V8 Vantage - European Tour
Discussion
Just back from our latest 'Research & Inspection' tour: -
16 days,
5 countries (France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France),
Over 20 Alpine passes,
2687 miles,
21.8 average mpg,
41 mph average.
Overall the car was faultless, and received admiring attention everywhere we went.
This was our first 'big' European tour in our V8 Vantage, and it was an absolute pleasure to drive, and according to Blondemoment, an absolute pleasure to be a co-pilot in
A Great Drive - that didn't leave us Shattered!
On returning, the car had it's 10,000 mile service, which showed no ill-effects from it's 'adventure'
If you would like to see a selection of pictures from the trip, please click here - best viewed as a slide-show (click on the picture, then click slide-show button)
16 days,
5 countries (France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France),
Over 20 Alpine passes,
2687 miles,
21.8 average mpg,
41 mph average.
Overall the car was faultless, and received admiring attention everywhere we went.
This was our first 'big' European tour in our V8 Vantage, and it was an absolute pleasure to drive, and according to Blondemoment, an absolute pleasure to be a co-pilot in
A Great Drive - that didn't leave us Shattered!
On returning, the car had it's 10,000 mile service, which showed no ill-effects from it's 'adventure'
If you would like to see a selection of pictures from the trip, please click here - best viewed as a slide-show (click on the picture, then click slide-show button)
Reassuring to read this.
My v8 has its first European road trip at the end of this month. Will be taking it and the wife down to monaco for a long weekend, and likely to knock up 2000 miles over four days.
We then have a Euro boys trip next june where I may well take it again depending on how it gets on this time.
My v8 has its first European road trip at the end of this month. Will be taking it and the wife down to monaco for a long weekend, and likely to knock up 2000 miles over four days.
We then have a Euro boys trip next june where I may well take it again depending on how it gets on this time.
Excellent stuff and nice pics
I did the Fuball Viking tour (www.furball5000.co.uk) in my V8 in June - 3000miles in 10 days - Norway, Swedend, Denmark, Germany, France and the car never missed a beat. It was quick enough on the autobahn so we didnt get left behind by any of the other exotica on the tour..and fast enough through the Norwegian mountain passes to keep up with the Elises in the group
As an all round touring car it was excellent for luggage space and comfort..and always got a lot of attention at the hotels we stayed at.
No idea on mpg at all (the joys of a fuel card!) ...it does tend to burn a little oil (about 5L in 13K miles now over 4 months)
..and to finish my holiday off, I took it on a track day at Snetterton a couple of days after a got back, where it excelled itself amongst other more track orientated stuff ...had it service afterwards, and some new rear tyres and pads - other than that shes done 18K miles now total and running like a dream.
The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
I did the Fuball Viking tour (www.furball5000.co.uk) in my V8 in June - 3000miles in 10 days - Norway, Swedend, Denmark, Germany, France and the car never missed a beat. It was quick enough on the autobahn so we didnt get left behind by any of the other exotica on the tour..and fast enough through the Norwegian mountain passes to keep up with the Elises in the group
As an all round touring car it was excellent for luggage space and comfort..and always got a lot of attention at the hotels we stayed at.
No idea on mpg at all (the joys of a fuel card!) ...it does tend to burn a little oil (about 5L in 13K miles now over 4 months)
..and to finish my holiday off, I took it on a track day at Snetterton a couple of days after a got back, where it excelled itself amongst other more track orientated stuff ...had it service afterwards, and some new rear tyres and pads - other than that shes done 18K miles now total and running like a dream.
The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
bogie said:
Excellent stuff and nice pics
The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
Like you, overall I am chuffed so far. Brakes are not a patch on the 360 CS though...at operating temperature CS brakes are simply awesome (plus the added benefit you dont get any of that annoying brake dust The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
) There is no fade whatsoever and they can cope with the heat alot better.I did the Stelvio Pass and Route Napoleon in my CS during June....the brakes just got better and better and better. F355spider said:
bogie said:
Excellent stuff and nice pics
The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
Like you, overall I am chuffed so far. Brakes are not a patch on the 360 CS though...at operating temperature CS brakes are simply awesome (plus the added benefit you dont get any of that annoying brake dust The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
) There is no fade whatsoever and they can cope with the heat alot better.I did the Stelvio Pass and Route Napoleon in my CS during June....the brakes just got better and better and better. whoami said:
Bonne Route said:
21.8 average mpg,
WOW - how did you manage that??Seriously, I've no idea. I just re-set the computer before we left.
We mainly drove 'Squirrelly' back roads to complement the passes. When we had to drive on the motorway (mainly in France), it was the French holiday season, with Jean Claud Gendarme in abundance, so no more than 100 leptons, interspersed with coffee, fuel and pee stops!
Edited by Bonne Route on Saturday 1st September 19:42
F355spider said:
My v8 has its first European road trip at the end of this month. Will be taking it and the wife down to monaco for a long weekend, and likely to knock up 2000 miles over four days.
Sounds great! Provence in late September/early October is IMHO the best time of the year to visit.bogie said:
As an all round touring car it was excellent for luggage space and comfort..and always got a lot of attention at the hotels we stayed at.
I completely agree
No idea on mpg at all (the joys of a fuel card!) ...it does tend to burn a little oil (about 5L in 13K miles now over 4 months)
we didn't use any over the whole trip
The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
Agreed again. Even after a succession of fast downhill pass sections, the brakes never seemed to suffer from any 'fade'
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
I completely agree
No idea on mpg at all (the joys of a fuel card!) ...it does tend to burn a little oil (about 5L in 13K miles now over 4 months)
we didn't use any over the whole trip
The instructor I had for the day was well impressed with the way it was set-up and the brakes in particular. He said you dont normally get many road cars that can cope with 20mins or so...apparently even things that you expect to have good brakes like 360s and CSLs are quite poor and only last a few laps whereas the V8s were lasting 7-8 laps of Snett before feeling a little wooden.
Agreed again. Even after a succession of fast downhill pass sections, the brakes never seemed to suffer from any 'fade'
So overall, Im really chuffed with it as an overall package, and its got to be the most viable alternative to a 997 there is (if you dont need the back seats of the Porker) - for a daily driver sportscar, that you can go touring in and do the occasional trackday its great
heres my fave pic - taken by BossCerbera as we approached the lunchstop on the first day - the GF is in front in the Sagaris
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2384250370039429722RmDNEo]
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and heres the last night at a hotel in Hamburg
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2320708160039429722KfYlRC]
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edit links
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2384250370039429722RmDNEo]
[/URL]and heres the last night at a hotel in Hamburg
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2320708160039429722KfYlRC]
[/URL]edit links
Edited by bogie on Sunday 2nd September 00:51
Edited by bogie on Sunday 2nd September 00:52
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