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Old 14th December 2018, 21:53   #5
BoroRover
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Rover 75

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Originally Posted by Roderick View Post
It just kept giving …
Having driven many times previously across Europe from various ports (and tunnel) into France and the Netherlands down to central eastern Italy have for the last few times elected to leave from Harwich to Hook of Holland, through Germany, Austria and Italy. It works for us – but have never done the trip in a seventeen year old Rover 75 CDT. Below is an account of the trip all done without satnav starting Friday 30 November which some may find interesting.

Left Hereford early Friday afternoon for drive to Harwich Stenaline ferry terminal, top up with diesel for a full tank at Morrison’s very close by. Embarked ferry about 21.00, tasty dinner then retire to comfy cabin for a good nights sleep. The ferries are huge, very well equipped and staffed.
Disembarked about 8.00, and a relatively quick passport check and drove a short distance to near Rotterdam to have breakfast with some Dutch friends. Back on the road at 10.45 along the Dutch A12 before dropping down on to the A73 seamlessly becoming the German A61. The Rover effortlessly covered the kilometres cruising between 110km to 130km before bearing left onto the A6 toward Nuremburg.

First hold up of the day where traffic was reduced to two lanes due to massive roadworks not helped by a broken down truck. Daylight now starting to fade as we sped on toward Nuremburg 140km distant. Off at exit 57 to Roth which is a short cut and thankful relief from the A6, dark now, another 10km before entering the small town of Allersberg and hotel. Due to breakfast stop, arrived a bit later than usual – around 18.30. Quick brush-up at hotel and a visit to the very traditional Goldener Löwe pub for a hot meal.
Sunday morning and breakfast at 8.00, and back on road after filling with diesel which was only three quarters empty. Impressive. Diesel incidentally was 1.51€. a litre. Quite pricey for non autobahn garage.

From Allersberg it is a very short hop onto the A9 toward Munich. This time heavy rain and lots of spray, which does not deter German drivers belting past at quite ridiculous speeds. Being Sunday, most big trucks are not allowed to travel which is helpful. Around Munich on the A99 before joining the A8 toward Salzburg. Stopped for coffee and purchase of a Austrian Vignette (9€ sticker) which is required to travel on Austrian roads and a small top up for a full tank again. Exit onto the A93 to Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass. Rain stopped and weather improved. Mountain tops had snow but not much. Constant reminders about having winter tyres (fitted) or carry snow chains for November 15 to April 15.

Stopped for a spot of lunch near the Brenner Pass at Nössblach. See photo. Some lying snow, then about 6C. App Altimeter said we were 990m high.
Through Austrian toll booth (9€) to use the A13 Brenner autobahn and finally into Italy which they number the A22. All with no barriers or border controls. Through the Italian toll booths (who do charge tolls on virtually all autoroutes).
Then the long slog down to Modena. From previous experience we know it would not be possible to arrive home before dark during December, so stop at a hotel outside Modena arriving at 17.30. It was disappointing on this occasion to find their restaurant was closed which we were not aware of, but the staff helpfully offered to get a couple of pizzas delivered, which they did, enjoyed with a glass of local wine. So Italian!

Monday 3 December, left at 9.15 not finding the heavy traffic expected and back onto to the A1 to Bologna then the A14 to Ancona passing along the rebuilt road after the fuel tanker/truck collision exploded in August this year.

Zipped down very quiet A14 before exiting at Senigallia and the 35km inland road to home near the village of Poggio San Marcello.
Again the Rover was so comfortable and excelled at the sheer amount of luggage and stuff carried, plus its average fuel consumption was impressive. Cruise control was used a few times. I did not know it, but I found by holding in the IPK display button when viewing consumption it would then reset it and then showed a constantly updating display. On level roads doing about 70mph it was showing 60-63mpg. How accurate that is I don’t know but seems pretty good. An all over average of 53mpg was good.

Christmas coming and then we’ll repeat the journey back before Brexit makes it any more complicated and expensive!

Distances: Hereford to Harwich, 240 miles (384km)
Hoek of Holland to Allersberg, Germany 471 miles (753km)
Allersberg to Formigne/Modena, Italy 416 miles (670km)
Formigne to Poggio San Marcello, Italy 164 miles (263km) 1291 miles total) 2070km


This morning spotted an Arden green 75...
My 75 has visited Germany twice going via Stena from Harwich to Hook of Holland and will be 17 on New Years Eve. Can't think of a better car to do such trips in. Yes, they are not young cars, but with the right TLC, they will reward you many times over. I wouldn't hesitate to use my 75 to do that trip again, and I probably will. The fact he is a 1.8 bothers me not.
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