TVR driving in France
Discussion
mikey40 said:
Taking the Chim to France on holiday for the first time in a weeks time. Any advice/tips welcomed. 98 RON petrol? Parking on a ferry? Speed cameras?
(i) Check out the Le Mans forum which will have tonnes of advice on what to take (spare bulbs, insurance, breakdown cover etc)- avoid taking radar detectors which are a strict no no.
(ii) French police are getting generally more noticeable on roads, but still not high numbers and over 10 days driving 2k miles last year, I saw 2 police cars! Lots more at Le Mans though!
(iii) Lots of petrol stations have 99/100 RON fuel so worry not, although rural petrol stations generally closed on Sundays.
(iv) Have usually taken Chunnel which is superb and very quick. Ferries are also a popular choice though - really depends on £, time you have and where you want to go from/get to.
Above all, enjoy the trip! Wonderful countryside, people, food. TVR's usually get a superb reaction, and the roads are by and large magnificent. All reasons so many brits go to Le Mans (as well as the race itself!).
tell your bank to get you a bankcard to use in french automated fuel pumps, if you stray from the autoroute, to the RN's (which is a must) they are a must. our chip n pin stuff won't work. drive as you see fit and don't take the piss thru villages and you'll find open roads to drive as fast as you like to suit you/car.
most off all enjoy it, listen out for noises as usual, but nail the thing, and keep your eye on coolant levels and oil daily.
have a good time
oh and Frenchie loves Tiv's so be prepared for loads of picys and questions every time you stop.
most off all enjoy it, listen out for noises as usual, but nail the thing, and keep your eye on coolant levels and oil daily.
have a good time
oh and Frenchie loves Tiv's so be prepared for loads of picys and questions every time you stop.
If you go on eurotunnel, when you check in, tell the machine you are over 1.85m so they put you on the coach deck, you get an easier drive in and the noise is more wonderfull in the cavernous space!
Take a kids fishing net for helping pay tolls on the peage, ie to get the money from the car to the booth or be prepared to leap out, or if you want you can invest in a french motorway peage device.
The RN's and D routes even more are fantastic. Having driven 3000 miles on the furball i think the french roads had the best finish and were lovely.
Where do you want to head towards as I am sure we all could offer route advice!
cheers
Simon
Take a kids fishing net for helping pay tolls on the peage, ie to get the money from the car to the booth or be prepared to leap out, or if you want you can invest in a french motorway peage device.
The RN's and D routes even more are fantastic. Having driven 3000 miles on the furball i think the french roads had the best finish and were lovely.
Where do you want to head towards as I am sure we all could offer route advice!
cheers
Simon
Have heard of some people complaining of bad running after filling up with French high octane stuff, I think this was attributed to some of it sitting for a long time as French don't tend to have much demand for it. Obviously if that is the case it will be luck of the draw. Personally my old Chim (and indeed my Cerb) ran quite happily on 95 so when in France I tend to stick with that now, rather have fresher 95 than old 98. Lot of myths and rumours when it comes to fuel though so god knows what is correct or not.
Edited by Touching Cloth on Saturday 26th August 16:14
Hi Mike, Weve just returned from 8 days in Normandy/Brittany as far as Rennes. Covered 1650 miles.Only police spotted were in approaches to villages with mobile speed cameras set up on tripods. We were warned each time by a flash by oncoming traffic,Keep plenty of small euros, changes for the tolls.My 4litre Chim ran very well on the Total 98 octane sans plomb, with a daily intake of moules& frites.Enjoy.
This website tells you where the fixed cameras are:
www.controleradar.org/en.html
Watch for flashing headlights from other cars. usually it's to tell you there's a speed trap ahead, but with a TVR it just might be a greeting
www.controleradar.org/en.html
Watch for flashing headlights from other cars. usually it's to tell you there's a speed trap ahead, but with a TVR it just might be a greeting
segg said:
maddog-uk said:
Take a kids fishing net for helping pay tolls on the peage, ie to get the money from the car to the booth or be prepared to leap out, or if you want you can invest in a french motorway peage device.
Always wondered how you guys manage this... fishing net nice!
Got to confess I have invested in a peage device. Its lovely. Zero queuing and you can sometimes make up over an hour in saving. Plus the price is discounted and the gendarmines dont check those tickets!
You can buy them online (site in French only) and they send them via post. Takes about a month though.
Sanef Info
Buy online
Sanef Info
Buy online
Edited by SlvrCrb on Tuesday 29th August 09:32
Have a really great time in France. This Friday, 14 TVR's from Surrey (and outer Surrey!) will be heading to the Champagne Region for our annual "Le Surrey Run". This is number 4 so you can tell we hate it ;0) Sampling champagne is such hard work 
Enjoy the roads and the weather.
Karen :0)
Enjoy the roads and the weather.
Karen :0)
We have just come back from the Somme, brilliant roads, very little traffic and only saw 1 plod with ray gun and that was catching traffic coming into Calais on the motorway, I guess looking for those tanking is as they were late for the ferry.
Going back this weekend to the Loire but with family motor as we have Jnr in tow this time.
Looking forward to joining the fun with the Surrey chaps for next years Champagne Run extrodinaire
Bloody typical of the French though, if we had a website like this it would have to be in 20 different languages so everyone including the martians could read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a good time
J.
PS - never had any probls with the French petrol, although its not as cheap as it was!
Going back this weekend to the Loire but with family motor as we have Jnr in tow this time.
Looking forward to joining the fun with the Surrey chaps for next years Champagne Run extrodinaire
Bloody typical of the French though, if we had a website like this it would have to be in 20 different languages so everyone including the martians could read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a good time
J.
PS - never had any probls with the French petrol, although its not as cheap as it was!
Edited by herbie hammer on Tuesday 29th August 14:11
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