MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Tales of driving experiences you have had.


Moderators: IMOC Moderators, IMOC Committee Members

This post is:

Great
0
No votes
Stupid
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 0

vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

Just got back from a tour of the South of France, 3 thousand miles in 14 days without a hickup
From Chard to tunnel, then Routes De Cretes down to Nice, taking in the marvelous Grand canyon du Verdon and mountain roads as deserted as they were dramatic.
If there is any interest, I will post up some pics and a route plus some advice prices etc for anyone who might be interested in going.
The Lac du Saint Croix was particularly impressive, sitting in the middle of a rugged alpine scene like a secret blue lagoon! No big TV's, No football, no Brits on tour, no Watneys red barrel or fish and chips!

Lush

Image

Image

Image

The French have no clue what an MR2 is, we had parties of girls posing for photo's with it. waiters asking what model Ferrari it was, when I said it's a Toyota, he wanted to know why it had Ferrari badges! I had to explain the difference between a Cheveaux and a Chevre!
Best was a kid on a moped who power slid to a halt and asked if it was a Replica. I replied; MR2, to which he said; "two turbo's?" Uhh, yea, that's close enough!
Last edited by vmaxnick on Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
DAN_REV1_TURBO
Posts: 2726
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:47 pm
Location: Coalville, Leics

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by DAN_REV1_TURBO »

Fantastic mate get some more pics up! Some close ups of those rear lights aswell please :thumleft:
dantheman
Posts: 1205
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:51 pm
Location: NW London

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by dantheman »

I think Toyota decided not to sell it in france for 1 simple reason.

Car Name: MR2

French phonetically: Em Ehr duh

French Word for poop: Merde

French phonetically: Mehrd-eh

See the similarity
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

isn't it poop or death! either is not a good marketing ploy though! :D

I will remember that one though, next time a Frenchman asks if it's a Ferrari, I shall reply; no, it's a poop! :shock:
Ren0W
Posts: 1829
Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:38 pm
Location: Netherlands

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by Ren0W »

Now I know where I have to be for the slogan "Boost gets you laid".
Never had any success with my car here ...
Image
Nails
Posts: 1398
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:06 am
Location: durham-ish

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by Nails »

doing something like that is defo something I'd be interested in, got a week of coming up in sept and usually do a week long driving holiday in the uk plus the usual foreign holiday, but havent managed to do one this year, keep fancing the 'ring but something like the above would probably be a lot more enjoyable
User avatar
afennell
IMOC Organiser
Posts: 1877
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:10 am
Location: Essex

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by afennell »

nice run, i would be interested on the route if you would be so kind. :thumleft:
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

afennell wrote:nice run, i would be interested on the route if you would be so kind. :thumleft:


I will get up a more detailed route when I have time but in short we took the Chunnel to calais then the most direct route down as far as Gap where you then follow the routes de crete through the grand canyon du Verdon (Gorges du Verdon) I think it's Gap to Castellane then take the gorges gauche (The left hand route) as this is the most spectacular but if you take the left route in be sure to take the left route out so you do both sides of the gorge.
When you get to the end of the gorge you will encounter the spectacular blue lagoon that is the lac du st croix. Moutiers Ste Marie is the first place you come to on the lake and it is a picture perfect little mountain villiage there are camp sites and hotels all the way round the lake from Moutiers, Bauduen, Baudinard, Aups and Lac de Ste croix so you can take your pick where you stay. We stayed in a superb mobile home which only cost us £350 for a week. Shop around, there are deals to be done.
We motored on to Saint Tropez to swim in the med but St Trop is hugely overated so we did a swift Votre face and went back to the lake.

The route back was more complex but much more rewarding, we made for digne les bains on one of the D roads which was superb then we made for Switzerland, Mont Blanc and Neufchatal. Don't look to overnight in Switzerland it is diabolicaly expensive! from Neufchatal we went back into France and discovered more fantastic mountain roads from Colmar (Well worth a visit) then Some lakes near to Munster which had very resonable hotels and camping and was another beautifull location. This will be our half way stop next year)
From there we reluctantly said adieu to the mountains and headed for Luxembourg then into Belgium Bruxells, Gent, Oostende, then back to Calais and home.
No payages at all on the route home, saved ourselves over £100

I will have a look through the map and give you the numbers of the top roads we found though. When you get to Digne look out for a restaurant called "Aux deux Daims" This was our first stop in the French Alps and made a wonderfull start to our holiday.

Seriously, if you thought the Top gear guys found the best roads in Europe, not a chance!

Tell your missus, no posh frocks, it's not that sort of place but take your hiking boots because the Gorges have some amazing walks on offer.
Last edited by vmaxnick on Fri Jul 15, 2011 12:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

A few more pics

Image Image

Image Image

Image Image

Image Image
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

Nails wrote:doing something like that is defo something I'd be interested in, got a week of coming up in sept and usually do a week long driving holiday in the uk plus the usual foreign holiday, but havent managed to do one this year, keep fancing the 'ring but something like the above would probably be a lot more enjoyable


I've done the ring and surrounding area many time as I used to live in Germany only about 60 miles from the Eifels (Had a fiat X19 at the time)
You can make it from Calais to the Eifel mountains in about 5 hours.
There are some beautiful roads in and around the area. Altenahr is a town I would recommend as a base if you want to experience the ring. lots of really nice campsites along the river Ahr. Watch out for the Polizei though they are a lot stricter on speeding than the French.
Problem with the Eifels though is the weather! Expect UK style unpredictability!
User avatar
Charged
IMOC Committee
Posts: 8897
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Herts

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by Charged »

vmaxnick wrote:when I said it's a Toyota, he wanted to know why it had Ferrari badges!


I was wondering myself :?

Looks like a great trip though :thumleft:
If you can't see the angle, you're in trouble.
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

Ollie@SkyInsurance wrote:
vmaxnick wrote:when I said it's a Toyota, he wanted to know why it had Ferrari badges!


I was wondering myself :?

Looks like a great trip though :thumleft:


Image

My best mate is Ferrari mad he owns a mint Testerossa, Ferrari club member, goes to all the meetings. My Mr2 styling was Pinninfarina inspired but always intended to raise an eyebrow and a smile. The goat idea was suggested to me by some guys into Tokyo drift who reckoned in Japan they cut the two top hoops off the Toyota badge to make it a goats head.
I just thought the rising sun flag and style of writing were quite tongue in cheek as is the number plate slogan; "Ferrari by Airfix" I never thought to try and fool anyone but people don't look closely at the badge they are so familiar with and the brain fills in the blanks.
Badges on the wheels say Toyota, the chrome prancing horse on the rear is a goat
Not meaning to offend anyone but I would think twice before driving the Tubby to Italy \:D/

Image
Philippe Gomés-10-
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:01 am
Location: France

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by Philippe Gomés-10- »

dantheman wrote:I think Toyota decided not to sell it in france for 1 simple reason.

Car Name: MR2

French phonetically: Em Ehr duh

French Word for poop: Merde

French phonetically: Mehrd-eh

See the similarity


hi,

Just for the MR2 logo.
But Toyota sold the MR2 in France and Belgium with the MR logo. Without the two.
Only 1178 copies for France, that's why you will not see a lot of MR with us.
Since there have been imports and we see the name MR2 ..

For travel in the south, vmaxnick, you made the good choice.
In July, near this site, there are the lavender fields to visit, it is superb and the scent is amazing.

bye,
Philippe
andya24
Posts: 270
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:59 pm
Location: north yorkshire

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by andya24 »

looks amazing,something id love to do
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

Philippe Gomés-10- wrote:

hi,

Just for the MR2 logo.
But Toyota sold the MR2 in France and Belgium with the MR logo. Without the two.
Only 1178 copies for France, that's why you will not see a lot of MR with us.
Since there have been imports and we see the name MR2 ..

For travel in the south, vmaxnick, you made the good choice.
In July, near this site, there are the lavender fields to visit, it is superb and the scent is amazing.

bye,
Philippe


Hi Philippe
The Lavender fields between the Lac and St Tropez are fantastic and so fragrant!
Coming back again in June!
I can't wait!
JohnnyC
Posts: 7001
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:25 pm
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by JohnnyC »

andya24 wrote:looks amazing,something id love to do

^^^this

=P~
Image
A.BLAKE
Posts: 369
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:48 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by A.BLAKE »

Yup... Planning a few days in June myself.. 8) 8)
mr2muzz
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:44 am
Location: Glasgow

Re: MR2 Mk2 Tubby to South of France

Post by mr2muzz »

Pictures look great! I was thinking about a trip similar to this, maybe next year :D
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Alps again

Post by vmaxnick »

Just got back from another 2 week sojourn to SOF.

5000mls in 20 days went through Belgium, Holland, Germany (Oh those Autobahns!) Luxembourg and into France over the Alps. Came back by an even more intense Alpine route through France on the N85.
Torrential rain all the way to Aups Followed by 14 days of sweltering heat the other side of the Haute Alps then worse torrential rain back from Calais, AND I inadvertantly filled the tank with E10 (FUME!)
:evil: #-o Still the MR2 ran without so much as a pink or missfire! I love this car!!

Only fly in the ointment was; I fitted a new set of Cooper Zeon tyres before I left (which are great tyres) and filled them with the recommended amount of Punturesafe (Ultraseal) as there's no room to put a puntured rim in the car even if my space saver would fit over the discs and callipers. Damn stuff caused a wobble every time I changed speed on the motorway! Still, I didn't get any punctures!

Not going next year as I have a few plans for the old girl: Skirts, a Lambo spoiler, suspension overhaul and I may aquire another motor and set about spannering in some big horsepower!
vmaxnick
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:50 pm

South of France

Post by vmaxnick »

Well, only a few days to go and we're off to the SOF again! A hectic last two years has prevented any of the mods I was hoping to make on the Tubby, only thing I've done is make a vinyl roof for when we are down there to save putting roasting hot glass panels off and on. The Lambo spoiler looked pants on the car so I have saved that for some other project. I will try to post up some photo's on route and a bit of cam footage so you can see just how awesome these roads are. I've ditched my RAC European cover in favour of ADAC cover as the RAC were being profoundly stupid. £400 cover for one 3 week trip and rude! The ADAC were Eu 80 ish for the whole year and any vehicle. They offer much the same cover with the added advantage of having the biggest European breakdown company on call. I speak German so there won't be any language issues. (Hope it's not needed anyway)
Post Reply

Return to “Driving Experiences”