Thurs: Collect car, do factory tour/Porsche Museum
Drive from Stuttgart down to somewhere around Lake Constance (Bodensee) and find somewhere to stay, probably around Bergenz which is 250km from Stuttgart (A81 and then A98/E54 along the north bank).
If we make good time, I may go a little further south to take some mileage off the next day's driving (possibly Chur?)
Friday: The plan is to try to take in the Davos->Stelvio route, heading into Italy towards Lake Como, though I'm not sure if that's a bit far. Google maps seems to have some issues with several of the passes, but what I've managed to figure out is:
Bergenz to Davos on the A13/E43 is about 115km.
Davos to Stelvio (Route 28 - Fluelapass, Susch (Ofenpass), St Maria) which looks like about 65km.
Probably then go down the other side (to Trafoi) and back up before heading on to Bormio (50km)
Then from Bormio head South along SS38 before it turns West towards Colico on the Eastern edge of Lake Como (100km) and hopefully on to Lugano for the night (60km).
So, that gives me about 390km for the day - is that too much if I was to take our time and admire the views and have a good few stops?
Saturday: Head back up through a few more passes
Lugano to Airlo on the A2 (85km), coming off the A2 for the San Gottardo pass and then in a loop going West taking in Furkapasse, Grimsel Pass, North to Interkirchen and East across Susten Pass to Wassen (120km)
From there I was thinking of rejoining the A2 and heading up to Luzern 65km.
Might stay in Luzern (making at 270km day), but that would leave a really long drive to Calais on Sunday (850km) so I'd probably aim to get a bit further back - open to suggestions for where!
It always takes longer than you think to do the passes, especially in a car. I did it on a bike this year and could fly past the camper vans etc, and quite often there were snakes of cars following a van up the pass. So... 400k in a day over several passes will be a very long day in the driving seat.
Either way, if you can I'd recommend the B500 from Zurich to Baden Baden. Lovely ribbon of tarmac through the Black Forest.
Either way, if you can I'd recommend the B500 from Zurich to Baden Baden. Lovely ribbon of tarmac through the Black Forest.
Sorry, the Autobahns are not a patch on the mountain passes he's thinking of driving. I've been there and done that, and I'd much rather drive the magnificent mountain passes, with stunning scenery and great roads. It's what these Porsche's were built for.
'blasting' along a motorway is all well and good, but the Autobahns around Stuttgart are busy and the stretches areas of unrestricted speed limits are all too short. You're just on a motorway at the end of the day, which doesn't compare to a challenging mountain pass IMO.
'blasting' along a motorway is all well and good, but the Autobahns around Stuttgart are busy and the stretches areas of unrestricted speed limits are all too short. You're just on a motorway at the end of the day, which doesn't compare to a challenging mountain pass IMO.
-
, a "motorway" is a bit more fun than the M6 when you're at 250kph and the majority is still derestricted,- go enjoy the stunning scenery with your missus - him and pops need to give it some IMO 
Super_Marv said:
Sorry, the Autobahns are not a patch on the mountain passes he's thinking of driving. I've been there and done that, and I'd much rather drive the magnificent mountain passes, with stunning scenery and great roads. It's what these Porsche's were built for.
'blasting' along a motorway is all well and good, but the Autobahns around Stuttgart are busy and the stretches areas of unrestricted speed limits are all too short. You're just on a motorway at the end of the day, which doesn't compare to a challenging mountain pass IMO.
Disagree, the new GT3 has awesome downforce and GT2 stability at high speed <200kph, it is mega stable and a great Autobahn blaster, wringing out to 8400rpm in 4th and 5th gear'blasting' along a motorway is all well and good, but the Autobahns around Stuttgart are busy and the stretches areas of unrestricted speed limits are all too short. You're just on a motorway at the end of the day, which doesn't compare to a challenging mountain pass IMO.
, a "motorway" is a bit more fun than the M6 when you're at 250kph and the majority is still derestricted,- go enjoy the stunning scenery with your missus - him and pops need to give it some IMO Keep an eye on the Touring Club Suisse website for information regarding the status of alpine passes in Swizerland...
P.S. There is some snow forecast down to 1,500m over the next few days...
http://www.tcs.ch/main/fr/home/verkehrsinfo/paesse...
Link to MeteoSuisse's webcams... (sadly they are all small images but you may see snow on these peaks in the coming days even though it was 27-30C here in places yesterday!)
http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/fr/meteo/temps...
P.S. There is some snow forecast down to 1,500m over the next few days...
http://www.tcs.ch/main/fr/home/verkehrsinfo/paesse...
Link to MeteoSuisse's webcams... (sadly they are all small images but you may see snow on these peaks in the coming days even though it was 27-30C here in places yesterday!)
http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/fr/meteo/temps...
supersport said:
Surely with a brand new car, the last thing you ought to be doing is blasting around reving the naders off it?
Doubt you'd harm a GT3 on the public roads, with or without an official speed limit, unless of course you're a complete animal/loon/tosser....... SOunds like loads of have fun !
My route home with the GT 3 in Nov 07 was depart factory at 2pm. Overnight at the Ring and a couple of laps next day, it was snowing ! On to Spa and stayed in Francochamps . Did a lap of the old Spa GP circuit , visited the small Museum at Stavelot and home then to Ireland. Heavy rain on the motorways in Belguim meant slow progress with the Pirelli Corsas.
TB993tt said:
-, a "motorway" is a bit more fun than the M6 when you're at 250kph and the majority is still derestricted,- go enjoy the stunning scenery with your missus - him and pops need to give it some IMO
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree then! To me a GT3 is made for the twisties, not the Autobahn (though I'm not doubting they are very, very good on the Autobahn, I'd probably prefer a Panamera for autobahn work) Each to their own!Super_Marv said:
Sorry, the Autobahns are not a patch on the mountain passes he's thinking of driving. I've been there and done that, and I'd much rather drive the magnificent mountain passes, with stunning scenery and great roads. It's what these Porsche's were built for.
'blasting' along a motorway is all well and good, but the Autobahns around Stuttgart are busy and the stretches areas of unrestricted speed limits are all too short. You're just on a motorway at the end of the day, which doesn't compare to a challenging mountain pass IMO.
Disagree, the new GT3 has awesome downforce and GT2 stability at high speed <200kph, it is mega stable and a great Autobahn blaster, wringing out to 8400rpm in 4th and 5th gear'blasting' along a motorway is all well and good, but the Autobahns around Stuttgart are busy and the stretches areas of unrestricted speed limits are all too short. You're just on a motorway at the end of the day, which doesn't compare to a challenging mountain pass IMO.
, a "motorway" is a bit more fun than the M6 when you're at 250kph and the majority is still derestricted,- go enjoy the stunning scenery with your missus - him and pops need to give it some IMO Back on subject - the only problem I found with Switzerland, is that there seems to be an endless amount of road works when I was there a couple of weeks ago, even on the passes. I lost quite a bit of time because of this. Also, the passes in Switzerland were much busier than the passes in France and Austria (no roadworks in France and Austria either) but I suspect this time next week, things will be even quieter than when I visited, some of the roadworks may have finished too.
If you visit Switzerland or Austria, don't forget to get a motorway sticker (Vignette), otherwise the police will take delight in handing you a fine for not having one!
Anyway, like the others have said, have a great time, take pictures and report back how you got on!
Edited by Super_Marv on Thursday 8th October 19:44
Well, hammering up and down the autobahn doesn't really appeal (I haven't bought a Turbo ). Also, I really wanted to get some time with the car before I tackle the ring.
As for collecting it, I always said I'd buy a 911 and now I'm doing it and have managed it young enough to take my Dad with me so its really more about the event than exactly where we go or even hammering up and down passes/roads as fast as possible. It just seemed that with the scenery on offer, heading across the Alps would be a really good few days.
I can't wait
). Also, I really wanted to get some time with the car before I tackle the ring.As for collecting it, I always said I'd buy a 911 and now I'm doing it and have managed it young enough to take my Dad with me so its really more about the event than exactly where we go or even hammering up and down passes/roads as fast as possible. It just seemed that with the scenery on offer, heading across the Alps would be a really good few days.
I can't wait
melv said:
I used that site to plan my holiday - some great advice in there 
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