Most car/Brit friendly country in Europe?

[Chris71]

I was reading Simon George's piece in Evo this month last night. Really enjoyed his brief account of the recent road trip, but sad to hear the locals were gesticulating at them wherever they went in France and the police were taking a keen interest in their progress too.

So where do you reckon is the best place in Europe to enjoy a (British registered) car?

Purely a hypothetical question - nothing planned. The only thing I can add is the police are as anal in the low countries as they're made out to be. Is Germany the answer? A trip to the Black Forest perhaps? Or maybe Spain somewhere? Hmmm.

[Davey S2]

Chris71 said:

I was reading Simon George's piece in Evo this month last night. Really enjoyed his brief account of the recent road trip, but sad to hear the locals were gesticulating at them wherever they went in France and the police were taking a keen interest in their progress too.

I dont recall the French locals giving them grief?

Yes the gendarmes are out to catch speeders up to 75 miles from Calais but I have always found the French love performance cars. I've done several tours through France in convoy with lots of Ferrari's and Lambo's and have only ever had very positive reactions from locals.

If you are in a Ferrari or lambo then you cant beat Italy but other then that France takes some beating IMO

[chrisr29]

I've toured Europe extensively in Brit registered cars and never had a problem. Been pulled on the odd occasion but never got any grief, just doc checks then sent on me way. Once got pulled late one night in a small town in Germany because I inadvertantly pulled off of a pub car park straight in front of a police car! Once he realised we hadn't been drinking and were just trying to find a hotel he phoned around for somewhere to stay then gave us a guided escort there....result!

Travelling in Europe is a whole lot less hassle than travelling in the UK. In fact it's as much a pleasure as travelling over here is a pain in the arse!

[Chris71]

Sure he said they had people gesticulating at them as they drove past, but might have got my wires crossed.

Anyway, the fact remains that some places - like Holland and most of Scandinavia take speeding very seriously. While I wouldn't condone doing stupid speeds in the wrong places anywhere, there are presumably some places where the locals (and indeed BiB) are a little more welcoming to car enthusiasts and indeed the British than others?

[chrisr29]

Well, the obviuos answer is deristricted autobahns, go as fast as you like traffic permitting. There's a good section between Koblenz and the Nurburgring, quite flowing and undulating.

Alternatively, Italy's pretty good, motorway traffic REALLY moves over there!

[Davey S2]

Chris71 said:

Sure he said they had people gesticulating at them as they drove past, but might have got my wires crossed.

I'm pretty sure that was the Italians and they were not doing it as a sign of displeasure! The Italians go mad with enthusiasm when they see a Ferrari, especially when its being driven enthusiastically.

[dcb]

Chris71 said:

Anyway, the fact remains that some places - like Holland and most of Scandinavia take speeding very seriously.

I think you are correct about Scandinavia, but I'd quibble
with you about the Netherlands.

It seems no different to B/F/Lux to me, as far as speeding goes.

Chris71 said:

While I wouldn't condone doing stupid speeds in the wrong places anywhere, there are presumably some places where the locals (and indeed BiB) are a little more welcoming to car enthusiasts and indeed the British than others?

Yes - Chermany.

Chermans *love* their cars like the Brits love their mortgages
and their pets.

Speke-a-der-lingo even only a bit and it's motoring heaven.

The Polizei seem to be *much* more worried about the quality of
your driving [ distance to the car in front, lane discipline etc],
than any fixed number on a sign.

Amble south to Austria if you get bored and get stuck into
the Alps - plenty of roads all the way up to about 9,000 feet
or so.

[F308 MAN]

Chris71 said:

I was reading Simon George's piece in Evo this month last night ...

i read that too .... not too keen on the article, but i thought the photos were FANTASTIC !



d

[Chris71]

F308 MAN said:

Chris71 said:

I was reading Simon George's piece in Evo this month last night ...

i read that too .... not too keen on the article, but i thought the photos were FANTASTIC !



d

Were you in front or behind the camera (or both)?

The library at work hasn't recieved this month's mag yet, so I can't tell if I was talking out of my exhaust, but attitudes definitely vary.

I got stopped in Belgium for doing fractionally over the speed limit while there were Belgian registered cars streaming past me. It's a jounrey I did often when I was working out there and I'm told British numberplates always attract attention. In Holland they have a habbit of hiding speed cameras in 'abandoned' cars or vans by the side of the road. It's quite ironic as the population seem to be quite into their cars and the police, err, don't. France on the other hand seemed to be quite liberally policed (although I hear they've toughened up recently) and yet I'm, not aware of them having such a car culture.

[BigLepton]

Portugal - very Brit friendly as we fought alongside them in many battles against the French and Spanish and lots of villages still have memorials to British soldiers who died fighting with them, plus they have excellent roads and 'relaxed' policing. Easily the best bit of Yerp for driving fun IME.