General: 850: Swiss Alps - Best road ??

[Sharpey]

Me and my partner (why did we start calling them partners instead of girlfriends ??) are off on a 3000 mile round trip of 8 countries in a few weeks in the T5R and I wondered if anyone knew the best road to get over the Swiss Alps ?

We will be going from the area around Monte Carlo and heading towards Lake Geneva so any information you can give would be much appreciated.

Just had a mechanic friend go over the car with a fine tooth comb so she is spot on for the trip. He has changed the cam belt, plugs & leads, oil & filter, adjusted clutch, welded door strap (bloody thing), added a bleed valve to the turbo (what an improvement), fitted turbo timer and just generally given it a bloody good seeing to and all for £200 ! Now that's what I call a friend.

She is kicking out a shed load of power and I'm thinking of getting it on the dyno to see exactly what the BHP is now.

Happy days

Cheers
Sharpey

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

You want to go over or though??
There's a tunnel through the Alps now as far as I know..

EDIT: Try the rac route planner with start and destination to see where it takes you..

Des. . .

[Sharpey]

No tunnel for me. It's got to be over to see the stunning scenery. Me and a few of the lads were going to do it last year on the bikes but couldn't drag ourselves away from the twisties in Andora (any excuse to get the knee down).

I have seen pictures and heard write ups in the past about the pass over the top but I just want to nail down which road it is. I have Autoroute and I will try the RAC website but they don't give me any idea what we are going to be looking at from any particular road.

The quest continues ! Cheers Des.

Sharpey.

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Try this:
Linky....

And used in conjunction with either the rac site or autroute should get you through a few high places..

Des. . .

[Sharpey]

Des, you are a legend.

Many thanks

Sharpey.

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Glad that sort your trip out..
Now have try and sort out the Swedish one!!

Have fun on your trip.. You be in Germany at all mid/late August??
Maybe look me up..

Des. . .

[Sharpey]

No mate sorry. We will only be in Germany for a few days mainly at the Nurburg Ring around the 16th/17th June. Cant wait.

Sharpey.

[dodgyken]

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

Hi,

You want to go over or though??
There's a tunnel through the Alps now as far as I know..

EDIT: Try the rac route planner with start and destination to see where it takes you..

Des. . .

I can give you a couple of good reasons!

[BillB]

From Monte Carlo to Geneva, the "direct" mountain route is via the French Alps - you're nowhere near the Swiss Alps. I've done this but it was in 1982 in a Mk4 Cortina estate. I recall the carb complaining as the air got thinner but we made it. If you look at a red michelin roadmap for France you'll see a series of "D" roads which run close to the Italian border for a while. I don't know how long you've got for this part of the journey but it will be slow - a T5 won't be any quicker than my former Cortina on these roads. Enjoy yourself whichever route you choose. Regards.

[dodgyken]

Originally Posted by BillB

a T5 won't be any quicker than my former Cortina on these roads. Enjoy yourself whichever route you choose. Regards.

If you get a clear road - you will!!

The only thing to watch is your brakes - and those switchbacks - so tight that to keep he on the boil = 1st gear = crappy excessive wheelspin!!

If you get the chance to play in the alps - take it!! Some of the best driving roads.

As for Switzerland - watch the cameras - they don't do early warning like the UK - they hide - and will have police 2 miles down the road to collect the optional road tax - I mean fine!!! Trust me - I live there for 3 years - and have just paid my last fine!!

Beautiful roads if you get chance to play!