Taking classic on long European drive - BEERFEST
Discussion
Sat having a drink the other day with my mate Dave, we struck upon the idea of taking the 1979 Merc SL that we share over to France to blow the cobwebs out. About five years we saw it for sale and impulsively went halves on it. Since then we take turns each year to use it. The car only does several hundred miles per year on short journeys. I'd class it as an average example, which we spent a little bit of money on at the outset to tidy up and service. Its the lower spec 350 model.
As the discussion progressed, however, the plans became rather grand, and in no time at all we had looked beyond France and identified Stuttgart as a possible destination, on the basis that the new Merc museum is there and it would be like taking the car back to its spirtual home. We casually reassured ourselves that old school Mercedes reliablilty would stand us in good stead, and that the previous owner had told us the car had apparently in the past regularly driven down to the South of France and back.
Even better, we then also noticed that the Stuttgart Volksfest (Beer festival) kicks off next Friday, and having typed in directions on google maps, saw that the suggested route (from St Malo) also takes us through Paris and Reims. And to cap the list of possibilities, we noticed that the Frankfurt motorshow will still be going that weekend!
It was the sort of "wouldn't that be good" type conversation, which you often have with mates in the pub, but when I got back to work I thought, "what the hell", and impulsively booked the ferry tickets, leaving next Thursday evening, back on Sunday night.
Plan would be to take the boat to St Malo thursday night, drive straight to Paris getting there at just after midnight, staying in the vicinity that night with maybe a nighttime drive through the capital. Early set off on Friday, via Reims Circuit, to Frankfurt catching a couple of hours at the Motorshow. Then either drive to Stuttgart that night, or the following morning, visit the Merc museum if there's time, and go to the Beer festival in the afternoon evening. Drive all the way back on the Sunday (10 hour drive).
What are your views on potential pitfalls with the plan? Too much driving for a classic? The car is booked in for a service before we leave, and will also have new tyres all round. Anyone know if old merc's are prone to any habitual problems? Some people have said the long distance is likely to stuff a little used motor, while others have said it might well clear the engine and improve performance? Any tools or parts that it would be advisable to take with us? Hard top or soft top?
All views welcome. I'm aware it may all turn disasterously wrong if it breaks down after 50 miles of motorway driving, or if it decides to rain all weekend. But that's part of the adventure I guess. Over to you...
As the discussion progressed, however, the plans became rather grand, and in no time at all we had looked beyond France and identified Stuttgart as a possible destination, on the basis that the new Merc museum is there and it would be like taking the car back to its spirtual home. We casually reassured ourselves that old school Mercedes reliablilty would stand us in good stead, and that the previous owner had told us the car had apparently in the past regularly driven down to the South of France and back.
Even better, we then also noticed that the Stuttgart Volksfest (Beer festival) kicks off next Friday, and having typed in directions on google maps, saw that the suggested route (from St Malo) also takes us through Paris and Reims. And to cap the list of possibilities, we noticed that the Frankfurt motorshow will still be going that weekend!
It was the sort of "wouldn't that be good" type conversation, which you often have with mates in the pub, but when I got back to work I thought, "what the hell", and impulsively booked the ferry tickets, leaving next Thursday evening, back on Sunday night.
Plan would be to take the boat to St Malo thursday night, drive straight to Paris getting there at just after midnight, staying in the vicinity that night with maybe a nighttime drive through the capital. Early set off on Friday, via Reims Circuit, to Frankfurt catching a couple of hours at the Motorshow. Then either drive to Stuttgart that night, or the following morning, visit the Merc museum if there's time, and go to the Beer festival in the afternoon evening. Drive all the way back on the Sunday (10 hour drive).
What are your views on potential pitfalls with the plan? Too much driving for a classic? The car is booked in for a service before we leave, and will also have new tyres all round. Anyone know if old merc's are prone to any habitual problems? Some people have said the long distance is likely to stuff a little used motor, while others have said it might well clear the engine and improve performance? Any tools or parts that it would be advisable to take with us? Hard top or soft top?
All views welcome. I'm aware it may all turn disasterously wrong if it breaks down after 50 miles of motorway driving, or if it decides to rain all weekend. But that's part of the adventure I guess. Over to you...
Edited by CY88 on Thursday 17th September 19:15
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