London to Emden DE
Discussion
Hi all
Next month I'll be driving through France, Netherlands and into Germany to stay with a friend. When I'm there there'll be plenty of opportunity to try the car out on de-restricted roads, and directly compare my GTS with his V8 R8.
However apart from a drive through France a couple of years back this is the first European road trip I've done of this scale. My plan is to do the whole journey there in one long day. Hopefully that's not too stupid an idea?
Can those of you who do routine trips such as this recommend anything I should do or not do on the way, or take with me. Once I'm there I'll be in my mate's hands and should be well looked after
Many thanks.
Next month I'll be driving through France, Netherlands and into Germany to stay with a friend. When I'm there there'll be plenty of opportunity to try the car out on de-restricted roads, and directly compare my GTS with his V8 R8.
However apart from a drive through France a couple of years back this is the first European road trip I've done of this scale. My plan is to do the whole journey there in one long day. Hopefully that's not too stupid an idea?
Can those of you who do routine trips such as this recommend anything I should do or not do on the way, or take with me. Once I'm there I'll be in my mate's hands and should be well looked after
Many thanks.
Take lots of coffee. How many driving hours are you looking at?
Don't forget to adjust your beams before you take off. Check oil levels and be sure you have a top up in the car, can be difficult to find the right type if you're on the road and in need, happened to me recently.
Don't forget to adjust your beams before you take off. Check oil levels and be sure you have a top up in the car, can be difficult to find the right type if you're on the road and in need, happened to me recently.
Edited by Peter Loew on Sunday 16th June 11:35
Not gone as far as Emden in a day, Frankfurt's my furthest. Coffee breaks every 90 minutes or so is the only thing I do (other than packing the hi-vis jacket, breathalyzer kits, spare bulbs, spare spectacles, German environmental sticker, headlight masking stickers, GB sticker). I use the ferry rather than tunnel, to give me a couple of hours break and the chance to get a stout breakfast inside me. The only downer on the journey was that the German stretch was too short relative to the endless, occasionally be-camera-ed, lowlands.
Rob.
Rob.
crystalmethod said:
Hi all
Next month I'll be driving through France, Netherlands and into Germany to stay with a friend. When I'm there there'll be plenty of opportunity to try the car out on de-restricted roads, and directly compare my GTS with his V8 R8.
However apart from a drive through France a couple of years back this is the first European road trip I've done of this scale. My plan is to do the whole journey there in one long day. Hopefully that's not too stupid an idea?
Can those of you who do routine trips such as this recommend anything I should do or not do on the way, or take with me. Once I'm there I'll be in my mate's hands and should be well looked after
Many thanks.
Next month I'll be driving through France, Netherlands and into Germany to stay with a friend. When I'm there there'll be plenty of opportunity to try the car out on de-restricted roads, and directly compare my GTS with his V8 R8.
However apart from a drive through France a couple of years back this is the first European road trip I've done of this scale. My plan is to do the whole journey there in one long day. Hopefully that's not too stupid an idea?
Can those of you who do routine trips such as this recommend anything I should do or not do on the way, or take with me. Once I'm there I'll be in my mate's hands and should be well looked after
Many thanks.
I think it's not too far in one go. For skiing I often drive to Innsbruck in one hit (well I stopped off at the Porsche museum the last time) and as long as you're sensible about enough stops and get a good run it's not an unfeasible trip distance.
Lights can be altered (in mine) so the light they cast loses the peak on the left which passes all euro regulations I'm aware of.
90 Euros (has the fine changed?) in an envelope for the boys in blue if you get caught but in general the cruise control should be deployed as they're razor sharp for anyone over about 135kph - helps if you converse in French too.
In France I've never been asked to produce high vis and breathaliser kits but they have asked for bulbs before.
In Germany they prefer winter tyres in winter (I believe quite fairly) but not an issue this time of year.
In Belgium the concrete motorways are droney.
Obviously the car should be prepped (levels, tyres, etc checked) and get yourself some Euro breakdown cover... oh and some insurance companies require you call them before you go.
Most importantly have a blast - long Euro road trips are an absolute hoot and in my experience the level of driving is generally higher than the overcrowded roads in SE UK. The roads are in better nick too!
Lights can be altered (in mine) so the light they cast loses the peak on the left which passes all euro regulations I'm aware of.
90 Euros (has the fine changed?) in an envelope for the boys in blue if you get caught but in general the cruise control should be deployed as they're razor sharp for anyone over about 135kph - helps if you converse in French too.
In France I've never been asked to produce high vis and breathaliser kits but they have asked for bulbs before.
In Germany they prefer winter tyres in winter (I believe quite fairly) but not an issue this time of year.
In Belgium the concrete motorways are droney.
Obviously the car should be prepped (levels, tyres, etc checked) and get yourself some Euro breakdown cover... oh and some insurance companies require you call them before you go.
Most importantly have a blast - long Euro road trips are an absolute hoot and in my experience the level of driving is generally higher than the overcrowded roads in SE UK. The roads are in better nick too!
I do the trip from London to Copenhagen quite frequently so know the route inside out. I would not bother with headlight stickers - nobody really cares on motorways anyway. Remember high -viz jacket, bulbs and breathalyser (all for France) and some Euros in cash. Take a copy of your insurance doc and a copy of your V5 just in case. In Germany you have to have your V5 (Fahrzeugbrief) in the car at all times but take a copy that shows that you have thought about it. Make sure to telephone your insurance company before departure to tell them where you are going (read the small print) and most importantly don't speed in France and Holland. In Germany the Autobahns are very crowded but on Sundays lorries are not allowed to travel so plan your entry to Germany when the restriction for lorries start on midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday. I always leave Saturday afternoon so I can hit Aachen or Venlo at midnight to Sunday. Then you have all the Autobahn for yourself and you will be in Emden at dawn. Safe travels!
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