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Welcome to
an update on our version of
TopGear's Ultimate Driving Road
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Update: 11/04/08 - Anne
collected the car today. She reports that the engine is
a bit tight, but at the end of the day STango now has a
new complete engine, flywheel and clutch. Also we had a
question published in this weeks AutoExpress (shame they
didn't quite get it right). Nothing back from Tesco's so
we're not chuffed about that.
More information on the 'Updates'
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Ok, so you will probably know that we've got a Ford
Focus ST in ASBO orange, which is officially Anne's car,
but occasionally I'm allowed to drive it (mainly when it
needs some fuel in it). But we both made the mistake of
watching Top Gear when they did the Ultimate Driving
road episode based in Switzerland / Northern Italy. And
we just happen to have some time booked off in March so
thought, well, let's go for it. We'll be taking our own
car, worked out the route ourselves, booked the mainly
Best Western hotels and we were in control, what could
go wrong… how wrong were we! |
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The fun starts a couple of days before we're due to be
travelling over to Europe via SpeedFerries from Dover to
Boulogne, but with this being March and we've had a
couple of days of bad weather, Anne texted me a on the
Monday to tell me that Dover was shut due to the bad
storms, but was due to be ok for Wednesday lunch time.
Only thing we had booked the ferry for Wednesday 8am… so
just as a precaution I booked a EuroTunnel 'day return'
for £44, and was quiet chuffed that we've got that part
sorted out. A backup option. |
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Talking of backup options, the Focus comes with one of
those silly space saver wheels, now can you imagine
getting a puncher in the Alps, nope neither could we, so
I found on ebay a proper ST allow and we got it, stashed
it in the back of the car and took it with us, so that
in the case of an emergency, just swap it over and we
wouldn't be stuck with only being able to drive at 30mph
(car's never done that speed) and for only 10 miles or
whatever the stipulation is. |
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Also as the car is 18 months old, it still has the 2
year extended warranty that comes with the car that
covers breakdown etc, but when I changed my car which is
covered by Tesco car insurance, I noticed that they do a
Tesco Car Breakdown policy and it's just a simple
addition. It all sounded just too simple, have the Euro
cover and extend for personal protection, so in theory,
any car that either Anne or I are with is fully covered
both in the UK and in Europe., one off annual fee.
Sounded brill, but decided to check and called them 3
times and spoke to 3 different tesco sales bods who
assured me that if I did take my wife's focus to Europe
(mentioned the up and coming holiday) and we had a
problem, then we would be covered. Great, but again to
check I called the breakdown number and yep, they
confirmed this as we had the personal cover. Lovely,
sorted. |
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So
we're ready for going, took out the base of the back
seats for allowing extra storage space and for bringing
more wine back for us and we're ready… |
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This picture shows our 2 Ford STs.
Anne's is the Asbo orange Focus ST-2
Mine is the Skunk like 'green' Fiesta ST - well having
downgraded from a diesel guzzling 4x4, this little
fiesta gets a lot better miles to the gallon, is cheaper
to run and the car tax is less. Ok, so I'm not that
green, but I'll only go green to a point as I still want
some fun when driving! |
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