French MotoRail

[HermanTheGerman]

I'm going to the South of France this summer and my travel agent has just told me that the MotoRail in France will not allow Porsches to travel.

I know you're all thinking why don't I drive down anyway but I'm trying to keep the mileage on my car down. I put 4000 miles on in 2 weeks last summer travelling through France & Italy and it's a bit high for the year as it is. Besides there's plenty of good driving to be had when I get there.

Anyway, has anybody tried to put their Porker on this bloody train in the last year or so and what were you told ? TIA

[mr_tony]

nope but this is hiding away on the ferrari forums and might be of interest...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=26834&f=63&h=0

[HermanTheGerman]

Thanks Mr T.

I must follow my own advice and search the forums first.

Still interested in anyone with Porsche experience of it though.

[HermanTheGerman]

If anybody did need to know, the car must be no higher than 1.63 metres, the track must not be greater than 1.85m and the ground clearance must be at least 10cm.

So a 996 with standard suspension just sneaks in with a clearance of exactly 10cm. Phew.

[todd1]

Well, I haven`t taken my Porsche on the motorail but I put my senic on it last year....never again! The car was driven on by them with little care, strapped down in the open for 600miles or there about, it was returned to me a complete mess. The thought of you handing your porsche to them is a big NO NO. Incidently, you will get little sleep and pay around £300 one-way..I would either drive or fly..good luck.

[rthierry]

todd1 said: Well, I haven`t taken my Porsche on the motorail but I put my senic on it last year....never again! The car was driven on by them with little care, strapped down in the open for 600miles or there about, it was returned to me a complete mess. The thought of you handing your porsche to them is a big NO NO. Incidently, you will get little sleep and pay around £300 one-way..I would either drive or fly..good luck.

I put a Chimaera on the train from Toulouse to Calais and it was fine - just had to use sand bags to block the car the standard iron bars were to high.
Handing my car over to these guys was simply *not* an option, but they were quite happy to let me do it. In fact, they'd rather let owners do it for very expensive cars.
As for sleeping in the coach, well I guess it takes a little practice... and hear-plugs.

Not particularly good value but assle free and reasonably confortable.

[HermanTheGerman]

Todd,

Thanks for your views. I have used it once before, a few years back when I put my Golf on it. The car was fine at the end of the journey but I know what you mean about trying to sleep, very difficult.

There were a couple of Astons on the train that time. As rthierry says, you should supervise the loading of your car yourself. If they actually damaged your car, you should have been able to claim on their insurance.