[roundincircles]

I'm 4 days into a 3000 mile road trip sans wife and our Mac.

Driving thru' endless France we were pursued by endless camera toting car nuts who thought the car was 'beautiful '. We were stopped by the Police who said the car was 'fast and beautiful ' and then told 'Bon journee'.

The Swiss seemed neutral and made no comment.

The Italians are bonkers about the car, all ages and sexes . They want to celebrate it's existence, simple adoration.

We ventured up the Grimsel pass in cold rain then over the Simplon in sunshine. The car delivered with it's ballistic overtaking ability useful to get by the Dutch camper vans, plus tailgateing hot hatches left for dead.

The ability to dial in ride quality on iffy mountain roads is a treat. The centre mirror blocks uphill visibility on hairpins and I can see the day when a dash mounted LCD screen solves the problem.

On a fast stretch of Italian autostrada the handling was sublime north of 100 mph but everybody wants to convoy!


I'm now in Verbania where the car would not fit in the Hotel garage so I collected my first paint ding in a rear side Panel.....the £15 Hotel parking charge now seems a bargain!


Problems, the front bumper has distorted on the near side like a few others. Front end vibration. Revs drop in neutral to very low and car vibrates.

Upsides. Stella engine and box. Big distance comfort. Good tank range and mpg

 

[andy c]

Sounds like more upside than down RIC,i knew the swiss would be neutral,but im surprised the Italians would be so enthusiastic,shows their passion is for everything exotic!!
We had sun here today!! And i must have had 20 cameras and thumbs up,i still find it hard to get used to driving in a city centre,i thought this was meant to be a subtle car,its not even as if they could see my shoes!!
ENJOY

 

[robbie]

I'm 4 days into a 3000 mile road trip sans wife and our Mac.

Driving thru' endless France we were pursued by endless camera toting car nuts who thought the car was 'beautiful '. We were stopped by the Police who said the car was 'fast and beautiful ' and then told 'Bon journee'.

The Swiss seemed neutral and made no comment.

The Italians are bonkers about the car, all ages and sexes . They want to celebrate it's existence, simple adoration.

We ventured up the Grimsel pass in cold rain then over the Simplon in sunshine. The car delivered with it's ballistic overtaking ability useful to get by the Dutch camper vans, plus tailgateing hot hatches left for dead.

The ability to dial in ride quality on iffy mountain roads is a treat. The centre mirror blocks uphill visibility on hairpins and I can see the day when a dash mounted LCD screen solves the problem.

On a fast stretch of Italian autostrada the handling was sublime north of 100 mph but everybody wants to convoy!


I'm now in Verbania where the car would not fit in the Hotel garage so I collected my first paint ding in a rear side Panel.....the £15 Hotel parking charge now seems a bargain!


Problems, the front bumper has distorted on the near side like a few others. Front end vibration. Revs drop in neutral to very low and car vibrates.

Upsides. Stella engine and box. Big distance comfort. Good tank range and mpg

RIC, what's done is done. The car can get painted, you just have a great time away & get Ben to sort the car out when your back. ( he now has a good paint shop ) Andy & I thought Bruce was teaching you how to drive ( Bruce i am cancelling my lessons with you & i think Andy will too )

 

[SSO]

What a great trip. Keep enjoying. Nothing beats driving a supercar in Italy.

Front end vibration does sound concerning. Is it only at certain speeds?

 

[bruce]

oy oy just got back tonight no damage, no faults, top speed 144mph in Italy.

Posed in Monaco , photos outside the Casino. Blasted round the St Bernadino. Feel fuel tank too small but mpg is good.

mileage 2300

Mustn't highjack Kevins thread but I will add him to the list of participants for lessons after the bad news of the wall

 

[roundincircles]

What a great trip. Keep enjoying. Nothing beats driving a supercar in Italy.

Front end vibration does sound concerning. Is it only at certain speeds?

100mph plus. The steering wheel resonates which can be stopped with a firm grip but moves say half inch side to side with hands off.

 

[roundincircles]

To make it clear the paint damage was caused by an adjacent car door in a public parking place as the car would not fit in the Hotel garage.

 

[SSO]

100mph plus. The steering wheel resonates which can be stopped with a firm grip but moves say half inch side to side with hands off.

does it do this on a range of different road surfaces?

 

[McBeast]

I think the vibration may have to do with different road surfaces. I get that on mine as well and its only 3 weeks old. I also have the rpms that are all over the place at idle. Dealer said it was normal and even though it feels like it may stall it will not. If it does then there is a problem.

 

[andy c]

To make it clear the paint damage was caused by an adjacent car door in a public parking place as the car would not fit in the Hotel garage.

RIC,it wasnt one of those static ajacent doors that jumped out on you??? Like the static tree that happened to hit someone as they drove past?

 

[andy c]

oy oy just got back tonight no damage, no faults, top speed 144mph in Italy.

Posed in Monaco , photos outside the Casino. Blasted round the St Bernadino. Feel fuel tank too small but mpg is good.

mileage 2300

Mustn't highjack Kevins thread but I will add him to the list of participants for lessons after the bad news of the wall

Im assuming we will get a full report with pictures Bruce,did you have to fill up more than your friends??

 

[bruce]

Will do later this week . Yes had to fill up more than the others but Mpg was much better ie 25% better than 599 but I ran out earlier

 

[robbie]

The tree JUMPED OUT SIR as i was going past

 

[roundincircles]

I also have the rpms that are all over the place at idle. Dealer said it was normal and even though it feels like it may stall it will not. If it does then there is a problem.

It hunts from 500 to 1500 revs in Sport and neutral with the car vibrating at 500 rpm like the clutches are engaged.

 

[roundincircles]

As I was leaving the Hotel in Verbania two German cyclists stopped to take photos and mentioned they had seen the car near Andermatt last week and it made a wonderful noise. I asked where they had cycled from and they replied Frankfurt, setting off 3 weeks ago and doing as many mountain passes as possible.

Different folks, different strokes! Yet to see a fat cyclist.

Did the San Bernadino and Sustain passes today in traffic free sunshine.........the car gets better, it loves the Mountains.

Now in Bellagio and my wife now has come to terms with the increase in knicker count as crowds surrounded the car and wanted photos. I was asked how I could afford such a car and I told the girls I was David Beckhams manager.........my wife contradicted me for some reason.

 

[bruce]

I had a similar experience in Monaco Kevin a, but I said I was David Beckham,none of the girls doubted me for there are similarities between our appearances if not our bank balances

 

[robbie]

I had a similar experience in Monaco Kevin a, but I said I was David Beckham,none of the girls doubted me for there are similarities between our appearances if not our bank balances

When i was in Monaco,i was also asked how can i afford a car like that.I simply told them i was Bruce, Kevin, & Andy's MANAGER ! !

 

[andy c]

When i was in Monaco,i was also asked how can i afford a car like that.I simply told them i was Bruce, Kevin, & Andy's MANAGER ! !

They wouldnt believe you Robbie!! Because the last time i was in Monaco i didnt have a car and had to walk the GP track,but i must have looked the part as they let me in the Casino,i didnt say anything because all i wanted was a pee (lovely toilets too)

 

[andy c]

I had a similar experience in Monaco Kevin a, but I said I was David Beckham,none of the girls doubted me for there are similarities between our appearances if not our bank balances

Is that because you wear alot bry nylon shirts Bruce,with elasticated track suit bottoms???
Now if it had been wayne Roony ,that i could believe,but it wouldnt have been knickers that they would have been throwing it would have been granny bloomers

 

[bruce]

Nah nah Andy the car was a blast at Monaco. We went in the Casino and I didnt make enough to cover the exhorbitant cost of my club sandwich.

Now how do I attach pics from my iphone here please