Road trip, ferries and low cars.

[fredt]

Driving from South Sweden to London this weekend. At least one ferry crossing, and then either boat or ferry to get over to England.

I would guess they have provisions for low cars, but do they? I think the car is at about standard ride height (996 GT2) but it does scrape on high speedbumps, and they had trouble loading it on to a car transporter because of the loading ramp angle.

Will I have trouble with ferry/train loading ramps? Will they have a solution for me if I do?

[Monch]

fredt said:

Driving from South Sweden to London this weekend. At least one ferry crossing, and then either boat or ferry to get over to England.

I would guess they have provisions for low cars, but do they? I think the car is at about standard ride height (996 GT2) but it does scrape on high speedbumps, and they had trouble loading it on to a car transporter because of the loading ramp angle.

Will I have trouble with ferry/train loading ramps? Will they have a solution for me if I do?

I've just driven from Sweden to UK. Assuming your ussing the Oresund, then the Rodby to Puttgarden ferry, no problems. The Stena, Hook to Harwich is also no problem, as is the Eurotunnel if you use that.
I hope you find the Autobahns clear, dry and as fast as I did!

[flump]

I would advise against the Dover-Calais/Dunkirk crossing, as my standard Cayman S scraped on the outbound trip on the ramp to the upper car deck (5). On the inbound, I took the first ramp so slowly that the staff redirected me to the lower deck (4) for oversized vehicles, where's there no ramp (which also allowed me to get off before everyone else).

[Inverted]

Ive done Newcastle/Amsterdam, Hull/Rotterdam, Dover/Dunkirk, Dover/Calais ferries in a 997 GT3 RS and never had an issues. Staff will normally direct you to the caravan/truck deck. If they dont then tell them thats where you need to be. If theres an initial ramp to get on just approach at an angle.

[andye30m3]

I used DFDS a couple of times with my GT3 which sits very low on KW suspension

First couple of times were fine, just let them know at check in and they put you in the lane for the lower deck with the lorries and caravans. Only my last trip some utter idiot from DFDS made me move into the standard car lane and attempted to get me up the ramp inside the ferry which was never going to happen and just damaged the splitter.

Now use Eurotunnel where the staff have the good sense to realise a car with very little ground clearance will not go up a steep ramp so make sure your on the lower deck which has level access.

[fredt]

Thanks for the replies. Route will be the bridge from Sweden to Denmark, then Rodby-Puttgarden. Staying for a night in Amsterdam and I have not decided yet to go Hook-Harwich or the Eurotunnel. We will see.

Sounds like I should be able to avoid issues!

Cheers

Edited by fredt on Wednesday 6th April 15:07

[996TT02]

I attack ferry ramps at an extreme angle. Sure, I sometimes look like a P*ick in a Porsche, but considering that I do the repairs to the front splitter and not the people thinking that (and none have ever offered to pick up the tab) I live with that.