355 on a ferry to Bilbao - easy?

[Mart-1]

Myself and some friends are planning our annual driving trip, which will be around the Pyrenees this year, and we plan to take the overnight ferry to Bilbao. There'll be two 355's in our group

I did this ferry route in my lowered 911 a few years ago, and I was put on a half empty lorry deck when the ferry staff knew I might have trouble with ramps

I've not taken my 355 on a ferry since I bought it, and wondered if anyone has done the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry in a 355 or a low'ish car before and has any tips or advice. The 355 front bumper hangs a fair way out from the front wheels and so even fairly gentle ramps and gradients can be a problem, more so than a lowered 911

I'll speak with the ferry company but it would be great to hear first hand experience

Thanks in advance

[ferdi p]

Did this ferry trip last June...
Murci, 997 Turbo, DBS & my old 430... No problems at all, I saw a few nice cars on the ferry & I did'nt see anyone have issues...

[ChrisFitz]

took my Gallardo across via Britanny Ferries to Le Havre I think.
They placed a wooden plank between the ramps and guided us on np at all.
We even had our own private bay on the lower deck too!

[blueg33]

Have regularly done ferries with a 355 and lower cars with no real problems. Britanny Ferries are pretty careful with low cars when loading and unloading

[mickrick]

I put my Caterham on with only 70mm below the sump.
If you have a word with the guys doing the loading, they'll let you reverse it up the ramp, and let you stay on the lower deck.
I found them very helpfull.

[Mart-1]

Thanks very much for all the replies - that all sounds very encouraging

I hope the ferry staff have ear protectors when they load us on - we've a selection of Tubi and Stasis sports exhausts on the cars

[carspath]

the ferries have wooden planks available for loading low vehicles , and i always request that these are used with my 355

these planks are even more essential for UNLOADING the car , if you are to be confident that you will not scrape the underside of the front spoiler on a 355 getting off the ferry

best of luck and have a good trip

[chevronb37]

I'm looking into a similar trip with my Exige next year. It won't even go into my garage nose-first so hopefully the ferry operator are prepared for such automotive stupidity.