Rhys

On Friday im going over ot France for Long weekend. Im only going to Lorient which is about 240miles from Cherbourg. Just wondering if there is any survival tips Not to worried as i drove in the US for a good few months but that was in a Left hand drive car ! But now im taking my own car from UK

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

don't go too quick on the payeage...(sp?) - they will fine you

dangerous - reyland

drive on the right

Rhys

Rolls whats the limit on the main motorways?

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Can't remember - think its 130k if the weather is good, 110 if its wet...
You can sit above this, but not too far above!

collierm

Play count the illegals at the ferry port. Keep you amused for hours

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Thats what we did on the way to and from LeMans!

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

Have a great time, im going to St Tropez for a week next month, cant wait.

dangerous - reyland

dont worry about the speeding fines Rhys They`re cheap

i got pulled by a bike cop doing about 160KPH

quick 45euro later you are on your way
1st time in 5 trips to the alps as fast as i can go

they will measure you between tolls but a fuel or drink stop soon brings your average speed down

enjoy pal they have great roads with good discipline

simonc

I'm going to France on Friday morning to for a week in Northern Vendee,about 500 miles south of Calais, leaving from Dover about 8.00am on the ferry Are you going in the Cossie ?

Simon.

89xr2

Close your eyes, grip the steering wheel tight and put your right foot flat to the floor!!!!!!

Make sure you can trust your passenger if you're going to use them to give you the all clear for overtakes.

john

I got pulled doing silly speeds by 2 undercover cars. Just asked how much money i had on me and took it

Rhys

PMSL!!!!! im not taking the cossie, but the VW. I need the boot in the VW and i fancy driving in with climate etc instead of windows down in the cossie lol. Though if i still got the cossie a trip might be on the cards next year as sounds like a laugh.

Cheers Stu, hopefully will have a top laugh as going camping and to a BIG Celtic festival. So lots of drinking i think is in order

frog

Correct

Don't exceed the speed too much, an EVO mag journalist had to leave a car by the side of the road as they took his licence away and drove him to the police station.
EVO had to send another driver over to bring the car back
If you don't have cash to pay the fine, you go to local station too.

They have also installed lots of cameras on m-ways now, in the central reservation - big grey boxes with glass windows, front facing too.
Not sure if you'd get away with it with UK plates, not tried yet

To be honest, you can sit at 85-90 all the way, the road is usually clear and lane discipline is quite good which makes it easy to make good progress, and the roads are billiard table smooth too.

The only downside, is that some m-ways are only two lanes and trucks often decide to overtake each other which can take a looooooooooong time

Treen

Better to look where you're going I'd say.

Rhys

Cheers Frog!! i can see me going much over 80 as will be in a VW TDI loaded with gear and trying to save Derv Or the directions pretty clear? Not to worried if they are in French as one of the persons going speaks Fleaunt French so thats a god send

Read somewhere its law to display GB signs on your car while your there!? Though tbh cant see me getting done for not? the same goes for the light diflectors on the main beam.

frog

GB sign, Reflective Jacket, Spare Bulbs, Two triangles, Beam reflectors (even if you only drive in daylight), I probably forget some

French police can be quite jobsworthy at times, especially when they have a financial target to meet Best be prepared and not regret it... To be honest, all the above should be in your car, except for the beam converters

Rhys

Hmmm havent got GB, reflective jacket, spare bulbs or beam converters and two Triangles! Got one but not two. pmsl not good then. Will get GB on Ferry and stick in window. as for the rest will risk it

Rene

watch out for the french there driving abilities SUCK!

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

BUy all the crap you need from halfords, and take it back once your home - that way your covered, but it won't cost you a penny (its not what I did..... honest )

Rhys

pmsl!!! Pikey.



Fookin good idea though

Iain Mac

If your car has GB euro-style number plates you don't need the GB sticker, but the ferry company will almost certainly give you one for free.

And the latest euro thing is that driving bans from another country can now come home with you - only a matter of time till you start getting points for speeding overseas as well.

S1 Barkham

Speeding fines have gone up to 90 euro. Thats what people where getting when i went le mans.
Also don't use anything like a road angel etc as their illegal over there
Other than that have a good time

simonc

I must of been lucky last time we went to France on holiday as we travelled at lets say quite high speeds for most of the time, my wife got flashed by one of those speed camara's in the central reservation a shutter popped up & flash but never heard anything, only ever saw 1 police car in a week of being there. Before i read this little post i would of thought nothing of sitting at well over 100 mph not anymore.

Simon.

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

well, when you add it up - you've got
15 quid for a warning triangle,
15 quid for a bulb kit (that won't fit quads)
10 quid for a bright vest
10 quid for a gb sticker, and headlight deflectors...

And thats before your breakdown cover / travel insurance etc.... - quickly adds up - and the 50 quid will then pay for a night out when you get home!

frog

You can easily save Ł10 there, I make my own deflectors with some gaffer tape, stick a strip on the lights and cut it to shape
Problem with buying them is that they are not re-useable, and it gets quite expensive when you go there frequently.

MrsFrog

A quicky too: the tolerance used to be 10%. They have now reduced it to 5% and have also lowered the speed limit in towns and villages. Basically if you are on a National (probably like B road here??? ) then it's 90Kmh unless stated otherwise (there are some "dangerous" parts at 70kmh) and as soon as you see a sign that implies some people might live there, just simply drop to 50kmh. There might not be a sign to tell you to drop to 50 so just do it. Because if they decide to get a speed van there and catch you, they will .... Especially in straight lines.... and behind bridges....

Rhys

Doh, sounds like their traffice police are worse than ours

Rhys

Well what can i say it was a nice drive!! As Frog said roads are very soomth and Lane disapline is a LOT better than over here!! Roads or lovely and traffice very light all the time! Maybe thats because France is twice the size of the UK with half the cars

Got flashed by a speed camera but hopfully wont hear anything


Thourly recommend a drive though France sometime for everyone. Would love to take the cossie over.


And oh TOM TOM is amazing!!!! toke me straight to my freinds house with no stress and hassel

Mike1

Do the Routes Napoleon in the South of France before you sell your Cossie! It'll be one of, if not THE, best drives of your life!

frog

I reckon we've done close to 2,500miles in one cossie or the other in France and they were some of the best motorways miles ever - by a mile

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

havent read thread but when i drove thru france to get to the world cup i was doing 110mph all the way thru france and just ignored all the speed limit signs - even had two coppers behind me at one point and they just shook their heads as they drove past

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

Any tips on where to go on the Riviera Greg? We are going there on 1st September and staying at cannes pal.

frog

Stu, I am afraid the nearest I got to the riviera was Nice on business, and I didn't get to see much of the place, never went on holiday there.

Driving near there iirc is a little more like london, lots of hot headed drivers (must be the heat)... I remember getting closer to Nice and thinking everything was happening much faster.

As for where to go, Nice, Cannes, StTropez, Monaco are the big names around there as you probably know, depends what you want.

Are you flying there, do you mind driving around the place to see the tourist sites ? If so, I am sure Nat, Pet and I can come up with a few places within an hours' drive or so

89xr2

I seem to remember the roads around StTropez etc being really good. Some very twisty roads as well if I remember rightly.

Dont quote me on that though as it was over ten years ago I went there.

Joris_FRST

I don't think they actually do that ?

I used to do the paris-whatever toll road in 55 mins and it was a 160km stretch.

Be carefull now, because they have a couple of fixed camera's now, but they're big and indicated.

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

Flying to Nice, then staying in Cannes, already got some plans with Froggie to spend some time with him whilst im over so all will be well. I will likely spend most of my time on the hotel roof in the pool or swimming / snorkelling etc although i plan to do Monaco, St tropez and Porquerolles(sp) island whilst im there.

frog

They can use the ticket as proof of speeding, but won't stop everyone, it's just a random check.
Colleague of mine got nicked in his subaru impreza last summer

Stu, I am sure Pet will know exactly where to go

Petrucci

of course

MrsFrog

Stu,

The south is beautiful and I still have to get Greg there!! and even further down where my heart really lives.... CORSICA!!! YEAHAHAH

From Cannes, going towards Nice, there are lots of fantastic places like Juan les Pins, Antibes. In land Vallauris, Grasses or Mougins are beautiful "villages".... Going more towards Marseilles, St Raphael, Frejus, Port-Grimaud, Ste Maxime....

Personaly, I wouldn't give the time of day to St Topez, not really worth your money and time. Also I am sure Pet will know of some nice little coves to stop and have a nice BBQ and swim, away from the crowds and eyes...

Don't forget to go a little inland too as there are some BEAUTIFUL places to see too...

I am sure you'll have a fab great time!!