Planning a big trip in my XJR
Discussion
Griffithy, thank you very much for that, that's a lot of very useful info indeed! One thing you may be able to help me with further is if you could tell me, if you know, if the service stations in Germany and Austria (along motorways and major roads) are open 24 hours a day (especially on the weekends)? I once rode my motorbike to Prague, and nearly ran out of petrol in eastern Germany, because I couldn't find a petrol station for miles, and then when I did find some, they were closed (it was in the evening)! Don't want that happening to me again. I might actually carry a jerry-can with 5 litres of petrol in it for emergencies like that... I hope this is legal in Europe?
No, petrol should not be any problem on the Motorways between Calais and Austria at all.
Motorway services are every 30 to 50 miles open for 24 hours a day.
In Germany and Austria are more and more fillingstations placed very close to the exits as well, for cheaper petrol.
I am quite sure it is the same for Slo and Cro motorways.
Following you should carry with you too:
2 emerency triangles
2 emergency jackets
First Aid Box
Set of spare bulbs
Towrope
GB Sticker
Green Insurance Card
Driving Licence and Passport
5 Liter jerry can is fine but Croatia
When reaching Austria und going further South you must switch on the headlights all day.
Dip your headlight levels or get the stickers for the lenses for relaxed driving.
All but Croatia is EC. First time when you will need your passport will be Slovenia.
But Croatia feels very EC already, but be aware when shopping alcohol and cigarettes and so on.
All is Euro-Country, but Croatia but even there Euro will be accepted.
Motorway services are every 30 to 50 miles open for 24 hours a day.
In Germany and Austria are more and more fillingstations placed very close to the exits as well, for cheaper petrol.
I am quite sure it is the same for Slo and Cro motorways.
Following you should carry with you too:
2 emerency triangles
2 emergency jackets
First Aid Box
Set of spare bulbs
Towrope
GB Sticker
Green Insurance Card
Driving Licence and Passport
5 Liter jerry can is fine but Croatia
When reaching Austria und going further South you must switch on the headlights all day.
Dip your headlight levels or get the stickers for the lenses for relaxed driving.
All but Croatia is EC. First time when you will need your passport will be Slovenia.
But Croatia feels very EC already, but be aware when shopping alcohol and cigarettes and so on.
All is Euro-Country, but Croatia but even there Euro will be accepted.
Sorry, did you mean a 5 litre jerry can is ok everywhere BUT in Croatia? I didn't know Austria required headlights to be on all the time, thanks for that.
What's a green insurance card? I phoned my insurance company and confirmed I'm covered througout Europe (including Croatia).
Again, thanks so much for your extremely helpful advice!
What's a green insurance card? I phoned my insurance company and confirmed I'm covered througout Europe (including Croatia).
Again, thanks so much for your extremely helpful advice!
Griffithy said:
Following you should carry with you too:
2 emerency triangles
2 emergency jackets
First Aid Box
Set of spare bulbs
Towrope
GB Sticker
Green Insurance Card
Driving Licence and Passport
5 Liter jerry can is fine but Croatia
Also reg doc, MOT certificate and EU accident statement form (from insurers)2 emerency triangles
2 emergency jackets
First Aid Box
Set of spare bulbs
Towrope
GB Sticker
Green Insurance Card
Driving Licence and Passport
5 Liter jerry can is fine but Croatia
vladman said:
Sorry, did you mean a 5 litre jerry can is ok everywhere BUT in Croatia?
Thanks, you brought it into correct English. Sorry about it. Everywhere but Croatia and the ferry of course.
vladman said:
What's a green insurance card? I phoned my insurance company and confirmed I'm covered througout Europe (including Croatia).
It is a bit of a funny thing, but even everybody is insured for Croatia, they sometimes ask,in case you get an officer on his bad day, for this - what we call - green insurance card.
It is not more as a sheet of paper (green here) called "International Insurance Card"
on this the insurance company confirms that your car (datas are to be listed on it) is insured and all countries it is valid for are listed. Usually only valid for a year.
It is a thing many people are not carrying and the officers know this, would be a good income.
Don't be worried, usually the people are very nice, but just in case you got caught on a heavy pedal.
I would recomend for showing it unask to them quite soon after being stopped by them, shows them you are well prepared and not much to find.
Hope you can follow my "Croatian" English now
That does not say I am from Croatia, but here we say "Croatian" to very bad language.
Sorry to all Croatian people who speek English well.
Griffithy said:
Hope you can follow my "Croatian" English now
That does not say I am from Croatia, but here we say "Croatian" to very bad language.
Sorry to all Croatian people who speek English well.
That'd be me then. That does not say I am from Croatia, but here we say "Croatian" to very bad language.
Sorry to all Croatian people who speek English well.
Are you sure about this, so it's illegal to carry petrol in a sealed container in a car in Croatia?
Just to let everyone know I just came back from my holiday in Croatia. The holiday was great and memorable, so much more than if I flew there.
The car was fantastic, never missed a beat! I checked the oil too, several times during the trip, including on arrival back home, and it doesn't look like the car's used any. Flooring the car at 90mph when a Porsche (I think a Boxster, not sure if "S" or not) flashed me to get past in Germany, left him getting gradually smaller and smaller in my mirrors, until I pulled in and let him past. The driver didn't look amused.
Another time, I took the car to 150mph as indicated on my TomTom, again, no fuss, stable, and was still pulling and accelerating nicely when I decided it was enough.
A few trip stats from the car trip computer. Pretty pleased with that MPG, considering I wasn't really babying the car, but driving it normally, meaning cruising between 80-90mph everywhere, except in Germany where the cruising speed was a bit higher, and also included those previously mentioned couple of "spirited" runs.
The car was fantastic, never missed a beat! I checked the oil too, several times during the trip, including on arrival back home, and it doesn't look like the car's used any. Flooring the car at 90mph when a Porsche (I think a Boxster, not sure if "S" or not) flashed me to get past in Germany, left him getting gradually smaller and smaller in my mirrors, until I pulled in and let him past. The driver didn't look amused.
Another time, I took the car to 150mph as indicated on my TomTom, again, no fuss, stable, and was still pulling and accelerating nicely when I decided it was enough.
A few trip stats from the car trip computer. Pretty pleased with that MPG, considering I wasn't really babying the car, but driving it normally, meaning cruising between 80-90mph everywhere, except in Germany where the cruising speed was a bit higher, and also included those previously mentioned couple of "spirited" runs.
Edited by vladman on Tuesday 11th September 18:35
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