KMII
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Advice sought - what car would you choose for a trip to Nordkapp?
Twice I came close to driving to Nordkapp, the Northernmost land point in Europe. And both times it failed for some reason (both alternate road trips turned out to be epic but still). But postponed is certainly not cancelled and it’s still very firmly on the to do list.
And here comes the conundrum, where I am curious to hear opinions / advice - given the speed limits and the fact that they are both policed and that breaking them can be painful (some differences depending on route and therefore country but still) the question is what car to choose.
Something modern will get you there painlessly and in comfort but it’s then most probably (could be wrong) a cruise control journey, without much in terms of driving challenge or indeed fun.
Something older could solve that issue, as slower cars would tend to be driven closer to their limits and hence produce more enjoyment, the question being then more one of reliability (getting there and back being kind of a hygiene factor) and comfort (one’s back not getting any younger 🤷🏻♂️).
So open for ideas and comments 🤞🏻
Some things considered so far (all would be acquired for the trip):
- Citroen 2CV (I remember Cazalea did that)
- Peugeot 106 (if a non driven to death one exists)
- Fiat Panda 100hp
- Potentially something old and American with a rumbly V8 and without much handling 🤷🏻♂️
Advice sought - what car would you choose for a trip to Nordkapp?
Twice I came close to driving to Nordkapp, the Northernmost land point in Europe. And both times it failed for some reason (both alternate road trips turned out to be epic but still). But postponed is certainly not cancelled and it’s still very firmly on ...
They're far more GT like than sports car....
I guess that's a big part of the reason why I happen to love them so much 😉....
Maybe 🤔
Would still think that driving it at a level so dr below its ability would be frustrating - but then again the reason I asked for advice is to get a broader set of opinions 😊👍🏻🙏🏻 Most of my road trips have been to countries where average speeds were highe...
Garages/spareparts
Hard time getting parts and so on with a Defender, Toyota Garages are all over the place.....
Do you need spare parts for a Toyota? 😉
If it’s a modern vehicle one would not expect a need for those but with a Land Rover it might still be a little bit higher 🤷🏻♂️
Normally not
..but there were problems with some of their engines some years back, thus if you are getting a old one.... Just makes it easier if heaven forbid you should get into car trouble you don`t expect.
Hmm, interesting project!
Some questions: -How long? -Alone? -From where to where? -Season? Considering the long route, you could start the tour also from Copenhagen, to avoid „boring“ Autobahn roads…
Would probably start somewhere else n Germany…
And most likely it would be a two person affair - driving that far completely alone is of course doable but more tiring and a tad less fun. As for timing, aiming for about 700-800km a day (given the low speeds), so depending on the route that would give t...
True that, although…
Once a couple of decisions get made the rest can happen quite quickly (from experience) - don’t mind doing things on the fly and figuring the rest as it happens. The difference between road trips and work 😂🤷🏻♂️
Reliability is the key factor
Yes, I did the trip in winter in a 2CV. Luckily we had a Dutch TV channel film crew accompany us, so you can see the conditions if you want a preview. The video link is below. Just pretend there is less snow (we went in February) most of the year. I’m on ...
Thanks so much - really looking forward to seeing the video 👌🏻👍🏻
The pictures are enticing for sure 😁
Vintage/Classic
A Saab 96 V4 (or a 99/900) is probably the best vintage winter car around. Volvo Amazons are pretty great too.
So you now have the official title of Superfinn 😁
Seems one of the participants was even from my home town 😊👍🏻 What a cool adventure. You’ve now really tempted me with the 2CV. All those crazy ideas now come to mind, Morgan, Caterham… 😂🤷🏻♂️
Looking cool for sure - especially the one in the picture 👌🏻
What are they like to drive? 🤷🏻♂️
Have done a bit of cold weather driving…
In the modern equivalent (Mulitvan). It was a fun drive but it’s really not made for the cold - windows and doors freezing shut, windscreen wipers not working… 🤷🏻♂️
True - but also little ground clearance 😊
In summer no issue, with the videos from Cazalea it might be a bit more interesting in winter 😊
Snowy
I`d pass on vintage American cars. Those are not really great for the winter conditions you`ll likely to encounter be it fasttracking through Sweden or the slower passage through Norway. A lot of those in Scandinavia, and just about all are driven summer ...
+ studded tires, new batteries, 0W oil
And a 0° F-rated sleeping bag for each person in the car in case of getting stuck
There’s the sleeping bag for sure as well 👍🏻
Which I could use right now - your SM article link yesterday took me down a rabbit hole, spending way too late reading other articles from the publication 😊🤷🏻♂️
Would your answer change if the trip was to be done in summer? 😊
The tires I am fully with you (the same can be gotten in Europe if one knows where to look) but I have lived long enough in a place with comparable conditions to never think of European winter tires for the trip in winter. Remember reading an article many...
It would
I probably wouldn`t have made any suggestions at all if it was a summer trip, unless you were planning alot of detours on good old mountain roads Come winter, and you will be good in just about any reliable car most of the days when weather is good. The w...
Thanks so much - really valuable tips 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
One more question if I may - given that you mentioned both that old American cars are popular and pretty much driven in summer only. What’s the story why they achieved the popularity, given that winter was always a factor? 😊
Probably Marshall aid, Hollywood and Elvis
The strong influence of American culture, I gather. Back in the fifthies/sixties a lot of european car brands were so and so, the American cars had all bells and whistles plus a V8 for music. In Sweden there was a big change in culture and economy with "F...
That makes sense - having seen a azaleas video of having done it with a 2CV in winter…
An American car from the good old days now suddenly sounds appealing - similarly adventurous 😂😂😂
A conceptual choice :)
Doing the homework about where to find AC clubs would be a good thing, they would help you out if you get trouble with you car, and there are a few Volvo clubs around too I have to say, the vintage AMcar road handling on winter roads up north is a signifi...
I’ll have to sleep on it…
Several times 😁 I suppose the roads have sufficient traffic that you don’t need resort to Siberian tricks in case of break down (burning tires for warmth and signaling)?
Scandinavian Americans
US cars seen in Denmark & Sweden on our last trip up there Changing gears, this might be a fun voyage vessel! ...
Funny you mention it…
Browsing through the site you’ve posted in regards to the SM they were just showing a three axle CX based car transporter. I was actually looking at the CX Break on and off. Now for the ultimate glory there’s been a police special with a more highly turbo...
People living there have ordinary cars of all sorts
You`ll be good. A reliable car with a petrol/diesel cabin heater, good tyres and a good battery will take you there. ...part of the fun - picking the right tool for the experience you want
That it is - the experience will certainly differ 😊👍🏻
Managed all the mountain passes, cold temperatures (-25) and plenty of snow in Turkey last year with a RWD car, so nothing is impossible (and that was with European winter tires) 😁
Always wanted to try one of those out…
On the Volvo front we have an 850T-5R sitting at home, so maybe time to reactivate it 🧐😊
Been out of commission for 10 years…
So might need some TLC before embarking onto a longer journey but it’s certainly an option 🧐👍🏻
Volvo XC is a very good choice
I had one of the 850 versions which survived multiple off-road excursions in US and Mexico But then I saw this at the LA Auto Show and I upgraded my Volvo to this Ocean Race version (without all the extra goodies) ...
Still with you?
Our family has been a Volvo household for a while but after the quality disaster that was the first S80 there was a definite switch away. We still have the 850T-5R parked in a garage, waiting for its 30th birthday next year, when it can be registered as a...
A few thoughts for "neo vintage"
I considered and tested the V70AWD back in the day and compared it directly with the Subaru Outback. The V70AWD was certainly to a higher standard and comfort, and I quite liked the AWD, but I have to say, the Subaru 4wd system and the handling on gravel ...
Our 850T-5R has over 400k km…
Albeit on the second engine as well. The 5 cylinder turbos were nice but maybe not as robust as Volvo engines of old. As for your assessment - this fully mimics my experience. Getting a Legacy with the 2 liter turbo engine of the Impreza would be fantasti...
No spring chickens...
The engines are different beasts to B19/B20/B23 that`s for sure. Was close to getting a 740 Turbo when those arrived and had it for a couple of days, but with my youngster driving habits at the time I chose not to. Very few Imprezas and Legacy/Outbacks le...
Good point to check 👍🏻
I suppose there must be some solutions for that already, given that the E10 fuels have been around for a while? The one car from the earlier era I really enjoyed back in the day was the SH-AWD Honda Legend. The engine didn’t have much in terms of torque b...
One thing I didn’t mention so far…
I have in fact done some swimming in the Barents Sea and driven to it as well but it was the other side of the border, so a tiny bit further South than Nordkapp 😉 Back in the days when the world was a slightly simpler place 🤷🏻♂️ The roads were a bit adve...
I don't see you in the water, were you swimming underneath?
We took a dip in the pond as well, even though it was February My co-driver was nuts ...
I will need to dig for pictures of swimming 🏊🏻♂️
But I will find something as soon as I get to my HDD 😁 You do raise the bar again 😉
I had the Volvo Amazon first
It was technically the 122S 2-door, which we took to about 300,000km. I owned it from 1974 to about 1984. Also through 2 engines and gearboxes. When the highway patrol called me at work, saying "Hey your wife is down here and dumped 5 quarts of oil on the...
The very same, albeit…
Black (the other color that was available next to the yellow). The rims have been sturdy so far (as said, over 400k km and still the original rims) 😊👍🏻
BTCC…
I have seen one driven in anger at Hockenheim recently. Nice but the DTM Audi V8s stole the glory 😁🏁
The Land Cruiser
Specifically the new one, the FIRST SERIES! A dream of mine credit: cars and bids ...
That’s definitely a car I wanted to try at some point 😊👍🏻
Certainly goes onto the list 👍🏻
Actually ....
I have been thinking of doing it with the white car in the picture below. ...
That would be a car reasonably high on the list for me as well 👍🏻
I was curious what car you would add for the journey here 😊 Btw. are you planning a trip to Nordkapp? 😊🤞🏻
I have been thinking about it ...
.. for more than 10 years now :-( ... My wife definitely doesn't want to join me, she hates the Clio for whatever reason (guess being a passenger when I am driving the nuts off off it doesn't feel comfortable). Back in 2008 we made a trip halfway to visit...
Well keep me posted…
And if you’re up for the trip I will certainly be happy to join 😊 Curious about your projects 👍🏻
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