Holiday in France

[Wantanewnoble]

I have finally persuaded the wife that driving to our holiday destination this year is better than flying and have booked a Gite in deepest Dordorgne. What do I need to do in order to take my N400 roadster ( or it to take me) on our journey ?

I think I am insured - need to check
Do I have tracker coverage in Europe
Does my AM recovery service extend to France
What adjustments need to be made to the car (and should I ask the dealer to do)
If I make adjustments before I leave what happens in terms of roadworthiness in the UK as I begin and end my journey ?
Do I have to carry anything in the car by law (first aid,triangles etc)
Is there any restriction on the use of my road angel professional
Does my Sat Nav ( I know its useless but...) cover France

Anything else need to be considered ?

[tomw2000]

Emergency triangle, hi-vis vest (has to be within reach, I.e. not stowed away in the boot) and I think (though could be wrong) a full set of light bulbs...but maybe I dreamt that and I've certainly never bothered.

Taking the 911 over to Dorgogne in August!

[sadlerj]

- Make sure your passenger is insured too, so they can drive off when you get banned on the spot for speeding.
- Take your Driving licence, V5 and Insurance certificate
- 90 Euro minimum in cash, for the on the spot fast car tax in france, (speeding again)

[Wantanewnoble]

sadlerj said:

- Make sure your passenger is insured too, so they can drive off when you get banned on the spot for speeding.
- Take your Driving licence, V5 and Insurance certificate
- 90 Euro minimum in cash, for the on the spot fast car tax in france, (speeding again)

Sounds like you have had a fun experience - how many times were you fined ? What tolerance do the french allow ( ban v fine) ? Is it something to be any more wary than the UK ? Can I use my Road Angel Professional ?

[oblio]

The AA site is great for answering a few of these questions (about what to carry etc).

I have never adjusted headlights for France in any car I have taken on the premise that I have never driven in the dark over there. If I did then I just winged it!

Might be worth taking a list of any AM dealers on France and/or Brotish Sportscar specialist garages...

Enjoy - we went 4 times last year but only once this year due to the exchange rates (fuel cheaper in Blighty thena France - who would have thought!?!). I think we shall be doing some more Briotish motoring this year.

[marlinmunro]

The only down side to driving in France, is you don't want to drive in the UK when you get back, spent a month last year and a nearly two this year, pure joy. Did a trip to the East Coast from Leeds this week pure Hell

[sadlerj]

Wantanewnoble said:

sadlerj said:

- Make sure your passenger is insured too, so they can drive off when you get banned on the spot for speeding.
- Take your Driving licence, V5 and Insurance certificate
- 90 Euro minimum in cash, for the on the spot fast car tax in france, (speeding again)

Sounds like you have had a fun experience - how many times were you fined ? What tolerance do the french allow ( ban v fine) ? Is it something to be any more wary than the UK ? Can I use my Road Angel Professional ?

I have had a few run in's. If you don't want real trouble stick below 160KPH. Or keep very open eyes, look for locals flashing you coming the other way (they are good at that over there). Back off on long downhill straight bits, or bridges, or junctions or anywhere near Calais. But enjoy it and remember what ever the issue, its better than being fined and banned in the UK!

Leave the Road Angel at home, they are very very not liked over there, they will be taken away and you have a big fine if they catch you using one.

Edited by sadlerj on Friday 26th June 16:21

[oblio]

...and remember to give a big cheesy smile or even a wave as you cruise through the speed cameras and they go off

(and then hope that M.Plod isnt waiting around the next corner )

[Neil1300R]

Triangle - Yes

Hi vis - yes - in car not in the boot, nice pocket behind each seat on the Vantage. If on motorways should have one per passenger

First aid kit - advisable but not legally needed

Roadside recovery - if on Aston Warranty its included

Adjust headlights - err, never got sensible answer on this, dealers view was HiD don't need adjusting as they have more of a straight beam. didn't bother on trip to Spain via France in Aston. Did previous year in a Honda S2000 - never bother on the bike

Insurance - YES! Good idea to take a translation showing you are insured for driving abroad

GB plates - Yes
Tracker abroard - depends on what model car / tracker

Driving Licence - Yes

V5 / Proof of ownership - Yes

Speed cameras - Yes, in France they verty kindly singpost the fixed ones. If there isa sign warning of one there will be one within a mile (usually 1/2 mile) may be forward or reverse facing, not as noticable as UK ones, typically a grey box down at head hight, no markers on road as a clue!

Mobile speed traps - Yes. More often on minor roads, but as previously said, the Frogs are very good at flashing you coming the other way - but they can give you 5+ miles warning, nearly been caught before as got bored wondering if the rozzers were actually there / were we being flashed because we looked cool?

Speeding - Yes! Despite France having increased the number of speed cameras it is basically the law that you have to abuse the speed limit out of town. Been going to France for 6 + years on bikes / cars, never picked up a fine etc. 165+ on the bike but on the D roads - they are empty

Speeding in towns / villages - No. Everyone (nearly) respects the speed limits in towns / villages. Makes it more fun, speed like a loon out of town, slow down in town, relax and get ready for the next national speed limit sign

Oh yes and remember the most important part - enjoy it! Once away from the sea ports and the motorways the roads are empty - sometimes spookily so compared to UK, lucky to see anyone as you drive through the small villages, but just encourages you to put the pedal to the metal once on the open roads.

Driving in an Aston? - Be prepared to be trailgated/ boxed in especially on motorways - actually not scary just someone with mobile phone camera trying to get decent photos as they won't have seen one in the flesh before (unlike Surrey)

Enjoy, have fun

[Neil1300R]

Sorry, forgot - light bulbs - yes.

[Wantanewnoble]

Neil1300R said:

Triangle - Yes

Hi vis - yes - in car not in the boot, nice pocket behind each seat on the Vantage. If on motorways should have one per passenger

First aid kit - advisable but not legally needed

Roadside recovery - if on Aston Warranty its included

Adjust headlights - err, never got sensible answer on this, dealers view was HiD don't need adjusting as they have more of a straight beam. didn't bother on trip to Spain via France in Aston. Did previous year in a Honda S2000 - never bother on the bike

Insurance - YES! Good idea to take a translation showing you are insured for driving abroad

GB plates - Yes
Tracker abroard - depends on what model car / tracker

Driving Licence - Yes

V5 / Proof of ownership - Yes

Speed cameras - Yes, in France they verty kindly singpost the fixed ones. If there isa sign warning of one there will be one within a mile (usually 1/2 mile) may be forward or reverse facing, not as noticable as UK ones, typically a grey box down at head hight, no markers on road as a clue!

Mobile speed traps - Yes. More often on minor roads, but as previously said, the Frogs are very good at flashing you coming the other way - but they can give you 5+ miles warning, nearly been caught before as got bored wondering if the rozzers were actually there / were we being flashed because we looked cool?

Speeding - Yes! Despite France having increased the number of speed cameras it is basically the law that you have to abuse the speed limit out of town. Been going to France for 6 + years on bikes / cars, never picked up a fine etc. 165+ on the bike but on the D roads - they are empty

Speeding in towns / villages - No. Everyone (nearly) respects the speed limits in towns / villages. Makes it more fun, speed like a loon out of town, slow down in town, relax and get ready for the next national speed limit sign

Oh yes and remember the most important part - enjoy it! Once away from the sea ports and the motorways the roads are empty - sometimes spookily so compared to UK, lucky to see anyone as you drive through the small villages, but just encourages you to put the pedal to the metal once on the open roads.

Driving in an Aston? - Be prepared to be trailgated/ boxed in especially on motorways - actually not scary just someone with mobile phone camera trying to get decent photos as they won't have seen one in the flesh before (unlike Surrey)

Enjoy, have fun

Thanks Neill - very comprehensive. Your driving suggestions match my normal approach to driving - speed limits in town are written in tablets of stone - out of town whatever speed suits the conditions.

Tracker is on an 08 N400 so presumably up to date - I will probably call them to be certain.

[Wantanewnoble]

Neil1300R said:

Sorry, forgot - light bulbs - yes.

Do I have to go to a dealer for spare bulbs or can I pick up from Halfords. If one fails are they easy to replace on an V8V N400 (Do I need to take a tool kit ?)

[DSLiverpool]

If your going on eurostar the whel tracks are a bit tight - so i have been told, can anyone expand. Also on the ferry is the ground clearence ok ?

[Neil1300R]

Spare bulbs? In the 'toolkit' under the shelf in the car on the Vantage. Not sure if its there on a N400.

Eurotunnel - track is wide enough for an Aston, but due to not being able to see the front edges of the car its a bit stressful until you realise theres a few centimeters either side. Flicked the wing mirrors in, as the gap by the stairs / loos is a bit tight. Worst part is just getting onto the train as its feels like a tight turn, but actually not too bad. However did manage both times to avoid going on the upper deck as its a tight turn up a steep slope so you'd see nothing on the Vantage if you had to go up - bad enough last year in a S2000 where I could see the front of the car and its narrower. Just ask the Eurostar loaders to put you on the lower deck. Came back on a 'Priority' ticket, meant you get loaded first - on lower deck anyway

Must have fuse 22 out on the train - sounds brilliant in such a confined space

[Neil1300R]

Satnav does cover France you'll need to change the disc. I found the satnav screen brilliant.

Its the perfect spot to attach the sucker for the mounting for my phone with integrated TomTom. Would be really useful if I could of found how to stop the satnav screen retracting when you switch off for fuel stops etc
I know its been said many times but what a pile of rubbish the integrated satnav is

[Zod]

Howa are you going to get a woman's luggage into the boot of a roadster?

[Wantanewnoble]

Zod said:

Howa are you going to get a woman's luggage into the boot of a roadster?

I have found a gite that is 350 ft above the Lot in the Dordogne that has plenty of land, is surrounded by trees and has its own swimming pool - ergo, she doesn't need any clothes. Alright, I will have to take her out for dinner but if we go to a different restaurant each night she can wear the same outfit. I have not run it past her yet - maybe I will have to cut back even further.

[oblio]

As stated, you should have no problem with the Euro chunnel train. If they attempt to direct you to the upper deck just point or ask to go on the lower deck for clearance and they will happily oblige...

Only took my DB7 on the ferry once (when the euro trains were experiencing v heavy delays) and the ramp on was a great deal tighter on the grounmd clearance IIRC. I have known them get wooden planks out to aid low grounding cars though.

[Wantanewnoble]

oblio said:

As stated, you should have no problem with the Euro chunnel train. If they attempt to direct you to the upper deck just point or ask to go on the lower deck for clearance and they will happily oblige...

Only took my DB7 on the ferry once (when the euro trains were experiencing v heavy delays) and the ramp on was a great deal tighter on the grounmd clearance IIRC. I have known them get wooden planks out to aid low grounding cars though.

Thanks Graham,

I am still undecided which way to cross the sea - sounds like the train is better provided I use the lower deck. Where do you have to board the train ?

[Mark2008]

Take multiple colour copies of your driving licence (if you intend to speed) and offer them the colour copy first incase they take it off you (they might insist on the original). If you do get pulled and they want to impound the car it might be worth saying that you don't own the car / its a company car - that way they will be less likely to take it, but also make sure your passenger is fully insured and has their licence (and copies) with them too, as they'll let your passenger drive it if they've banned you.
Check the Le Mans forums for much more detail on speeding in France - some great advice in there.
And definitely leave the road angel at home... they are illegal in France.

Edited by Mark2008 on Sunday 28th June 16:57