Driving in France
Discussion
Hello All,
This probably isn't the right forum but nevermind. Going on hols driving in the S down France. I'm aware that I have to carry things like a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a warning triangle but I was wondering what other useful things there might be to know.
I don't generally drive like S. Gonzalez, but this is the first time in the S, it's a long way - speeds can creep up. If I did get nicked is it just a fine or is it point ? Any other anecdotal experiences ? Certainly the one time I got a parking ticket over there - I never got chased for that.
WG
This probably isn't the right forum but nevermind. Going on hols driving in the S down France. I'm aware that I have to carry things like a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a warning triangle but I was wondering what other useful things there might be to know.
I don't generally drive like S. Gonzalez, but this is the first time in the S, it's a long way - speeds can creep up. If I did get nicked is it just a fine or is it point ? Any other anecdotal experiences ? Certainly the one time I got a parking ticket over there - I never got chased for that.
WG
WonkyGibbon said:
Hello All,
This probably isn't the right forum but nevermind. Going on hols driving in the S down France. I'm aware that I have to carry things like a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a warning triangle but I was wondering what other useful things there might be to know.
I don't generally drive like S. Gonzalez, but this is the first time in the S, it's a long way - speeds can creep up. If I did get nicked is it just a fine or is it point ? Any other anecdotal experiences ? Certainly the one time I got a parking ticket over there - I never got chased for that.
WG
just a fine if caught speeding. 130 kph in the dry and 110 kph in the wet on the payage. They allege to calculate your average speed from the ticket times and "do you" at the exit toll if you are over the limits but I have heard elsewhere this doesnt happen - didnt risk it myself.
Fines generally seem to be 90 euros for slight speeding and 750 euros for maniac speeding. On the spot and they will take you to the cash point if necessary or confiscate your car if you cannot or will not pay.
take a decent tool kit, a spare accelerator cable and keep on you plenty of water and coolant. A few other spares never go amiss...
Tell them how low your exhaust is when getting on the ferry (assuming you are not taking the tunnel) and you shouldnt have any problems (at least not on the way out although ladened with duty free beer on the return you may have to do the 45 degree approach).
and get us 200 B & H whilst you are there will ya...
Did a trip from Cherbourg to Chamonix a couple of years ago, and planning a similar trip at the beginning of Aug.
As far as speed limits are concerned, if you are doing a long stretch of motorway then the chances are you will stop for petrol, pee, drink etc, and so your speed will average out by the next toll booth. I was going a little faster at times but was never stopped.
As far as speed limits are concerned, if you are doing a long stretch of motorway then the chances are you will stop for petrol, pee, drink etc, and so your speed will average out by the next toll booth. I was going a little faster at times but was never stopped.
WonkyGibbon said:
a spare accelerator cable
That's interesting, I've seen this mentioned somewhere else before. Are S's known for snapping their accelerator cables ?
yes! mine went whilst on a country lane whilst overtaking
shnozz said:
and get us 200 B & H whilst you are there will ya...
and a bottle of '74 Chateau Lafitte ?
oh, ok then, you've twisted my arm.
WonkyGibbon said:
That's interesting, I've seen this mentioned somewhere else before. Are S's known for snapping their accelerator cables ?
shnozz said:
yes! mine went whilst on a country lane whilst overtaking
Fair point - come to think of it - mine went two and a half hours after I bought the car (slightly embarrassing "watch this ! watch what ?" moment !
)WonkyGibbon said:Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back?
That's interesting, I've seen this mentioned somewhere else before. Are S's known for snapping their accelerator cables ?
We took the bikes across recently and you need spare bulbs by law. For a car you also need headlight convertors and a warning triangle.
The thing about timing you between toll gates is an old wives tale. They tried it briefly years and years ago but don't do it any more. We averaged a hell of a lot higher than the limit and weren't fined. There are a fair number of speed traps kicking about just before toll gates though. Don't take a radar/laser detector as they are illegal and they can and will confiscate them.
Have fun,
Mark
I found it a shock that you can't buy fuel on a sunday after 1200 without a 'frenchies only' credit card...seriously, 100 odd mile past multitudes of closed petrol stations, supermarkets etc etc etc, bit worrying when the guage shoots to zero from half full (I believe they all do that tho!) Keep the tank toppers and enjoy smooth roads without roadworks or too many potholes...
I always stop for some grub if I think I've been zapped and hide behind a caravan or similar going through the tolls heh heh..had to do that twice so far. The worst stretch is the road going up to Calais from Paris, le zappeur is usually an unmarked car 20 or so km from the toll and I always see them too late.
Does the S get on the chunnel OK? I wasn't sure it would, especially that gizmo that looks under the car, no problems with the ferry/hovercraft though if a bit grounding doesn't scare you too much.
Does the S get on the chunnel OK? I wasn't sure it would, especially that gizmo that looks under the car, no problems with the ferry/hovercraft though if a bit grounding doesn't scare you too much.
One of the guys I talked to when buying mine said that he'd taken his S3 on the Chunnel, and was a bit unnerved at having to drive onto the upper deck, but was pleased to get up there without any scrapes.
Of course ride heights vary with ageing suspension, so don't rely on my word, but it gives a little hope!
Of course ride heights vary with ageing suspension, so don't rely on my word, but it gives a little hope!
S3 Kieran said:
One of the guys I talked to when buying mine said that he'd taken his S3 on the Chunnel, and was a bit unnerved at having to drive onto the upper deck, but was pleased to get up there without any scrapes.
Of course ride heights vary with ageing suspension, so don't rely on my word, but it gives a little hope!
Took S2 & S3 to Zolder via Euro Tunnel. No problems at all with the train (upper & lower decks), just a few annoyinng speed humps between the terminal and the platform.
Roy C said:
Took S2 & S3 to Zolder via Euro Tunnel. No problems at all with the train (upper & lower decks), just a few annoying speed humps between the terminal and the platform.
Likewise, no problems with the V8S. Did get stopped on the way on though, and asked to rev it a bit. Well it would have been rude not to!
On a recent convoy of seven Ferraris to Le Mans, all were pulled over, but only the lead car got done. Driver had his licence confiscated and VERY heavy fine - the six other drivers chipped in, but his passenger had to drive. On the way bak, stopping to regroup at the toll, who should be on duty, but the very same copper - and guess who was back driving his car without a licence.... We now know how long it takes to swap seats in a Ferrari!
I had a bit of a grounding problem on the ferry when comming back from Le Mans. The ferry we went on had these 'domes' on the floor where you drive onto the ferry. The problem was that I was in the middle lane getting on the ferry and the middle lane had these 'domes' right in the middle of the lane and i hit every single one of them. Didn't seem to be a problem on the way to France when I was on an outside lane. Didn't do any damage, but I cringed a lot!
Roy.
Roy.
Last month I drove on the auto route from Calais through Rheims and did 200 miles in 2hr 15mins with no sign of police or radar and was regularly overtaken by Porkers and Beamers doing well over 120mph.
It is a great road with delays only by having to slow down for tolls, hence the extra 15 mins.
If you want to have a chance to clean the plugs nip across the channel and have a go but avoid August as the French use it then.
The worst part of the journey is the drive to Dover.
Bill
It is a great road with delays only by having to slow down for tolls, hence the extra 15 mins.
If you want to have a chance to clean the plugs nip across the channel and have a go but avoid August as the French use it then.
The worst part of the journey is the drive to Dover.
Bill
Oh and drive on the right
Also, roundabouts. On major roads treat them as you do here, but go the other way round, of course. In towns and villages, however, when proceeding round a roundabout, you have to give way to other cars wanting to come on to the damn thing. And they do assume you are going to stop to let them. I had been warned before I went, but it's still a wierd thing to do.
Andy
Also, roundabouts. On major roads treat them as you do here, but go the other way round, of course. In towns and villages, however, when proceeding round a roundabout, you have to give way to other cars wanting to come on to the damn thing. And they do assume you are going to stop to let them. I had been warned before I went, but it's still a wierd thing to do.
Andy
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