Impromptu European Road Trip

[Swine Enthusiast]

Have been dreaming since I was a little boy watching Top Gear and their road trips across Europe to do one of my own. Recently (March) purchased my first Porsche (C987.2 S) and after a few blasts to Goodwood and Silverstone, the promise I made myself to just set off towards the horizon has been blocked by "life" and "reality".

So after a bit of wrangling managed to procure a week off of work and am pointing the car south for my first road trip.

The route, while flexible has some direction:

• Calais to Circuit du Reims.
• Reims to Baden-Baden
• Baden-Baden to Lake Lucerne
• Lucerne to Como.
• Como to Strasboug.
• Strasbourg to Calais

Hoping to tick off the B500, St Gottard Pass, Furka Pass, Sustenpass and perhaps more! Any advice for where to head, where to avoid, sites to see or areas to head for would be greatly appreciated.

Likewise anything to look out for in the Cayman, tips on getting the best out of it, must take items to pack (I have spare mobil1 oil, water, euro driving kit, jumper cables, tyre pump etc), do I need coolant etc?

Appreciate the replies!

[Swine Enthusiast]

mr pg said:

If using the French toll roads a SANEF transponder for the TAG lanes is very useful if on your own.
We were at Andermatt 3 weeks, ago and there's some very long southbound tailbacks on the Gotthard Pass area. Check it out before you choose with pass to do (we did the old cobbled road this time).
Caymans are great for these trips (we have a 981S). Nufenen Pass is well worth including as suggested.

Thanks, I've heard the Gotthard Pass can get quite busy! I will check out the Nufenen Pass too!

Did you take anything car maintenance wise?

[Swine Enthusiast]

Fantastic stuff guys, thank you!

Have several items to head for, will do a write up when I am back - so excited - seems the Cayman is the perfect weapon (biased) for this kind of European trip; comfortable, good luggage space, well equipped, fast and nimble.

[Swine Enthusiast]

Boxster7 said:

Another massive fan of the Grimsel pass...
For a perfect early morning blast, Grimsel.... Susuten.... Furka....
Then head down the valley past Obergoms to Brig and up over the Simplon pass into Italy....

Also did the passes in the Dolomites this year for the first time.... again excellent roads and passes heading for Cortina...

Likewise I don't take any special bits for my cars... they always run like a Swiss Clock :-)

I am tempted to wake up at about 6am while the Mrs is still asleep, grab the keys and blast these out myself. Shall we say she prefers more of an ambling pace checking the scenery.....

Thanks!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Boxster7 said:

That’s more like it :-)

On top of Grimsel

Amazing photo!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Far Cough said:

Make sure you have plenty of Tyre and Brakes as the constant switchbacks and fast downhill sections will take their toll.

Tyres were new three months ago with about 2k of mostly sedate driving and the brake fluid is being replaced today, (discs and pads at 15% wear too). Thanks!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Bispal said:

This was exactly my dilemma and I tried both the 991.2 GT3 manual and 981 Spyder, as well as several other cars (991.2 GTS manual & PDK), 991.2 T (manual) McLaren 650S, 720S, 570S, 570GT, Exige 350 sport and 430 CUP, 996 Turbo, Alfa Gulia QF.) We do one long euro trip a year lasting around 18 days. The new car was to replace a McLaren 12C.

The 981 Spyder won. It looks glorious, has a snickety 6 speed box, the steering is agile (even though EPAS), the suspension is firm but complaint, proper LSD, roof comes off, has AC, stereo & good refinements, 2 boots.....oh and a 6 cyl NA 3.8L flat six engine that sounds out of this world! I also could not resist the 430 CUP and as the Spyder was below my budget I bought that too. That's how good the Spyder is it out-shone cars twice the price (inc. the 991.2 GT3 Manual...for touring) and got the thumbs up from Mrs Bispal.

We completed this years 3,030 mile tour London - Annercy (via D996 - awesome road) - Antibes (via Route Napoleon) - Monaco, no time for col de turini :-( - Lake Garda & Verona - Val Gardena - Cortina (Best passes ever, I preferred to the Swiss passes - Falzarego / Gardena / Pordoi / Giau ) - Alpach (unfortunately Grossglockner was closed) - Kristalwald - Krimml Falls (awesome) - High alpine Road - Konstanz - Baden Baden - Nurburgring. Averaged just over 30 mpg in temperatures -5 - +30, snow, rain, sun, 160 mph on autobahn, a lap of the 'ring' and the car was faultless, not even a stone chip! I got the roof up / down times to around 20 seconds.

My only very minor criticisms are the ride is a tad firm in the UK at 30mph (gets better then faster you go) but was fine on the continent (shows how bad the roads are here & Belgium) Its not an issue just acclimatising from a McLaren. I also always get stuck with seat choice with Porsche, too many options and non-ideal. 918 buckets too hard and upright, folding buckets looks awesome and are very comfy but don't recline, comfort seats look rubbish in a 'special' car and i can never get comfy in them. So I went carbon folding buckets and we put up with the lack of recline adjustment and actually pulled the cushions out, bought some foam, and sculpted the shape to what we wanted then but the seat cushions back and it was great.

I love driving the 981 Spyder and have no immediate plans to change it as it is a great all round touring car. I did wonder if we should have tried a Ferrari California but I have had a Ferrari before and didn't like the ownership experience and my choice was verified when we met a Portafino owner in our Hotel in Annecy who's roof had stuck half open and would not budge!

To the OP I would recommend some of the places and passes we went, to Yellow T try a 981 Spyder I am sure you will enjoy it. Watch these youtube videos and your mind will be made up. Some pics of mine on our trip below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MSMM1nTLvw&t=2s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Bmi-2Yk20&t=321s

Thanks, think this will be a yearly drive to different locations across Europe. Last year me and two mates went down to N260 Pyrenees route in a 991.1 GT3 RS and a 718 Cayman S. Both cars were epic and the driving was fantastic.

So many options!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Johnniem said:

OP, enjoy all of the places suggested here. Over the last 10 years our little crowd of annual Eurohooners has done the most of them and they are all amazing. Once you have done the best bits of main parts of Europe go to Spain and just do that. It has become our destination of choice. Fantastic roads, excellent weather and the brilliant chain of hotels that is Paradores. Not so many rozzers compared to most parts of Europe either! France....don't speed in France, anywhere! A mate of mine came home from Bordeaux, non-stop, in his 911 and despite being fairly sensible (no more than 10 kph over motorways speed limits) managed four speeding tickets with a couple of weeks of getting home. I know, I know, he was speeding.

Do the Alps (all parts), get a taste of an autobahn and then just go to Spain the next time.

PS - Food and wine is awesome too!

Thanks! Have done the N260 road in the Pyrenees but Spain and the Picos would be amazing! Funnily a mate just text me (who I went with last year) got home after his trip to a ticket from the french police - 8kph over... ouch!

[Swine Enthusiast]

Zagamuffin1 said:

David W. said:

If you dont pay the fixed penalty charges they look out for you when you return.

Doesn’t make sense, how would they get your details, name and address and how would they know if you were the same owner/driver the following year ??

He hasd a letter land on his doorstep within a week of returning.

[Swine Enthusiast]

Yellow T said:

Bispal said:

Congratulations you will have a great time with the 981 I am sure :-) The 6 speed manual is very different to the 7 speed in the T (is your T a manual or PDK?). I decided after a lot of drives that manual / NA / 6 speed box were my main Porsche requirements :-) Look forward to seeing some pics, what colour and spec did you go for? There is a good little forum on FB www.facebook.com/groups/PorscheSpyder/

Edited by Bispal on Friday 23 August 14:44

Thank you. My T is a manual with its short throw but can imagine 6 speed will be even better. The Spyder’s clutch is supposedly a bit heavier?? I went for a white one, LWB's (have those in the T and they work for me although folding would have been good too), full leather (more practical for a convertible) with full red stitching, silver wheels, Bi-zenon's, smoked taillights, net wind deflector, 64-litre fuel tank, light design, cruise control, climate control, reversing camera etc etc. Silly low miles but that will change!

Mine has the short shift kit optioned from the factory. Does make a difference.