Tamora to the continent

[MTY4000]

I'm hoping to take my Tamora touring in Europe at the end of September. Monoco, Maranello, Alps etc.. (route to be decided on)

Please may I ask a couple of questions:

1) Ferry or Eurostar

Given the choice of Ferry or Eurostar(from UK to France)... and the very low ground clearance at the front of the car. Which option is likely to provide the best ground clearance? Any fellow Tamora owners experienced problems with getting on / off either?

2) Lights

Is it is simple as sticking on the 'continental' plastic strips to make the lights legal for driving on the 'other' side of the road?

3) Any other general advice for continental TVR driving?

Thanks,
Ian

[targarama]

Eurotunnel every time for speed and convenience, no weather problems and no French dock workers/farmers blocking you. No clearance problems in my T350 after several trips. No clearance problems on the ferry either, just go over the ramps at a dead crawl. Ferry is good if you have kids (no room in a TVR) or want a meal (in the posh rest, not the awful cafeteria thingys).

Lights - I've never bothered putting stickys on my headlamp covers. Never bothered with a GB sticker either. Cops have never mentioned these points.

Warning - do not forget to take your registration document so you can prove ownership. In every encounter I've had with eurocops this is all they have been bothered about (after seeing the plastic part of my drivers' license). I'd hate to know what they'd do if I didn't have this on me.

[madbadger]

Just back from 3200 miles down to Monaco and back through the Alps. Fontainebleau, South of France, Chateau Nuef du Pape, Route Napolean, Monaco, Italy, Val d'Isere, Chamonix, Bellinzona (CH), Italian lakes, Stelvio, Grindelwald, Basel, Germany, Belgium, Calais.

P&O had no problems and were helpful on the phone. Hoverspeed were useless and eventually told me I would probably ground. Speedferries were full. Eurostar is supposedly pretty good too.

Didn't use any deflectors as replies ranged from a general don't bother to stick some tape on randomly. Noone had a better / more accurate idea as to anything that would actually defect the beams! As it was I didn't drive at night and they seemed ok in the tunnels.

Without generalising at all - all the roads are great, and all the passes brilliant fun! Personal favourite was Stelvio but others will recommend others.

One thing I hate to say is don't bother with the big tunnels. We did Frejus and then Mont Blanc in one day. Euro30 and Euro30.50 respectively and both with 70kmh limits and cameras every few 100m. There are plently of others dotted around that don't have stupid limits, so don't need to be taken in 1st!

[MTY4000]

Thanks,

Targarama

Eurotunnel it is - thanks for the advice on the reg documents.

Madbadger

Thanks for the trip info. I sounds like you have completed a near identical trip to the one I am planning - great to hear you enjoyed it. Please may I ask how long the trip took you?

Europe here I come!

Ian

[madbadger]

We took 15 days.

Had a few days off to do some climbing and walking, so about 11 driving days.

Days ranged from about 3 hours to 8/9.

All the roads are at least twice as long as they look on a map (due to all the wiggly bits) and the average speed can be lower than you expect. Depends how many Dutch towing caravans with Scenics you get behind! Wasn't a problem as the roads were so good, but gave us more time driving than anticipated and less time to do other stuff and drink wine.

[sideways mostly]

Make sure you have lots of Euro's to hand,if you don't and you do anything wrong your car will be impounded untill you can pay the fine.A spare set of keys might be handy as well as some of the local police can and will impound your car if they feel inclined to be awkward - they need a reason to do this of course.
In some countrys you must carry a first aid kit and fire extinguisher-I was asked to produce these in France at a spot check at the docks in Le Harvre.

[madbadger]

Fire extinguiser is "advised" rather than required.

I think in France the only requireds are first aid kit, spare bulbs and a triangle. Italy you need a shiny vest.

The RAC/AA site has the full list of regs.

[MTY4000]

I think a trip to Halfords is called for to get the various extras (triangle, fire extingusher) & my dealer for some spare bulbs.

Thanks again for the advice. As ever this forum proves to be very helpful and friendly.

Ian

>> Edited by MTY4000 on Tuesday 30th August 15:05

[SHIFTY]

Been to France on the ferry and Eurostar, Tamora never bottomed out on the ferry or train but did on the incline going to the ferry at Dover docks.

give away is to look out for all the gouges in the tarmac.

[targarama]

Last time I went to the Dordogne I remembered somewhere just North of Paris that I'd forgotten my warning triangle and last aid kit. Luckily I didn't need them.

Not heard of the spot checks on getting off the ferry. I won't forget these bits again!