Just back from a 10 day tour in the MX-5, destination Lake Garda. I haven't taken my own car abroad for about 25 years. Really enjoyed the trip. Ferry to Calais, 2 overnight stops on the way there, 5 nights at L. Garda, 2 different stops on the way back. Lost count of the number of passes traversed, never mind the number of hairpins. Stelvio on the way there, St Gotthard on the way back.
The Mazda behaved itself perfectly. The nice thing about it was that it was possible, necessary even, to use all the little car's 7,000+ rpm and modest power to knock on up the passes. More fun than a motorcycle I suspect, the bikers were zooming up the straights but very cautious on the corners - on many of them, especially the right handers, they would probably not have been able to hold the bike up if they had had to stop.
We really had too many miles to do each day to get in as many scenic routes and proper stops as we would have liked, with 250-350 miles per day to knock off. Doesn't sound too bad but with 5 or 6 hours driving, plus stops and any traffic delays (mercifully very few, 90 minutes one day on an urban road in Freiburg being the only serious one). If I were to do it again I would have an extra day each way.
Pleasantly surprised by L. Garda. I expected higher prices but food and drink were very reasonable especially considering the lakes are a prime attraction. Somebody commented that Windermere is dearer. We went to the Mille Miglia museum at Brescia which was very quiet - decided it was too far to 'motor valley'. Our route back to Calais probably passed within a mile of the Schlumf collection at Cite de l'automobile, Mulhouse but sadly we didn't have time for a proper visit so that will have to wait.
Weather was warm and sunny almost throughout. We did many miles with the top down of course, but it was handy in the heat sometimes (and for most of the motorway work) to reach for the hood and switch the aircon on. At nearly 50mpg the modest 45 litre tank gave a comfortable 400 miles range so no fuel anxiety. 2,300 miles in 11 days. Brilliant little car.
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Friends did a similar trip last month to South France in their MX-5 Mk1 (Miata) and thoroughly enjoyed it. As you say, brilliant little cars.
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Where did you put your luggage?
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All in the boot! Soft bags.
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Neighbour has a beloved MX5. He took it to France for a tour two weeks ago. Got home last week, but before I met him for a chat, he hit some mud in the road in the nearby major roadworks, and collided with a tree.
Car is now a write off, and he nearly was. I asked him about the French trip and he doesn't remember it, or much else. Hospital says this is normal, apparently. I'm sure it was probably lovely though, and the car worked well. I expect.
I don't know where he stands on suing contractors. Nowhere I expect. He doesn't seem to be interested in that idea anyway, or perhaps his insurers aren't.
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Sounds like a great trip, did a very similar itinerary but not in anything as enjoyable as the MX-5
I loved the Mille Miglia museum, as did Mrs Z, who thought it nicely done in a historical and social context,
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Its one I havent been to, really should (the Mille miglie museum).
Motor valley is well worth it though. This year I "found" the Panini collection. Just outside Maranello, a "barn" with an astonishing collection of mainly Maseratis. Free of charge, just wander in. It was fabulous.
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The MM museum was nice, good for the history etc. Probably 50 or so cars that all did (or possibly could have) competed in the MM. You'll see bigger and better collections of cars, but the context makes it interesting. What I hadn't realised was that after the MM was stopped following the 1957 race, the three regulated runs with special race stages that followed formed the basis of modern rallying.
The story of Moss and Jenkinson is there naturally. They weren't the first to use pace notes but undoubtedly that, aside from Moss's brilliance, was what won it for them. Perhaps they were a little fortunate that Fangio had an engine problem, as he still finished only half an hour behind them.
I would have liked to have seen the Panini collection and that would have been the main objective for a motor valley trip. A 300km return trip sounds reasonable sitting here now, but we only had 4 full days at L. Garda and I had already inflicted one motor museum on my wife!
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Having dinner in Milan as we speak. Just driven from St Omer having driven there from Cheshire via Bristol yesterday to pick up a colleague and on to the tunnel.
Merc ate the journey. Sadly only working here from tomorrow until Thursday when I’ll be coming back the same way but this time solo as my colleague is staying on.
Came down past Dijon and through the Mont Blanc tunnel. Lovely drive. Tolls a bit steamy though.
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Nice....by the way I've been challenged on my shoe collection...may have to have a sort out ! :-)
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Not worn any shoes for ages.....the past week or so my daywear have been flop flips. Evenings I’ve put on a smart pair of Teva’s. Sans sox!
Probably time to polish the Red Wing boots when I fly back up North
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"Just back from a 10 day tour in the MX-5, destination Lake Garda......."
Glad to hear that you had a successful trip.
Back in '79, in those days when cars came in ridiculous colours (Peppermint Green, anyone?), we drove down past Lake Garda in the company Signal Orange Escort estate. We went down to Verona, even managed to park in Venice and stayed with German friends in Bolzano.
I can remember little of the driving except that late one evening in Bavaria, desperate to find somewhere to pitch the tent, we mistook a collection of 'traveller' caravans for a campsite. The Escort went well in reverse.
I wish that I could fit into an MX5 - I certainly couldn't get into my son's Eunos........ and I did try. He took that down to Barcelona a couple of years ago and loved it. After I had polished that car for 'classic' insurance photographs, it looked fantastic - British Racing Green with gold wheels. Sadly, it needs work doing on it and I now fear for its very existence.
Last edited by: Haywain on Fri 14 Sep 18 at 21:11
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Back when God was a boy an old acquaintance drove a Daimler Double Six to Sicily and back.
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Pah. That’s nothing. In a previous career, supplying schools and libraries with books during the 70’s, I knew an eccentric headteacher at a local Junior School. He was single and his world outside school revolved around Italy. He spoke the language fluently.
Every summer holiday he drove from Bradford to Sicily and back
On a Lambretta!!
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Your account makes me green with envy, Manatee. I made a similar trip in 2001, covering about 3500 miles over three weeks, with long drives and leisurely breaks. My southernmost point was the Cinque Terre and easternmost Trieste. I drove my MGf, having bought one of the early ones off the production line. I had reluctantly eliminated the MX5 as being too small, especially around the pedal box. Alas, health problems put paid to foreign travel and sports cars not long after that.
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MX-5 tour to Italy. - Boxsterboy
