Poland takes the biscuit - really, really awful tramlines on all major roads - bad enough to ground lower machinery. The Jag didn't like it at all. They're also prone to having enormous potholes. One of these caused the exhaust to break,, entailing an entertaining 6 hours in a garage whilst some very jolly chaps welded a piece of drainpipe into the system. Just like being on holiday with Grandad - they spoke no english, and we no Polish, so they thought that if they just spoke louder, it would be ok. Ho hum.
O
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Jaguar XJS V12 - comes with free personalised oil tanker.
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I have driven many thousands of miles over many years on the Continent, but here are some observations from my most recent journeys:
Belgium
On the whole very poor; deeply rutted, frost damaged, and just plain worn out. So much for the centre of the EU setting the example.
Czech Republic
In parts very good, but as quick as a flash, poor. The motorway between Prague and Brno is largely concrete, and the inside lane often has a shocking duh-dunk duh-dunk quality for mile after mile after mile that smashes seven bells out of the suspension. Given sparse traffic I therefore spend most of my time driving in the - smoother - outside lane, pulling over just before being caught by another vehicle before then moving back out again. From Brno to Olomouc much of the old surface is being replaced at last with a nice new tarmac one.
Interesting fact: With Bridon Ropes as an old customer of mine, I commented to my Czech wife that their BriFen cable barrier product is used instead or ArmCo for a stretch of the central barrier between Brno and Olomouc. The reason? To allow fast conversion to a runway in time of war. Sure enough, there are no bridges, cables, trees, or anything else close to this stretch of motorway that crests a large, gradual, hill.
France
Far and away the most consistently well surfaced motorway system I have used. Perhaps the tolls do indeed get ploughed back in to their maintenance?
Germany
In parts, superb. In the main, average. In other parts truly, truly, appalling. Given that such a large percentage of Germany's motorway traffic is probably just driving through the country - as I normally am - contributing nothing to their economy beyond a tank of fuel but wearing out their roads, I'm amazed that tolls or an annual carnet aren't law (yet!).
Netherlands
Average.
Poland
As already mentioned, largely dreadful. A couple of years ago in my Vectra GSi Estate, in the blink of an eye I went from a near silent 120MPH cruise on a totally deserted superbly surfaced new motorway to a smashed up ancient concrete motorway that resembled a ploughed field. Even driving at 30mph was painful - I winced every time the car shuddered over a pothole and there were too many to swerve around - and I will never forget being overtaken by a Mercedes van that had the rear wheels bouncing clear of the road! Even though driving through Poland is marginally the quickest way of driving back to the UK at the end of a Czech holiday, I no longer do it because of these poor road surfaces. In fact, when I got back to the UK I found that the camber on one of the Vectra's front struts had been forced out of alignment, causing heavy tyre wear until fixed.
Sweden
Despite a tiny polulation and low traffic density for a large country, the roads are average at best. I guess the ratio of people per mile to pay for their maintenance is too low.
Switzerland
Pretty good; not far behind France. The extent of tunnel engineering is truly impressive. Forty quid's worth (or there abouts) of motorway annual carnet seems to be money well spent and certainly saves loads of time.
La Gomera
Although not mainland, I include this island out of interest; No doubt with grants, the twisty main roads over this steep rocky island are mostly brand new and of superb surface quality. I just wish I'd had my Honda Hornet motorbike with me to go carving with, instead of an ashmatic 1.4 litre Euro Hatch hire car.
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Hey Orson?s back.
I?d like to hear about your travels. Great roads here aren?t they? Sorry you had Jag probs, I broke my exhaust a couple of weeks back too on a floating pontoon bridge.
If I?m bored I sometimes use the tramlines to see how far I can go without holding the wheel. Done more than a mile.
Dave
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Prompted by my post above, I Googled for old time's sake for Brifen and found this impressive series of photographs of a Rover SD1 travelling at 70mph: www.brifen.com/perfhist.htm
Before anyone comments; no, as a motorcyclist I don't want to hit Brifen, but then again I don't want to hit Armco, either.
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