Driving across France

skiba

skiba

skiba

Soldato
Joined
27 Aug 2004
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I'm driving across France in my WRX in 3 weeks and wondered if anyone else has done this and has any suggestions.

I think we've got most things covered, so far the list is:
-get locking wheel nuts removed (lost the key)
-get stick on light things to redirect beams
-get warning triangle
-lots of money for petrol

Is there anything specific I should bear in mind about the car? Anything about driving abroad? Cheers.
 
Where are you driving "across" exactly?

If its anywhere near the alps, you might want to pack snow chains "just in case". Val Thorens has seen a good 70cm of snow this past week.
 
If you're using motorways, have your debit/credit card ready for the tolls. You need spare bulbs too for your lights. I can't remember the french laws exactly :o

Great drive if you go down to the south coast, though in the mountains it will be somewhat less than favourable conditions.
 
Sorry, driving to Tignes, lots of snow, hence the reason for going :-)
Snow chains are also on the list, had forgotten the GB badge, will sort that out, only just managed to get the remains of the one that was on there when I bought it, might go for the plate option, is it a necessity? How much are tolls likely to be? TomTom is taken care of. Cheers!
 
I did it to Courchevel a couple of years ago, cost about the same in tolls as it did in petrol IIRC ~ 590 miles from Calais.
 
6thElement said:
I did it to Courchevel a couple of years ago, cost about the same in tolls as it did in petrol IIRC ~ 590 miles from Calais.
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Yup I was about to say the same thing. I travel south of Limoges every so often and it's a little less than the cost of fuel ~450 miles.
 
I think also a first aid kit might be needed for France, but I'm not 100% sure, and also a fire extinguisher.

Also things like Driving Lisence/Log book should also be taken with you.
 
Remember your mirrors. You want the passenger side wingmirror pointing much further out that normal - you should be able to see the side of the car in it unless you sit right forward in the seat. That'll give you much better offside (french offside) visibility on the autoroutes. I also ended up removing the passenger side rear headrest to give me better visibility when changing lanes etc.
 
I never changed anything in driving to Grenoble, apart from headlight deflectors.By law you are supposed to have spare bulbs,fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and a triangle. I don't know of any french who carry those things tbh.

Just take your time around town and open up on motorways.
 
Bah pansies. You dont need to prepare. Only thing as Nick said is dont rely on Maestro. It hardly ever works and its as annoying as anything.

Visa Debit or Credit will be fine tho.

Screw the GB stickers, forget everything. I was pulled over by Belgiums finest earlier this year on the French border for a drugs search and they didnt mention the fact I was travelling at very naughty speeds before they pulled me over
 
blade007 said:
By law you are supposed to have spare bulbs,fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and a triangle. I don't know of any french who carry those things tbh.
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you sure? you need the same in belgium (apart from the bulbs, but including a high-visibility jacket) and all of that comes standard with the car, so you'd think the same would happen in france..
it's also illegal, and the police will fine you (if you're french, anyway)
is a triangle not legally required in the UK?
 
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