A friend of mine is thinking of having a break in France in the Summer, but worried about being tested for exhaust emmission as he is running de catted. I've heard some EU countries are a nightmare - impounding car, huge fines etc. Can anyone tell my friend what the rules/penalties are in la belle frogland ??
(I'll pass on any constructive comments !!!)
Thanks.
Stan

 

Stan,
There are so many diesels in france pumping out black smoke,that I think they wont bother you.I was in france last autumn and had no problems.

 

I've done thousand of miles in France - and never had a problem - then again they'd have to catch me first

 

Steve - I don't think the French Police would have to much trouble catching you, and when they do you'd wish they hadn't.

 

Yeah, those little Diesel Peugeot gendarme cars really shift!

 

Thanks guys.
Where did you go Ski/SteveMC?
Any recommendations for a short (1 week) break ?- food and drink main criteria with a few places to visit maybe.Are your scoobies GB hooligans (decatted/loud etc) ??
Stan

 

StanS

I like France a lot - much better than UK for Driving

I did this lot in 4 days - a push though

Bristol to Calais

Then West to St Micheal on the Mount - amazing in Place

Then South to La Rochelle and Arcachon - Dune de playa - got to Arcachon by 9pm - on the first day - average speeds very high!

Second day went down South to Biarritz - like this place spent day there

Next day went South into Spain - over to Bilbao and some of the fishing villages inbetween - tried San Sebastian - hated every minute - and the motor way tolls were extortionate - so went back to Biarritz to stay

Next day head East - a bit North about 300 kms to an amazing place - a Castle built on a vertical drop - cant remember name - but look it up - this place is unbelievable

Then head the 570? kms to Paris - bypass this and keep heading for Brugge - arrive Brugee at around 9pm

Then its back on the Eurotunnel the next day

I have also done a similar drive driving via Le Mans and Poiters - very good

If u want more info email off line

And I was averaging 150-155mph the stint back up to Brugge - got up to 165 mph on the trip to Arcachon - and who says they time you on Motorways!

 

Bloodyell Steve - I was thinking a daily routine of a tootle to some nice place to stop over in the a.m. do the tourist thang in the p.m. with a very good nosh/drink in the evening, rather than living in the car !!
I'll copy the route to check it out, and the places ! Thanks for the info - sounds amazing if you're up for it (maybe 20 yrs ago !)
Stan

 

StanS,
I started off from Portsmouth,sailing to Caen,The aim going to Andorra and then onto Spain.
Took N138 to Le Mans,then to Tours.
Some fantastic empty roads around this area.
A10 was good fun to Poiters.
D162,N147,N141Rochechouchart(D675>D10).
A20 AutoRoute(Empty)Cahors.There was a bypass
though Souillac to Cahors(D653>N20)Great fun though!
Cruise on Down To Toulouse(A62),We did not stay in Toulouse instead going to Foix.Stayed in nice and inexpensive motel(Clement Ader).All this in 14 hours.
Next day(N20) went into Andorra(hairpins all the way,hot brakes and tyres)The rest was spent in Spain going back to France only for one night at Pau.Mcdonalds was recommended by the locals!If you want info about Spain Will write more if you want me to.

ski.

 

Not wanting to preach to the converted or anything but the french police are very strict when it comes to radar detectors

Bit off topic I know but I thought it was worth a mention - large fine and it gets confiscated...

Justin

 

Watch out if you go to Calais, don't leave your car in the street at night, the little sh**s broke the back window of my mates car and nicked (of all things) a pair of riding boots !! We'd managed to park the other 2 scoobys in the basement car park of the holiday inn, (only has 7 spaces) so they were safe....

 

Of to France in a couple of Weeks for 9 days.

Have started to plan the route down to the south. The rules have been Avoid all Motorways and Tolls. So two days on way down, and two on the way back up - the rest along the coast stopping at the interresting towns.

Looking forward to it.

..R

 

Thing just disappeared!

Must see Dune de playa - half way down west coast circ 150 miles below La Rochelle - Ignore all city areas - they are awful

Place to go is Rockamador (sp?) - 250 miles east of Biarritz - the drive within the last 50 miles is amazing - best drive I've ever done - and I do a lot of driving

Good advice re radar detectors - donbt bother - fines around £500 on spot!!

 

If you can get your paws on an IRL country sticker instead of a GB one the the local plod seem to be much friendlier. I've been to France on cars and bikes with different country stickers. Got fined for 130 KPH in a 110 KPH zone with a GB sticker on the bike. Got stopped going flat out(approx 165 MPH, wasn't looking at the KPH bit of the speedo) in a 130 KPH (I think) zone with an IRL sticker on the same bike two months later. The nice chap who stopped me chatted about different parts of Ireland, admired the bike for 5 minutes and then asked my to slow down a bit....

 

Thanks again guys for sharing good routes - am digging out old map of French roads (1976) but roads may have changed !
It'll give me a rough idea of mileages (kilometreages ??) anyway.
(Don't have a radar detector - just possible noise/emission problems !!)
Cheers
Stan