Preparations for German road trip

[CiaranONeill]

So in preparation for October's 20th anniversary meeting in Baden Baden, I'm getting a few bits sorted. Small service with oil, oil and air filter, new thermostat, new(ish) OSR lower wishbone (thanks David Askew), new alternator belt, pulley and tensioner, 4 new Toyo tyres and getting the wheels powder coated gloss black. Anything else I should do?

 

[davy83]

Pray? Timing belt? battery? book a breakdown recovery service, check brake pads, fuel filter?

 

[Lozzer]

Booked in for a service and 4 wheel alignment next week, timing belt was done 12months ago at the same place, I also asked if they would check the security of the drive train, prop, driveshafts etc. That's if I ever manage to get these sorted mind you. ..oh and fit Roose hoses to the turbos, coolant and oil, they are the only ones I can't get access to at home.

 

[CiaranONeill]

Pray? Timing belt? battery? book a breakdown recovery service, check brake pads, fuel filter?

LOL Timing belt not due for another 18 months, battery is good and I'll be upgrading my AA membership to cover the trip. Anyone got any innovative cup holder solutions?

 

[davy83]

Car is clearly not designed for cups! I tend to get small bottles of water or similar and just stick them between seat and centre console, this seems to work. cups, sadly don't work. So if you want a cup of coffee just stop and have one, you will either get there so fast you will have time, or be broken down either way you have time for a cup of coffee

 

[CiaranONeill]

When he was asked why there were no cupholders in the Alfa 156, Walter De Silva said Italians would rather stop, have a real coffee and look at their beautiful car.

 

[CatmanV2]

In Italy, every petrol station we stopped at had an espresso machine

C

 

[Felonious Crud]

In Italy, every petrol station we stopped at had an espresso machine

C

And generally a bar to stand at while you drink it.

 

[Navcorr]

Costa use proper espresso machines and they're terrible!! Just saying

 

[CatmanV2]

And generally a bar to stand at while you drink it.

And a window so you could look out at your baby

Costa use proper espresso machines and they're terrible!! Just saying

You're not wrong although some baristas are quite accomplished (given the quality of the raw material)...

*but* I didn't have a bad espresso all the time we were in Italy (or France for that matter). You bloody know it when you get to Coquelles, though!
C

 

[Navcorr]

You're not wrong although some baristas are quite accomplished (given the quality of the raw material)... fair point but don't use them based on the few times I did

*but* I didn't have a bad espresso all the time we were in Italy (or France for that matter). You bloody know it when you get to Coquelles, though!
C

Italy *has* to be good but France I find a strange one. Even nice places can be indifferent - I ask before ordering.

 

[CatmanV2]

What do you ask? Surely no one says 'No our coffee is merde?"
C

 

[Navcorr]

What do you ask? Surely no one says 'No our coffee is merde?"
C

You'd be surprised. Generally the brand will be obvious but if not ask. If in doubt don't or have milk on standby. No problem with most Italian roasts but French coffee is, err, hmm, I think you put it rather succinctly.

http://roadsandkingdoms.com/2014/why-is-coffee-in-france-la-merde/

Shame the German trip isn't going to Bremen. Did you see what I did there

 

[CatmanV2]

Interesting. I confess I normally find French coffee pretty OK, but I'm a fan of dark roasts. Certainly better than English OTW (although the chains all roast to within and inch of combustion, we seem to have little interest in the end product. I recall my grandmother with Mellow Birds made with boiled milk. Mrs Catman's grandmother did the same....

C