Ferry or Eurostar for a low car without noselift?
Discussion
Afternoon chaps, I've got to take a Renault Alpine to France on Thursday, going to Chantilly. I know it's not a supercar but figure this may be the best place to get advice on whether Eurotunnel or the ferry would be better suited to getting it there safely?
I had been thinking that buying a 6ft+ Eurotunnel ticket was the winner but £215 plays £50 for the ferry - does anyone have a preference for something low (really low) and without noselift?
Much obliged
Ron
I had been thinking that buying a 6ft+ Eurotunnel ticket was the winner but £215 plays £50 for the ferry - does anyone have a preference for something low (really low) and without noselift?
Much obliged
Ron
P&O should be fine as the ramp going to it or the upper deck is curved gradually. DFDS - avoid. Its straight up then flat so if you have a low car you will more often than not scrub the underside of the car. I found this with my old car which was lowered. Went to france DFDS and nearly got stuck going onto the deck. Home P&O no issued at all.
Probably not explained it well but when you see it you'll see
Probably not explained it well but when you see it you'll see
Even though the ramps may not be an issue on the train, if you get directed upstairs you should definitely be very careful not to damage your rims on the kerbs if you have supercar-style profile tyres!
Last time I mentioned this to the loaders and they diverted me to a lower carriage - no questions asked.
Micky
Last time I mentioned this to the loaders and they diverted me to a lower carriage - no questions asked.
Micky
We took our 360 on a DFDS ferry last time and upon booking opted told them to book us as a 'low clearance' vehicle. We were placed on the truck deck, no problems at all. Some of the ramps we saw other cars going up were quite frightening to be honest!
The Eurotunnel staff will generally wave low cars onto the lower level to avoid the ramp. If in doubt, call them first.
On the Ferry truck deck
The Eurotunnel staff will generally wave low cars onto the lower level to avoid the ramp. If in doubt, call them first.
williamp said:
small point but its Eurotunnel not eurostar. The latter is passenger only, london St Panras- to paris, Brusseles etc.
Not that anyone has ever made that mistake before and rocked up to Ashford looking to drive on.....
Not that anyone has ever made that mistake before and rocked up to Ashford looking to drive on.....
On the Ferry truck deck
Edited by Kyodo on Tuesday 5th September 09:20
Just avoid the late night ferries which aren't as well staffed and full of lorries waiting to offload.
I came a cropper on such a ferry getting stuck on the down ramp with a load of unhappy lorry driver's behind me. Took a few mins for the staff who were around to find something to put under the front wheels and get me off.
I came a cropper on such a ferry getting stuck on the down ramp with a load of unhappy lorry driver's behind me. Took a few mins for the staff who were around to find something to put under the front wheels and get me off.
I would choose Eurotunnel rather than the ferry any day of the week, you are loaded on board like a load of sausages and simply drive from one end of the train to the furthest point towards the front.
Request to be loaded on the lower of the two bays because it's totally flat driving on, though from my own experience when you are driving towards the loading bays you can speak to one of the operators who can redirect you onto the lower level if it looks like you may be asked to go on the upper level.
Once on the train you just sit in your car till you reach France which takes approx 35 minutes, then drive forward and out of the front carriage and straight up the slip-road onto the motorway.
Request to be loaded on the lower of the two bays because it's totally flat driving on, though from my own experience when you are driving towards the loading bays you can speak to one of the operators who can redirect you onto the lower level if it looks like you may be asked to go on the upper level.
Once on the train you just sit in your car till you reach France which takes approx 35 minutes, then drive forward and out of the front carriage and straight up the slip-road onto the motorway.
They always put me onto the Eurotunnel lower deck or the single decker which has wider wheel clearance.
I drive super slow when on the lower deck to try avoid kerbing my wheels on the narrow sides. It irritates the hell out of other drivers behind me.
The single decker is the best option as it is wider with very little chance of kerbing your alloys.
I drive super slow when on the lower deck to try avoid kerbing my wheels on the narrow sides. It irritates the hell out of other drivers behind me.
The single decker is the best option as it is wider with very little chance of kerbing your alloys.
I've been on the Euro tunnel in my 458 Spider (no lift) a few times and the Hull/Rotterdam ferry in my Exige 350Sport (no lift and lowered on race suspension) and 458 Spider and it's fine. I assume the ferries are all similar.
Last month a bunch of us did the North Coast 500 and added a bit on the end that saw us get the ferry from the Skipness to the Isle of Arran and then from Arran to the mainland. The ferry from Skipness was a proper concrete ramp onto the tail of the ferry and the ferry was a little 20 car job. Still no problem.
I have lift on my F12 which has also been round Europe and tbh I use the lift because well, it has it, but I've never really needed it.
Wouldn't bother ordering it again on future cars.
Last month a bunch of us did the North Coast 500 and added a bit on the end that saw us get the ferry from the Skipness to the Isle of Arran and then from Arran to the mainland. The ferry from Skipness was a proper concrete ramp onto the tail of the ferry and the ferry was a little 20 car job. Still no problem.
I have lift on my F12 which has also been round Europe and tbh I use the lift because well, it has it, but I've never really needed it.
Wouldn't bother ordering it again on future cars.
On the tunnel you book the high vehicle slot, this puts you in the single deck carriages which are wider and don't have the narrowing sections by the toilets. You'll be in with the coaches so be prepared for 60 school kids to pile out of a coach and want lots of photos of your car!
Ramps are no problem for very low cars and with the extra width even the widest of cars have a few inches spare each side. Tickets are the same price.
We've been on plenty of European ferries before and had no issues. The ferry companies are used to dealing with sports cars and they don't want delays/issues either. They usually put you on the "ground floor" automatically so you avoid any ramps.
Ramps are no problem for very low cars and with the extra width even the widest of cars have a few inches spare each side. Tickets are the same price.
We've been on plenty of European ferries before and had no issues. The ferry companies are used to dealing with sports cars and they don't want delays/issues either. They usually put you on the "ground floor" automatically so you avoid any ramps.
As above, I've booked with Eurotunnel as a high vehicle (>1.85m) the past two years, and had no issues (997 Turbo S) .
The only note of caution, is the ramps at passport control on the return, where I was congratulated on my attention by the Border Control officer for taking it at a slight angle - he'd seen a McLaren ground out on the same spot on the way back from Le Mans..
The only note of caution, is the ramps at passport control on the return, where I was congratulated on my attention by the Border Control officer for taking it at a slight angle - he'd seen a McLaren ground out on the same spot on the way back from Le Mans..
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