Check one off the bucket list - Stelvio Pass - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

c7scayman · 10-28-2014, 09:05 AM

I traveled to Italy and Switzerland from October 15-25.

We drove from Milan to Bergamo to Verona to Venice to the Stelvio Pass, then down to Bormio then Lake Como before we reached our destination in Lugano Switzerland.

Unfortunately, it was snowing in the alps so I could not drive too fast through the Stelvio Pass in the Fiat Panda I rented, but I still had lots of fun. HQ Pics coming soon. I just have three phone pics posted below.

A few hours later when we reached Lugano, Switzerland.

A few things about cars in Italy. Everyone drives Fiat's, Lancia's, Ford's (Ka, Fiesta, Focus), Skoda's, Mercedes Benz (A class only), and Audi's (especially the A1 and A3). The Audi A1 is the popular tuner car there. I saw a lot of nice ones.

BMW's, Honda's, Toyota's, Mazda's, Nissan's, Hyundai's, and Kia's are ultra rare cars to see up there. Even Porsche's, VW's, Seats, Renaults, Peugeots, and Alfa Romeo's were more common than the Japanese cars and BMW's.

I was surprised to see more Dodge's and Jeeps in Italy than Honda's.
In Italy, the Chrysler 300 is rebadged as a Lancia.

Lugano, Switzerland had more premium cars. I saw a Ferrari 599, BMW Z8 Alpina, Audi R8, A classic Shelby Cobra, and plenty of Mini Coopers and Audi S3's.

Their highways are similar to the autobahn. The left lane is reserved for those who drive 90-100mph. The middle lane is reserved for those who drive 75-90. The slow right line are for those who drive 55-75. Everyone tail gates, no one uses the horn, and it is very difficult to pass someone by switching to the left lane because you need to be able to accelerate quickly so you don't get rear ended by faster traffic. My Fiat Panda's 1.2L 68HP engine had trouble with this.

I plan to visit again in the summer months with an Audi A1 rental car so that I can drive the Stelvio Pass faster.

Slasher · 10-29-2014, 11:48 AM

awesome!
it is my dream to some day spend a month driving around Italy. will for sure do the Stelvio.
the plan is to rent a lancia and have at it.

c7scayman · 10-29-2014, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slasher

awesome!
it is my dream to some day spend a month driving around Italy. will for sure do the Stelvio.
the plan is to rent a lancia and have at it.

Yeah there is a lot they do not show in Top Gear when they name the Stelvio Pass the best driving road in the world. The roads wind like that for miles.

OBEEWON · 10-30-2014, 09:48 AM

Sick. Must have been hairy driving that in those conditions.

c7scayman · 10-30-2014, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OBEEWON

Sick. Must have been hairy driving that in those conditions.

Yes, I went through all four seasons driving through it. It started off warm, then there were leaves on the ground, then snow mixed with leaves. That is when it got slippery. By the time I drove through it and reached my destination in Switzerland, it was Spring weather.

JST2KWIK · 10-30-2014, 09:55 PM

That looks/sounds incredible. I've never been to Europe but I am more excited about the roads and the different cars than anything. So interesting to think of how different the automotive offerings, driving etiquettes, etc. are overseas. Looking forward to more pics

c7scayman · 11-01-2014, 05:00 PM

c7scayman · 11-01-2014, 05:05 PM

Some more pics

10-28-2014, 09:05 AM	#1
c7scayman Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Philly Member #9644 iTrader: (0)	Check one off the bucket list - Stelvio Pass I traveled to Italy and Switzerland from October 15-25. We drove from Milan to Bergamo to Verona to Venice to the Stelvio Pass, then down to Bormio then Lake Como before we reached our destination in Lugano Switzerland. Unfortunately, it was snowing in the alps so I could not drive too fast through the Stelvio Pass in the Fiat Panda I rented, but I still had lots of fun. HQ Pics coming soon. I just have three phone pics posted below. A few hours later when we reached Lugano, Switzerland. A few things about cars in Italy. Everyone drives Fiat's, Lancia's, Ford's (Ka, Fiesta, Focus), Skoda's, Mercedes Benz (A class only), and Audi's (especially the A1 and A3). The Audi A1 is the popular tuner car there. I saw a lot of nice ones. BMW's, Honda's, Toyota's, Mazda's, Nissan's, Hyundai's, and Kia's are ultra rare cars to see up there. Even Porsche's, VW's, Seats, Renaults, Peugeots, and Alfa Romeo's were more common than the Japanese cars and BMW's. I was surprised to see more Dodge's and Jeeps in Italy than Honda's. In Italy, the Chrysler 300 is rebadged as a Lancia. Lugano, Switzerland had more premium cars. I saw a Ferrari 599, BMW Z8 Alpina, Audi R8, A classic Shelby Cobra, and plenty of Mini Coopers and Audi S3's. Their highways are similar to the autobahn. The left lane is reserved for those who drive 90-100mph. The middle lane is reserved for those who drive 75-90. The slow right line are for those who drive 55-75. Everyone tail gates, no one uses the horn, and it is very difficult to pass someone by switching to the left lane because you need to be able to accelerate quickly so you don't get rear ended by faster traffic. My Fiat Panda's 1.2L 68HP engine had trouble with this. I plan to visit again in the summer months with an Audi A1 rental car so that I can drive the Stelvio Pass faster. __________________ 96 Mazda Protege DX 5MT 92HP, 96 ft-lb torque, 2378 lbs. - SOLD! 2005-2012 00 Porsche 986 5MT Est. 230HP, 205 ft-lb torque, 2777 lbs. - DD/Track Car. SOLD! 2010-2014 12 Mazda2 5MT. 100HP of Fury. 2300 lbs. DD/Autox 2015 - Current 13 MK6 GTI 2020 - Current

10-29-2014, 11:48 AM	#2
Slasher Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Nov 2011 Member #22139 My Ride: P1 T5 AWD M66 iTrader: (0)	awesome! it is my dream to some day spend a month driving around Italy. will for sure do the Stelvio. the plan is to rent a lancia and have at it. __________________ why yes, it is a station wagon.

10-30-2014, 09:48 AM	#4
OBEEWON Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hightened State of Emergency Member #1315 My Ride: Lansdale Local iTrader: (1)	Sick. Must have been hairy driving that in those conditions. __________________ E .· \' ' ·. F To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

11-01-2014, 05:00 PM	#7
c7scayman Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Philly Member #9644 iTrader: (0)	__________________ 96 Mazda Protege DX 5MT 92HP, 96 ft-lb torque, 2378 lbs. - SOLD! 2005-2012 00 Porsche 986 5MT Est. 230HP, 205 ft-lb torque, 2777 lbs. - DD/Track Car. SOLD! 2010-2014 12 Mazda2 5MT. 100HP of Fury. 2300 lbs. DD/Autox 2015 - Current 13 MK6 GTI 2020 - Current

11-01-2014, 05:05 PM	#8
c7scayman Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Philly Member #9644 iTrader: (0)	Some more pics __________________ 96 Mazda Protege DX 5MT 92HP, 96 ft-lb torque, 2378 lbs. - SOLD! 2005-2012 00 Porsche 986 5MT Est. 230HP, 205 ft-lb torque, 2777 lbs. - DD/Track Car. SOLD! 2010-2014 12 Mazda2 5MT. 100HP of Fury. 2300 lbs. DD/Autox 2015 - Current 13 MK6 GTI 2020 - Current

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