Paris last weekend - minor damage and a warning
Discussion
The missus and me took our V8V roadster across to Paris at the weekend. Although we had a great time driving in the sun through Paris, Versailles and to Giverny the whole event was spoilt by the car being damaged. Nothing major, but annoying nonetheless.
First off, I've taken numerous cars on the chunnel without problem. As those of you who have also taken a car over this way will know, the 'curbs' in the carriages are fairly close together but no more than a lip, which is not wheel threatening. However, when directed to the upper deck there are curbs at the apex of the ramp that are about 5 inches high and again very close together - these become the low lip curbs once the ramp flattens out.
Needless to say that in an Aston, as you're pointing up hill on the ramp you cannot see this curb for about the last 6 feet of ramp - resulting in a good thump against the off-side front alloy. I did this both outbound and inbound to Folkestone. Be warned
So, about a £150 mistake.
The really annoying damage was caused by the Hotel doorman. I'd emailed ahead to check the hotel had secure parking, which was confirmed. And dutifully they took the car away each night to a secure facility and returned it next day when I needed it. However, at a petrol station on the way home I noticed a long and deep scrape along the off-side lower front bumper. (pics to follow)
It's obvious to me that one of the hotel's doormen had belted a wall in the car park and had just kept quite about it. The reason I never noticed it was because I had no call to walk around that side of the car and they always held the door open for my wife so she approached the car from the back.
Perhaps most galling is that I tipped them every day
So, don't go to the Sofitel Arch de Triumphe
I don't expect that the hotel will admit to this or pick up the repair costs (Rick is on the case), but I will have some sport over the next few weeks annoying the Board of Directors of Accor / Sofitel Hotels.
Lastly, on the return chunnel trip I noticed a 57 plate Tungsten coupe and two 4.7 silver V8 Roadsters on the same train. Anyone from here?
First off, I've taken numerous cars on the chunnel without problem. As those of you who have also taken a car over this way will know, the 'curbs' in the carriages are fairly close together but no more than a lip, which is not wheel threatening. However, when directed to the upper deck there are curbs at the apex of the ramp that are about 5 inches high and again very close together - these become the low lip curbs once the ramp flattens out.
Needless to say that in an Aston, as you're pointing up hill on the ramp you cannot see this curb for about the last 6 feet of ramp - resulting in a good thump against the off-side front alloy. I did this both outbound and inbound to Folkestone. Be warned
So, about a £150 mistake.
The really annoying damage was caused by the Hotel doorman. I'd emailed ahead to check the hotel had secure parking, which was confirmed. And dutifully they took the car away each night to a secure facility and returned it next day when I needed it. However, at a petrol station on the way home I noticed a long and deep scrape along the off-side lower front bumper. (pics to follow)
It's obvious to me that one of the hotel's doormen had belted a wall in the car park and had just kept quite about it. The reason I never noticed it was because I had no call to walk around that side of the car and they always held the door open for my wife so she approached the car from the back.
Perhaps most galling is that I tipped them every day
So, don't go to the Sofitel Arch de Triumphe
I don't expect that the hotel will admit to this or pick up the repair costs (Rick is on the case), but I will have some sport over the next few weeks annoying the Board of Directors of Accor / Sofitel Hotels.
Lastly, on the return chunnel trip I noticed a 57 plate Tungsten coupe and two 4.7 silver V8 Roadsters on the same train. Anyone from here?
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