Holiday Checklist

[Roseyboy]

Yo,

I'm off to La Plagne skiing in Feb and last year I bombed it down there in my RX8 without really having to worry about anything other than the horrible fuel bill.

This year we are taking the Surf and as its had a few problems since we bought it before Xmas and I would really love a checklist of things to check before we go and any common parts that might break while we are away and any spares I should keep in it.

Route Here

See its not the shortest of journeys and I will be trying to keep up with my speeding father in law, so any hints, tips and advice on long journeys in the Surf and taking it up the alps into snow (it has all terrain tyres with chains and dual batterys) would be great.

Thanks James

[bensonsnuts]

I'd take a compressor so you can deflate/inflate the tyres

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Oh....and shovels

[Fordy]

Don't try and park on a snowy verge....it may be all snow and no verge!

[charvell]

Yo,

I'm off to La Plagne skiing in Feb and last year I bombed it down there in my RX8 without really having to worry about anything other than the horrible fuel bill.

This year we are taking the Surf and as its had a few problems since we bought it before Xmas and I would really love a checklist of things to check before we go and any common parts that might break while we are away and any spares I should keep in it.

Route Here

See its not the shortest of journeys and I will be trying to keep up with my speeding father in law, so any hints, tips and advice on long journeys in the Surf and taking it up the alps into snow (it has all terrain tyres with chains and dual batterys) would be great.

Thanks James

What problems have you had with it mate?

[PDR]

It’s a 2.4…… so maybe a spare cylinder head

[Sancho]

I have done that journey (almost exactly) in a Surf a few times, with differing results.....

You should take a big bottle of coolant, some oil, a tow rope, a shovel, a block of wood (for the jack) and some jump leads. As you're in Europe, you need a warning triangle, a full set of bulbs, a high-vis jacket and your registration documents.

As I discovered on one trip, European breakdown cover is essential. I got Britannia Rescue deluxe. It's £125, covers anything you can think of (including hire cars and hotels, or flights home if you prefer, for up to five people) and their service is excellent. It may sound a bit pricey, but a tow off a French motorway is about £150.

In terms of checks, I would get it fully serviced and make sure the cooling system (including the electric fan, water pump and crankshaft pulley) is all working properly. The 2.4s don't like going up a mountain fully loaded with no air to breathe. I know that for a fact, but they are fine as long as they're in good condition.

[Roseyboy]

I have done that journey (almost exactly) in a Surf a few times, with differing results.....

Thanks for all the info, great stuff, already to get it serviced, just trying to find a good place in Brighton area, must know about surfs as I have read a lot on the forum about folks rides coming back more broken than when they were sent in.


Is there any problem with running the engine pretty much non stop at about 80mph for that distance?

Should i be really worried about the air? there's always loads of different cars at the resort (granted last year i was the only person going up there in a rwd coupe )

[Roseyboy]

What problems have you had with it mate?

Just these at the mo

But i also snapped off the rear bit of the exhaust at Boxgrove offroading the other week. so also advice for a new one, anyone tried this shop?

Cheers

[Sancho]

Thanks for all the info, great stuff, already to get it serviced, just trying to find a good place in Brighton area, must know about surfs as I have read a lot on the forum about folks rides coming back more broken than when they were sent in.


Is there any problem with running the engine pretty much non stop at about 80mph for that distance?

Should i be really worried about the air? there's always loads of different cars at the resort (granted last year i was the only person going up there in a rwd coupe )

I drove all the way there at 80 no problem. It's fine on the motorway bit. I only mention the air because it's another thing that adds to the strain. As long as everything's working now you will be fine, the mountains just show up the weaknesses if you know what I mean.

[stormforce]

If i was you why not get a stainless end pipe made up and have it exit behind the rear wheel to save it getting damaged again.I'm sure you can get the S/Steeel pipe done for less then what they want on ebay as you do not need that rear box on it.Its worth looking around and see what you can get made up cheaper

[Roseyboy]

If i was you why not get a stainless end pipe made up and have it exit behind the rear wheel to save it getting damaged again.I'm sure you can get the S/Steeel pipe done for less then what they want on ebay as you do not need that rear box on it.Its worth looking around and see what you can get made up cheaper

The box/pipe was on its last leg when we bought it (haggled about £200 off though ) and i bent the pipe behind the box back up near the gears. So im prepared to buy a new one. My mechanic brother was going to put it up near the wheel and fix it if he could, as he changed his surf for the same reason. but has since left his garage job.

I was wondering why the one in the link above was £65 and one from rough trax cost £140

Oh well....

[dieselboy]

i did a very similar journey in my 2.4. the only difference was we stayed in les houches instead of where your staying, and that we used any road that wasnt a motorway so we didnt pay any tolls.
the ammount of fuel you save by going 55mph is absolutely loads on a distance like that. were talking like 12 hours and almost using half a tank

[Sancho]

I was wondering why the one in the link above was £65 and one from rough trax cost £140

Oh well....

Probably because it will fit properly and has a three year guarantee.

You can almost certainly get away with ditching the back box altogether and just running a pipe. Others have done it and passed their MOTs.

[dieselboy]

Probably because it will fit properly and has a three year guarantee.

You can almost certainly get away with ditching the back box altogether and just running a pipe. Others have done it and passed their MOTs.

you can have no boxes or silencers at all and pass an MOT.

the only reason you would fail an mot is if it "sounded disimilar" to another surf of same year and engine, or the MOT tester was being a ###.

the back box hardly does anything anyway.

[Sancho]

you can have no boxes or silencers at all and pass an MOT.

You can fail for being 'excessively noisy'.