Discussion
Whilst we're talking about big trips, I've just done 4000 miles to Lisbon and back.
Took two days to do 1540 miles down there, had seven weeks working in Lisbon, and driving the car about (gets good looks around there!), then did another 1500 on the way back - 5 days around southern spain, into the pyrenees, back to UK on Bilbao ferry.
Car, you'll be pleased to hear, performed faultlessly. I didn't have to make use of the spare accelerator cable OR call the AA ;-) There's 160 quid I wasted then. Doh.
I'd like to think mines one of many, unpublished, good news Tuscans. She's done over 14,000 miles now, without any major problems. Lots of silly electrical niggles, and one over heating incident (well, hit 110 degrees and boiled off a bit of the water! but didn't stop and had her fixed quick sharp).
Did Don Palmers Creative Car Control course last Sunday. Two hours of powersliding and learning how to handle the beast. Pretty much caned a set of tyres, but I'm still grinning now, so rather worth it ;-)
You'll love yer new car!
--Phips
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(Took two days to do 1540 miles down there, had seven weeks working in Lisbon, and driving the car about (gets good looks around there!), then did another 1500 on the way back - 5 days around southern spain, into the pyrenees, back to UK on Bilbao ferry).
Are the roads around that part of the world as good (condition wise) as I've been told they are? Someone I knew used to go there every year and said they were really good for bikers and suggested I should take the TVR down there.
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Are the roads around that part of the world as good (condition wise) as I've been told they are? Someone I knew used to go there every year and said they were really good for bikers and suggested I should take the TVR down there.
Main roads are fantastic. You get great, sweeping, bends with fantastic tarmac that you can fly around! A real buzz. Once you get onto the "B" roads (D roads in France) they can get pretty ropey, but usually the views are so amazing you don't want to go fast.
Hopefully this weekend I'll get some of my photos posted on the web somewhere.
--Phips
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I am planning a trip through the Alps and down to Tuscany next spring and hope to have the same reliability story as you!
Now that'll be fun too! I'd like to do a drive to Italy next year, my fave country. Love the place. There's some great mountain passes in the Alps too, I did a motorbike tour there last year.
I would take some precautions tho.
1) Spare accelerator cable. (about 53quid from your dealer). They have a habit of going, apparently. Mine didn't, of course (after the bloody expense!) Take some string too, to pull it through with!
2) Water. You'll get through some if it's hot and you're bimbling through the mountain passes.
3) Oil. ;-) Goes without saying, really.
4) AA 5* cover. Expensive, but they'll tow your car home if it all goes horribly wrong - and supply you with a hire car.
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Any details on Don Pamlers course ?
There's some info at www.drivingdevelopment.co.uk, it's the "Creative Car Control" course. Basically, it's two hours of one-on-one tuition from Don. He'll ask you what you want to do, then he'll teach you how. Personally, I just wanted to learn how to handle this beast on the edge of control, aiming to get towards being able to powerslide it.
It's fantastic fun, and although 395quid for two hours seems like a lot of money, it's well worth it. And, trust me, after driving like a loon for two hours, you'll be shattered and in need of a rest! Plus the car needs a break every half or so. The paint on my hubs was boiling off coz of the brake heat, at the tyres got to nearly 100 degrees! You couldn't touch them!
Look at the website, give Don a call, go do it. You'll have such fun!
--Phips
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