European Road Trip

[OliverTmoore]

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.

[raferackstraw]

i would recommend no modifications, just service with good quality parts and crack on  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

[Seanl]

And before anyone else gets it in, the upside of getting a Mk3 is that you dont have to pay for the ferry Journey! 

[murraymint]

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!!!

[Sam]

And before anyone else gets it in, the upside of getting a Mk3 is that you dont have to pay for the ferry Journey! 

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.

[Diamond Hell]

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.

[dellenty69]

make sure your headlights point the correct way, and u need a GB sticker front and rear!

[Diamond Hell]

make sure your headlights point the correct way

Go ebay.de and buy a pair of G3 LHD units is probably the easiest. 

[AlanD]

Make sure you carry some oil in the boot.

[Diamond Hell]

Make sure you carry some oil in the boot.

And a dead prostitute.