Gumball - Page 8

volospian · 02-12-2011, 14:12

Not at the moment.... However, I am desperate to drive the Transfagarasan pass, so I am discussing with a few friends the possibility of a trip next May/June time to take in the shlumpf collection in Mulhouse, then on to the Stelvio Pass, across to Romania for the Transfagarasan Pass, then back up to the 'ring and home. It looks like it would be about a week or so at the moment, but it's only in discussion at the moment.

A Place of Light · 02-12-2011, 23:46

Stelvio is massively over-rated due to the Top Gear effect. It's made up of bends that are so tight you can't do anything but slow right down to negotiate them. Most of Stelvio is as far away from being an involving drive as the M6.

divine · 03-12-2011, 11:07

That sounds a little bit like a sightseeing tour around Europe now

volospian · 04-12-2011, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by divine

That sounds a little bit like a sightseeing tour around Europe now

lol, it's not the original concept for sure, but it won't be much of a sightseeing tour either if I want to get it all done in a week. The Fagaras mountains are a long way away

volospian · 04-12-2011, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

Stelvio is massively over-rated due to the Top Gear effect. It's made up of bends that are so tight you can't do anything but slow right down to negotiate them. Most of Stelvio is as far away from being an involving drive as the M6.

Sounds to me like you're doing it wrong. Personally I love driving switchbacks. Brake as hard and as late as you dare, down through the gears, tyres squealing around the bend, with perhaps the back end breaking loose, then you're hard on the throttle and as fast as you dare before you're late and hard on the brakes for the next 180, and all the while the threat of a sheer drop and the stench of boiling brake fluid keeping the adrenaline pumping. I personally find that more involving than, say, the M6.

divine · 04-12-2011, 19:18

I may be wrong but I was under the impression the Stelvio is typically pretty busy with regular traffic meaning the above sort of driving isn't really possible?

A few comments to that effect on Pistonheads:

"I also wouldn't recommend the Stelvio for a 911, although it is an iconic road. You'll barely get out of 1st gear and if you don't hit it at dawn you'll get stuck behind something slower anyway. I did it on my bike so I was able to nip past all the cars, but if I was doing it on four wheels it would have been very frustrating."

"I'd also add that having done the Stelvio this Sept I think it's a pretty rubbish road to drive. It's certainly very interesting - and has great scenery - but it's far too busy to be a great driving road."

"Agree completely with this- Having driven the Stelvio in a 996C4S, it was a BIG let down. Generally a lot of traffic, the hairpins are very tight and my front splitter grounded out 3 times- and that's going slowly in 1st gear as you couldn't see what is around the corner. Followed a dumper truck down the last part (heading towards Meran) and he was going some.

There are FAR better mountain passes to try out- all with stunning scenery- and a huge number of them too. A fvaourite circular route for me (and others in the Switzerland forum) is Susten-Grimsel-Furka-Gotthard-Nufenen-Grimsel-Susten. You can't go wrong on these- some nice tunnels on this route too redface)"

"Took a trip through Europe in my 73 2.4S a few years ago. Did Stelvio, as I always wanted to do it, and to be honest it was a disappointment. Not from the magnificence of the scenery or pure madness of putting a road up the side of the mountain but for the driving. Even in a smaller, older 911 the hairpins were too tight to enjoy really. Much better roads out there BUT it is an amazing sight."

The comments are somewhat in reference to the guy planning on doing it in a 911 but the points about traffic apply whatever the car.

Not trying to pick an argument, just trying to be helpful in that i've heard similar to APoL in that Stelvio is hugely overrated because of Top Gear.

volospian · 04-12-2011, 21:33

Traffic could well be an issue, but the sharp corners won't. I'm not that fussed about the naysayers anyway. I'm going because it's not a massive detour off the road from mulhouse to romania, so I may as well see it for myself while I'm in the area.

A Place of Light · 06-12-2011, 14:18

A good point above that I'd forgotten to mention. The way the hairpins have been built you can easily bottom out a sporty car. Ive done Stelvio many times, both from the trafoi and bormio sides and it's just not that good a road. The surface is iffy in places, the bends are too tight and so on and so on. It's not even anywhere near being the best of the alpine passes.

Pheebs · 06-12-2011, 15:00

Aww but but but but that road... as awesome as it is (Sam's ridden it and says it's amazing... and he has veeeery similar tastes to me!)... it gives more for a Super Duke bikey bikey as opposed to my to-be KTM 690 enduro r!!

Still... if it goes ahead let me know as we may come say WEHEY! and whizz off on brum brums!

volospian · 06-12-2011, 16:20

Well, *if* it happens, we will definitely be going to the Stelvio Pass, but it'll be a late drive in and stay over in Bormio (or somewhere near anyway). Then it'll be a crack of dawn start to drive the pass (for those who want to) and then via the gavia pass out to Bolzano or Trento (depending on if we go up via Vienna and Budapest, or along the coast, past Venice and through Slovenia down to Belgrade). The latter may be the preferred route as we will be heading for Nurburg on the way back, so that will probably take us around Budapest and Vienna anyway... As I said, it's all just talk at the moment...

03-12-2011, 11:07	#73
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	That sounds a little bit like a sightseeing tour around Europe now __________________

04-12-2011, 19:18	#76
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	I may be wrong but I was under the impression the Stelvio is typically pretty busy with regular traffic meaning the above sort of driving isn't really possible? A few comments to that effect on Pistonheads: "I also wouldn't recommend the Stelvio for a 911, although it is an iconic road. You'll barely get out of 1st gear and if you don't hit it at dawn you'll get stuck behind something slower anyway. I did it on my bike so I was able to nip past all the cars, but if I was doing it on four wheels it would have been very frustrating." "I'd also add that having done the Stelvio this Sept I think it's a pretty rubbish road to drive. It's certainly very interesting - and has great scenery - but it's far too busy to be a great driving road." "Agree completely with this- Having driven the Stelvio in a 996C4S, it was a BIG let down. Generally a lot of traffic, the hairpins are very tight and my front splitter grounded out 3 times- and that's going slowly in 1st gear as you couldn't see what is around the corner. Followed a dumper truck down the last part (heading towards Meran) and he was going some. There are FAR better mountain passes to try out- all with stunning scenery- and a huge number of them too. A fvaourite circular route for me (and others in the Switzerland forum) is Susten-Grimsel-Furka-Gotthard-Nufenen-Grimsel-Susten. You can't go wrong on these- some nice tunnels on this route too redface)" "Took a trip through Europe in my 73 2.4S a few years ago. Did Stelvio, as I always wanted to do it, and to be honest it was a disappointment. Not from the magnificence of the scenery or pure madness of putting a road up the side of the mountain but for the driving. Even in a smaller, older 911 the hairpins were too tight to enjoy really. Much better roads out there BUT it is an amazing sight." The comments are somewhat in reference to the guy planning on doing it in a 911 but the points about traffic apply whatever the car. Not trying to pick an argument, just trying to be helpful in that i've heard similar to APoL in that Stelvio is hugely overrated because of Top Gear. __________________

06-12-2011, 14:18	#78
A Place of Light Absinthe Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,247	A good point above that I'd forgotten to mention. The way the hairpins have been built you can easily bottom out a sporty car. Ive done Stelvio many times, both from the trafoi and bormio sides and it's just not that good a road. The surface is iffy in places, the bends are too tight and so on and so on. It's not even anywhere near being the best of the alpine passes. Last edited by A Place of Light; 06-12-2011 at 18:14.

06-12-2011, 15:00	#79
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Aww but but but but that road... as awesome as it is (Sam's ridden it and says it's amazing... and he has veeeery similar tastes to me!)... it gives more for a Super Duke bikey bikey as opposed to my to-be KTM 690 enduro r!! Still... if it goes ahead let me know as we may come say WEHEY! and whizz off on brum brums! __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

02-12-2011, 14:12	#71
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	Not at the moment.... However, I am desperate to drive the Transfagarasan pass, so I am discussing with a few friends the possibility of a trip next May/June time to take in the shlumpf collection in Mulhouse, then on to the Stelvio Pass, across to Romania for the Transfagarasan Pass, then back up to the 'ring and home. It looks like it would be about a week or so at the moment, but it's only in discussion at the moment.

02-12-2011, 23:46	#72
A Place of Light Absinthe Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,247	Stelvio is massively over-rated due to the Top Gear effect. It's made up of bends that are so tight you can't do anything but slow right down to negotiate them. Most of Stelvio is as far away from being an involving drive as the M6.

04-12-2011, 21:33	#77
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	Traffic could well be an issue, but the sharp corners won't. I'm not that fussed about the naysayers anyway. I'm going because it's not a massive detour off the road from mulhouse to romania, so I may as well see it for myself while I'm in the area.

06-12-2011, 16:20	#80
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	Well, if it happens, we will definitely be going to the Stelvio Pass, but it'll be a late drive in and stay over in Bormio (or somewhere near anyway). Then it'll be a crack of dawn start to drive the pass (for those who want to) and then via the gavia pass out to Bolzano or Trento (depending on if we go up via Vienna and Budapest, or along the coast, past Venice and through Slovenia down to Belgrade). The latter may be the preferred route as we will be heading for Nurburg on the way back, so that will probably take us around Budapest and Vienna anyway... As I said, it's all just talk at the moment...