I'm considering a summer jaunt in my new Griffith.. What do

[black_potato]

I'm considering going on this little drive in the summer. would be ~10 days end August early Sept.

How mad am I ?

Clicky

[BigGriff540]

Good work-I planned a similar trip with Mrs BigGriff but she selfishly got pregnant and didn't want/couldn't sit in the Griff so we had to cancel the plans some years ago.

I have family in Norway and am fairly familiar with their roads. Be prepared for some s-l-o-w driving and low speed limits for what seem to be open roads. Be careful of the plod out there too, they dont take kindly to speeders-as experienced with their fines! But the upside is amazings views and fantastic tunnels.

Enjoy!

[TR4man]

I'm envious already and you haven't even gone yet!

I sometimes think we TVR owners suffer from a paranoia about our cars always fearful whether they will make it to whatever destination.

Edited by TR4man on Monday 22 January 12:46

[black_potato]

BigGriff540 said:

Good work-I planned a similar trip with Mrs BigGriff but she selfishly got pregnant and didn't want/couldn't sit in the Griff so we had to cancel the plans some years ago.

I have family in Norway and am fairly familiar with their roads. Be prepared for some s-l-o-w driving and low speed limits for what seem to be open roads. Be careful of the plod out there too, they dont take kindly to speeders-as experienced with their fines! But the upside is amazings views and fantastic tunnels.

Enjoy!

My wife is Norwegian and she likes 2 weeks at the farm (The mid point "Gravem" on the map) with the kids in the summer and whilst picturesque there isn't all that much to do. So the plan is for my lad to come out with me in the car and for her to fly out with my daughter. The drive back will probably be with my brother in-law.

[robsco]

Very jealous... We took the T350 from North Yorkshire right down to Grasse/Cannes/St Tropez/Monaco and various other places this summer. The car never missed a beat. Without a doubt my fondest memories of TVR ownership.

[theholygrail]

TR4man said:

I'm envious already and you haven't even gone yet!

I sometimes think we TVR owners suffer from a paranoia about our cars always fearful whether they will make it to whatever destination.

Edited by TR4man on Monday 22 January 12:46

My thoughts exactly. I've averaged around 3k/year in my Griff over 6 years and have never done a proper road trip. I'm ashamed of myself. My excuse (one of many!) is that my hands-on skills are limited to checking fluids and sticking things back on again with glue!!

Go for it! Would love to read your progress updates I remember reading a long article in Sprint not long ago about some chap in his Chimaera doing pretty much this trip, I think. He had no problems and an amazing adventure.

[Classic Chim]

Yeah, look for a back copy of Sprint, interesting read.
Great idea by the way. Life’s for living and making dreams come true
I’ve done south of France, on a bike, hadn’t ridden for many years then went and bought a Triumph air cooled Thruxton and just did it. Fantastic experience
The Tvr is way more comfortable as I found out a few weeks later doing the same journey.
Set up well, go all day these things.

[Byker28i]

Looks excellent. I've taken the Cerbera through France and abroad to Belgium the last 3 years, they are brilliant mileage munchers

[FarmyardPants]

I've done the south of France 3 times, south of Spain 3 times, Spa a few times and Rome once.

Only had failed ancillaries (wipers, indicators, heater blower) and only nicked for speeding once

[QBee]

One of my clients did a similar trip a few years ago in his 2006 DB9 convertible - he had to visit customers and suppliers in Sweden and Norway, and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Needless to say the fuel bills were moderately horrendous compared with the air fares, but there's no law saying you have to go the cheapest way.

Good luck and have fun. Take the same RAC card with European cover that you would take for your Mondeo/Merc/BMW, and you will be fine.
Just be aware of the national speed limits in the different countries - our national 70 limit isn't actually that well publicised to anyone from the foreign simply driving the roads without having checked online first. And the fines can be horrendous. We have all heard of the Nokia boss who got a £100,000+ income based speeding fine in Finland, and I recall a friend getting a €1000 or thereabouts on the spot fine in France on his way to/from Le Mans. Not that you are going to Finland or France, but you get my drift.

[FarmyardPants]

Yes the 15 fill-ups to Malaga and back (+ tolls) is an extravagance!

[so called]

FarmyardPants said:

Yes the 15 fill-ups to Malaga and back (+ tolls) is an extravagance!

Longest drivers for us have been Malaga in 2012 and the Algarve in 2016.
Otherwise, we have been heading down to southern parts every year since 2008 and alsways enjoy the drives.

Broke down (engine management computer up in smoke) in Toulouse in 2013 and had to have the Tuscan shipped home. ADAC covered all that as well as the rental replacement.
Last year we had a three day stop over near Lyon due to a failed Alternator. Again ADAC rescued us and along with some very good and friendly French Mechanics, we were on our way on to Spain in no time (OK 3 days). €50,- advance tip moved us to the top of their priority list.

Just to allay any breakdown fears, it can happen to anyone as can be seen below.
This photo was taken when on the way down to Spain about 4 years ago.
Ford, Porsche and Peugeot all in a spot of bother. (Porsche chap was very angry).

[lazyitus]

I know nowhere near as far but I did a quick 1200 mile round trip to Holland and back a couple of weeks ago. Didin't miss a beat and very comfortable.

Just do it.

[Brithunter]

Have never done a real road trip but this April it's on! Not really got a choice if I want to the get the Chimaera home. Not planned the route as yet but the RAC route planner suggests :-

Fance
Germany
Austria
Slovenia
Croatia
Serbia
Bulgaria ...or :-

From Austria into
Hungary and either Romania or
Serbia again.

Just over 1550 miles. I will take my time and not rush like they suggest and try to do it in the 25 hrs they say it takes.

[TR4man]

^ that sounds like a great way to familiarise yourself with your new Chimaera. An adventure you'll remember for a very long time, I'd think.

[Brithunter]

Thanks .................... will doing a few hundred miles in the UK as a sort of shake down before heading to the channel crossing. Originally was going to have her shipped but after the horrendous experiences with the Rover and MG simply don't trust them. Got some quotes for recommended real professionals for covered transport but they came out as over £8,000 hence the drive over.

[TwinKam]

Brithunter said:

Thanks .................... will doing a few hundred miles in the UK as a sort of shake down before heading to the channel crossing. Originally was going to have her shipped but after the horrendous experiences with the Rover and MG simply don't trust them. Got some quotes for recommended real professionals for covered transport but they came out as over £8,000 hence the drive over.

Can't you join the RAC and get 'Relayed' home?
A mate was a student at Exeter Uni in the late 70s and never actually drove there, or back home to Purley in those three years. He devised ways to temporarily disable the engine that they couldn't fix at the roadside...

[Pericoloso]

Looked at your route ,you should look into a factory visit at Koenigsegg as you pass near Angelholm ,Sweden.

I still kick myself for completely forgetting about them for my Sweden road trips.

[QBee]

TwinKam said:

Brithunter said:

Thanks .................... will doing a few hundred miles in the UK as a sort of shake down before heading to the channel crossing. Originally was going to have her shipped but after the horrendous experiences with the Rover and MG simply don't trust them. Got some quotes for recommended real professionals for covered transport but they came out as over £8,000 hence the drive over.

Can't you join the RAC and get 'Relayed' home?
A mate was a student at Exeter Uni in the late 70s and never actually drove there, or back home to Purley in those three years. He devised ways to temporarily disable the engine that they couldn't fix at the roadside...

Just don’t try that with the AA. My daughter suffered a breakdown in her Renault Scenic at 6pm one Sunday, 35 miles into a 200 mile journey home to Southport, with a 9 month old baby and a dog on board. AA arrived, towed her half a mile to a place of safety, announced it was the gearbox without even looking, and organised her a relay......in three 60 mile stages, with one hour waits at each change over of vehicle. She would have been home at about 1am, with work starting at 6am and exhausted. I told the AA man to bring her and the car back to us, and sent the daughter home in her mother’s car. Next day my local garage re-fitted the visibly detached diesel turbo pipe (!) in less than five minutes. Never used the AA since - the RAC are competent bonnet lifters and would have had her on her way in no time.

[glenrobbo]

OP, Just go for it!

Every year we do at least one European Tour,* sometimes more, in our TVR S Series cars, and over many many thousands of miles spanning nine years we have never left an S behind to get rescued back to the UK. ( a few close calls though! ) The urban myth regarding TVR unreliability has been soundly spanked!
But for peace of mind, as long has you have decent European breakdown cover on your insurance policy, you need not worry.
Do it!

* Our tour organiser Longers does an amazing job and plans some fabulous routes.
It was these trips that laid the foundations for the hugely successful and very popular "Fast Track Tours", offering trips to various continental motor sport events as well as scenic tour packages on some of the best roads you will ever encounter.


Tiptree you say?
I may have to pop down for some lime marmalade and rhubarb & ginger jam!