Going to plan

[Mr K]

In southern Switzerland. Managed to properly exercise the car on quiet unrestricted autobhanen yesterday. It really shifts above 120 mph. Had to go over the Gotthard pass as the tunnel was backed up for miles with stationary traffic. This thing can overtake lines of cars going up hill nearly as well as a motorbike. Just as well I swapped out the Tubis as it gets a little raucous when driven hard.

Last leg to Lucca today. I'm expecting passing Milan to be "interesting"!

 

[TridentTested]

Be careful at those speeds in Switzerland - it's not like unrestricted autobahns in Germany, they take speeding seriously in CH.

Mind you I couldn't resist a few squirts on the autoroute this week.

I'm in France at the moment and the QP on French roads is simply gorgeous. I have the same reaction every time I turn out of the Chunnel terminal, I think the exhaust sound is a bit louder than normal and momentarily start wondering if I might have a developing exhaust problem, then I realise it's no louder, it's just that there is a total absence of tyre roar coming from the super smooth French tarmac.

What a joy: Sports mode, manual mode, flicking up and down the 'box just to hear the music.

These are the roads this car is built for. Even the steering seems perfectly tuned to this tarmac: at high speed on the autoroute it is sufficient to gently guide it with one or two fingers; in the UK it would be kicking around unpleasantly.

Enjoy your trip - I must take mine to Italy some day. Back to its birth place

 

[midlifecrisis]

I would put the acceleration akin to a modern 600cc motorbike.

 

[CatmanV2]

I would put the acceleration akin to a modern 600cc motorbike.

I dunno. I have to say it *feels* almost bike fast, but it's hard to believe it is.

The do move though

C

 

[midlifecrisis]

Having ridden various bikes, (see signature) I would put the 4200 at around the 600cc acceleration mark, which is still rapid, OK so it's not 1000cc but you'd have to go up to Ultra-car level for that.

But like you say, these cars do shift, as attested by the screams of the three ATC girls I had in my car towards the end of the day...(pipe down at the back! Especially you Zep ;-) )

 

[CatmanV2]

Having ridden various bikes, (see signature) I would put the 4200 at around the 600cc acceleration mark, which is still rapid, OK so it's not 1000cc but you'd have to go up to Ultra-car level for that.

Yes. In fairness the last 600 I rode was a rather aged Bandit it between my Speed Triple and my Sprnt ST. Fair wore out my wrist (pipe down at the back, especially you, Zep)

C

 

[Mr K]

Be careful at those speeds in Switzerland - it's not like unrestricted autobahns in Germany, they take speeding seriously in CH.

Sorry, I was being economical with words - unrestricted implies Germany, which we crossed to get to Switzerland. 120kph is the max in CH, and if you stick to that you get passed by all sorts. I tend to stick to the limits generally, but I must admit I did get a bit carried away today on the E33 between Parma and La Spezia, where it's very bendy. The speed limits are often 80 and 60kph. I found a new feature. If you corner hard enough with cruise on, it turns it off for you!

Not many locals speed in France (away from the cities) - probably for good reason.

Anyway, we arrived safely in Lucca this afternoon. Been to the supermarket to stock up. Haven't seen a single other Maserati. Nor have I spotted a new Alfa Giulia. Nice and warm here.

 

[TridentTested]

Sorry, I was being economical with words - unrestricted implies Germany

Ah - understood.

Yes. France has really changed. I remember some barn-storming drives to and from the Alps back in the '90s - sometimes, when the traffic was light enough, I would keep the 3.0L 164 at 120 mph for hour after hour. Not now, 99.9% of the time I set the cruise at the indicated limit and relax.

Enjoy Lucca, I haven't been there for years. I remember a memorable meal at the Restaurant Giglio, if it's still run by the same people it would be a worth a try https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...3e59990!8m2!3d43.8430785!4d10.5027198!6m1!1e1

 

[Mr K]

Enjoy Lucca, I haven't been there for years. I remember a memorable meal at the Restaurant Giglio, if it's still run by the same people it would be a worth a try https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...3e59990!8m2!3d43.8430785!4d10.5027198!6m1!1e1

Thanks for the recommendation. We ate there a few nights ago. Great Primi Piattis. Secondis - choice not so good - 2 of us ended up choosing the rabbit, and it wasn't fantastic - butchered sloppily, so lots of bone fragments. At least we didn't go for the Florentine T-bone steak; minimum order 900g at 49.5 Euros. Too much for me on both fronts.

Driving here is generally OK, but there's a significant minority of really bad drivers. Much better than 30 years ago, but not as improved as France in that time. Non-motorway roads are mostly in really poor condition, with loads of minor subsidence causing dips, mostly on the right-hand side. The suspension's developed a light knocking, which I think must be the ARB drop-links. Might see if I can get some whilst here, though not a big issue.

We're planning on visiting the Ferrari Museum in Modena this week as well as my nephew who lives in Bologna.

One thing I enjoy is rolling past queues at the motorway tolls, going through the Telepass lane and blasting away. I haven't had to queue yet.