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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614356
11/01/2018 18:47
11/01/2018 18:47
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,553 Berlin
barnacle
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
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Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,553
Berlin
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Oh yes p.s. 2400 miles is nothing: Immediately after Joe and I got the 16NA back together after an engine rebuild and some rust fixin', I drove Herefordshire to Hertfordshire, and then 4,500 miles up to north west Norway and back. For Italy, I prefer to go to Germany and turn right at Aachen, then cross Austria (fuel is cheap there) and into northern Italy conveniently close to the Stelvio Pass... Through France I'd use the A roads rather than the motorways; I hate paying for those and they ain't cheap. And besides, the A roads are significantly more interesting.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: barnacle]
#1614378
11/01/2018 23:25
11/01/2018 23:25
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540 Motherwell - Scotland
Rosso
OP
Club board member 1442
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OP
Club board member 1442
My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540
Motherwell - Scotland
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Oh yes p.s. 2400 miles is nothing: Immediately after Joe and I got the 16NA back together after an engine rebuild and some rust fixin', I drove Herefordshire to Hertfordshire, and then 4,500 miles up to north west Norway and back. For Italy, I prefer to go to Germany and turn right at Aachen, then cross Austria (fuel is cheap there) and into northern Italy conveniently close to the Stelvio Pass... Through France I'd use the A roads rather than the motorways; I hate paying for those and they ain't cheap. And besides, the A roads are significantly more interesting. Thanks Neil I will have a wee look at going via Germany. Don't know if I could persuade Pauline to go via the Stelvio though as she has seen some of the photos of the pass and I think she would rather pass on the pass but it would be a shame not to. I've ben looking at something like this route. The Gottard pass looks well worth a visit.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614384
12/01/2018 10:17
12/01/2018 10:17
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,621 Leicester UK
Ballypete
Club Member 1578
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Club Member 1578
My life on the forum
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,621
Leicester UK
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Interesting to me as am doing Leicester to Tarquinia Italy in July to visit my sister. Am intending to go straight after the Silverstone Classic and I plan to take the overall trip in a 2-3 week period and probably go Eurotunnel then best road to Reims, then Strasbourg or Metz and into Switzerland. Then cross the Gotthard Pass and drop into Milan. Then Perhaps Pisa before last leg to Tarquinia. On the way back I will stop at the places I didn't on the way down, ie Lucerne. I would like to also visit Portofino if I get time and get a snap of my coupe by the town sign- after all its not every day that the colour of your car is so good that they name a place after it!
Last edited by Ballypete; 12/01/2018 10:19.
Doris the 1998 Portofino Blue 20V and Zoe the 1999 Alfa Romeo 916 Spider Bog standard needn't be boring...
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614393
12/01/2018 14:01
12/01/2018 14:01
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,179 Sheffield
X19_pilot
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,179
Sheffield
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I have done Sheffield to Milan many times in various cars, including a Cinquecento, X19, F355 and most recently a 246 Dino - the latter 2 were not mine BTW. Mention you are a member of a car club to P&O ferries and you will get a sizeable discount on the tickets, particularly on he over night crossings. I have always taken in one of the Alpine passes, St Bernadino/Stelvio etc. Motoring abroad is so much easier than driving over here. As for the cars, the Cinquecento was newish at the time, so I cant compare that to going in a 20+ year old car, but the other 3 have all been of similar age or older. I have taken the Coupe to Le Mans a couple of times recently and it is a great car to drive abroad and whilst I haven't taken it as far as Italy, it takes on a different feel on the French A roads and it eats the miles up on the motorway and in more comfort than the 355. The X19 and Dino, whilst capable, was much less comfortable and therefore more tiring, but at the same time, more rewarding in many ways, even with the minor issues that developed on the journey. Got to take an Italian car though, the Police and road workers just wave you on and encourage you to go faster if your in anything interesting and Italian!
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614394
12/01/2018 14:35
12/01/2018 14:35
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609 S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped
Club member 1924
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Club member 1924
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
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On the Turin trip, we took the "direct route" through the French toll roads (they are sooo good we don't mind paying) stopping overnight in Chambery. From there, it is an easy hop to Italy via the Frejus tunnel. After Turin, the return leg was via the Aosta Valley, then up over the St Bernard pass, to Switzerland. Then we crossed over into Chamonix for a week of R&R. The Coupe was an extremely comfortable car for the trip... albeit the air con was kaput, so we roasted slowly in Italy. But hey, a bit of garlic and red wine, and we made a lovely casserole.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614397
12/01/2018 15:03
12/01/2018 15:03
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,408 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
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Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,408
Lightwater, Surrey
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I've driven the Coupe to Italy twice, first was when it was pretty new and I just had to test the speedo up to 155mph on the Autobahns en route to Venice. Second time was the brilliant Turin trip in 2014, took a similar/quick route there (stayed overnight in Lyon) but on the way back went via the Stelvio pass and dropped in at the Nurburgring and the Abarth "museum" in Belgium
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: X19_pilot]
#1614435
13/01/2018 15:08
13/01/2018 15:08
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540 Motherwell - Scotland
Rosso
OP
Club board member 1442
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OP
Club board member 1442
My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540
Motherwell - Scotland
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I have done Sheffield to Milan many times in various cars, including a Cinquecento, X19, F355 and most recently a 246 Dino - the latter 2 were not mine BTW. Mention you are a member of a car club to P&O ferries and you will get a sizeable discount on the tickets, particularly on he over night crossings. I have always taken in one of the Alpine passes, St Bernadino/Stelvio etc. Motoring abroad is so much easier than driving over here. As for the cars, the Cinquecento was newish at the time, so I cant compare that to going in a 20+ year old car, but the other 3 have all been of similar age or older. I have taken the Coupe to Le Mans a couple of times recently and it is a great car to drive abroad and whilst I haven't taken it as far as Italy, it takes on a different feel on the French A roads and it eats the miles up on the motorway and in more comfort than the 355. The X19 and Dino, whilst capable, was much less comfortable and therefore more tiring, but at the same time, more rewarding in many ways, even with the minor issues that developed on the journey. Got to take an Italian car though, the Police and road workers just wave you on and encourage you to go faster if your in anything interesting and Italian! A great assortment of Italian cars to have done it in. Not sure my coupe is in tip top conditioned as it may have to be so the Abarth would be next inline though I don't think it would eat the miles up as easily as the coupe. Might have to get some extra padding for the sparco buckets if its the coupe we take. But it does have a higher driving position which helps with longer drives.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Gripped]
#1614436
13/01/2018 15:15
13/01/2018 15:15
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540 Motherwell - Scotland
Rosso
OP
Club board member 1442
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OP
Club board member 1442
My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540
Motherwell - Scotland
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On the Turin trip, we took the "direct route" through the French toll roads (they are sooo good we don't mind paying) stopping overnight in Chambery. From there, it is an easy hop to Italy via the Frejus tunnel. After Turin, the return leg was via the Aosta Valley, then up over the St Bernard pass, to Switzerland. Then we crossed over into Chamonix for a week of R&R. The Coupe was an extremely comfortable car for the trip... albeit the air con was kaput, so we roasted slowly in Italy. But hey, a bit of garlic and red wine, and we made a lovely casserole. Did you look at one of those automatic things for going through the tolls? Ah id have to get the a/c sorted out for sure and the sunroof opening especially for keeping the dogs happy.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614443
13/01/2018 19:00
13/01/2018 19:00
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609 S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped
Club member 1924
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Club member 1924
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
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Did you look at one of those automatic things for going through the tolls?
Ah id have to get the a/c sorted out for sure and the sunroof opening especially for keeping the dogs happy.
Nope, we just used the credit card as usual. It's pretty quick. Queues like the Severn Bridge are very rare. It might be worth doing though if there are discounts to be had. Air con would be a must in the summer. I still need to get mine sorted, despite replacing most of it already, it still aint working due to a minor leak somewhere.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: X19_pilot]
#1614633
17/01/2018 23:03
17/01/2018 23:03
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540 Motherwell - Scotland
Rosso
OP
Club board member 1442
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OP
Club board member 1442
My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540
Motherwell - Scotland
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Mention you are a member of a car club to P&O ferries and you will get a sizeable discount on the tickets, particularly on he over night crossings. Tried that on today with DFDS but didn't work however still managed to get a sizeable discount for booking early. And so we are on the ferry from Amsterdam to Holland... which is great as we shall be missing out most of the UK. By taking the ferry we really only need to make one overnight stop. Lucerne looks a good place as any. Can anyone recommend good breakdown cover? AA are offering discounts to existing members.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614647
18/01/2018 08:52
18/01/2018 08:52
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,621 Leicester UK
Ballypete
Club Member 1578
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Club Member 1578
My life on the forum
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,621
Leicester UK
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Doris passed her MOT today with no advisories so my road trip to Italy is definitely on and I am pretty much booked and arranged.
After getting into France we will be stopping in Metz for a couple of days, then onto Andermatt for two days before Gotthard Pass and then down to Livorno (visit Pisa) and on to my sisters in Tarquinia. On the way back it will be Genoa for a couple, then Lausanne for a couple and then Luxembourg before heading back towards Calais.
The only thing I haven't booked so far is European breakdown cover- does anyone have a recommendation here?
Doris the 1998 Portofino Blue 20V and Zoe the 1999 Alfa Romeo 916 Spider Bog standard needn't be boring...
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614705
19/01/2018 10:25
19/01/2018 10:25
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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Or you contact me and I will recover you,but it will cost something.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614708
19/01/2018 12:15
19/01/2018 12:15
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,179 Sheffield
X19_pilot
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,179
Sheffield
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A great assortment of Italian cars to have done it in. Not sure my coupe is in tip top conditioned as it may have to be so the Abarth would be next inline though I don't think it would eat the miles up as easily as the coupe. Might have to get some extra padding for the sparco buckets if its the coupe we take. But it does have a higher driving position which helps with longer drives. Indeed I have been lucky to have been in such an assortment, obviously some a lot more than others! Although the Stelvio claimed brake failures in the Cinquecento and the Dino, so make sure yours are in very good order if going over if you plan on going over one of the more extreme Alpine passes! The Cinq was down to worn pads and the Dino was a failed O-ring on some part of the brake system. It wasnt a nice feeling on either occasion! Tried that on today with DFDS but didn't work however still managed to get a sizeable discount for booking early. And so we are on the ferry from Amsterdam to Holland... which is great as we shall be missing out most of the UK.
By taking the ferry we really only need to make one overnight stop. Lucerne looks a good place as any.
Can anyone recommend good breakdown cover? AA are offering discounts to existing members. I am surprised DFDS dont have similar offers as P&O in terms of discounts for motoring clubs. We saved well over £100 on an over night crossing a couple of years ago from Hull to Zebrugge Classic Line insurance offer free European breakdown cover as part of the policy (or it might be a small charge option now). I havent used it, but my Dad has. He couldn't really fault it, the car was recovered back to the UK after the breakdown, and he was given a courtesy car to continue his trip. He said the only inconvenience was having to drop the loan car off at Calais and board as a foot passenger with the luggage and then wait for another one in Dover, which was to be expected. The car was delivered to his house a couple of days after he got back. This was about 5-6 years ago mind, so things might have changed as is the norm with these policies being run more and more by numbers! There is something in the small print about the value of the car vs recovery charges though as mentioned above, so have a chat with them to make sure you are covered.
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: magooagain]
#1614772
20/01/2018 22:46
20/01/2018 22:46
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540 Motherwell - Scotland
Rosso
OP
Club board member 1442
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OP
Club board member 1442
My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,540
Motherwell - Scotland
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Or you contact me and I will recover you,but it will cost something. How much?
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Re: Scotland to Northern Italy driving trip 2018
[Re: Rosso]
#1614780
21/01/2018 08:26
21/01/2018 08:26
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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Or you contact me and I will recover you,but it will cost something. How much? That would depend on where you would be at the time.
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