Usual summer time chestnuts...
1. Current price of french petrol? ( supermarket / Garage )
2. Is GB sticker still a requirement?
3. Spare bulbs or is that a myth.
cheers
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Johnny
1. Dont know
2. Yes
3. Yes, but when I enquired about a bulb kit for my new Merc I was told there isn't one as it has xenon's, led's and fibre optic so therefore does not need a bulb kit under european law.
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Usual summer time chestnuts... 1. Current price of french petrol? ( supermarket / Garage )
Why do you want to know about the prices? It's not like you will be able to move with all the strikes and such like going on. You'll be lucky to get off the boat and when you do you'll want to get back on again. I hear that the bin men are on strike and that it's been hot over there 35ºc +
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If I'm reading the receipt correctly, petrol was about a Euro a litre from a supermarket in Provence a couple of weeks ago.
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1. one euro for unleaded & 76 cents for diesel from the AA Road Watch web site
2. yes especially as it's coming up for le rosbif season for the gendarmes! (you could risk it and keep a spare in the car and just say you forgot if you get stopped)
3. It's still legislation but I've never heard of anyone falling foul of it whereas I know of people who've been stopped beacuse of no sticker.
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Price : about 1 Euro per litre , but can be got for 97cents at supermarkets. Diesel of course is way cheaper than this !
GB sticker allegedly required IF you don't have the GB and Euro stars already incorporated on your plate, BUT having motored in Europe since 1964 (yes '64 !) no-one's ever checked mine. (Sometimes I've had one, sometimes not)
Bulbs : never been checked / asked and when a headlamp bulb blew if France about three years ago, it was a local Police Municipal copper who pointed it out (it was when leaving a bar about 10pm) he just shrugged (as they do)
Bear in mind, they're French. Unless you go out of your way to upset 'em and you're friendly and polite, it's HIGHLY unlikely you'll ever come across French traffic cops. Sometimes, just sometimes, you'll see a couple of cops on bikes waiting at the edge of the village/town, checking docs.etc. but the only time I was pulled in, I was on my 600cc motorbike. As it didn't have a front plate, they didn't know I was English. When I spoke in English, they laughed, apologised and waved me on.
Every year, articles appear in the Sunday supplements saying that this that and the other will happen to you as a Brit on French roads. All I can talk from is my experience (and I've lived there). I've NEVER seen a French autoroute patrol car (they only usually appear after an accident) and some joker reporter who said they time you between tickets at toll booths was havin a laugh. They don't print times on the tickets. Serious speeding (I'm talking here 140kph+) is commonplace and certainly I have never seen or heard of anyone being pulled for it. HOWEVER, I'm sure someone else will tell you different ! Bon chance !
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Try out the following phrases en Francais:
"I'm terribly sorry officer, I'm a stranger in your beautiful country, and I am not totally familiar with your laws"
"My apologies, thank you for putting me right on this. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Thank you for your patience with me struggling in your language"
"Thank you for your assistance"
A little toadying goes a long way.
DON'T say these: (as The Sun encouraged people to do a few years back.)
"We liberated you in the war, you know!"
"Why do you have so many trees along the roads? Is it to allow German soldiers to march in the shade?"
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Am I right in thinking that you need a photo ID licence now?
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No you don' need a photo ID licence now.
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Oh, forgot to mention the beam deflector myth ! Went to France by Hovercraft once (my one and only time). Spotty 17yr old on Work Experience says to me in Dover "Have you travelled with us before Sir ?" "No" (the other 300 trips abroad have been by ferry/tunnel) "Ah well, that insulation tape is no longer acceptable. You can buy Lucas beam deflectors in our shop at £6.99"
Moral(s) Don't listen to spotty kids on Wk Experience
Insulation tape is fine
No-one bothers anyway esp. if you've got
height adjustable headlights
How many Brit tourists ever travel at night ?
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1. Last week, it was under a euro for normal and just over for super unleaded in Carrefour/Auchan supermarkets. Not a lot more on the autoroutes although I filled up at an autoroute Carrefour-owned filling station.
2. Still needed but Sea France say they will give you one free if you ask, presumably on board at the purser's office.
3. Bulbs, yes, and warning triangle. I did notice for the first time that SF claim a fire extinguisher is compulsory in France.
Strikes: Keep away from major points where you could be affected. Last Friday, the strikers blocked the autoroute just as you approach the port at Calais. Quick illegal reverse back to a slip road and I was off and through the town. A Belgian I met on the ferry was held up 1.5 hours coming from the opposite direction and was on the wrong ferry although SF were very accommodating with him. Most of the trains and metro were running around Paris. I should enjoy the holiday but just leave a bit of leeway when making key journeys.
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rather than start a new thread, I'lll ask on here....
If you have Xenon gas discharge headlights, do you need to take a spare bulb abroad for them? I hope not, as they are about £100 a peice!
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Petrol and Diesel is about the same price in euros as it is in GBP i.e. 70 Euros per litre - 70p per litre
It most definately is a myth that you must carry a spare bulb kit - it is however illegal to drive with any light out so if you don't carry spare bulbs you run the risk of not being able to continue your journey. Or of course you run the risk of being pulled when you do continue your journey.
In theory you should also have a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.
You should display a GB sticker - the GB Euro number plates are OK if you have them.
Adjustable lights are also fine if you have them - Otherwise insulation tape is also fine.
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Jeds I take it you meant 70cents/litre 70 euros/litre is probably about the level we'll have after a couple more years of that nice Mr Brown
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On the headlamp deflector thing, there can be an issue with plastic lenses. With the deflector on, the bit of plastic behind it gets VERY hot, and can cause cracking in the lens. This happens with Seat Leons, at least, but I'm sure it can be extrapolated. Best thing would be to buy some covers and put the deflectors on these. Or not drive after dark. Or point your lights low. Or just not go.
HTH,
Alex.
--
Dr Alex Mears
Seat Leon Cupra
If you are in a hole stop digging...unless
you are a miner.
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In reply to joosisiqu, I was assured by my local MB dealer that you do not need to take a spare xenon lamp.
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Well spotted. 70 Euros/litre doesn't come till next year.
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