Tumshie's Italian Tour.

[Barry Cade]

Got back from our Euro blast in the 9-5 today, and as it was a Saab, I'm a bit jet lagged.... Left last Monday lunchtime to drive from Fife to Dover, to get the ferry to Dunkirk, then drive down to Lake Iseo in Northern Italy, camp for 4 nights,then drive home. It nearly went to plan.

The drive to Dover was fine, got on the earlier 2am ferry then headed off left at Dunkirk to get out of France ASAP. Heading for Ghent, the battery light came on, steering went heavy and the temp started to shoot up. Stopped and started a few times and limped to an Opel dealership as it was the nearest thing that might provide help. The staff there were brilliant, didn't have a belt, but phoned an Ex Saab dealer nearby who couldn't get one that day and then a parts supplier who could get one "one hour". We tried to limp the car there but the battery gave out a couple of miles away. It was 32 degrees by this time but I headed off using the map I'd been printed by the Opel guy to collect the belt. When I got there I'd forgotten that abroad, "one hour" translates as 1PM.... Instead of hanging around for 3 hours, I waked back to strip the last bits of belt off and get ready to fit the new one- but still had the problem of a flat battery and auto box-so no bump start...

 

Walking back to the parts place for One, I passed this:

 

Got the belt then started the hot walk back, after paying over 50 Euro for a fan belt and a tin of brake cleaner... Crossing the road further down I spotted a Saab sign on the side of a building in the distance, so walked down towards it, to find an ex Saab dealership with a load of classic 96's, a Sonnett, a last model 9-5 estate and about 15 classic 900's! An old guy was working on a 16v one in the workshop and after a bit of conversation he agreed to come and give me a jump start after I'd got the belt fitted- I was to call when I was done he said. I don't think he took me very seriously but true to his word he came out in a ratty old Daewoo Korando and gave the battery a boost, being surprised I could fit a 9-5 belt in less than 20 mins at the side of the road. The garage is this one: http://www.saab-dealers.be/callensbouckaertwaregem/NL/Home

 

Back on the road worrying if I had got it too hot. Would it blow the head gasket? Stuff it, enough time lost so we pressed on towards Koblenz, stopping for a sleep. The 9-5 makes a very passable and comfortable camper!

 

Up early morning, shower and breakfast in an Autohof,spotting this fuelling up

then back heading South, passing Sindelfingen and Bobligen- the twin town of my home town. Into Austria- the cheapest fuel of the journey at less than a quid a litre- and up into the Alps and over into Italy.

 

 

I've wanted to drive the Stelvio for years so that was the way we went. It's some piece of engineering and was busy. Bought some stickers and a T shirt at the top then started the steep hairpin descents.. Got passed on the way up by a TR8 convertible which sounded awesome.

 

 

Miles of beautiful scenery before getting to the campsite which was awesome. Even better was a large Blonde beer just as the sun started to set.

 

Had a walk around the villages better put some autoshite in here so it's not a holiday review!

 

These things were everywhere, lesley and I decided to do a Panda count in Italy I luv em, and she had one as her first car. We got 104 in 3 days, about 70/30 4x4 to 2wd.

 

Suzuki Jimny's are EVERYWHERE in Italy.

 

Headed up through Swizzerland on the B roads heading home. old shite lying everywhere which surprised me. Unmanned fuel station swiped 50 Euro off me, pissed me off that. Into Liechtenstien for a wee bit then round Lake Constanz, coming round a bend I clapped eyes on these!! The wife thought a puppy had ran out in front of me with the shriek me and the tyres let out as I hit the brakes.

 

Up to the Nurburgring with the cruise set at a relaxed ton

and an overnight sleep in the Saab Camper. Wandered around Adenau for a bit.

 

500 was tiny next to a Lupo.

 

Picnic from Lidl trackside. Italian salad with a flat six soundtrack... and an absolute nutter in a Merc 190e 2.5-16.

 

On up to Spa, passing an old closed Volvo garage..

 

Then back toward Dunkirk and home.. Highlight was a black Countach lp400 on a breakdown truck heading North just past Gretna.

 

Here are the stats. Trip computer was door to door.

 

Total mileage.

 

Average speed.

 

Average fuel consumption. Its a 2.3 turbo auto FYi

 

And the hottest temp we saw. It was never below 32 daytimes anywhere in Europe. I LOVE AIR CONDITIONING. I reckon the trip would have been horrible without it.

 

 

 

 

[Barry Cade]

Crapi.

 

O2 with a good reception.

 

'Ring Scirocco

 

For pedal and pop fans.

 

And train fans. This is in the castle grounds in Brescia. Didn't expect that!

 

And my favorite pic from the week.

 

We loved the trip so much we have decided to buy or build a campervan for next year, so the caravan's going and possible the bike. Tumshie should go too, but 9-5's are pretty worthless and he owes me FAR more than he's worth. Great motors for trips like these!

 

 

 

 

[Jon]

Great stuff, though sounds a lot of effort for 4 nights camping! That's not to say you were mad to attempt it etc. rather that I sometimes baulk at driving more than 4-5 hours without going to the effort of making it a long weekend, etc. Maybe I should harden up a bit!

 

Great to hear of so many Pandas milling about the place - I'm guessing they outnumber the later models with being a bit more utilitarian and all that. Also can't remember if many countries outside of Italy that got the Alfa 33 wagon in 2WD format - did the UK? They were certainly all 4x4 in Aus/NZ, from what I've seen/read in old mags. Not that they sold many!

[Bfg]

Brilliant..  who can say they had a better time last weekend ?

 

I very much like the idea of car camping, but would like to do it in something a little more classic (no disrespect intended ).. perhaps I should rephrased that .. in an 'older vehicle'.   

 

Years ago I'd toured around Europe on my motorcycle (BMW R90-6 twin) and a tent - for three or four months.  Even touring leisurely around the Norwegian fjords ; 4 hours @ 50mph would take me 200 miles along the route.  The continent is surprisingly small.!  However after a while putting the tent up and decamping the next morning, along with silly little camp stoves, packing & unpacking into motorcycle panniers,  ...and summertime flies or mosquitos took on a whole new meaning.  I very much enjoyed the experience but felt that next time I'd like a few more home conveniences. 

 

I then owned a kit-car company and made a few trips (down to Vienna, then another to the October Fest in Munich, and yet another to Portugal) - each time taking a tent.. More convenient than the bike (without needing 'biking gear for all weathers' and yet space even for a couple of camping stools)  and so we had some great trips.  But one has to realise that visibility from a low slung sports car is neither good for seeing the scenery,  or for seeing around corners,  nor when following other traffic in the wet. 

 

So, some years later I converted a van (a high top Renault traffic) to be a camper and went down to the med and we journeyed around the coast road,  and then up into the French Alps.  Vans offer a fantastic aspect from which to view the scenery but tbh I missed the fun of  driving..   The following year I went over to the US to find work and so our excursions with the van were not so many, but then again nor were they memorable.!

 

I've done dozens of other biking and car trips around Britain & Europe in different types of car or motorcycle.  The last bike trip was down to Slovenia.  Wearing misted up spectacles within a sodden helmet in torrential rain didn't help my enjoyment of the Austrian Alps.  And then on the long and tedious leg back up through France - I decided then that I'd much prefer to do such trips in a classic sports saloon.  So I've bought (and then sold again) a few of those in search of what I'm looking for.  

 

In recent years I've been aware of my inner traveling-spirit looking at older estate cars and hatchbacks that I might sleep in, as heavy old bones and stony ground are not good bed fellows..  But being 6'5" tall limits my choice.  

 

My LWB Chrysler Voyager has been my car-camper for the past few years ..as indeed it will be again next weekend (Victory Show, Leics.),  but  although it is a super vehicle, it's also rather boring & soul-less..  So my heart continues its search for an older vehicle... whether an estate or large hatchback, or otherwise particularly accommodating or so full of charm for camping again.

 

High on my criteria then is that the car should be 'interesting',  as well as being economical for extended trips on a small budget.  High speed performance is not an issue - as  at 50 to 65 mph sightseeing speeds ..the miles soon roll by..   but  whether a mini or a Jaguar - it must be fun to drive, and that means it must get up hills and go around corners.. 

 

NB..  It's rather unfortunate that I cannot afford a DB6 shooting brake, but something along those lines would be nice. 

 

You might also want to consider that many of the box-type camper vans are bulky to park in a town,  are barred from car-parks,  and possibly even moved on by the authorities who want to see a through-flow of money-spending tourists.   And, unless a recognized brand like the VW Combi - home converted or plain panel vans are viewed upon with suspicion as being 'travellers'.  And finally.. most vans are less than discrete when camping wild.   Just food for thought.

 

 .

[Spottedlaurel]

Excellent lunchtime reading/viewing.

 

Switzerland surprised me with how much old stuff was around.

 

What's Italy like to drive in? France should give us plenty more holidays yet, but Italy has been mentioned as a possibility one day.

[Barry Cade]

Italy is brilliant to drive in, but if there is a gap, it WILL be filled. Driving standard is really good though, and the roads are SO quiet, as in no road noise..Bikers are mental!  Belgium is really noisy and the drivers are a bit mental. Swiss drivers seem very arrogant and will pass in mad places with very little regard to your or their safety. Germans seem to be slacking off with their lane discipline and speeds seem to have dropped on the Autobahn- 90mph seems to be the cruising speed... it used to be about 110!

[Bfg]

Excellent lunchtime reading/viewing.

 

Switzerland surprised me with how much old stuff was around.

 

What's Italy like to drive in? France should give us plenty more holidays yet, but Italy has been mentioned as a possibility one day.

 

The Dolomites are the best driver's roads I've experienced anywhere.. I was on a very capable touring motorcycle though.

 

Out of the mountains or sea breezes Italy can be a really hot country, so you might want to avoid peak summer season when you visit. 

[dollywobbler]

And the hottest temp we saw. It was never below 32 daytimes anywhere in Europe. I LOVE AIR CONDITIONING. I reckon the trip would have been horrible without it.

IMG_20160828_140716760.jpg

 

I was stuck in a queue at Calais a week ago today, and it was well over 30 degrees. And the air con had packed up. I can confirm that you are quite accurate.

[Barry Cade]

Just spotted this place on " The Missing" drama on bbc1. Wife was watching it and recognised it straight away.