Driving in France - what do I need to know?

[DaveE]

We're off to France next week, and I'm taking the porky one

We're staying here https://maps.app.goo.gl/BgonVBN5QJFJRzt48

I know that we have to have fluro vests to hand in the car, we need "UK" stickers (which I have)

I also know that you have to hard hard copes/originals of insurance, and V5 with you

Having checked some Porsche forums (fora?) I don't think I need to do anything with the lights, and I can switch the displays to km/h not mp/h

I'd like to use a combination of motorways and backroads (mainly the former en-route - as I have the Calimoto app for some scenic drives once we're there)

Any other recommendations, things I need to know, be aware of etc?

[DaveE]

P.S: first one to say "Drive on the other side of the road", loses

[tim]

You're supposed to have a spare bulb kit with you as well, although I never have. Nobody has ever (in 25 years of driving multiple times per year) asked me for anything beyond a V5. Even when I was nicked by an actual gendarme for a fair bit over.

Stick to < 5 kph over the posted limit. Anything else is inviting trouble. They have a habit of getting you from 1km away using laser binoculars on autoroutes.

Enjoy the empty roads. I bloody love it.

[DaveE]

Thanks @tim

I've not driven there for quite a while, and I'm really excited (and a little apprehensive about the "mechanics" of it all - will I be able to get 98/99 RON petrol etc)

I typically don't drive all that fast on motorways anyway (the car is quite noisy, hood up or down, and you really notice the extra consumption as you speed up)

Speaking of which, we were showing a tank-full range of 480 miles yesterday, and after a long motorway drive home (on cruise, at 68mph), fuel remaining + distance covered was about 480 miles - pretty good IMO

From past experience, understanding rural/local speed limits is always a bit tricky - they tend not to post speed limit signs very frequently, and the roads are so good, it's easy to get carried away

Can't wait to the Boxster on some good, smooth roads (with few, if any bloody cats' eyes!)

[tim]

It's not a 3rd world country, you'll be fine! Fuel is marked E5/E10. Supermarkets are massively cheaper than on-autoroute stations, so worth diverting off. Use Waze to find an Intermarche or similar.

Most pumps have all grades in my experience.

Which way you going? Not a million miles from my usual haunt near Brive-la-Gaillard

[tim]

From past experience, understanding rural/local speed limits is always a bit tricky - they tend not to post speed limit signs very frequently, and the roads are so good, it's easy to get carried away

Not really nowadays, just as well posted as here. Some places in northern france have stuck to the 80 kph not 90 on nationals, so watch out for those, otherwise every town/village will be 50 kph from the place name sign on the way in to the same on the exit and won't be posted as 50 unless there's a deviation from it (some bits are 30, like our shit 20s). That's what's more likely to catch you out than anything.

[GG.]

Having checked some Porsche forums (fora?) I don't think I need to do anything with the lights, and I can switch the displays to km/h not mp/h

Which Porsche?

[dinny_g]

My last trip to France was in an E-Class and all the online material from various forms and from Mercedes themselves said the lights were fine and didn't need anything doing to them. However, i got flashed a LOT by oncoming traffic at night.

Just FYI

[240PP]

It’s been a good few years since I drove over there, still need a couple of breathalysers?

[tim]

It’s been a good few years since I drove over there, still need a couple of breathalysers?

No. That was a massive scam. The company that made them was owned by someone in the French gov responsible for the mad rule.

[DaveE]

Having checked some Porsche forums (fora?) I don't think I need to do anything with the lights, and I can switch the displays to km/h not mp/h

Which Porsche?

It's a 981 GTS manuel Boxster

[DaveE]

Thanks again @tim

[GG.]

Having checked some Porsche forums (fora?) I don't think I need to do anything with the lights, and I can switch the displays to km/h not mp/h

Which Porsche?

It's a 981 GTS manuel Boxster

Ah yes - same as 991 then I expect. I haven't taken mine aboad yet but I think you just have to switch from RHD to LHD in the menus.

ETA: interesting - if you've got the normal halogens apparently you don't need to change as they're a flat beam (but PDLS like on mine you do still need to select in the menus).

[integrale_evo]

What sort of lights does it have?

I’m not sure you have to adjust the lights, but if they’re going to dazzle oncoming traffic it would be decent courtesy to do something about it.

Most xenons have a lever to lower the kick so the beam is flat all the way across. Fancy leds probably have a setting somewhere.

[DaveE]

What sort of lights does it have?

I’m not sure you have to adjust the lights, but if they’re going to dazzle oncoming traffic it would be decent courtesy to do something about it.

Most xenons have a lever to lower the kick so the beam is flat all the way across. Fancy leds probably have a setting somewhere.

I'm not entirely sure...

(it sounds like it's more complicated than "Do I have PDSL?")

[integrale_evo]

Do cars come with manuals these days or do you have to scan a qr code?

[IanF]

There’s a device Harry M was talking about to pay the tolls.. speed up the process considerably. Think it is called telepeage or similar

Eta:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driv ... in-france/

[Jimexpl]

There’s a device Harry M was talking about to pay the tolls.. speed up the process considerably. Think it is called telepeage or similar

Eta:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driv ... in-france/

I’ve had the tags for France and Spain/Portugal for about 10 years and can’t believe I took so long to buy them.
When driving solo you don’t have to get out of the car, and on busy days, or coming into Paris, is saves quite a bit of time queuing.
Some car parks also recognise them, so you just drive in and out. Weirdly the long and low 10km tunnel that goes under Paris doesn’t see mine, even though I think it should.

[Jimexpl]

Having checked some Porsche forums (fora?) I don't think I need to do anything with the lights, and I can switch the displays to km/h not mp/h

Which Porsche?

It's a 981 GTS manuel Boxster

Gorges du Tarn and the roads nearby are definitely worth a 5.30am drive out for a couple of hours before the other traffic wakes up.

[DaveE]

Which Porsche?

It's a 981 GTS manuel Boxster

Gorges du Tarn and the roads nearby are definitely worth a 5.30am drive out for a couple of hours before the other traffic wakes up.

We hired a boat on the Tarn last time we were there - incredible!

We also went to visit the Viaduc de Millau too (managed to find the little road that goes right under it - just awesome how huge it is - I'd recommend doing this rather than driving over it, which is pretty boring!