Towing a 911 on a trailer to the South of France
Discussion
Thank you all, you've given me a lot to think about..... But these are all exactly the kind of points I wanted raising to help me make a decision, so all comments and all angles are greatly appreciated.
I certainly don't want to become a resident in France, as that has all kinds of tax implications.
The reality of trailering this car seems like it's going to be too much of a headache, so I think I' m going to have to scrap that idea.
Instead, I think I'll do as someone suggested, and instead spend the trailer money on restoring the barn.
I know a comment was made about a lack of specialists, so maybe the new car under warranty may be the better choice, as it will only be there for the summer months. One concern about that though, is if the new car has a Tracker, and is out of the UK for more than 90 days, if the insurers could obtain this information in the event of a theft, it could invalidate my policy - Could be a dear do!!
Alternatively, I may consider something older, like a 997 gen 2 as MDL111 suggested, or perhaps, something completely different. There is a lot to be said for old cars that don't cost much and you don't have to worry about, so I may seriously consider some other kind of old convertible.
I note a comment was made about Porsche's not liking being left standing, although this shouldn't be for more than 3-4 weeks at any time. If left on a C-TEK charger for this period, should it be OK?
Thanks once again for all your comments - I do feel like I'm beginning to reach a conclusion
I certainly don't want to become a resident in France, as that has all kinds of tax implications.
The reality of trailering this car seems like it's going to be too much of a headache, so I think I' m going to have to scrap that idea.
Instead, I think I'll do as someone suggested, and instead spend the trailer money on restoring the barn.
I know a comment was made about a lack of specialists, so maybe the new car under warranty may be the better choice, as it will only be there for the summer months. One concern about that though, is if the new car has a Tracker, and is out of the UK for more than 90 days, if the insurers could obtain this information in the event of a theft, it could invalidate my policy - Could be a dear do!!
Alternatively, I may consider something older, like a 997 gen 2 as MDL111 suggested, or perhaps, something completely different. There is a lot to be said for old cars that don't cost much and you don't have to worry about, so I may seriously consider some other kind of old convertible.
I note a comment was made about Porsche's not liking being left standing, although this shouldn't be for more than 3-4 weeks at any time. If left on a C-TEK charger for this period, should it be OK?
Thanks once again for all your comments - I do feel like I'm beginning to reach a conclusion
I'm a lazy sod, so I would consider refurbishing the barn too much of an effort, and probably too costly to boot. You'd have to hire some locals, supervise their work, curse at them in French, etc. Bo-ring.
I would try to find a respectable car storage place in the Toulouse area. A brief google search for "Porsche" and "storage / gardiennage" turned up some candidates, some clearly more promising than others.
https://www.autoclassic.fr/
https://garagedayraut.com/
Warning, alpha male ahead:
https://www.exclusivescars.com/gardiennage-exclusi...
Or just ask the Porsche Club Toulose / Gascogne:
https://www.toulouse-gascogne-porscheclub.fr/Porsc...
I would try to find a respectable car storage place in the Toulouse area. A brief google search for "Porsche" and "storage / gardiennage" turned up some candidates, some clearly more promising than others.
https://www.autoclassic.fr/
https://garagedayraut.com/
Warning, alpha male ahead:
https://www.exclusivescars.com/gardiennage-exclusi...
Or just ask the Porsche Club Toulose / Gascogne:
https://www.toulouse-gascogne-porscheclub.fr/Porsc...
Edited by Fink-Nottle on Tuesday 24th May 13:48
Mulsanne-Speed said:
Thanks also to kel176506 and NDA,
These are all very good points, but the problem I have, is that I'm the sort of person who gets bored easily.
So, the plan with this house, is that we'll go for a few weeks, tire of the routine and heat in France (which you do), then we'll come home, quickly tire of the rain and grey skies and go back. Hopefully this will give us good variety and balance between April and late October.
We do love life here in the UK, but the summer's here can be so depressing, likewise though, being in the sun for extended periods can also become tiresome.
So because of this trip frequency, sourcing out transportation, or travelling separately when we've also got the dogs to take with us, unfortunately wouldn't work. Thanks both for the suggestions though.
Hi These are all very good points, but the problem I have, is that I'm the sort of person who gets bored easily.
So, the plan with this house, is that we'll go for a few weeks, tire of the routine and heat in France (which you do), then we'll come home, quickly tire of the rain and grey skies and go back. Hopefully this will give us good variety and balance between April and late October.
We do love life here in the UK, but the summer's here can be so depressing, likewise though, being in the sun for extended periods can also become tiresome.
So because of this trip frequency, sourcing out transportation, or travelling separately when we've also got the dogs to take with us, unfortunately wouldn't work. Thanks both for the suggestions though.
Where are you buying in France? We are currently in Aurignac, having been here for five weeks. On Sunday the temperature was 34’c, today the high is 15’c so it’s not consistent heat. March and November can also be really nice t shirt weather and more day light than the UK.
For four years I would drive my 911 down, with my wife in tow carrying the dog and all the bags, twice a year. I considered a trailer, but I came to the concussion it would be a pain. Having the two cars gave us a lot of freedom when choosing hotels. We also varied the route each time so as to enjoy more French roads. It was really good fun.
I have a house in the South of France and a 911. I just drive there! 800 miles in a day no problems.
You will be fine as long as you haven't got a silly version with zero suspension.
Sometimes I go a bit further where we have a flat in Barcelona. It is easy too at 1,250 miles on the excellent roads. Avoid red and black days though.
I love the drive. The 911 goes 400 miles on a tank, I have a Sanif Tag for the tolls, it is great. Eat off the motorway at an excellent Les Routiers, pull off at mid day.
First time Mr Macron got elected, I got 5 speeding tickets in one day. I was really impressed with myself as they turned up at my UK home address over the next 6 weeks. Bet we dont issue them in return!. He turned the timer down on the average speed cameras and it cost me 45 euros a go. Wasn't going that quick either. They are REALLY on it. So watch that one.
I also have tried every option of leaving a car at the house and flying. Forget it.
Flat batteries, mice, servicing, insurance, MOTs all the rest. Try registering a car in France with their bureaucracy! It is not like lovely old England where you fill out a form and send it off. You need a Gateway number, proof of residence, 3 copies on the sales receipt etc, etc, etc.
I have left the simplest and the Frenchest cars I could think of over the last 30 years in the garage over there, a 59 2CV, a Renault 4 TL, an Citroen LNA, Citroen DS, Citroen Ami. All a disaster. Battery tenders the whole lot. Cars hate being left unattended even in a dry garage. I swear they sulk. They just will give you stress when you wake them up.
By the time I have parked the car at the airport, waited, flown, disembarked, got a hire car etc, I wish I had just driven anyway.
Driving in France is lovely, the Autoroutes are superb, the N roads are great too.
You will be fine as long as you haven't got a silly version with zero suspension.
Sometimes I go a bit further where we have a flat in Barcelona. It is easy too at 1,250 miles on the excellent roads. Avoid red and black days though.
I love the drive. The 911 goes 400 miles on a tank, I have a Sanif Tag for the tolls, it is great. Eat off the motorway at an excellent Les Routiers, pull off at mid day.
First time Mr Macron got elected, I got 5 speeding tickets in one day. I was really impressed with myself as they turned up at my UK home address over the next 6 weeks. Bet we dont issue them in return!. He turned the timer down on the average speed cameras and it cost me 45 euros a go. Wasn't going that quick either. They are REALLY on it. So watch that one.
I also have tried every option of leaving a car at the house and flying. Forget it.
Flat batteries, mice, servicing, insurance, MOTs all the rest. Try registering a car in France with their bureaucracy! It is not like lovely old England where you fill out a form and send it off. You need a Gateway number, proof of residence, 3 copies on the sales receipt etc, etc, etc.
I have left the simplest and the Frenchest cars I could think of over the last 30 years in the garage over there, a 59 2CV, a Renault 4 TL, an Citroen LNA, Citroen DS, Citroen Ami. All a disaster. Battery tenders the whole lot. Cars hate being left unattended even in a dry garage. I swear they sulk. They just will give you stress when you wake them up.
By the time I have parked the car at the airport, waited, flown, disembarked, got a hire car etc, I wish I had just driven anyway.
Driving in France is lovely, the Autoroutes are superb, the N roads are great too.
politeperson said:
Eat off the motorway at an excellent Les Routiers, pull off at mid day.
I've been driving yearly through France for the past 20yrs but not sure I'm aware of this. Do tell more!politeperson said:
Driving in France is lovely, the Autoroutes are superb, the N roads are great too.
Agreed! For me it all falls down once you arrive at the Eurotunnel terminal!What experience do you have of towing a large trailer?
I have towed large boats for many years and it’s not as easy as it may seem.
Every year I see new boat owners struggling with their trailers, especially with reversing.
I realise you may have your heart set on a 911, but in your shoes I’d be looking at a Panamera Sport or just use your RR - drive there with your wife and dogs, then drive home.
If you want a convertible to drive while you’re there, get a 987.2 LHD Boxster and keep it inside a Carcoon, on a trickle charger inside the barn. Spend some money on securing the barn, getting it connected to mains electricity, etc.
It’s not a bad problem to have!
I have towed large boats for many years and it’s not as easy as it may seem.
Every year I see new boat owners struggling with their trailers, especially with reversing.
I realise you may have your heart set on a 911, but in your shoes I’d be looking at a Panamera Sport or just use your RR - drive there with your wife and dogs, then drive home.
If you want a convertible to drive while you’re there, get a 987.2 LHD Boxster and keep it inside a Carcoon, on a trickle charger inside the barn. Spend some money on securing the barn, getting it connected to mains electricity, etc.
It’s not a bad problem to have!
Could you join a car club of some sort and rent something fun for the time that you are at the place in France?
Means you could (depending on the size of the club, if of course such things exist in France) have something different if that took your fancy, and you don't need to worry about looking after it, taking it with you, securing it, or paying VAT and import on it etc etc.
Means you could (depending on the size of the club, if of course such things exist in France) have something different if that took your fancy, and you don't need to worry about looking after it, taking it with you, securing it, or paying VAT and import on it etc etc.
Firstly, sorry, I've been away for a couple of days.
MDL111, Thank you, and yes, I think I've decided to completely scrap the trailer idea.
Fink-Nottle - Thank you for your suggestions, and also for taking the time to investigate this and share your findings.
Claret M - Thank you also for sharing your first-hand experience of what I will be going in to. As you point out, the weather will not be consistent, but what we're looking forward to is being able to pick and choose. If the weather's poor in the UK and better in France, we'll go there. Likewise, if France gets too hot in the summer, we'll return to England.
I think the trailer idea is now well and truly shelved, so will look at the best way to travel down with my wife, dogs and multiple cars, initially at least, then perhaps consider France storage options. Thanks again.
Polite person - Thank you also for sharing your experiences - 800 - 1,250 miles in a day!!!! That's really going some, especially when you don't even look old enough to drive in that photo!!!! ????
Joking aside, we drove from East Sussex to Bordeaux in a day in our 5.0 Range Rover, and that was as much as I could manage (6am to 6pm), so you must have been mainlining coffee to do that.
It was good to read you comments though. We need to get a Tag on the next journey, my wife's getting really hacked off with the Tolls. Last visit was worse, as we took the dogs in the Range Rover and fitted a roof box. We quickly learned, that if you go through the toll with a roof box, the sensors think you're a truck, so the machine dispenses the ticket about 7ft off the ground, not easy for my wife having to climb out and up through the passenger window.
No speeding tickets yet Polite Person, but only been back 5 days following our most recent visit, so some may follow.
Registering a car in France sounds like a headache, and one I'd rather avoid, thanks for the heads up on that.
I hope to spend more time on the N roads when we get the new house and are in less of a hurry. We used the Autoroutes for the most part on the last couple of trips - From what I've experienced so far, virtually all French roads are an absolute joy to drive on, a complete world away from the UK, and a great place for cars like 911's, where you can enjoy and appreciate the firmer suspension set ups, without being shaken to death!!
Braddo - You are right - Dogs do complicate matters, and based on your knowing comment, I suspect you're probably a dog owner yourself. We have two Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, one is 80kg, the other 60kg, so these are not easy creatures to travel with. I'm sure we'll come up with something, but as you suggest, it may be a case of alternating the cars.
Johnmaddox - Good point, my brother uses shipping containers for storing excess stock for his business, from what I understand, they're extremely secure things - Maybe a thought.
RiccardoG - Completely agree regarding returning to the EuroTunnel Terminal
Pete.g - Thank you for your advice earlier, some good and sensible points you make. I did think about an older Boxster, but I've got this 911 Cab on order, if I don't use it in France, I wont use it here. That said, I'll see how it all goes, if it becomes too much trouble, I may do as you suggest with a cheaper option, which I won't worry about and sell the 911 later.
Dammit - Thank you, good point. It might be worth looking into this - That said, because the house is in quite a rural location, get a car backwards and forwards could prove problematic.
Finally, thank you to all for your comments. They're all greatly appreciated.
On a slightly different note....... I think I'm going to change my 911 order from a Carrera 4S Cabriolet to a 911 Turbo Cabriolet.
I know the Turbo S is supposed to be the one to buy, but I prefer the squarer exhaust at the rear on the standard Turbo, (plus it's about 20k cheaper).
Does anyone think that a standard Turbo will be a mistake, in terms of future values and desirability, with the Turbo S being held in such high regard?
MDL111, Thank you, and yes, I think I've decided to completely scrap the trailer idea.
Fink-Nottle - Thank you for your suggestions, and also for taking the time to investigate this and share your findings.
Claret M - Thank you also for sharing your first-hand experience of what I will be going in to. As you point out, the weather will not be consistent, but what we're looking forward to is being able to pick and choose. If the weather's poor in the UK and better in France, we'll go there. Likewise, if France gets too hot in the summer, we'll return to England.
I think the trailer idea is now well and truly shelved, so will look at the best way to travel down with my wife, dogs and multiple cars, initially at least, then perhaps consider France storage options. Thanks again.
Polite person - Thank you also for sharing your experiences - 800 - 1,250 miles in a day!!!! That's really going some, especially when you don't even look old enough to drive in that photo!!!! ????
Joking aside, we drove from East Sussex to Bordeaux in a day in our 5.0 Range Rover, and that was as much as I could manage (6am to 6pm), so you must have been mainlining coffee to do that.
It was good to read you comments though. We need to get a Tag on the next journey, my wife's getting really hacked off with the Tolls. Last visit was worse, as we took the dogs in the Range Rover and fitted a roof box. We quickly learned, that if you go through the toll with a roof box, the sensors think you're a truck, so the machine dispenses the ticket about 7ft off the ground, not easy for my wife having to climb out and up through the passenger window.
No speeding tickets yet Polite Person, but only been back 5 days following our most recent visit, so some may follow.
Registering a car in France sounds like a headache, and one I'd rather avoid, thanks for the heads up on that.
I hope to spend more time on the N roads when we get the new house and are in less of a hurry. We used the Autoroutes for the most part on the last couple of trips - From what I've experienced so far, virtually all French roads are an absolute joy to drive on, a complete world away from the UK, and a great place for cars like 911's, where you can enjoy and appreciate the firmer suspension set ups, without being shaken to death!!
Braddo - You are right - Dogs do complicate matters, and based on your knowing comment, I suspect you're probably a dog owner yourself. We have two Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, one is 80kg, the other 60kg, so these are not easy creatures to travel with. I'm sure we'll come up with something, but as you suggest, it may be a case of alternating the cars.
Johnmaddox - Good point, my brother uses shipping containers for storing excess stock for his business, from what I understand, they're extremely secure things - Maybe a thought.
RiccardoG - Completely agree regarding returning to the EuroTunnel Terminal
Pete.g - Thank you for your advice earlier, some good and sensible points you make. I did think about an older Boxster, but I've got this 911 Cab on order, if I don't use it in France, I wont use it here. That said, I'll see how it all goes, if it becomes too much trouble, I may do as you suggest with a cheaper option, which I won't worry about and sell the 911 later.
Dammit - Thank you, good point. It might be worth looking into this - That said, because the house is in quite a rural location, get a car backwards and forwards could prove problematic.
Finally, thank you to all for your comments. They're all greatly appreciated.
On a slightly different note....... I think I'm going to change my 911 order from a Carrera 4S Cabriolet to a 911 Turbo Cabriolet.
I know the Turbo S is supposed to be the one to buy, but I prefer the squarer exhaust at the rear on the standard Turbo, (plus it's about 20k cheaper).
Does anyone think that a standard Turbo will be a mistake, in terms of future values and desirability, with the Turbo S being held in such high regard?
Edited by Mulsanne-Speed on Thursday 26th May 22:06
If you want it transported, that's what I do
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...
If you want advice on trailers or strapping etc just ask, happy to help, knocking on for 2 million miles at it.
Just be aware even with your own car on your own trailer the French customs have been issuing fines, Brexit eh! The gift that keeps on giving
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...
If you want advice on trailers or strapping etc just ask, happy to help, knocking on for 2 million miles at it.
Just be aware even with your own car on your own trailer the French customs have been issuing fines, Brexit eh! The gift that keeps on giving
seiben said:
FWIW, I find driving long distances with a car trailer quite relaxing. Set the cruise for 60ish, plod along in the slow lane and watch the world go by. If you know you're not in a hurry you can just settle in and enjoy the journey.
Yes - bearing in mind it’s 60 mph limit on multi lane and 50 mph on single carriage.As someone who loves Porsches / 911s I’m going to go out on a limb and say a Turbo cab wouldn’t be my first choice for a holiday car that you weren’t going to drive there. They excel at covering huge distances very quickly, but as you’re trailering it there, and want something (I presume) that feels a real event for popping to the beach or into town or for spirited drives in the hills, I’d be looking at a brightly coloured Italian exotic!
Mulsanne-Speed said:
Thanks iguana, seiben and pete.g - On reflection, I think I'm going to scrap the idea of trailering, and probably look at storage, or 3-6. month intervals in France, before a trip back to the UK.
Thanks again for all the comments though
I'd suggest looking into how that can be done, legally, as customs may treat such a temporary import as a permanent import, and that would be VAT+duty+fee on the total value of the vehicle.Thanks again for all the comments though
There may very well be a grace period - but how do you prove that to the customs officers would be the question I'd be asking myself.
Dammit said:
I'd suggest looking into how that can be done, legally, as customs may treat such a temporary import as a permanent import, and that would be VAT+duty+fee on the total value of the vehicle.
There may very well be a grace period - but how do you prove that to the customs officers would be the question I'd be asking myself.
6 months for temporary import, the channel crossing ticket & your passport stamp as proof, or that visa thing coming in next Yr. There may very well be a grace period - but how do you prove that to the customs officers would be the question I'd be asking myself.
I'd need to double check but I think you could get 12 months on a carnet.
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