Hi all,

I''m about to drive from Martigny to Zurich via Oberwald, will put my car on the train between Oberwald and Realp.

I don't know if this whole route has some steepy parts that challenges my weak 72hp 1.2 TDI engine (6 years old) ?

And also, is there some places that is too steepy and I must be careful with hitting the brake too long ?

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/Marti...46.5992257!3e0

I'm not really familiar with the part between Martigny and Realp (have done it by train only) but I don't think there are exceptionally steep grades. You should be fine.

Just do yourself and everybody else a favor and keep an eye on the mirrors. If there's a long queue of cars forming behind you, stop in a suitable place and let them pass. Thank you.

The only stretch with a steep decline will be from Andermatt to Göschenen (just a few kms after you leave the train). As always in such situations use a low gear to minimize brake use.

It's perhaps worth bearing in mind that it's not that many years ago that 72bhp would have been considered a respectable output from a 2 litre petrol engine. Certainly those roads were built and used at a time when very few vehicles would be more powerful than that. And you've probably got five or six gears and much better low down torque than many cars of that era.

My first car hear a nominal output, when new in 1963 (no, I'm not that old, I got it off a mate for 150 notes around twenty years later) of just 39bhp, which was probably much less than that by the time I got it. Yes, it struggled slightly on some extremely steep Cornish roads on a holiday one time, where the clunky downshift from 4th (top) to 3rd took so long it immediately needed to go down to 2nd, but I'm talking gradients of 1 in 5 or so, which is way steeper than anything on your route.

So yes, you'll be absolutely fine.

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Thank you,

I will take this route tomorrow, will use the Furka pass, (will take the car train from Oberwald to Realp) https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/Marti...46.5992257!3e0

I have never driven in mountain roads with corners, and I am a bit worried. I have 4 years experience, having driven 50,000 km, but ONLY in flat roads of the Netherlands.

What tips should I use in this mountain road ?

- Use lower gear while going down
- Use the mirror to step aside when a long queue of cars is behind me
- Don't drive fast, be extra careful at the corner when the view is blocked by mountain

What else ?

Enjoy yourself.

Well, an old adage for mountain driving used to be "up in first, down in second" as far as gearing went. But that was probably around the 1930/40s. First would probably be too slow these days and drive the people behind you nuts if you try it. Just use common sense, if your car is beginning to struggle going uphill then drop down a gear (do it before you stall the engine), if picking up too much speed going downhill brake gently and shift to a lower gear so the engine helps with speed control.

On the way up, keep an eye out for traffic behind you. If in doubt, just pull over and let people past.

You don't normally need your brakes when going up... just lifting off the gas will slow the car down (Many flatlanders habitually stab at the brakes before every curve).

On the way down use the gearbox to slow you down, and avoid riding your brakes.

The dropoffs at the side can be very distracting when you're not used to them: When the road seems narrow and the railing at the side of the road starts to distract you, shift your focus to the white dividing line in the middle. Tell your passengers to do this as well. When the road has no line, imagine a half way division, but tell your passengers that you just close your eyes.

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If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.

Everything depends on the filling between the wheel and the seat.

You will take the Furka tunnel, not the pass.

The road is mostly flat and straight.

Tom

Please keep in mind that the OP is Dutch. Pulling your caravan over the Alps in the winter with 72 BHP and summer tires is an adventure

I drove a car with the same engine (VW Polo BM1.2 tdi) from Diessenhofen to Schaffhausen. The car struggled to drive up some moderately steep sections. Be prepared to shift to 2nd and 1st quite often as this car, surprisingly for a diesel, does not boast a sufficient torque for Switzerland mountains. BTW, in NL it drove like a charm with an economy of 4.5//100km.

No, I will drive without a caravan, with winter tyres.

Can anyone confirm if I can take this route today (28 Dec): Martigny to Oberwald by car, then put car in the car train to Realp, then from Realp to Zurich by car again ?.

On this road wich part is called the Furka pass ?.

Thanks

Yes you can. Here the time table for the train
https://www.matterhorngotthardbahn.c...t/furka/furka/

The part between Oberwald (Some say it starts at Gletsch) and Realp. Actually, the pass itself is the highest point of that road.

Today there is not enough snow, therefore could the scene be less breath taking ?.

Yes it could.

Switzerland is breath taking with and without snow

Man, even looking at those mountains is a treat, especially if you are used to the lowlands.

But is it still awesome ?.
Otherwise I will take another route to enjoy the grassy hills next to the lakes. If so which ones do you recommend (from Martigny to Zurich)

Breath taking with mountains covered by snow or grass. I do agree.

With only rocky mountains. Maybe not.

This is good advice, & as every one has said don't worry too much & enjoy the journey.
As for the engine power you have... blimey my 60HP Series 111 Land Rover loves such climbs ...

Enjoy
Take care

The part you will not be driving on.

Tom