2 registered members (Rosso, Golfpro),
169
guests, and 1
spider. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums69
Topics113,626
Posts1,341,364
Members1,807
|
Most Online731 Jan 14th, 2020
|
|
|
The Continent - how far have people driven?
#1538560
19/05/2015 21:31
19/05/2015 21:31
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
I have finally decided to drive my Coupe to a different country, in fact it is the first time I've taken a car off Blighty's shores! Will be taking my wife and kids camping for a couple of days in Normandy - Lyons La Foret is suppose to be stunning and we're going with friends who have been before.
Just wondered where other people have driven in Europe and what adventures they had? Is the Fiat Coupe well suited for cross continental blasts, in a GT car kind of a way? Did anyone have a disastrous trip with breakdowns and other stuff? Or was it utter motoring perfection?
Oh, and is it more sensible to leave the Coupe at home and take the Honda instead? Just kidding...
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538571
19/05/2015 22:30
19/05/2015 22:30
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,417 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
|
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,417
Lightwater, Surrey
|
Not long after getting the Coupe, and before we had kids I took my wife down to Venice in the Coupe via Germany where I just had to drive it at 155mph, the claimed top speed - easy! But I found out many years later that due to the large speedo error it was probably closer to 145mph Also did Spa last year, as well as doing the Turin trip. How many kids and how old? And make sure you take all you need for France...
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538573
19/05/2015 22:46
19/05/2015 22:46
|
Barney
Unregistered
|
Barney
Unregistered
|
In 2011 I drove my coupe from Livingston, Scotland to Hull and met up with friends. We boarded a ferry to Rotterdam and then did three very long and intensive days driving over mountain passes and through tunnels, all the way to Italy and back. It was glorious. The coupe never missed a beat and was exceptionally comfortable start to finish. Make sure you take all supplies necessary to be legal (hi vis vests etc) and don't be surprised at the insane level of tailgating that goes on. It's just the done thing. Simply move out of the way.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538575
19/05/2015 22:50
19/05/2015 22:50
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Kids are 6 and 7.
We travelled down to Dorset last Summer in August (from N Yorks) and they were a nightmare even with the DVD screens we had at the time. Decided we're not going to give up though. At least they're excited about going on a ferry.
With regards to France I've ordered a kit with all the bits required, though I could still do with some spare bulbs. It had better arrive by Friday!
Any particular tips for driving in France? Suppose the main routes have tolls?
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538576
19/05/2015 22:50
19/05/2015 22:50
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,521 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
|
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,521
Aldershot
|
With the coupe, I have done every Spaitalia since 2007 and odd local trips to Northern France plus one down to the Loire valley.
On the continent as a whole, probably 100,000 miles in all: I used to live in SW France in the 1970's, and the Paris area where I was based working for an impresario who used to book rock bands throughout the country in the late 1960's. A lot of travel involved there.
Long distances these days I prefer to fly and rent a car with the wheel on the left at the other end. When you think about it, unless you have a lot of stuff to carry, a 3 hour flight makes more sense than a 36 hour drive to get to the Costa del Sol! It's also a damn sight cheaper, say £100 return versus £700 or so last time I did it.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538579
19/05/2015 22:59
19/05/2015 22:59
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,521 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
|
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,521
Aldershot
|
Any particular tips for driving in France? Suppose the main routes have tolls?
Watch for speed cameras and cops, speeding will get you an on the spot fine. Some camera spots have a sign saying "Radar" to warn you but don't bet on it. Toll motorways have the word "Peage" to identify them. Stick to the speed limits as on some motorways they time when you get on and time when you get off and calculate your average speed. If you are too quick then a speeding ticket may follow. Never cross a continuous solid white line even when you are filtering onto a main road, its the same as crossing a double white line here and the cops are particularly hot on it. Be ready for motorcyclists to acknowledge courteous driving by sticking their right leg out and forward in salute.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538583
19/05/2015 23:09
19/05/2015 23:09
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Blimey PeteP - booking rock bands in the late 60s. Sounds more interesting than what I've done with my life so far. Bet you drove some interesting stuff back then too.
I know what you mean about flying, as we've always flown and hired a car at our destination, usually Portugal. Got me thinking about driving all the way to Portugal and stopping off at lots of places on the way. Instead of driving back up through France though I'd get the ferry from Santander to Plymouth or Portsmouth. I looked into this mad idea and the one way crossing ends up being £700 plus of course all the fuel you'd use. And I'm sure the kids wouldn't complain once!
I know someone who drives non stop to see his folks on Gibralter which takes him 21 hours. Madness.
Last edited by Slugcatcher1; 20/05/2015 00:31.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538611
20/05/2015 10:06
20/05/2015 10:06
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 630 Bulgaria
french_coupe
Club member 773
|
Club member 773
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 630
Bulgaria
|
Last year I drove from France to the UK and back, France to Italy and back and France to Spain and back. No issues at all. So far this year I have booked France to the UK and back and France to Spain and back. I don't do a lot of miles in between, but the coupe is great on a run. Not a lot of room in the boot though.
lost in space
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538613
20/05/2015 10:25
20/05/2015 10:25
|
glenn1960
Unregistered
|
glenn1960
Unregistered
|
Plymouth / Roscoff is a good crossing. The roads/countryside is lovely round there and for a first drive abroad is very easy for a Brit.[ on a country road as soon as you leave the ferry enclosure, much to my relief the first time I went there ].
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538640
20/05/2015 13:33
20/05/2015 13:33
|
Nello
Unregistered
|
Nello
Unregistered
|
The Coupe is huge compared to an X1/9 - I took various cars abroad with mates usually with X1/9 owners to Italy for about 6 years in a row.......... We got down as far as Modena one year - normally a 2.5k round trip drive. Places like Monza, Portofino, Monaco, St Bernard Pass. You would not believe the places you can stuff a tin of beans in an X! We went back to the Bertone factory and design centre several times and even met Nuccio himself a few years before his passing. Heres us on the Stelvio years before Top Gear had even heard of it........ Theres actually plans in place between a few mates for a reunion tour next year taking in Cortina and return via the Route Napoleon
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538645
20/05/2015 14:08
20/05/2015 14:08
|
fabs20vt
Unregistered
|
fabs20vt
Unregistered
|
I've driven from London to Rome, then back, over a week.
Brilliant journey, epic scenery- some hairy moments going over the alps during a blizzard (February) but to the coupe's credit, whilst other cars were pulling up on the hard shoulder despite having snow tyres, the coupe just kept going, on my toyos. I'm pretty sure the nose was acting as it's own private snowplough!
I've done the trip before in a W124 merc- definitely more comfortable, but not even a tenth of the fun. One road from Perugia to Rome, through Terni... Just spellbinding.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538646
20/05/2015 14:08
20/05/2015 14:08
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
This is all great stuff. Lots of good advice as well. Cheers everyone.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538657
20/05/2015 16:36
20/05/2015 16:36
|
Barney
Unregistered
|
Barney
Unregistered
|
Nello's got the best idea posting photos. Anyone like to share some more? Must be some gems.
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1538661
20/05/2015 17:15
20/05/2015 17:15
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,568 Berlin
barnacle
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
|
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,568
Berlin
|
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1541785
17/06/2015 05:24
17/06/2015 05:24
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
As an update...
Happy to say we managed the 1000 mile trip from Skipton to Normandy and back with zero problems. The boot was jam packed with camping kit, the rear foot wells full of other stuff, and well as the middle of the rear seat, it carried 2 adults and 2 children and even though I made the most of the performance the coupe managed 32mpg on the route to Dover, and more at other times.
The town we stayed at (Lyon la foret) had a fine square in which to sit and enjoy the passing motors. In the morning a number of French Porsche 911s went through and no one batted an eye lid. Then I drove through in the afternoon in my yellow 20vt and the locals couldn't stop staring!
We travelled from Calais to Normandy in convoy with our friends in a Land Rover series 3 dormobile camper. What a bizarre trip...
Then last week I took advantage of a quiet weekday off work and conquered the Kirkstone pass from Windermere to Ullswater and back again the next day.
Just how good are these cars?!
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1541828
17/06/2015 14:39
17/06/2015 14:39
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 229 Perth, Western Australia
Hoops82
Making a profit
|
Making a profit
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 229
Perth, Western Australia
|
Just how good are these cars?!
Exactly. I may be remembering through rose tinted glasses here (mine has been in storage on another continent for almost 7 years now), but mine was excellent for continental trips. Used to leave work on a fri night, grab the last ferry, nip through france, belgium sometimes the netherlands and into Germany. Drive the ring on the sat and sun morn than be back in work for mon. Never had any issues despite some of my foolish mods. I put my faith in the car even in the height of winter and was never let down. Tempted to sling the wife and nipper in it when we get back to Europe, but it'll only have to fail once to ruin its impeccable track record so best let it lie. Your story is most inspiring. [IMG]http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a553/pericoloso82/Le%20Coupe/IMG_0711_zpsfb17a58b.jpg[/IMG]
Resting UK
|
|
|
Re: The Continent - how far have people driven?
[Re: ]
#1574815
24/05/2016 01:02
24/05/2016 01:02
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
Slugcatcher1
Unregistered
|
I can't believe it's been a year since I started this thread.
We're off on our 1000 mile round trip to Normandy again next week in the Coupe and I just wondered if anyone else managed a decent trip last year? or anything planned for the future?
Always fancied a blast to Italy but don't think the wife and kids would tolerate it!
|
|
|
|