Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I did a quick check for you, they're still offering it but they won't repatriate the car to the UK from outside the UK. So it's still good, but only if your car has a minor issue, eg a water pump or something like that.

There is a limit on the age of car that they will cover, 10 years springs to mind.

@hippy might be worthwhile to ask your insurance if they offer anything or look on money saving expert.

Worse comes to the worse you can get the car dumped at mine and get a train from Paris to London.

I used to have euro cover with the RAC when I was driving on the mainland a lot. They were great when my van died in the middle of Slovenia, they put 9 people up in a hotel overnight, sorted out a replacement 9 seater van for the next day and towed my van from Ljubljana to Leeds without me spending anything (apart from fuel and flights to drop the rental van back in Ljubljana).

Re: French tolls, they're not too much of a faff if you've got a passenger (they are a huge, huge faff if you're the only person in a RHD vehicle though), just remember to budget for them because they get really expensive, I drove to Barcelona last year and spent nearly as much on tolls as I did on diesel for the van.

The car is 15+ years.

Are you in France now?

just remember to budget for them because they get really expensive, I drove to Barcelona last year and spent nearly as much on tolls as I did on diesel for the van.

Seriously? I assume they are worth using though in terms of covering distance quickly?

There's a handy calculator here:

https://www.sanef.com/en/my-journey/price-of-my-journey

Just had a look and it's £303.52 for Annual cover through AA.

Yes and no.

Mid week, non péage can be empty but there's 3 issues:

1. They can be single carriageway so you have to be a keen overtaker
   
2. They are a popular gendarme hunting ground, if you get caught speeding it could be very expensive
   
3. If you're going across half of France you can save autoroute money at the cost of a few hours, but if you're going across all of France it's probably easier to pay the péage fees for the simplicity.
   
   

Neat

I'd prefer the 'set and forget' motorway driving to dealing with towns and variable speed limits so I think I know my answer. Cheers peeps

Yeah it's definitely easier and less hassle if you just want to get to your destination and are on less of a "road trip" vibe.

Also the bonus is you can get decent food in French péage service stations.

Baguettes, croissants, coffee, even beer.

even beer.

uh oh

Yeah, this would be a smashfest, not a road trip.

Yeah it can add hours and hours to a journey if you try and avoid the tolls! It depends where you're going as to how many tolls you'll come across. Generally speaking most times I've been driving in France but staying relatively northern and heading east to Belgium/The Netherlands/Germany I've managed to avoid tolls altogether.

If you want to increase the level of ease, get one of these...

Got three points for going through a red today... Wasn't paying attention, was just following the cars in front of me when I noticed the yellow light at the very last moment... That then turned red just as I went through the junction... Coppers came speeding round the corner with their flashers on... Silly boy...

Must be a known spot for it, can't have been an accident they were lying in wait...

Terrible luck!

Interesting. Cheers. I'll have a look into that

https://www.andysviews.com/andys-blog/emovis-tag-uk-toll-road-tag

Terrible driving

ftfy

can't have been an accident they were lying in wait...

Aussie coppers, dude. Proper bastards.

I know this to be true, because recently I had family become one :)

They’re great.

I have one which I use in the car and on my motorbike when heading down to my parents place. Saves so much hassle (especially on the bike).

They cost a little more than just paying with a card or cash but the convenience can’t be beaten.

Also, if you’re in the car, you can drive through the 30kph but without stopping.

Yeah, it's the not stopping bit I like the idea of. Plus, if I'm solo in the car at any stage it'll mean no running outside trying to use the card slot or whatever :)

My new E34 went in for its MOT. I knew it was going to fail on a couple things (namely corroded brake pipes) but there are a few other things that need sorting that are beyond my driveway axle stand level of mechanics. I normally try and seek a really good independent that specialises in the mark (e.g. MRC for AUDI S/RSs)... my default would have been Munich Legends for older BMWs but recent stories on here have made me think otherwise.

Anyone got any other recommendations? Preferably SW of London - Surrey/Sussex way.

I had a great time driving from Manchester to Lyon on my own, having to clamber across the handbrake/gearstick and back every time I hit a toll.

Yeah, fuck that. I'm getting one of those doovahwackies.

Even more fun when you're in a car with a 6 point harness wearing a helmet with a wired-in intercom.