European Travel advice?

[Mark_Bennett]

Post cut from another thread to one of it's own.... Mark

plightbown asks:

Looking for any useful advice. I am a first time Porsche owner, only a 2004 Boxster but i love it. I am taking it 'home' on a visit to Stuttgart soon and wondered whether i could get advice. I am driving from Zeebrugge to Stuttgart on a fairly direct route for a factory visit arranged by Richard Watling on 23 April. I am thinking of driving back to Zeebrugge from Stuttgart via Strasbourg and possibly Metz in France, thru Luxembourg and probably Brussels then back for ferry. Excited about trip but a bit apprehensive too. Wanted any tips or advice on basics like how i will make sure i fuel up with unleaded in Belgium, Germany, France & Luxembourg!! Possible hotel recommendations (Stuttgart sorted), stuff to watch out for/avoid etc etc. I have driven abroad many times but never in my own car and never in above countries. I have the RAC checklist etc so should have documents, euro car kit etc. Thanks a lot.

Peter

 

[Black80XSA]

Petrol shouldn't be an issue - just stick to the big brands like Shell and Total to ensure a good supply of superunleaded. Most pumps are marked with octane ratings as well as the description so identifying the pump should be simple enough.

For the length of tour you are doing you should dip your headlights the other way - see user manual for details. I can't remember whether non xenon lights in the 986 can be switched over, or whether its a case of taping the glass/using beam benders. I think the latter.

I swapped my 987 headlights to LHD whilst on the eurotunnel - a right pain to do removing the whole headlight unit, undoing the back cover, moving the lever and refiitting. Easily done in 15 minutes for both units, but you get some funny looks from other passengers.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: Black80XSA

I can't remember whether non xenon lights in the 986 can be switched over, or whether its a case of taping the glass/using beam benders. I think the latter.

They can't...[&o]

 

[colinbythesea]

Get good recovery Insurance and check with your insurer that the car is covered driving abroad. Insuring my Boxster recently I found some insurers wanted extra for European travel.

Remember they drive on the other side of the road. It can be easy to forget, especially if you are on a quiet road and distracted looking at directions. I speak from experience, the 924 still ran but the frenchmans Peugeot didn't. However the 924 was written off.

 

[garyw]

Something I'm currently looking into is the new rules in Germany and their new emissions stickers, Stuttgart came into effect in March and looks to be following throughout the rest of Germany's cities.

40euro fine for not having the sticker and looks like you need to show your V5 to even get the sticker- depending on your cars emissions.
Unlike London though the cost is 5-10 euros and for the life of the car..

garyw

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: garyw

Something I'm currently looking into is the new rules in Germany and their new emissions stickers, Stuttgart came into effect in March and looks to be following throughout the rest of Germany's cities.

That's a new one on me ! [&:]

How many stickers will we be collecting?

German Emissions
Swiss Autobahn
Austrian Autobahn
Tax Disc

We are going to look like the caravan club soon - and how safe is it having all this rubbish obscuring our vision? [8|]

 

[Ivor]

Don't forget the speed traps, particularly on the A16 coming back to Calais where they appear to specialise in Brits rushing for the crossing.

I would also agree some very clear instructions with any passenger if you plan to do much overtaking on single carriageway roads - the last thing you want when pulling out is confusion between "Go" and "No".

Have a great time. Driving a Boxster halfway across Europe is an absolute pleasure!

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: Ivor

I would also agree some very clear instructions with any passenger if you plan to do much overtaking on single carriageway roads - the last thing you want when pulling out is confusion between "Go" and "No".

We say "Clear". Difficult to confuse that with anything else.
It's either that or sounding like an Aussie Touring Cars pit crew chief "GO-GO-GO-GO-GO!"[]

 

[plightbown]

Gary & All

Thanks for advice. Noticed this emissions sticker thing but too late to send for one. Hoped it might be inner part of Stuttgart as i am staying in Zuffenhausen. Any idea how i would locate somewhere to get sticker on arrival.

Thanks

Peter

 

[plightbown]

Just to be sure. Is unleaded still represented by green pumps as well as octane rate? I'd hate to make a mistake!!!

Peter

 

[plightbown]

So a standard sticker kit will do the job ok?

Peter

 

[RSGulp]

In France unleaded is "Sans Plomb".

In Germany unleaded is "Blei Frei".

In Belgium it may be called either of the above, or "Unleaded" or Flemish - "Loodvril". []

 

[Mark_Bennett]

If your car is like mine, there is a sticker inside the petrol flap that has "Unleaded" in several different languages - just cross-reference with the pump[]

 

[garyw]

With a bit of assistance from Allan, it looks as if the Porsche museum is indeed within the zone [:'(]
Plenty of links on how to get the sticker but it seems almost as if going to larger car centres will get you the sticker.. it mentions that some Hotels may be able to assist!! just be aware there are some private online companies charging 40euros+ for the very same sticker !! which they are allowed to do...[&:]

garyw

 

[plightbown]

Once again thanks to all for the advice.

Peter

 

[Guest]

Glad this got its own thread (thanks Mark) Im doing the same this year. Driving through France (without any delay) into German (footdown!).

I'd considered the breakdown, insurance & light aspects, but where in Germany can you legally hoof it? I hear it depends on conditions and time of day etc which is fair enough, but is it all the autobahns?

Rod

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Some parts of some autobahns. []

(From memory) The one from frankfurt down to Stuttgart has some sections, and at night most of it(!), Stuttgart over to Munich likewise.
Beyond Munich and heading towards Leipzig it's limit free for a looooooooonnnnnnnnnggggggggg way.

Be aware that the 130 (kph) sections are often shown by a half-overgrown, or faded, sign in the centre reservation. You don't get a huge warning either when the limit is going from infinity to 130, a very small distance to slow down in fact.

If there is any other traffic around (especially if it's Dutch or English!) be VERY wary. I nearly got taken out by a Dutch car that decided it needed to move over to overtake the lorry ahead NOW -just as I was about to pass it at about twice it's velocity. [] Good job the Boxster brakes are good! Only just missed him.

If it's got a caravan on the back be even more wary[:'(] They just pull out without looking.

High speed can be done, and for suprisingly long sections, but you do have to be very aware, and don't be suprised to find you suddely have a GT2 up your backside that you didn't see coming either [8|]

 

[Dylan1]

don't be suprised to find you suddely have a GT2 up your backside that you didn't see coming either
reminds me of 2 yrs ago driving said unlimited section south of munich-thought i was going quite quickly(130mph)when suddenly a 996TT and cab on each others tail at what mustve been 160-170mph flashed and sped past.truly awesome(or scary!)

 

[Francois]

From what I read think in the RAC site or the EU site, you can get the stickers in Germany at some of the hotels ... Dyllan is right, always keep a close look at the mirror...they really zoom on you and have been caught out more than once doing 150/160 mph... Otherwise nothing to it, great motorways... excellent food...
You can download from some French sites the permanent speed traps. But if you drive at 145/150km per hour you are ok, never been stopped. Personally was disappointed by the German motorways... too much traffic and very few places where not restricted and poor drivers.

I use the "viamichelin.fr" site for planning/ direction/ hotels & general information. Just make sure your insurance covers you in the EU as otherwise you would only have the min third party and get a good recovery insurance... I managed to blow up a BMW bike engine (R100RS) after Lille and still sore at the bill I had to pay for bringing it to Calais...

 

[mascanes]

Hi Peter, your going to have a lot fun with you Boxster in Europe. I spend a lot of time driving in Europe with my Boxster an I love it. However when driving through France you have to be extra careful. Last year I was following a couple of German reg Audi and a couple of Frenchy's and at about 700-100Km from the German border we all pick up our speed a bit. I suppose we were all about 160kph, naughty I know, The Gendarmerie waited with their camera and picked me out of the line. Because I was British, or it was a Porsche or both, who knows, but if my wife wasn't with me to drive they were going to confiscate the car for 3 days, I still got a 500 Euro fine though !!! So hold back until you reach the German border and get on one of their no-limit Autobahns!!! As previuosly mentioned, watch out for the Dutch with or without their caravans ........ their road sense is amazingly bad!!! There is also a very strong sense of hierarchy on the German Autobahns, luckly your in a Porsche, so your up there with the big boys, god help you if your in anything less ...........drive carefully and enjoy ....[8D]