A year ago this month we upped sticks and moved to Italy. We had been regular visitors ovre the years and after a house hunting visit in July, decided on the location and house for the future. The area chosen is Bolsena, which is roughly halfway between Rome and Florence, so primarily an agricultural landscape with plenty of hills and vales and consequently, very windy roads. The plan was to sell our trusty 700bhp E63 and to export the SLK55 over to Italy as our runabout/touring car.
Then came COVID19 and lockdown..............
Like the UK, Italy had very strict lockdown rules and stringent enforcement of those rules, to the effect that if you went out to the shops you would be stopped and expected to provide the necessary paperwork for the journey. Needless to say, transport of the SLK55 was postponed until April this year after which the reality of everyday motoring in Italy set in.
Fortunately we had a grace period of 6 months during which our UK vehicle credentials (road tax, insurance, MOT) applied here in Italy, so we spent the time after lockdown driving around the local areas, towns and cities. It quickly becomes apparent here that apart from on the autostrada, all traffic travels at 50-60kph; not because the cars are not capable of faster speeds, but the distance beween bends in the roads is rarely more than 200-300 meters. We don't have congestion here; the longest queue of cars, trucks, tractors, Piaggio Apes (3 wheel trucks) etc is about 6-7 vehicles, regardless of the time of day, day of the week, or summer or winter.
You quickly come to notice that there are very few Ferraris, Lambos, Alfas or even Porsches etc south of Florence, the roads just dont suit them and the same applies to even the SLK. There are none !
You might see and occasional E Class, but nothing larger. All the cars are small SUVs or hatchbacks, from every manufacturer under the sun. Yes there are lots of FIATs, but the Japanese and Koreans have a strong foothold here along with all the usual European manufacturers.
The other main reason for the lack of larger or high powered cars here is the cost of Road Tax and Insurance. Cars with over 200bhp are penalised heavily with an extra charge for Road Tax, and Comprehensive Insurance is almost impossible to get, most opting for 3rd Party only. As an example to Tax and Insure the SLK55 in unmodified form (3rd Party, Fire & Theft) for one year would be just under €5000.00 !! And that doesn't include import taxes for the first year.
Needless to say the desision was made to send the SLK back to the UK and look fore something more suitable to life here in Italy...........
So here we are with our new 'steed' - A Ford EcoSport - Titanium. SUV
A what, I hear you ask? Yes, three cylinder, 1 litre, Turbo with 125bhp. Five doors, seats 4/5 and with 8 inch ground clearance for all those little restaurants tucked up some hillside 'white roads'.
I can get the bike in the back (good for puncture recovery - always a problem with the SLK), lots of boxes of wine or beer, lots of suitcases/bags, and yes, it will happily cruise along the autostrada at 130kph along with the rest
Welcome to the new world
Then came COVID19 and lockdown..............
Like the UK, Italy had very strict lockdown rules and stringent enforcement of those rules, to the effect that if you went out to the shops you would be stopped and expected to provide the necessary paperwork for the journey. Needless to say, transport of the SLK55 was postponed until April this year after which the reality of everyday motoring in Italy set in.
Fortunately we had a grace period of 6 months during which our UK vehicle credentials (road tax, insurance, MOT) applied here in Italy, so we spent the time after lockdown driving around the local areas, towns and cities. It quickly becomes apparent here that apart from on the autostrada, all traffic travels at 50-60kph; not because the cars are not capable of faster speeds, but the distance beween bends in the roads is rarely more than 200-300 meters. We don't have congestion here; the longest queue of cars, trucks, tractors, Piaggio Apes (3 wheel trucks) etc is about 6-7 vehicles, regardless of the time of day, day of the week, or summer or winter.
You quickly come to notice that there are very few Ferraris, Lambos, Alfas or even Porsches etc south of Florence, the roads just dont suit them and the same applies to even the SLK. There are none !
You might see and occasional E Class, but nothing larger. All the cars are small SUVs or hatchbacks, from every manufacturer under the sun. Yes there are lots of FIATs, but the Japanese and Koreans have a strong foothold here along with all the usual European manufacturers.
The other main reason for the lack of larger or high powered cars here is the cost of Road Tax and Insurance. Cars with over 200bhp are penalised heavily with an extra charge for Road Tax, and Comprehensive Insurance is almost impossible to get, most opting for 3rd Party only. As an example to Tax and Insure the SLK55 in unmodified form (3rd Party, Fire & Theft) for one year would be just under €5000.00 !! And that doesn't include import taxes for the first year.
Needless to say the desision was made to send the SLK back to the UK and look fore something more suitable to life here in Italy...........
So here we are with our new 'steed' - A Ford EcoSport - Titanium. SUV
A what, I hear you ask? Yes, three cylinder, 1 litre, Turbo with 125bhp. Five doors, seats 4/5 and with 8 inch ground clearance for all those little restaurants tucked up some hillside 'white roads'.
I can get the bike in the back (good for puncture recovery - always a problem with the SLK), lots of boxes of wine or beer, lots of suitcases/bags, and yes, it will happily cruise along the autostrada at 130kph along with the rest
Welcome to the new world
