Just back from trip to Swiss Alps in the Exige

[DJW 677]

What an epic trip.  Six days in the Alps with a bunch of friends in a mixture of cars, exploring some of the best roads and scenery one could wish for.

Teaser shot looking back at roads just travelled 

So how was the car ?   In summary, EPIC !!

Firstly , I wasn't sure how comfortable the car would be for the 800 mile trip over there (split 300 miles one afternoon and 500 miles the following day).  I shouldn't have worried.  Very comfortable, with the only ache coming from drivers leg from trying to hold speed at consistent amount; easily solved by using cruise control  

Oh and the sound in the tunnels ...lol.... Obscene

On the Alp runs the car was incredible.  Great steering feel, confidence in the brakes, great traction out of the hairpins and perfect body control through the fast sweepers.

e c

Cant see me finding a replacement for this car easily, as it ticks so many boxes.  

Dave 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 9, 2016 by DJW

[CocoPops 827]

I neeed to do a trip like this.

next summer, who's organising?

 

[The Pits 4,408]

Looks like Grimsel/Furka pass. Unforgettable. Must have been spectacular with the roof off. That road is so much better than the Stelvio Pass it's not even funny.

Good to see an Exige being enjoyed to the full!

 

[Neal H 876]

That does look fantastic! Can you post up details of your route and how many days? I'm really interested in doing something like this myself.

[DJW 677]

We used the attached map as our guide, staying in Andermat.   We did the top loop one day, bottom loop the 2nd, couple of days doing a bit of sight seeing , paragliding, etc then 5th day did the whole outside loop. 

Be careful on choosing dates for hols too, as luckily we arrived on the weekend they had just opened the passes, although that did make it busy.  The weekdays were fine 

Edited July 10, 2016 by DJW

[PaulCP 675]

17 hours ago, CocoPops said:

I neeed to do a trip like this.

next summer, who's organising?

 

Why not join us on the Austria trip in September, back via Lake Como and Switzerland?

[NANO 127]

  wonderful this Swiss Alp Tour

Edited July 11, 2016 by NANO

[DJW 677]

 Car sounded pretty good too

 

[D.no 16]

I'm very jealous Dave - there's hardly a day that passes when I don't long to be in the Alps. Great pictures.

What was the general reaction to the Exige? I imagine there are not too many of them around in those parts.

For anyone interested in doing likewise here's a snippet from my route from a few years ago...

Day 2: North of Lyon to Monaco via Route Napoleon, Cannes, and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Epxph8yDLwZ2K-NqL1KRz7W7Ouo&usp=sharing

Day 3: Monaco to Val D'Isere via Col de Turini, Col de la Bonnette, Col de Galibier and Col de L'Iseran: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OSQV6qQEx3J7E27U5e309fXtoZo&usp=sharing

Day 4: Val D'Isere to Gletsch Via the Petit St Bernard pass, Grand St Bernard pass, Neufenen pass, St Gotthard pass, Furka pass, Grimsel pass, and Susten pass: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1T-07ALykvbypyTvQHE5Xr5QPznw&usp=sharing

Day 5: Gletsch to Bormio via Grimsel, Susten, San Bernardino, Julier, Umbrail, and Stelvio passes: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xpiP5ZHO19KTexM3ybF0LLdj4as&usp=sharing

I then went up to Stuttgart for the Porsche museum, and on to the 'ring for a tourist session - I can provide the route if anyone wants it but as that part of the journey is slightly more boring and direct, and not in keeping with the Alpine theme, I've kept it to myself for now.

I'm planning on heading back over there shortly in my Exige but will be avoiding the South of France like the plague (I never learn!) and will head straight for Obergoms in Switzerland from where the Furka, Susten, Grimsel loop (my fave's) can be driven at will.

 

 

[Neal H 876]

Is September okay for an Alps trip?

[DJW 677]

Dean, very positive response from people, although they were spoilt for choice with a Noble and Ultima also in the group. 

Did see 2 other Exige Roadsters over there (foreign plates).  Quite a few caterhams too, which looked great fun for those roads. 

Neal, no idea re Sept.  Google job 

[geartox 592]

let me know when you plan to come I live near Geneva

[Xisthos 104]

Must have been spectacular, more pics!

Having to travel so many miles, what kind of insurance do you guys bring against flat tires? Is it just a tire sealant kit?

[NANO 127]

On ‎10‎.‎07‎.‎2016 at 15:23, PaulCP said:

Why not join us on the Austria trip in September, back via Lake Como and Switzerland?

on wich dates ?

[RedViper 84]

Last two weeks in august probably better. have a google of when French school holidays are finished and try and go after that to avoid excessive traffic.

I went end of august last year and was generally good.

My mate went a couple of weeks later and there was snow on a lot of the passes.. I think there is an element of luck but I would try to at least be setting off during august.

DJW: how did the Exige compare against the Noble. That's always a car I look at and wished I'd had balls to buy.

[Bravo73 1,297]

On 9 July 2016 at 21:03, CocoPops said:

I neeed to do a trip like this.

next summer, who's organising?

 

@JAWS is your man. 

[Stubox 562]

14 hours ago, Neal H said:

Is September okay for an Alps trip?

Yes, we're off first week of September for a week solid of passes, not a problem, leave it nearer Oct and you're in the hands of the weather gods. We've have blazing sunshine and equally snow on the high peaks in late September some years.

[alias23 1,517]

@DJW great trip and pics.

Looking at your plate, was you at Donington (evening) a few weeks back?

[DJW 677]

 

5 hours ago, alias23 said:

@DJW great trip and pics.

Looking at your plate, was you at Donington (evening) a few weeks back?

Sure was. First time there so took a while to suss track. Were you in the White V6 as you were flying ?

Edited July 12, 2016 by DJW

[DJW 677]

10 hours ago, RedViper said:

DJW: how did the Exige compare against the Noble. That's always a car I look at and wished I'd had balls to buy.

Similar power so in straight line nothing in it.  Exige brakes are better.  Noble leans more in corners but is easier to catch slides.  Interior is larger than Exige.  Noble has PAS but no ABS or TC.  Noble has risen £10k in value in last 2 years !!

Great cars although do need a fair upkeep as getting on a bit now. 

[PaulCP 675]

12 hours ago, NANO said:

on wich dates ?

I'm attending a Lotus & Speedster meet in Imst Sept 1st to 4th, then driving to Gravedona 4th to 6th, then on to Grindelwald 6th to 9th before returning home. 

I think there is also another Lotus meet driving the passes around the same time

[DJW 677]

12 hours ago, Xisthos said:

Must have been spectacular, more pics!

Having to travel so many miles, what kind of insurance do you guys bring against flat tires? Is it just a tire sealant kit?

just breakdown cover and fingers crossed !

Some more photos of scenery 

 

[RedViper 84]

55 minutes ago, DJW said:

Similar power so in straight line nothing in it.  Exige brakes are better.  Noble leans more in corners but is easier to catch slides.  Interior is larger than Exige.  Noble has PAS but no ABS or TC.  Noble has risen £10k in value in last 2 years !!

Great cars although do need a fair upkeep as getting on a bit now. 

Interesting I assumed it would be quicker.

They still look cool now after all these years. That's some nice appreciation

 

[DJW 677]

For sure there are Nobles out there running some serious bhp, but in stock mode similar to the Exige.  

[LF1 564]

On 11 July 2016 at 20:53, Neal H said:

Is September okay for an Alps trip?

Yes. We've done it the past couple of years and had some fantastic deals in top hotels - seems that the summer is over and obviously the ski season a way off. Weather's been fantastic, all passes open and you can tie it in with the GP at Monza via Como if that floats your boat.