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General => General discussion => Topic started by: OliverTmoore on 13 September 2011, 20:56

Title: European Road Trip
Post by: OliverTmoore on 13 September 2011, 20:56
Alright all.

I have recently purchased my first Volkswagon Golf, too be percise it's a 1997 Volkswagon Golf 2.0 GTi. It's done 47,000 miles and it's been well looked after with one lady owner. Basically I have bought the car too go on a European Road trip, from Bedfordshire to Calais, into Brugge, then onto Amsterdam, then through to Austria (where i'll be staying for six months too do a snowboarding season) then into Zurich for the start of the journey back, into Paris then back too Bedfordshire. Now i've set the scene, I am basically looking for any advice on modifying, caring and looking after my Golf on it's long a tiresome journey.

Cheers.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: raferackstraw on 13 September 2011, 21:03
i would recommend no modifications, just service with good quality parts and crack on  :wink: give everything a good check over and make sure everything works as it should, the teutonic countries take a dim view of badly looked after vehicles
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Seanl on 13 September 2011, 21:05
And before anyone else gets it in, the upside of getting a Mk3 is that you dont have to pay for the ferry Journey!  :laugh: :rolleyes:
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: murraymint on 13 September 2011, 21:05
sounds pritty epic!!!

firstly id say is check all the engine, gear box etc over and service it,

secondly make sure the drivers seat is combfy (by the sounds of it your gunna be sat init a lot) if not change the seats

then lower it 60/40 not too much to kill the ride comfort!

then the rest to how you like, each to there own and all that!

have fun!!!
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Sam on 13 September 2011, 21:08
And before anyone else gets it in, the upside of getting a Mk3 is that you dont have to pay for the ferry Journey!  :laugh: :rolleyes:

Lolzers

You will need loads of eu safety sh!te like hi vis jacket, first aid kit, spare bulbs blah blah. Also in some of the snowy countries I beleive that in winter it is illegal to not have snow chains/mats and a shovel in the car at all times but I can be arsed to go running around google.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Diamond Hell on 13 September 2011, 22:23
Change the cambelt, unless it's been done in the last 2-3 years.

Do the water pump and put a new genuine thermostat in while you're at it.

Fit winter tyres as already mentioned.

Change the brake fluid

Change the coolant.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: dellenty69 on 14 September 2011, 10:38
make sure your headlights point the correct way, and u need a GB sticker front and rear!
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Diamond Hell on 14 September 2011, 12:23
make sure your headlights point the correct way

Go ebay.de and buy a pair of G3 LHD units is probably the easiest.  :grin:
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: AlanD on 14 September 2011, 13:06
Make sure you carry some oil in the boot.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Diamond Hell on 14 September 2011, 19:35
Make sure you carry some oil in the boot.

And a dead prostitute.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: jeynesey on 14 September 2011, 19:44
Make sure you carry some oil in the boot.

And a dead prostitute.

*Doesnt have to be dead.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: The Mighty Elvi on 14 September 2011, 19:46
Don't forget your hi viz vest!  :grin:

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Driving-in-France-New-legal.html

read this:  :nerd:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=598595&i=0


Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Neo Badness on 18 September 2011, 16:27
As above, aside from live/dead prostitute.

I'd recommend decent UK&EU Satnav with the most up to date maps you can get hold of.
I used a widescreen Garmin unit and found it pretty good.

Don't lower it if you're going to be driving through snow and into rough ski carparks etc, it'll just be a pain in the hoop. 

Some decent headlight bulbs if you are driving at night.

After you've made sure it's all serviced I'd make sure you had a decent CD player with mp3 connection. Once you get into the driving you can cover surprising distances in a day.

Enjoy the trip :smiley:
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Diamond Hell on 18 September 2011, 18:30
Oh and get membership of ADAC - all-Europe breakdown cover for the same as AA membership.
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: danny_p on 18 September 2011, 18:43
if your going into the arsehole of nowhere.

to carry in your car,  full set of warm clothes, sleeping bag, load of choccy bars decent boots,  shovel rope.

for your car.   steel wheels,  new battery, full fluids change, set of winter boots, set of snowchains. 


whatever you don't lower it or put big fat alloys on it as that'll make it useless on snow.

if your going further into nowhere take a wishbone as well
Title: Re: European Road Trip
Post by: Neo Badness on 18 September 2011, 20:08
Oh and get membership of ADAC - all-Europe breakdown cover for the same as AA membership.

I forgot to say this too. Think I paid 54.00 for the whole year of Euro wide cover. Better to have it and not need it than need and not have it.


if your going further into nowhere take a wishbone as well

 :grin: