North Coast 500 - in a GranSport?

Marwood

Marwood

Junior Member
Messages
87
Hello chums.

Has anyone done the NC500 in a 4200 series GranSport? I really want a new adventure in my car but given its **** suspension, low profile tyres and dislike of reversing (especially uphill), it sounds like much of the route wouldn't suit it.

There are other options readily to hand - an s5 Cabrio (dull, dreadful steering, comfy and roofless when required) or a VX 220 turbo (small, fast, manual, roofless..no luggage space, uncomfortable).

Advice welcomed!

M
 
outrun

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
Nonsense, it would be fine. Gransport is a good size of car for it.

I did it in the FF, with friends in a Pista, Granturismo and a 911 GT3 which has much harder suspension than a Gransport. I've also done lots of sections of it in other cars, you can take whatever you like, it's not the Paris-Dakar.

And you won't be doing any reversing up a hill unless you really get it spectacularly wrong!
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,269
Alex loved doing it in the camper; he is going with a bunch of mates in a few weeks in the Boxter
 
Mr S

Mr S

Member
Messages
821
Is the VX220 yours or a friends? Iv done long weekend’s away in cornwall in my old one, and it was great. Boot space isnt that bad at all, just the loading area is small. Though it did have Nitrons, 48l tank and good seats.
either way, sounds like Grandsport would be just as great if not better.
 
schell70

schell70

Member
Messages
314
Take note on the motorhomes! We went last August and there were a lot, a friend went this July and said they were everywhere. The main problem is that they don't seem to understand how to use passing places on single track roads which can mean slow progress.

Saying that the only bit of road where this will become an issue is Hope to Durness and then the A838 south from Durness for an hour.

Depends on patience threshold I guess, mine was being tested - lots of FFS being shouted!
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,936
We did big chunks of it in the SZ and that is very low on the front with no issues, some stunning roads if you can avoid motorhomes.

The worse road we found was the A9 truly shocking for potholes
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

Member
Messages
1,687
Interesting piece on Radio 4's Today Programme about the NC500.
Might help when you're deciding when to go.
Listeners of a fragile disposition, probably don't want to listen during meal times :eek:
Starts at 1.23.00
R4 NC500
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

Member
Messages
1,687
Funnily enough, motorhomes have blighted the North Coast of Northern Ireland this summer.
And that's not a sentence that I ever saw myself writing. In my lifetime.
As they wander about like shopping trollies, long queues of cars form behind them.
On our roads, overtaking single vehicles is hazardous at the best of times.
Because many B roads evolved from tracks, established in the 1500 and 1600's.
Their owners tend to be a tight fisted, thoughtless bunch I've observed. Because instead of using
caravan park overnight sites which are usually only a stone's throw from beaches etc.
They park in regular car parks overnight and for days, clogging up parking for day trippers
in cars. One or two a day was tolerable. Suddenly its six or twelve parking overnight.
Presumably next year a motorhome 'arms race' will have started with owners venturing into
RV territory.
As usual over here. The law has lagged far behind life and so far as I know, there's nothing
the police or civil courts can do to, to re-establish the status quo.
Thanks again China. For another Covid19/Delta consequence.
 
Hurricane52

Hurricane52

Member
Messages
1,211
UlstermanAbroad said:
Funnily enough, motorhomes have blighted the North Coast of Northern Ireland this summer.
And that's not a sentence that I ever saw myself writing. In my lifetime.
As they wander about like shopping trollies, long queues of cars form behind them.
On our roads, overtaking single vehicles is hazardous at the best of times.
Because many B roads evolved from tracks, established in the 1500 and 1600's.
Their owners tend to be a tight fisted, thoughtless bunch I've observed. Because instead of using
caravan park overnight sites which are usually only a stone's throw from beaches etc.
They park in regular car parks overnight and for days, clogging up parking for day trippers
in cars. One or two a day was tolerable. Suddenly its six or twelve parking overnight.
Presumably next year a motorhome 'arms race' will have started with owners venturing into
RV territory.
As usual over here. The law has lagged far behind life and so far as I know, there's nothing
the police or civil courts can do to, to re-establish the status quo.
Thanks again China. For another Covid19/Delta consequence.
Click to expand...
Same here in West Wales, sadly.
 
Ryandoc

Ryandoc

Member
Messages
1,842
Not done the NC500 but I’ve toured the highlands 10 times now, basically I invented the NC500 no need to thank me.

But at one point having around 10 cars from a Ferrari 355 to my own GT, on single lane roads between the valleys, little bridges along the way, bumpy twisty as crazy as it comes roads …. I can confirm crack on you’ll be fine
 
Corranga

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,223
I did most of it a couple of years ago in my 4200 facelift, I ignored the boring bit and did more good driving roads instead:


I was going to do it again in my Elise last year but then the world was set on fire ;)

I loved doing it in the Maserati, but personally, I’d do it in the VX given the choice (my wife had an N/A for 5 years). It’s perfectly suited to Scottish roads and would be an absolute blast.

If the (ample..) boot space isn’t enough or you want some comfort, the GS will be the ideal tool.
 
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