jamiehamy

Made the journey across three countries from Split in Croatia, thought Slovenia into Trieste in Italy. Whilst there is not a huge amount in Trieste, the architecture from the Austro-Hungarian empire is quite something. Got diverted over a mountain as a tunnel was closed. On the road we came across an accident where a Merc B class had it's side literally shaved off by an army tank transporter. Fortunately it didn't look like there were any physical injuries. Nasty tho. Small issue with the car - the headlight switch gave up the ghost. Was a bit problematic going though the 30 miles of Slovenia as lights are mandatory all the time, but avoided the police. Took the switch apart in the hotel room and found one of the plastic arms has snapped, and it looks like heat. I've managed to rig it so it's on all the time and operate by plugging the switch in when I need the lights. Will do until I get home! Shame I'm past Bosnia as any amount of roadside garages would have had Mk2 switches! The motorway towards Rijeka near Trieste. Superb quality roads out here, smooth and quiet. I'm dreading UK motorways where the Rado seems so noisy, but it's actually just the tarmac. One of the many buildings in Trieste Sorry about my dirty windscreen. This was one of the roads in Bosnia. Deep in valleys with lakes on one side and mountains on all others.

After a 5hur drive, arrived in Split, in Croatia, starting the trip homwwards. The scenery in Bosnia is simply stunning. The lakes and mountains are so impressive. Stopped in a place called Mostar in southern Bosnia. This town was reduced almost to rubble in 1993. The old town, which is now a UNESCO site, was obliterated, including an ancient bridge over the river. There was a video showing it being destroyed by shells or rockets. Really quite moving and shocking and really bring nearer the reality of what happened, which until now, for me, had only ever been on TV. The amount of Mk1 and Mk2 Golf's in Bosnia is unreal! Every other car is an old Golf, some in amaing condition, others in yellow with a trailer! Split is lovely, the second biggest city in Croatia. Very nice with a lovely old town. Tommorrow tramping up to Trieste before moving on to Venice. The motorway that runs up Croatia is very new and virtually empty. Can sit at 80mph for hours with no traffic. This bridge was completely destroyed along withg most of the buildings surrounding it. Split from a hill!

After being a bit worried about this part of the trip, so far everything has gone really well. Loads of LPG in Bosnia, only 52p a litre. Got a Green Card at the Border for only E35. Drive to Sarajevo was great, simply stunning scenery. Sarajevo is some place, and some amount of history behind it, esp the 1992-95 war. Evidence of the bombardment is still very miuch apparant, with many buildins showing the scars of war. Drove down Snipers Alley and can see why it got the name. Very exposed to all sorts of sniper fire and rocket attacks. Anyway, I'll stop! Final piece of interesting info - you've not got a car if you've not got a VW apparantly! Loads of them here, esp Mk1's and 2's. There used to be a factory here until it was bombed during the war. The Germans never reinvested. Witnessed the demise of a T2 van and Mk2. Mk2 smacked into a Fiat at the lights. The van smacked into the Mk2. Also saw an A3 go into the back of a new Passat. Whoops. Me outside the famous Holiday Inn where reporters were based during the war. Building that had been badly hit by shells. Notice how the holes have simply been patched! The bridge where Arch Franz Ferdinand was shot, thus starting World War One. View from high above Sarajevo Approaching Sarajevo

Funny thing is, loads of people stare at it in France and Germany, but once in Slovenia and Croatia, no-one looks twice at it. Maybe an old commy thing? Today was a great driving day. I was beginning to tire of motorway pounding when suddenly the motorway ended and 80miles of A and B-roads started! Corrado was in her element, just great at soaking up bumps and staying stuck to the tarmac. Ended up taking the attitude of 'drive like the locals', and stuck behind one dude in a Merc who 'seemed' to know his stuff. Old Maw wasn't bothered about the spirited driving either! Tommorrow will be 167miles of the same. Been told by the local police I can buy insurance at the border, so just need to cross fingers. Dubrovnik is stunning. Was fasciniating to see pictures of the shelling that took place back in the 90's. You would never know the country had only relatively recently been at war. From empty M-way to this! Soon passed the truck and tagged along with on old S-class most of the way. Stunning! Just outside Dubrovnik

haha, I'd love to film it! Arrived Zadar today, not much to see outwith the old town, but the location is stunning, looking out over the Adriatic and islands. Off to Dubrovnik tomorrow. Not managed to get insurance for Bosnia in advance so will have to see if it's available at the border. Any Croatians we've spoken to seems surprised we'd want to go! Two of them crossed themselves (religously!) Argh! This shall be the most interesting bit, if we get across the border. :)

Now in Zagreb after and early start this morning, spent most of the day here. Really nice city, didn't know what to expect. Lots of pleasant boulevards and side streets with a relaxed but bustling atmosphere. St marks Square, Zagreb Lake Bled, Slovenia Ljubljana Looks like gas is readily available in Croatia and only 58p per litre. MPG is consistently 25/26mpg when sitting at 75-80mph. Very pleased. I wonder if the higher butane content has anything to do with it... Zadar tmrw, then Dubrovnik. Need to try get insurance for Bosnia tho, no joy here.

Will be interested to find out if they exist. I'd consider 20mm for the look factor. Not much, but just enough. That said, standard is sublime to be honest, especially on long drives so will probably hang on with them...

Having done nearly 2000miles across Europe since Saturday, I have never thought another gear was needed. If anything, a Schrick manifold to bring the peak torque down a bit would be perfect. The car/engine sits much nicer at 80ish/3500 than it does at 70, especially up hills. She charges up the steepest gradients at 80 in 5th, but anything less than 70 and she labours a bit too much for my liking. So, unless you bring the peak torque lower, I honestly don't think 6th speed will help much tbh. Oh, and yes, LPG is the way forward...lol. Not that I'm biased!

Thanks guys :) Only seen one other Rado, an Ice Violet one, but it was a fleeting glimpse so not much detail. Came over the Lieblpass this morning into Slovenia, was quite a drive!! Up up and Up! Think I've got the tracking sorted, will find out in the morning. Zagreb next.

Down through Austria to Klagenfurt. Visited a Porsche Museum in a place called Gmund. It's where Ferdinand Porsche moved to in 1944 to avoid the bombing of Stuttgart! Was a gorgeous 968 that has been cut up on one side, fascinating. Also make me want a Porsche again. Lake Bled and then Ljubljiana tomorrow. Car going well, although a couple of small issues. Currently chewing up the front drivers tyre. Using eye reckoning, I think she's toed in way too much, so making small adjustments each night. At 3mm will swap to back and hope the other new one will make home! argh. Gearbox is horrid, just really gratey going into gear, despite new oil. Has been like that for a good while now, so new(er) gearbox needed i think. Apart from that, she's great, got her up to 27-28mpg on gas! Been really fine tuning the gas map and it's nearly perfect now. I had a panic on the way though the Alps, car felt sluggish and fuel consumption was dropping consistetly, even though I was going down hill. Then I worked the optical illusion out and realised I'd been steadily climbing for over 20miles, but looked like I was going downhill! whoops! Reims Cathedral.

Might as well update my trip on here, will help me remember in the future where I went! Drove down to Dover last night, car ran well. Cost £75 on gas for the 506 miles, which i think is okay. Beasted it a bit thought Scotland given 21mpg, but taking it easy she does 24.5mpg cruising. On DFDS Ferry - can't go on Tunnel train because of LPG. Arras in France. Now in Reims for the night, on to Augsburg tmrw. Oh, and btw. I saw SuperU at *cough* E1.64, so best part of £1.50 a litre! Gas is E0.85

I wish Tesco did gas, I'm sick of paying an inflated 66.9p a litre, 5p off would be great!

Maplins. There is a guide in the Wiki for the exact spec :) I took my motor apart, cleaned it and lubricated and has been fine for the last year too.

My favourite... WIRE WHEEL: Cleans rust off old bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprint whorls in about the time it takes you to say, "F...."

Never actually heard of G3 before and I've now read about it in 3 places this moring, all independently! Sounds like it'd be good for a 'beginning to fade' Flash red - anyone with experience of this on red? Cheers, J]

Thank you. Sometimes I get fed up, but as you say, a wash and a polish and she lokos great :) Hoping to make it to Bosnia. Route is - Glasgow Dover Reims Augsburg Klagenfurt Ljubljiana Zagreb Zadar Dubrovnik Sarajevo (depending if I can get insurance arranged in Croatia) Split Trieste Venice Como Nancy London Glasgow All in all about 4000miles and got two weeks to do it! Did 3800miles in two weeks last year, so getting conditioned! Will try posts some pics up as I go.

Saturday. First stop Dover...argh! Can't wait tho, should be fun. Going to do some final tweaks to gas injection map to make sure it's as efficient as possible. Apart from that, fingers crossed! :)

This weekend I fitted new braided hoses to the oil cooler. They are longer and I managed to route them much better to the front. Also, the elbows now hang down rather than up, avoiding contact with the crack pipe. Also resoldered the oil temp connector, now I have a consistent reading. Also fitted a spare cam sensor I have as engine seemed flat as well as fitting a replacement idle damper as it was hissing. Engine much perkier. New genuine coilpack was also fitted in advance of my roadtrip, although old one was fine and in good condition. Finally, wrapped up some of the wires that were not covered with a felt/tape stuff I got from ebay. Much tidier. Mileage - 175210

Yup, was these same ones. Fitted on no problem. Banjo on caliper side and normal connection on other. Only thing I found was the mount to the strut was not perfect. I have Koni's and got them to slot in, but secured with a cable tie just in case. Not sure about other shocks. :)

I'm so tempted by this, I love White Rado's, esp in later spec. It looks cracking. Sadly I have no rational reason for getting another one, but most importantly, nowhere to keep it.

I'd be up for it. I don't care about weather too much, I think the highlands are as nice in the wet as dry. :) Good pub lunch and good driving roads is all that's needed :)

I bought one, worked for about 6months then didn't...Computer finds it okay, but it doesn't find the car. I think they are designed to break after a while.

Like emu said, most likely to be the clutch slave cylinder. Other possibilities are the master cylinder or the clutch fork, which can snap, especially if the clutch has been heavy. Clutch slave comes off with two 13mm bolts, so quite easy to diagnose. :)

That's my idea of h3ll!

I'm in Gourock, Inverclyde. :) Also in Gourock is PhilJ with a stunning m-reg VR6.