8 day Euro Trip

[944 man]

I realise that youre probably tired (although I drove 3,000 miles through the Alps and home in four days in a 944!), so this is a good start, but Id like to hear more about it with a lot more photos later... []

 

[Masher]

Agreed. This looks like an epic trip with some stunning roads. More details please. Cheers Mick

 

[andy watson]

Nice one Edd, thanks for sharing looks like you and the car are grinning in the last pic! Glad you had a good time mate, and that old gold thing don't look outa place in the pics with the newer metal [] Catch up soon mate?

 

[M666LMJ]

Wow, great photos. Looks like a fantastic trip and similar to one that we're doing in September, details here, I think there are still a couple of places available if anyone is interested :- [link=http://www.europeandrivingtours.co.uk/5-6-night-tours/super-passes-super-cars/]http://www.europeandrivingtours.co.uk/5-6-night-tours/super-passes-super-cars/[/link] Mike & Lisa

 

[Copperman05]

Tour was organised by Petrolhead Nirvana who also run their own night at the ace, good mix of cars from Morgan to Boxster, Caymans, 991's, 993, 997 turbo, 2x Lambo's, 2x Ferrari's, 2x Lotus, AM V12 Vantage and me. Driving was done from about 9:30 each day till 6-8pm in evening, lunch the odd photo and loo's the only stops alone the way. Once at the hotel, a hards day driving was rewarded with cold beer, good food and great company. Details of the route are here http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/driving-tours/alpine-north/alpine-north-itinerary/ Favourite roads were the quietest during morning hours and less known passes between Italy and Switzerland, Fluela, Umbrial, Julier were all pretty much deserted. Furka, Grimsel, Susten, St Gatthard and Nufenen passes can be done in figure of eight one after the other. Stelvio was a disapointment, north side was not pleasant when damp, south side better but nothing special. French B roads off route Napoleon were also very very good. Next tour I would like to do will be shorter version in Wales over a weekend, PN also do tours to the US, Alps via Pyrenees and a Viking tour in Norway. Edd

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: andy watson Catch up soon mate?

How about ace on 29th? Edd

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: M666LMJ Wow, great photos.  Looks like a fantastic trip and similar to one that we're doing in September, details here, I think there are still a couple of places available if anyone is interested :- [link=http://www.europeandrivingtours.co.uk/5-6-night-tours/super-passes-super-cars/]http://www.europeandrivingtours.co.uk/5-6-night-tours/super-passes-super-cars/[/link] Mike & Lisa

Looks great!

 

[Frenchy]

Awesome Edd, hopefully the other attendees will have found respect for the 944 []

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: Frenchy Awesome Edd, hopefully the other attendees will have found respect for the 944 []

Certainly did, comments like, 'It goes doesnt it!', and 'Just goes to show its not all about horse power, you were keeping up with that lot very well!' It was the cheapest car there probably but once again the 944 held its own, no complaints from me, accept would have liked A/C! Edd

 

[Copperman05]

Been told off by Simon so posting this here too...!

Last week I did best part of 3000 miles with a driving tour across alps visiting 5 countries, 15 passes inc 3 highest passes in alps, + black forest, + route Napoleon.

Rough route here https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=216805762103005176298.0004cee41ae309b571d39&msa=0&ll=47.517201,4.416504&spn=9.766697,22.456055

Probably the best week of fun involving a car I have ever had, some pretty exotic metal was present too and made it all the more special. The 944 was the oldest bar one (911 SC, which had running issues) and only problem was hot start issue on couple of occasions, still not sure what it was (DME is latest type) and appears intermittent. I certainly have a new found respect for this little car, we were pretty on it for most of the trip and it just carries on, wanting more. Used about 1lt of oil in 2800 very hard miles, which I think is pretty reasonable.

I also found that Yoko AD08 tyres are just awesome, KW's set up for road use are ideal on alpine roads and you need all the braking you can get.

Nearly £700 on fuel, best mpg was 32.4 (motorway) worst was 17.6 (1st and 2nd gear up Stelvio) average about 24mpg overall.


Overall an unforgettable week, can wait for the next tour.


Edd

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

ORIGINAL: andy watson Catch up soon mate?

How about ace on 29th? Edd

Ok will see if I can, work has gone mad I will give you a call next week

 

[George Elliott]

This recent weather, I think we could all do with A/C Edd [] but more importantly 11 out of 10 for taking the turbo so far from home with all that blingy company. Amazing to think it was probably the best car on the trip in terms of weight, balance, build quality, depth of engineering. How many of them averaged 24mpg I wonder. What progress....[8|] George 944t

 

[MarkK]

Great pics,sounds epic!!

 

[Hairyarse]

Epic trip Edd, nice one! Must have been pretty special [8D]

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: George Elliott ... 11 out of 10 for taking the turbo so far from home ...

Pur-lease George! Edd may have a face for radio but he does at least have taste in cars! (It's an S2. Not a turbo. I hope you haven't hurt his/it's feelings. []) Oli.

 

[Copperman05]

Face for radio? How very dare you... In the alps I think the turbo would be fantastic when on song but even more laggy when not. Edd

 

[Martin Sage]

Well done Edd. You set the scene nicely with the route and photos and did the 944 gang proud. Reliable or what and at least Highgate Hill won't seem so daunting now []

 

[zcacogp]

Out of curiosity, you said you spent £700 on juice and the holiday cost was about the same for you and whoever you went with. Cost of food and drink was on top of this and must have come to another good few hundred each. Maintenance and wear and tear on the car also, and this would have been a couple of hundred quid. If you were to do the same trip on your own (or with friends), do you think you could have saved money on the hotels and accommodation by booking directly? Or did it seem like genuine value for money? Oli.

 

[Copperman05]

I travelled alone, as did most on this tour. Breakfast and dinner was included, lunch was usually a sandwich or road side food outlet. Hotels were 3 and 4 stars except in mountains where they were good quality with great food. I think the tour was good value, myself and others have had a go at pricing up similar hotels and found it came out more expensive. You also need to factor in channel crossings which were also included. No doubt a cheaper version could be done but I found the added value of two tour managers and knowledge of all the best roads was invaluable. Having said that it was a pretty intense week, not much time for sightseeing as it was all about the driving, not an issue if you alone but partners may not be so keen. Edd

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05 Having said that it was a pretty intense week, not much time for sightseeing as it was all about the driving, not an issue if you alone but partners may not be so keen.

.. and there is what I suspect would be the problem. It is very much a driving holiday (and a damned good one at that, by the looks of it.) Snag would be that my missis wouldn't enjoy it half as much as me, and I'd feel pretty selfish if I was to do it on my own. I could however think about doing the same route over a longer period of time, perhaps with each driving day interspersed with a sightseeing day. I'd probably enjoy that more and I know Mrs zcacogp would certainly enjoy it more. Looks like a cracking route, for sure. I did something similar in a Mk1 GTi with two friends when we left school but pushed on to Monaco before turning 'round. I have very, very fond memories of that trip - chasing French girls around some lovely towns ... and very very fond memories of that car as well! Oli.