CharlieWhiskey

Are we going down or up?

Sure there will be plenty of corners

terryb

I reckon it would be rude not to go both up and down

STi-Frenchie

Keith, I have (jet-lag and) issues 7 - 16. I have a feeling that the early issues are completely sold out but I'd have to check through the issues I have to check for sure. I seem to remember an advert a few issues back which had details of the available back issues.

STi-Frenchie

Update for Keith, and BTT for this thread...found the issue with the ads for the back issues but it's from Jan 2004 so I will call 'em and see if they are still available. At the time (01/2004) they had the issues you are missing available so if they are still on offer I'll order 'em for you.

MarvSTi5

Gotta come down if we go up or we'll be stuck there !!

paul-s

just noticed this thread, whats the possibility of going this year ? I would love a journey like this

terryb

Paul

YHPM

Cheers

Terry

terryb

It's all gone quiet in here.....

CharlieWhiskey

We will have to get some advanced planning done.

Does anyone know how to find Optimax or similar on the continent? I've never had to bother before when driving over there, just filled up when I was running out. Is everyone on the same sort of range

I know Optimax is a European brand but it varies a little. Perhaps STi-Frenchie & some of the other locals can help with the equivalent 'local brew'?

terryb

I'm going to send out an email to all the participants to see if they are interested in purchasing some octane booster - as there is a group buy happening on here at present - however the postage is £10 per order - so would make sense to get the all delivered to mine and I can bring them along on this trip.

That would help for the fuel issues - not sure that the brand Optimax is used in Europe - but you can get Super Unleaded.

Cheers

Terry

CharlieWhiskey

I'm not running an STi so don't really need o/b, just need to feed it what it's used to otherwise it gets a sulk on

cw42

iTrader: (1)

terry, yhm

missyc

isn't it 100 RON V-Power at Shell stations over on the continent???

STi-Frenchie

The only times I've heard of Optimax is when I'm reading UK Car mags (Evo, Top Gear) and I don't even think I've seen it on sale here.

98 RON is freely available in almost all service stations (some of the really small ones will only carry 95 and diesel) although I do tend to stay away from the supermarket brand except in an emergency. I haven't seen 100 RON yet in either France or Switzerland but remember reading something about it "coming soon" to Switzerland.

98 RON is usually described in the stations as either 98 RON, Super Plus, or Super Unleaded (Sans Plomb 98).

STi-Frenchie

MissyC, I stand corrected -- your post had me looking at all the petrol stations on my way to work this morning. I usually use my local Tamoil as they charge 0.02 centimes (Swiss francs) per litre less than everyone else around here. The Shell station notice board did indeed say V-Power.

The question is, is it really 100 RON? The US Shell website says that across the US at least, the octane rating can vary between 90 and 93 (!!!). The Swiss Shell website is obviously talking about the locally refined 100 RON version and says that it is called "Shell V-Power 100" so the "V-Power" I saw posted on the station this morning could be the usual 98? I don't know but I'll stop off at the station at lunchtime and see. The Swiss Shell press release of 15th April states that Shell Switzerland would start rolling out the V-Power 100 fuel to almost all of their petrol stations starting in Bale.It also says that other companies in Germany and Austria have followed Shell's lead and are offering 100 RON fuel. The Shell France site makes no mention of V-Power at all and I don't even think there is a service station within easy reach of my location in France to check what they offer in France (as I'm on the border I buy my fuel in Switzerland as it's cheaper there).

owbow

surely it wouldn't be a 'pass' if it's a dead end???

o

STi-Frenchie

Well then, I went up to the Shell station and it is indeed RON 100 on sale. At 1.62 CHF/litre it is 12 centimes more expensive than the 98 RON I usually put in my STi (to you folks that's 72p for 100RON and 66p for 98 RON).

It looks like it has just arrived in Geneva as the Shell station had put out a load of promotional banners at the side of the road which weren't there when I passed it this morning.

Guess I'll just have to empty my tank of 98 and see what difference 100 RON will make -- see if it lives up to the hype of improved engine performance and acceleration.

For those who are planning the route, a list of all the Shell stations in Switzerland selling V-Power 100 (listed by canton) can be found here. Can't help you out with the German site I'm afraid as my knowledge of the lingo is practically non-existent.

terryb

Quality - 100 RON V-Power + up to 6 RON NF Octane Booster - waheyy - 200mph on the autobahns here I come

terryb

By the way folks. We have a new entrant today - another EVO driver - so that's 14 in total - 10 scoobies and 4 EVOs.

STi-Frenchie

Just finished emptying my tank this morning and filled up with Shell V-Power 100 RON, pulled away from the station and didn't notice much difference. After getting to a couple of traffic lights and pulling away again it was a different story - THIS IS WHAT MY STi WAS MADE FOR!!! It's bloody fantastic!!!

I did about 10km on it and the whole car just feels different. I have a bog standard (bar cosmetic mods) STi7 and always noticed it was a bit lumpy pulling away...NO MORE! Cruising feels smoother too but the acceleration is the best bit, I only hope I can manage to keep her out of hedges!!!

You guys with your modded engines are gonna fall in love with this stuff, I think I already have!!!

missyc

Worth the extra centimes then?

Not that it'd be any use for me now I have a diesel!

Won't know till end of July whether my project dates would allow me this week off in Sept.
Prob a bit too late to book then, but will see.

terryb

You never know mate - would always be worth asking the question if you find out you are available.

Cheers

Terry

No-bars Krud

STI Frenchie is a real star !

MrsC_772

Next instalment was due today. Anyone else have difficulty getting hold of Nick at Dettaglio to give card details? I just hope the fact I've not managed to pay yet today doesn't mean my place is cancelled.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

me too! although I'd forgotten about paying today, I'm hopefully paying the remainder mid month.
chris.

terryb

Ooops - think I missed this too and I'm the organiser....

Will call tomorrow to sort out.

MarvSTi5

Hey up mate -

can you let me know if there is a problem getting hold of him for whatever reason and confirm contact details. My turn to pay an instalment for me and Paul (Scooby66) - well he did pay the first instalment

Cheers mate

Marv

STi-Frenchie

You guys are gonna love 100 RON. I'm more than half way through my tankfull and the ECU must be learning about the new fuel. I put the boot down last night on a bit of empty road and was doing 120km/h in third in a matter of just a few seconds...and it's definitely much better on take-off too. A colleague who works with me filled up his Legacy GX with V-Power 100 the other day and said he didn't notice much difference...a day later and he had hit the Power button and vvvrrroooommm off he went like a shot!!! 'Tis the danglies!!!

cw42

iTrader: (1)

Morning frenchie What you doing up so early?

chris.

STi-Frenchie

Just missed you Chris, that's my normal time to get up and go to work (the long way round of course)

Beautiful weather here, hope it holds out for the weekend as we've got a pretty big run on with the froggie webclubbers - 34+ cars (mostly scoobs) up in the Alps, about 100km of fun once we get there and over 70 hairpins to negotiate before lunch. Can't wait !!!