Euro Trip June 2012
- Thread starter jaxZ4
- Start date
Day 2 Ijmuiden Ferry Port to Stuttgart
Our third time In Netherlands but first time driving and getting on the right route from the terminal with help from TomTom is pretty simple. I’ve been warned that speeding fines & penalties in Netherlands and particularly Switzerland can be harsh and given some history I’m committed to observing motorway limits within reason (generally 120kph ). The TomTom feature of showing the limit relevant to the road your on is an invaluable little tool that we use constantly as motorway and particularly autobahn limits change frequently often with little warning, though you soon begin to understand and predict where they will drop.
After what seems like no time at all we’re on a slightly narrower 2 lane section, when an AMG Merc flies past – heck we’re in Germany, we can GLF and Tom Tom confirms by showing no limit now. It’s genuinely narrow for 2 lanes with just a modest hard shoulder so takes a little acclimatization and concentration.
Our 3.0 Zed with 231bhp is by some margin not the most powerful vehicle on these roads and it does seem that it’s usually an Audi, Merc or BMW appearing in the rear view, hinting that he can probably climb this hill quicker than you so I do pull in, as is the etiquette. Cruising ( legally !) at around 125 mph quickly becomes routine and I’m delighted and impressed that my 8 year old zed seems utterly solid at speeds that, honest gov, I’ve never seen in the UK. Feeling I’m almost flatout with limited room ahead on a slight left hand bend I’m obliged to pull in at an indicated 130mph to allow another b*oody Merc pass and an Audi or two – I confess to wishing on a few occasions that I had my own daily drive, a V6T Audi S4 Avant (333bhp) when I’m pretty sure we would have hit 150 or so. In this company the zed feels small and slightly intimidated and of course the roof is up, though we later have some spells with it down at around 100mph which was fine.
Mrs jax takes over for the final run into Stuttgart and we easily find the Holiday Inn Express watch Germany v Portugal in the bar/restaurant. Being Scottish it’s easy to be neutral and adopt a “when in Rome approach”. Food, room, breakfast etc. all just fine for a one night stop.
Day 3
Stuttgart – Porsche Museum
Like many I have always admired Porsche and I guess I now feel I want a 911 sometime. The museum is fabulous and easily the best of the three we visit, Audi & BMW.
There’s an enticing range of both historic and modern examples with good brief history and a decent audio guide. The coffee is excellent too and we buy the obligatory fridge magnet and some other souvenirs. I was surprised to find the new blue Boxster and the grey one with the red roof, in the parking garage just so attractive and once sat in the 911 Carrera available to the public it does fit and feel well……..so if I traded in both the S4 and the Z4 and bought a cheaper diesel Audi then maybe, just maybe . . . but the Porsche forum I’m sure would be a poor alternative.
The drive up to Davos gets increasingly interesting once we leave the dizzy autobahn speeds and start climbing towards St Moritz etc. in showery conditions, roof up, lots of road works but fine scenery.
The Davos Sheraton, our base for 2 days is excellent though a rather expensive indulgence. We use the spa, sauna and pool and have a late dinner, watch more football and sleep like a kid at Christmas …. i.e. not much – it’s Stelvio tomorrow.
Our third time In Netherlands but first time driving and getting on the right route from the terminal with help from TomTom is pretty simple. I’ve been warned that speeding fines & penalties in Netherlands and particularly Switzerland can be harsh and given some history I’m committed to observing motorway limits within reason (generally 120kph ). The TomTom feature of showing the limit relevant to the road your on is an invaluable little tool that we use constantly as motorway and particularly autobahn limits change frequently often with little warning, though you soon begin to understand and predict where they will drop.
After what seems like no time at all we’re on a slightly narrower 2 lane section, when an AMG Merc flies past – heck we’re in Germany, we can GLF and Tom Tom confirms by showing no limit now. It’s genuinely narrow for 2 lanes with just a modest hard shoulder so takes a little acclimatization and concentration.
Our 3.0 Zed with 231bhp is by some margin not the most powerful vehicle on these roads and it does seem that it’s usually an Audi, Merc or BMW appearing in the rear view, hinting that he can probably climb this hill quicker than you so I do pull in, as is the etiquette. Cruising ( legally !) at around 125 mph quickly becomes routine and I’m delighted and impressed that my 8 year old zed seems utterly solid at speeds that, honest gov, I’ve never seen in the UK. Feeling I’m almost flatout with limited room ahead on a slight left hand bend I’m obliged to pull in at an indicated 130mph to allow another b*oody Merc pass and an Audi or two – I confess to wishing on a few occasions that I had my own daily drive, a V6T Audi S4 Avant (333bhp) when I’m pretty sure we would have hit 150 or so. In this company the zed feels small and slightly intimidated and of course the roof is up, though we later have some spells with it down at around 100mph which was fine.
Mrs jax takes over for the final run into Stuttgart and we easily find the Holiday Inn Express watch Germany v Portugal in the bar/restaurant. Being Scottish it’s easy to be neutral and adopt a “when in Rome approach”. Food, room, breakfast etc. all just fine for a one night stop.
Day 3
Stuttgart – Porsche Museum
Like many I have always admired Porsche and I guess I now feel I want a 911 sometime. The museum is fabulous and easily the best of the three we visit, Audi & BMW.
There’s an enticing range of both historic and modern examples with good brief history and a decent audio guide. The coffee is excellent too and we buy the obligatory fridge magnet and some other souvenirs. I was surprised to find the new blue Boxster and the grey one with the red roof, in the parking garage just so attractive and once sat in the 911 Carrera available to the public it does fit and feel well……..so if I traded in both the S4 and the Z4 and bought a cheaper diesel Audi then maybe, just maybe . . . but the Porsche forum I’m sure would be a poor alternative.
The drive up to Davos gets increasingly interesting once we leave the dizzy autobahn speeds and start climbing towards St Moritz etc. in showery conditions, roof up, lots of road works but fine scenery.
The Davos Sheraton, our base for 2 days is excellent though a rather expensive indulgence. We use the spa, sauna and pool and have a late dinner, watch more football and sleep like a kid at Christmas …. i.e. not much – it’s Stelvio tomorrow.
A
Anonymous
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Not jealous not jealous not jealous 
