My first real Europe trip! I had wanted to go for ages and had planned a couple previously but they were both cancelled at the last minute due to car problems. I hoped the Hewn-From-Granite Merc wouldn't let me down and it sure didn't.

An early start on the way to Dover was a great feeling, car full of fuel, boot packed and all my documents, money etc in place. Me and my friend shared the driving and we intended to get from Calais to Maranello in one hit.

The ferry trip was fine and soon we were on French soil, smooth tarmac, well signed routes and long open stretches. Within an hour of getting there we were gently overtaking a 406 Saloon with no wheel trims when we jokingly mentioned it was probably an unmarked cop car; oh how we chuckled as he flipped up the Police sign in the back and gestured us over. Luckily he let us off with a warning as we were just cruising at 150kmh. He peeled off the autoroute and we eased back up to 150, smug about how easily we got away without a fine, only to be seen again by an unmarked car and up goes the sign, this time they wanted us, bugger. The timing was perfect though as a biker saw the car at the last minute and was going far faster than us so the police car went for him instead. Relieved? You bet!

On a few open stretches we got up to some good ground making speeds and we made it through France pretty swiftly. Getting into Switzerland was a bind; lots of traffic and got stuck in the tunnel in nose to tail traffic. All made better by the very pretty lady in the red Integra Type R who sat behind us for a bit! The mountains and scenery were breathtaking, the 500E taking the altitude changes in its stride.

Through Switzerland and up into Italy, this is when it got really interesting. For anyone who hasn't driven there it is a bit of an eye-opening experience. Firstly, on long sections of the autostrada, there is no central reservation; with a closing speed of 400km/h that would be an interesting accident. It looks like total chaos with cars undertaking and overtaking all over the place. Hang back though and take it all in and it is poetry, everyone is totally aware of who is about, no drastic lane changes and the average speed we make across Italy to Maranello is fantastic.
We made the pilgrimage to the Ferrari museum and then crashed out after a hard but enjoyable days driving.

The next day we headed towards Monaco.
The drive down entering Monaco on the coast, is a road I'll never forget; again amazing views, yet more tunnels (tunnels rock, that's official!) and then into Monaco for the Top Marques Super Grand Prix. Driving round "the track" with a few supercars dotted about was a really cool experience and another place I intend to visit again. I'd like to say I wasted the Gumpert Apollo through the tunnel but I doubt he was really trying!

The car ran faultlessly, apart from a rear electric window failing, we used 10 tanks of fuel in 3160 miles, averaged about 20mpg and most of the driving was not at low speed. I only wish I had the air con recharged before the trip as the sweaty Englishman look isn't that great.

Would I go again in the Merc? Definitely; perfect car for the job and never let me down at all. I look forward to many more trips to come…