Elise in France

[david@mediacopy]

Hi,

Does anyone have any advice for taking an Elise over to France.

I may thinking of driving to the South of France, fully loaded, and can see motorway tolls being a bit of an issue.

Also what's the word on speeding on the French motorways, and has anyone tried Snow Chains on an Elise ? I'm going skiing.

Cheers

David

[calypsoelise]

Peage's arn't normally an issue - if no passenger then just lean over the seat. Just make sure you have plenty of change.

We've taken a couple of hundred elises over each year for a few years now - a load went over last week and a dozen or so again this weekend with no real issues. Speed traps on motorways seem to be just before peages so slow down a couple of miles before - they zap you just before and grab you as you pay - especially arround Calais. I'm going through twice a week at the moment and 80% of the time they are set up. Don't get caught over 100 and if you don't have a pax who can drive then be very carefull.

If you don't have a new (2006) euro medical card go and register on-line - normally comes through in a week or so..

www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en

Info on Franch motorways - www.autoroutes.fr/index.php?lng=2

[chouca]

david@mediacopy said:

Hi, Does anyone have any advice for taking an Elise over to France. I may thinking of driving to the South of France, fully loaded, and can see motorway tolls being a bit of an issue. Also what's the word on speeding on the French motorways, and has anyone tried Snow Chains on an Elise ? I'm going skiing. Cheers David

no idea on speeding on the French motorways. I usually take the scenic routes...



snow chains on the Elise are not permitted. They probably wouldn´t fit between the tyre and the rear clam unless you lift your suspension (Nitrons, Ohlins or the like).

[jonesgm]

I went round France in my old Scimitar 15 years back, but as the camber is opposite to here it trashed my tyres in the round trip to the south and back Nearly all of the journey was toll road, dunno if this is valid on the 'modern car'

P.s When i went on my trip, there where no speed cameras, but I heard (dunno if true or not) they would time you between tolls as they would know the time you left the last toll and your arrival time at the next. Anybody else heard of this?

>> Edited by jonesgm on Monday 16th January 18:34

[GTRene]

I have heard about that timing between tolls too! but there is mostly a roadstoprestaurant? so you could drive fast then take a leak and drink and eat..then drive fast again...thats what I heard

[david@mediacopy]

calypsoelise said:

Peage's arn't normally an issue - if no passenger then just lean over the seat. Just make sure you have plenty of change.

I expect I'll have the passenger side full of ski's but I should be able to lean over.

Which is the cheapest way over, ferry or train ?

Best

David

[shangani]

Train is much faster. Ferry is cheaper, slower and more fun. You also have more options for the route.

[GTRene]

shangani said:

Train is much faster. Ferry is cheaper, slower and more fun. You also have more options for the route.

Last year when I went to the UK I went by train, same price as the ferry! it depends on what time you go! so check the tunnel-website its cheap and fast and its wider then you thought, I don't like water and bad wether...risk to high? I don't know...

[bher]

david@mediacopy said:

calypsoelise said: Peage's arn't normally an issue - if no passenger then just lean over the seat. Just make sure you have plenty of change. I expect I'll have the passenger side full of ski's but I should be able to lean over. Which is the cheapest way over, ferry or train ? Best David

I do not understand where you will place the skis (except if it is very short ones)
Without passenger, it may be attempted to use the hand brake before the boot to do a 180° slide before to go backward to pay then change again after the toll. But you need to stick with the speed limit before otherwise you are ready for the ethyl test. Pay also special attention to 110kph area.
To pay the speedways, it will not be so easy, I would prepare something as a squash racket with its jacket to put the money and ticket inside or something like that.

[shangani]

Or taped to the end of the ski? It is easy to fit 6 foot things into the passenger footwell - skis are no problem at all in my experience.

[david@mediacopy]

>>I do not understand where you will place the skis (except if it is very short ones)

I can just fit a pair of 171's in the passenger side, if I partly remove the roof to get them in. Roof clips back ok. I do a bit of fishing too, and can fit all my gear in. Get some funny looks mind !

[bogie]

you want to talk to Bil Swizz over on SELOC - hes lived with his Honda Elise in Switzerland for quite a few years and has run chains/snow tyres quite a lot

as for France - usually go on hols and to LeMans every year - no probs at all really...Police not normally an issue on the toll roads just keep an eye out for them on any 'A' roads etc