Gonna be driving down to Italy for the winter in 3 months and then working a ski season, and then taking my time to amble back via Austria and Denmark (and probably a few other places depending...) sometime around end of April/May.

Car has just had a full 40k, MOT, new windscreen and blades, and winter tyres will be here this week. I've also managed to find a very helpful (and I believe unique in the UK) insurance broker to give me FULL COMPREHENSIVE cover for my entire 12 month term, not the crappy 90 days that most "normal" insurers give you.

So next things on the list are, in no particular order:

Triangle/Hi-vis/breathalysers etc.

Full winter prep with clay and several coats of Collinite, as well as wheel wax etc.

Rubber mats (do vRS ones exist, or is it just standard Octy or cheapy aftermarkets?)

One of those battery charger jump-start thingies

An inverter for when I'm camping on the way back

What have I missed? Any obvious winter things I need to look at with the car? Also any suggestions for which of the above to acquire and where?

I'm sure I'll think of more stuff, but want to get the ball rolling...

Thanks guys.

Edited 26 September, 201213 yr by okenobi

not 100% on this but I think for Austria you are required to carry snow chains? Small folding shovel for snow, blanket, old hessian sacks.

http://driving.drive...-in-austria.htm

As I thought, snow chains are required by law during winter.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/snow-chains-winter-tyres.html

not 100% on this but I think for Austria you are required to carry snow chains? Small folding shovel for snow, blanket, old hessian sacks.

http://driving.drive...-in-austria.htm

As I thought, snow chains are required by law during winter.

http://www.theaa.com...nter-tyres.html

thats right, as with southern germany iirc and also italy (in the mountains) even if you have snow tyres chains are required too and not socks (sox) or however they are spelt are not recognised as 'legal' chains.

Ctek charger is a good idea like this one http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c1f037968

First aid kit, gloves, mat for fitting chains so you arent lying in the snow, anti freeze (make sure you run decent stuff before you go), hi viz vests (for each occupant) fire extinguisher, spare bulb kit, all your car docs, inc ins, make sure your tax doesnt run out when there, keep your DL on you too as well as your passport (or at least copies when driving), de-icer for locks and windows, spare coilpack or 2 to get you out of a bind if one fails

Where you going in italy?

sounds sweet!

Sounds like the car is pretty well sorted. You got Euro breakdown cover? Probably insane money for the long period. Handheld code reader always goes with me, just in case you need diagnose anything. Full set of bulbs, fire extinguisher. Shovel is essential. I use AutoSock's with excellent results. TUV approved, but I know they're not legally a chain substitute. Easy to throw in the boot and fit if you get in a spot of bother though. Plus they go on 205/50R17 tyres with a lowered car. Not sure if chains will.

Loads of cash for the tolls. Small change for the service station loo's. When you pay for a pee in Germany, the machine gives you a little ticket back. Hang on to them as you can put them towards a much needed double expresso.

I always take a few rolls of nice soft loo paper too! Never know when you'll get caught short on the road!

Lots of drinking water. Surprising how much fluid you lose when driving long distances, especially when the AC is on.

Good maps, up to date satnav. Lots of music so you don't go insane listening to the same albums over and over again.

Ooh really good sunglasses. Low sun and wet roads are pretty blinding.

Spare key for the car. Seat covers.

You'll need a vignette for driving on Austrian motorways. It has to be displayed at all times, even in motorway service stations. They're mega strict on this so watch out.

Sounds like a fun trip

Swing by Villach if you're passing through Austria from Italy. Lovely area.

If you take the Mont Blanc tunnel from France into Italy, try not to get flashed by three speed camera's like I did......

I would get a set of 16 inch steel wheels, chains can damage alloys

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

If the car will be sitting for any length of time, then maybe a solar panel thing to trickle charge the battery....

Screw it. Just take this instead:

http://www.automoped...ussian-brdm.jpg

Screw it. Just take this instead:

http://www.automoped...ussian-brdm.jpg

that is pure awesome....was gonna suggest a skidoo, but that takes it to a new level

I do fancy owning one of these below however! got to play around in an old american snowcat this year, that was good fun, ran a chevvy lump of all things!

I would only drive to italy via the mont blanc/val d'aosta route, if you are working in the val d'aosta like in cervinia or courmayeur.

France is the most direct route for this, and the motorways are the best/quietest but also the most expensive and the mont blanc tunnel isn't cheap either.

If you have time, the route i tend to do is france to belgium to lux to germany to austria via the brenner pass into italy, no tolls, only vignette is the austrian for 2 weeks (around 14euros) oh and the brenner toll itself (about 8euros). You can get cheaper fuel in LUX but also germany and austria to a lesser degree. This route is much more interesting but does take longer.

Other route to consider is france to como and then on to wherever you are going in italy, but you pay french tolls then the swiss vignette which isn't cheap, infact nothing is cheap there, esp fuel. Tho i do like the route, especially once you go through the gottard tunnel into swiss italy (ticino), it gets really scenic then and you can get proper food and coffee there without getting raped!

pm me if you want any more info on the routes, or anything else, have done a fair few times,...last week infact!

Thanks guys! Some great info there.

I'll be in Sestriere in the Susa valley right next to Montgenvre/Briancon. If anybody's down that way over the winter (and it is a SUPERB ski area) let me know and we'll grab a beer or go for a ski, or both :-)

Oet, I would love to avoid France, but dunno how many miles I'll have to do to make it. Plus with being in the far north-westerly corner of Italy, dunno whether it's worth it at all.

Didn't realise I couldn't get away with socks instead of chains. Don't wanna have to buy EVEN MORE stuff when I already have a £5500 shopping list and no money! But if I have to get chains, I won't be getting socks as well. According to the info I was given in the winter tyres thread, Skoda list 205/50/17 as an approved size for chains. The car's completely standard height and I don't wanna ruin her looks with steels when the alloys are in reasonably gash condition anyway. Was hoping for socks, but will have to look into this further. Winters should be going on this week.

Can I get some specific recommendations for:

Rubber mats

Seat Covers

The rest of the "essentials" (like is there a kit you can buy at Halfords or with the AA or something?)

Also, on the performance front, the car has done 157k on the standard suspension. I can't afford anything drastic, but would any of you think about changing a bush here and there for a Superpro one? Would that be prudent/a good idea?

sorry for the slow reply,

yes thats a nice area of italy, very french influenced, like courmayeur, however to avoid france would be pointless taking that into account, it will add loads of extra miles, you are just gonna have to go via france, you will go via the frejus tunnel, its been ages since i went that way, hope its cheaper than the mont blanc tunnel, that costs loads!

If you are using the car when there, get snow/winter tyres and chains. A lot of places now require winter tyres in europe in the winter, and if you dont have them and have an accident you will be in trouble.

Snow socks can't replace chains, so only buy if you can afford them as a luxury get out of trouble item alongside your snow chains.

I bought most of my travel bits from either ebay or wilkinson believe it or not, don't forget you now need 2 breathalizers for france.

As far as suspsension goes, keep it as it is, keep it stock, coilovers and low equals no snow chains, also snow can more easily build up in the wheel arch and cause damage.

Dont bother chaging bushes unless you need to, better things like tyres to spend your money on!

btw aldi are doing half decent car chargers at the mo, with a top up facility iirc for £15

any progress with your list of stuff?

Tyres are on.

Rubber mats are proving difficult to track. Found some genuine rears, but no fronts!

Haven't got any of the rest yet!

Right, I need some help guys. Got fifty million tabs open and my PC is on 24/7, so things are not improving. Too much research, not enough actual prep!

I have now bought breathalysers, foot pump, pressure and tread gauge and Euro atlas. I've ordered a bluetooth OBDII dongle and got the Torque app. I've also ordered 4 hi vis vests.

Could I please have some recommendations for and/or suggestions for where to buy:

Seat covers

Rubber mats

Bulbs

Next, chains. Fracking me right off. Looks like there aren't any that will fit the 205/50/17s on the vRS for less than ridiculous money. Autosocks are now (sort of) legal in France, but nowhere else. Thinking of chancing it and just getting down there and only driving when they're not required and for short journeys around town and into the valley later in the season. Thoughts?

Batteries....

Mine works fine. The apartment is likely to have underground parking, so a solar trickle charger is out the window. A jump starter thing is just a battery in a box with leads - right? In which case you just buy a new battery anyway for less money. No? As the car isn't likely to be near a 13amp socket for the winter is a CTEK charger a waste of money? Or a worthwhile thing for whilst I can use it here? Do you buy into the reconditioning ability of these things. People I've spoken to today don't.

Thanks guys. Going nuts here with nothing but two days off work and two monitors full of browser tabs!

ebay for the other parts you need?

as far as bettery chargers go, they are a good idea, they will keep the battery topped up, but ctek can't recon every battery however some it can (if yours is good you don't need to worry about this anyway) just plug the car in and keep the battery topped up ready to go when you need it. The cold is a killer for batteries. As you said if you are not near a plug (euro plug convertor will work) then you could always take the battery out i guess and charge elsewhere. Jump starts are a good alternative, but a good one will cost more than a ctek charger, they do different jobs, i use both at different times.

I personally wouldn't go to the alps without snow chains, i have done before in the past, but i was lucky (and stupid perhaps). The govt/police have ramped up fines (and chances of getting them) in the last year to help collect more revenue. Tourists are easy targets, and anyway its a requirement to have them in the boot (alongside snow tyres being fitted) and not just to use them in the snow, if you don't you will not be allowed to pass/proceed in a lot of mountainous areas. Where my house is in the mountains, its a requirement to have both tyres and chains to get to it, the fines are hefty iirc.

Italy is different to the UK, there are more stop checks, with the different police factions, and they are a stickler for the law/pointless regulations...

trust me..i love italy, but its a pain sometimes!

Ok, but as I have my snow tyres on 17s, I've been told that finding chains that fit without hitting the arches is gonna be very difficult. What would you suggest? Do I buy chains that may knacker the car and hope I don't have to use them, or get a pair of socks, knowing I can go anywhere, but may get fined for doing so?

I won't be removing the battery from the car, as my stereo will lose all the settings it's taken me hours to sort and it's covered in 0 gauge and alarm wires amongst other things that I don't understand. I don't think it'll be sat there long enough to warrant that. I'm thinking that surely, IF i get into trouble once I'm down there, I just buy and fit a new battery worst case.

Sounds like the car is pretty well sorted. You got Euro breakdown cover? Probably insane money for the long period. Handheld code reader always goes with me, just in case you need diagnose anything. Full set of bulbs, fire extinguisher. Shovel is essential. I use AutoSock's with excellent results. TUV approved, but I know they're not legally a chain substitute. Easy to throw in the boot and fit if you get in a spot of bother though. Plus they go on 205/50R17 tyres with a lowered car. Not sure if chains will.

Loads of cash for the tolls. Small change for the service station loo's. When you pay for a pee in Germany, the machine gives you a little ticket back. Hang on to them as you can put them towards a much needed double expresso.

I always take a few rolls of nice soft loo paper too! Never know when you'll get caught short on the road!

Lots of drinking water. Surprising how much fluid you lose when driving long distances, especially when the AC is on.

Good maps, up to date satnav. Lots of music so you don't go insane listening to the same albums over and over again.

Ooh really good sunglasses. Low sun and wet roads are pretty blinding.

Spare key for the car. Seat covers.

You'll need a vignette for driving on Austrian motorways. It has to be displayed at all times, even in motorway service stations. They're mega strict on this so watch out.

Sounds like a fun trip

Swing by Villach if you're passing through Austria from Italy. Lovely area.

If you take the Mont Blanc tunnel from France into Italy, try not to get flashed by three speed camera's like I did......

villach is a beautiful area can do the mountain roads round there.

also will need breathalyzers to go through france 2 req at all times

not sure to be honest, its a tough one, you may not get stopped at all, but if you do, if you don't have them they will prob not let you pass, or fine you if you are in an area where they are required.

you could get the snow/socks i guess, and try explaining what they are if you get stopped,at least having winter tyres and these you are almost legal.

Spoken to Skoda AND Pewag chains today. They don't recommend or even supply chains of any kind for Octy 1U vRS with 205/50/17s. Apparently, even standard, clearance is an issue.

So it's Socks or nothing. I think maybe go socks and hope that counts if I get stopped when I explain that my car physical can't take chains....?

Got an Audi triangle at the breakers today for £5. First aid kit in Halfords and ordered lamp beam converters on the Bay. Had a free battery check today and apparently mine is "unserviceable". So rather than get a charger or jump pack I figure I'll just replace it now with a fat heavy duty battery and rest assured it'll be good for the winter. Now left on the list:

Inverter

Jump leads (in case of?)

Seat covers

Rubber mats

Shovel

Puncture sealant?

Think that's it...

Worthwhile getting the windows done with something like Gtechnic G1 on the outside as it helps stop the frost and snow sticking.

Worthwhile getting the windows done with something like Gtechnic G1 on the outside as it helps stop the frost and snow sticking.

Using H2GO from Angelwax. which is epic. Windscreen beads at 25mph!

Spoken to Skoda AND Pewag chains today. They don't recommend or even supply chains of any kind for Octy 1U vRS with 205/50/17s. Apparently, even standard, clearance is an issue.

So it's Socks or nothing. I think maybe go socks and hope that counts if I get stopped when I explain that my car physical can't take chains....?

Got an Audi triangle at the breakers today for £5. First aid kit in Halfords and ordered lamp beam converters on the Bay. Had a free battery check today and apparently mine is "unserviceable". So rather than get a charger or jump pack I figure I'll just replace it now with a fat heavy duty battery and rest assured it'll be good for the winter. Now left on the list:

Inverter

Jump leads (in case of?)

Seat covers

Rubber mats

Shovel

Puncture sealant?

Think that's it...

can't remember if i said this, take a big foam pad to kneel/lie on incase you need to fit the snow socks, or check anything, a cheap camping mat would work

Quick update from wifi. Sorry it's taken so long!

Drive down was hassle free (so it should be for the fortune I paid the autoroute ******s). Haven't had to use the socks. Tyres are STRAIGHT UP EPIC!!!! Driving in snow is generally amazing, hill starts with careful handling of the throttle and clutch are no problem (which on a vRS is a surprise to me) and traction on ice and slush is remarkable. Went down the mountain and back yesterday to get local SIM card and absolutely loved the drive.

If anybody wants a discounted holiday and rental, PM me. Hooked up deals with a bunch of locals and would love to see you for a beer and a shred

Right, after having returned from the Alps just over 10 days ago, I'm heading back to Italy next week. I'll be working at Lake Garda for the summer. I came back via Milan & Switzerland as it was about the same price as France, but way nicer to drive and I didn't give the French any money - win. Consequently, I have a Swiss vignette and wondering if it will be cheaper to go back via Switzerland. My boss normally takes Brenner and he seems to think it's cheaper. But I'm guessing that would involve the Brenner toll AND an Austrian vignette - yes?

Help please?

I've taken that route from Milan to Basel before. I can't really remember it so it must have been okay! I remember Milan traffic being mental.

I always completely cut out France when going to Austria. Cheaper and the police are not as vindictive in Germany!

I guess you'll go Belgium->Luxembourg->Germany->Austria->Italy if you want to take the Brenner, so you'll need the Austrian vignette. Luckily it's not too pricey. Deffo wouldn't risk blagging it as the Austrians are "thorough"!

Sounds like you've been having too much fun!

I'll be down in Villach with the Skoda in August. Looking forward to the mission.