Hi All

I am travelling to France (Paris) in a couple of months (taking the scooby), and wondered if anyone had any experience/ knowledge of driving on the continent (extended driving, not just getting to the ferry terminal )

Am going with the wife, and another couple (one of which is French) so what economy am I looking at? And what grade of fuel is best?

Too many questions......

 

Hi Steve.

I have driven twice through France; to Italy and Andorra (Skiing), though not in the Scoob, and once to Amsterdam in the Scoob.

SUL is still the proper 98RON in France, Andorra, Italy, Belguim and Holland (the UK really is turning into a s**thole isn't it?) and all these country's fuel prices are much better than UK.
I've just checked my receipts and the cost for 98RON works out to:

Belgium 70 pence per litre
Holland 75 pence per litre
France 72 pence per litre
UK 87 pence per litre
(Prices as of 20/10/00)

Doing an average motorway speed of 85mph with a few 120mph spurts, I used around 120 litres over about 750 miles.

For the crossing I personally prefer the Eurotunnel (although I hate it's concept!) as prices are equivalent for ferries and crossing time is only 45 minutes (ish).

Incidentally, if you are considering any quick and comfortable overnight accomodation, you should head for the nearest Formule1 hotel; around £20 per night for a room (sleeps 3) including breakfast (croissant, coffee, juice etc).
They are everywhere in France and you can even book a room(s)in the middle of the night (no receptionist) with your credit card. A machine (can display English) takes your details and issues you with a passcode to get you into the building/your room.

Hope this helps.

Neil.

 

Drive on the continent five or six times a year (normally skiing - Scoob going to Switzerland in a couple of weeks

1) All johny foreigners drive like loonies - especially the French, Germans and Italians. Tailgating on motorways is normal to intimidate you out of the way - but lane discipline on motorways is 100 times better than in the UK.

Watch for priorities especially in rural areas - some French still think priority when they are turning out of a side road is their God given right.

Paris ring road is a joy, all Parisian car horns are directly connected to brake lights and steering

Economy, who cares, it's a Scoob.....

SUL is widely available and cheaper than here....shame not to use it

The motorway system is better than ours, keep your wits about you and you'll be ok - I actually like driving on the continent!!

 

Hi Steve

I drive through France at least once a year.

As Neil said the Formule1 are comfortable and very good value for money.

This link will help you plan your route and can tell you any motorway tolls:

 

To expand on what Dave says, French roundabouts previously gave priority to the car <I>entering</I> the roundabout until about 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, as French brains work <B>very</B> slowly, many motorists have yet to remember the change. So, expect to have to do the odd emergency stop mid roundabout!
Also, you say that you are going to Paris; the Peripherique (ring road) is a bit hairy so take it easy round there.

Neil.

 

Think Dave may be refering to an old law which allowed drivers to shoot straight out of certain side roads onto a main road as they had the right of way

Very rarely seen these days but still happens occasionally.

Rich.

 

Book the formula 1 hotels before you go - they give you a code you just type in and it lets you in. THe frogs tend to fill the places by 6pm in my experience. Also, the autoroutes are the best way to get to places asap. You can get to the south of france in 10 hours(if you dont speed). Everyone drives at 100mph+ on them, police turn a blind eye, but dont go too mad - they check your ticket and if its taken you 10mins to do 50 miles a light flashes above your car and the police book you!!

Best tip is to rip it up for an hour, then stop at a service station for a break, reducing average speed.

Have fun!

James

 

Fuel is cheaper than here even on the motorways.

Did Montargis (south of paris) to Calais last weekend in under 3 hours most of the time on the autoroute at 110 to 120, including between tolls.

The police also drive quickly, followed a police car last week who was doing 95 and on holiday last year followed two police motorcyclists in their short sleeve shirts at 110 mph!!!!

Remember your insurance green card.

Legally in France you should also carry a warning triangle a spare set of bulbs and if you wear glasses a spare set of glasses.

As for economy, best I got was about 23mpg cruising at about 90 - 100 and I recon about 18mpg cruising at 120 - 130....

Beware the Shuttle. If you are travelling on a Sunday evening the service is severely reduced, 1 train every 2 1/2 hours a bummer when you have two tired kids in the back of the car.

The autoroutes are great if you want to cover long distances quickly, but cross country is far more fun, the roads are much clearer than here so you tend not to get stuck in traffic. In fact the first year I had the scoob we got lost.... oh what a shame..NOT.

Road signs are a little iffy, a sign will say Paris and then Paris suddenly vanishes from the next three signs!!! You have to have the confidence to carry on because sure enough Paris will reappear. This is common throughout France.

Be prepared to be stared at. In all my times to France I have only seen one French registered Scoob.... and he didn't wave!!!

Sans Plomb is unleaded and Super is leaded.

Dave

 

Watch out for the Belgians . They are probably THE worst drivers in Europe!! I've had plenty of near misses with Belgians pulling out in front of me and sometimes whilst I'm alongside!!

On the speed front, you'll probably need to fill up between toll booths anyway so that'll drop the average. If you get flashed by one of the rust buckets they leave at the side of the road you'll hear nothing. If you pass an unmarked car thats different. I went Skiing 4 weeks ago and one of the others (in a 4.2 Audi A8) passed an unmarked car at 120mph. First he knew was when 2 police bikes pulled him over (doing 150 ) and dragged him off to the nearest station. After 6 hours of non stop waffling they gave him an on the spot fine of 900ff (£90) and a telling off!! I think he was lucky but if you've ever met the guy you can understand the fuzz just wanting rid!!

Have fun

Steve

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Rich_R:
<B>Think Dave may be refering to an old law which allowed drivers to shoot straight out of certain side roads onto a main road as they had the right of way

Very rarely seen these days but still happens occasionally.

Rich.[/quote]


That's the one!!!

 

The side road law is still current in Holland caused me a few interesting moments.

 

For pete's sake don't get caught by police with a laser detector or jammer. They will sort a public hanging for it! As these are banned

 

Steve,

My Co' has an office in Paris so am used to regular trips in a TD golf not the Scoobs.
Fuel prices are around 10p Ltr more expensive on the motorways - We had a weekend near Calais last week in the Scoobs and SUL98 in the Carefour at Cite Europe was 67.4FF Ltr.

Last year I got caught speeding while travelling back from Paris - I had been indicating 120mph(in a 306 TD!)and was pulled by a motorcyclist near Bethune which is around 50 miles from Calais - This cost me 600FF (for 164KPH)and a lot of hassle to find a cash point etc etc. A few times since, i've seen a hatchback on the hardshoulder with the tailgate open with the radar equipment around 1 - 2k from the toll booths - The police have been in vans pulling the cars in.

The other thing to think about is if your staying in a hotel in Paris, make sure you get one with underground parking for security reasons.

You must drive the Champs-Elysees and negotiate the roundabout by the Arc de Triomph. Mad. He who hesitates, looses!

Stay away from the Periferique near to rush hour. You thought the M25 was busy!

Fuel consumption is going to be in the region of 22 to 23.

Have fun

Steve.

 

Hi Guys

Thanks for the wealth of info, seems I am posting in the right place

I have driven a lot in the US, we usually go every couple of years (did about 3000 miles in 2 1/2 weeks last year) I know the road conditions will be different, thanks again.

As I said, one of the others with us is from France (Paris as it happens) so accommodation is sorted (staying with his relatives) hope it is a 'safe' area, though he has a driveway but probably cant use their garage


Will let you know the outcome, we are going end of April.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by mat-e-boy:
<B>For pete's sake don't get caught by police with a laser detector or jammer. They will sort a public hanging for it! As these are banned [/quote]

To elaborate, you'll get an instant fine (and get frogmarched to the nearest cashpoint if you don't have any cash on you), and you'll get the thing confiscated.
And that's not just for using a detector, but also for owning one... best to leave it at home...

Paul L