Store it or take it?

[taegdh]

When I was over there 2.5 years ago I did see a couple of C-4s on the highways, a red one passed me (I was driving in a Nissan Sentra 4DR Diesel), I was doing about 70 and I'd figure he was making 85 to 90.

I will be the first to admit that it is difficult driving on the "wrong" side from their conventional side much less from our side of the vehicle. BUT after having done it in Japan in the 70's, (usually just the command pickup on base), but a few times in a Sunbeam Alpine out in town, admit it can be done safel;y, you just have to be very conservative. Remember Gas over there is expensive, ($5.00 per gallon or more).

I say it this way:
If the area which you will be assigned is fairly rural, take it over and enjoy yourself. You'll get more politive looks and smiles than what you'll get driving one of their vehicles.
If your going into an urban area, and will be staying in the cities, then consider storage, and buying a local vehicle once you get over there.

I happened on a web site which had to do with automobiles over there. Test drives, accessories, etc... One link went to local dealerships, and what they had on hand. 5000 Sterling will get you a decent BMW or Mercedes with right hand drive. Remember over there they don't have too many vehicles with AC, (they really don't need it except for the 32nd of July).

Your command sponsor should have access to information on which you could make an informed decision. Will you be hit for taxes and duties, and the cost of operation. Will you be able to use it daily, or will you be forward deployed from the UK. All sorts of angles to look at your decision from.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Reasons to take it with you:

• It is a Corvette.
• It is your Corvette.
• Tax payers pick up the bill for shipping it to Europe and back.
• Tax payers will subsidize your gasoline while you are in Europe.
• The SOFA with England cuts through most of the BS of meeting Euro standards.
• In Europe you can drive a Vette like it was meant to be driven.
• There are plenty of Porsches and Eye-tie cars that need a spanking.
• With the APO/FPO mail system any part you need is only a couple of days away.
• There are probably more Lamborghinis in Tupelo Mississippi than there are Vettes in the town that you will live in in the UK…it will be special over here!
• It is your Corvette…Are you going to leave the wife and kids in storage as well?

Reasons to leave it at home:

Sorry I can’t think of a single one.

Here are some pictures of Thunder in the UK and France. From your Base a drive around Europe is only an hour or so away. What do you want to do, drive on these excellent roads in a base-beater or an overpriced piece of Euro-Trash or Mix it up with the Lamborghinis and Porsches in your Corvette? The choice is yours…Be a real American and bring the beast!

Thunder at my friend’s house in Northampton

A typical English garden. If you live off base you will have one of these.

English country side





A typical hotel in the middle of nowhere France. Price for an excellent room for 2 with breakfast 50€



Our favorite restaurant in the Southwest of France



The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach





Thunder on Omaha Beach…It hasn’t been that many years since Americans were dieing on this very spot during the invasion of Normandy…The Normans remember and love us for the sacrifices we made. You will not find any anti-American propaganda here.

Driving through a typical French village



Thunder in front of a Châteaux/hotel in Normandy. These go for about 60€/night with food included.

Every town in Europe has an inside market

And a outside one as well




If I have not given you enough reasons to bring your Corvette to Europe then you might as well put your heart and soul in storage as well!


Rember You will pay US prices for gas...Make me happy to be a tax payer...Let my tax dollars subsidize your gas and the rest of the COLA you will receive while in England. It would make me so very happy.

 

[rrubel]

I so envy your being able to hop around Europe so easily... so much we wanted to do while in France but didn't have time for (like Normandy).

Reasons to leave the car:

- difficulty of driving on the wrong side
- gas prices if you need gas and you're off-base (BTDT)
- wide car, narrow roads
- potential damage during shipping (seen it - co-worker's car was packed in a shipping container, but it broke loose and bounced around. NOT a pretty sight).

Also remember you should have a decent Lemon Lot from people PCS'ing out. Most people will buy a car for short-term stays and then sell it again on-base when they leave.

BTW - trivia time! Can anyone name a place where you drive on the same side of the road as the steering wheel is? (ie, on the right with a RHD or on the left with LHD)

[RICHR]

 

[atmmac]

Lifes way too short to not take your car. Think about driving to the AUTOBAHN and opening it up. You can outrun the slow english pig mobiles and you will have the coolest car around!!!!

 

[94Bluvet]

Once again, thanks so much for all the advice.

FYI; I returned from Europe just 5 years ago. I spent 3 fantastic years in Holland. I had a Volvo 740 GLT Turbo and an Olds Achieva SC with the W30 package. Both were a riot in Europe. I used the Volvo for most of the long distance blasts and visited many of the areas that photo are provided on above. As a matter of fact, I had a close Belgian friend with a 92 roadster.

I really think Bluvet would be great for weekend drives but not as a daily driver there. My job just requires me to be mobile too much. I also understand that homes in the UK don't often have garages and that's a must. I think I'll lean towards storing it (I have a close friend who is also storing two muscle cars of his own) and he'll ensure it get driven around the block every so often. After all this tour is just 2 years. It's not that a 94 Coupe is collectable or not, it's that it's mine and I plan on keeping it for a long time. I think I'll pick up a late model M3 or A6 and make due with that for two years. I'll probably regret it the first time I see another Corvette but...
Again, thanks so much.

 

[WhalePirot]

I hear the autobahn (Germany) is much more crowded and has speed limits in most places. Things just aren't like the old days, anywhere.

RU going to store Old Blue in N.M.? Have you looked into the vacuum bags for that purpose?

-The fish and chips in downtown Mildenhall used to be awesome (30 years ago).
- The best thing to happen to English food is the Mid-Easterners who moved in.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

If you haven’t been to the UK in the last 3 years then you haven’t been to the UK. Everything has changed. The customer service is excellent… probably the best in Europe. The food, including pub grub, is good and not cooked to death. Many up-market restaurants have stopped serving the Sunday Roast and as seen on TV some native English are now famous Chefs. To top this off you can now have a COLD beer in any pub you chose and more than 1 cube of ice in your drink.

I think Jag, Mini, etc., etc. being sold off to Ford and BMW gave the Brits a wakeup call because the difference in the last 3 years is as sudden a change as flipping on a light switch.

The only negative is the price. Every thing cost the same in Pounds as it does in $ but again with the COLA you receive what the hell do you care?

A late model M3 will set you back at least $15000 on this side of the pond but expect to pay more because most M3s are hi-spec cars. Have a look here at used cars in the UK. You must insert a post code for the search to work. Use IP164PG if you do not already have a UK post code.

Ok I have done all of the :bashthat I could to convince you to do the right thing and bring your Vette. I keep a bucket of water next to my desk just for such occasions…I am going to stick my head in it and soak it until it is time to say ¨I tried to tell you¨

All the best,

Igeaux:W

 

[JHL]

Get It On The Boat !!!!!


You will have a lot of fun in a Vette over here, lots of shows and a couple of good drag strips near by. As Spanish says Europe is only a tunnel ride away, you can be on the Autobahn in a couple of hours and driving over here in England isn't so bad as you might think once you get used to being on the other side of the road. You can also get cheap flights and be in just about any European city in a couple of hours for next to nothing.

Oh and don't forget to go and drink some whisky in God Country

 

[rrubel]

ARGH! ENOUGH WITH THE PICTURES!!!!

I can't afford to take vacation right now.

Mussst.... traaaavellll....

[RICHR]

 

[WhalePirot]

Mussst.... traaaavellll....

no - No - NOOOO!!!

I am on vacation for a couple of weeks and am totally enjoying MY bed, MY pillows, MY family and MY Vette.

 

[rrubel]

I'm a born traveller. My own stuff is nice, but it means more after returning from a week (or two or three) somewhere else. My wife shares the sentiment; only things holding us back are time, money, and kids. Nothing major .
[RICHR]

 

[kenwa]

One word: Nurburgring.
Ship it over.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

ARGH! ENOUGH WITH THE PICTURES!!!!

I can't afford to take vacation right now.

Mussst.... traaaavellll....

[RICHR]

I shalt taunt you some more!
Up graded brakes and Firestone FZ50s come in handy if you forget that goats have the right of way.


Thunder sitting quietly in front of an 11th century Mosque.


The view from the window of our $47/night suite in the north of Portugal.



And the final taunt. Da Da Da Dum…Drum roll…Thank you Kevin and Paul.

If you do not bring the Vette to England then you must leave the bicycles and motorcycle at home as well. It is a real ***** trying to ride with the handlebars on the wrong side!

 

[hAZcAT]

I say take it, life is to short to be Vetteless, and it could be allot of fun, worse case you can store it and drive it once a week yourself.

 

[c4cruiser]

Take the car!! You should be able to have is shipped for free through a government contract carrier. Just take lots of pics of the car to establish the condition should anything happen. If you can get gas on base, you should be able to get by for local trips. Also if you qualify for USAA insurance or already have it, the rates will be very good compared to other insurance carriers.

Even if you have to buy gas "on the economy" (as we used to call it), you can still take trips. Driving distances are much shorter compared to gonig across country in the US. You will also be comfortable driving in your own car. While it takes a little getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road, jumping into a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side is just that much more to deal with. If you buy a car there, you have to deal with selling it before your tour of duty is up.

There are quite a number of Corvette clubs in Europe and there should be a number of them in England. You should be able to hook with a Vette club and get information on parts and service should you need them. I would have the car serviced before leaving and do any maintenance that may be coming up. A new set of brake pads and maybe new tires if yours are close to being worn out. Do a coolant flush and oil change and have the tranny fluid flushed.

A lot of the accessory catalogs will ship to APO's and you still have the Internet and this Forum!!

And when you take the Chunel to France and head to Germany, there are still sections of the Autobahn where there is no speed limit. Go for it!!

 

[JHL]

I took a drive yesterday over to the Lake District, coast to coast in 2 hours on our own A66, went from my home town Hartlepool on the east coast to Whitehaven on the west skirting around the edge of the lakes, I have done this trip several times in the last Vette I had.

I was here

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

I took a drive yesterday over to the Lake District, coast to coast in 2 hours on our own A66, went from my home town Hartlepool on the east coast to Whitehaven on the west skirting around the edge of the lakes, I have done this trip several times in the last Vette I had.

I was here

I spent 3 days in Keswick back in the early 90s. I had a great time thanks to my SAS buddies and the Scoucers head-butting each other at the Local. The only way to keep them from scraping was to play Hold Your Plums reruns.:ugh By the end of the 3 days I knew Billy and Wally by heart. The countryside is beautiful and the roads are good.

 

[JHL]

I spent 3 days in Keswick back in the early 90s. I had a great time thanks to my SAS buddies and the Scoucers head-butting each other at the Local. The only way to keep them from scraping was to play Hold Your Plums reruns.:ugh By the end of the 3 days I knew Billy and Wally by heart. The countryside is beautiful and the roads are good.

:L It is not unique to Scoucers, "Glasgow Kissing" was a popular passtime in many of the bars I frequented when I was a teenager.

Frank McNie's Poems

A Glasgow Kiss

He's descended from the great warriors of Gorbals fame,
A master in the art of the street fighting game.
The perfect example of a fighting machine,
Hard as nails and twice as mean.

He was born off tradition, bred to fight,
The "Great Glasgow Gladiator" of Saturday night.
He meets his fans at the designated place,
Where custom dictates a fast drinking pace,

Soon his week's wages are but a memory,
It's time to go forth to victory.
His battle cry.. short pungent words designed to scare,
To drive his enemy from his cowardly lair.

With luck he'll find a "Dancing Nancy",
All dressed up and looking fancy
Guilty of that great Glasgow sin
Of standing there when he walks in.

In an instant.. the deed is done'
Battles over the day is won.
Just one blow with no reply
More pungent chords of the battle cry.

The sound of bygone battles was steel on steel,
Even cannon's roar had some appeal.
There is one thing I'll never miss,
The sickening sound.. of a "Glasgow Kiss".
​

a Glasgow kiss is a euphemism for a head butt

 

[c4cruiser]

One word: Nurburgring.
Ship it over.

They have track days at Nurburgring!! That by itself is reason enought to ship the car.

 

[JHL]

Who said the Autobahn was Busy

Some great roads in Germany and if you go on a Sunday they usually aren't to busy. This was on the way to Prague somewhere past Nurenberg. Passed a few pretty places on the way.