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Travelling to France

R

Rpenhale

New member
Hi All,

I am taking my 987.1 Boxster to France for the first time in September, I know various kit is required such as spare bulbs, mine is equipped with Xenons and I wondered if anyone can advise me where I can get a suitable set for my car please? Also if anyone has any suggestions for a weeks cover for European breakdown that would also be appreciated. Two final questions, how do I lock the car but disable the alarm for the ferry and is there any guides on how to change the headlights for European driving anyone can point me in the right direction to please?

Many Thanks,

Richard
 
Rpenhale said:
Hi All,

I am taking my 987.1 Boxster to France for the first time in September, I know various kit is required such as spare bulbs, mine is equipped with Xenons and I wondered if anyone can advise me where I can get a suitable set for my car please? Also if anyone has any suggestions for a weeks cover for European breakdown that would also be appreciated. Two final questions, how do I lock the car but disable the alarm for the ferry and is there any guides on how to change the headlights for European driving anyone can point me in the right direction to please?

Many Thanks,

Richard
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The information regarding the headlight LHD conversion and alarm should be in the driver's handbook for your car. Sorry I do not have ny info about short term breakdown insurance. The cheapest supplier is probably through your existing car insurance policy, many include continental breakdown as part of the policy.
 
Hi Richard,

We are currently sat in a vineyard in Italy on a two month tour of Europe in our 987.1s.

As as far as I know there isnt a way to change the headlights without removing them which is costly. We still opt for the traditional headlight stickers.
I also only carry spare bulbs for the rears as the xenons will be fine and you might find these are also a few hundred pounds for spares.
Dont forget the law is that you can’t drive with a light out not that you have to have the bulbs.
You have to watch the age of the car on a lot of European breakdown policies as most have a limit. The cheapest way and which we do is to open a nationwide flex account which is £13 a month but their account includes a euro breakdown that is it age limited.
Another thing is watch out for speed traps, they are particularly sneaky and like to hide, I pretty much always pick a fine up somewhere.

Hope that helps.
M
 
I’ve done a number of trips in mainland Europe in my 987.1 Boxster S. Since some of my bulbs are non standard I’ve assembled my own spare bulb kit including a replacement Xenon bulb, it’s easy. I suggest going online to Autobulbs Direct. Enter the registration of your car. It will then show you which bulbs fit your car. Order them and hey presto they are delivered and you have your kit. Since space is at a premium I store mine wrapped in bubble wrap in the battery compartment. The chances are you’ll never have to change a bulb whilst abroad but you have them should the need arise and you’re complying with the law.
The headlights are designed to be switched for lhd/rhd and it’s easy when you know how. Look in your handbook and perhaps on YouTube to see how easy it is to release and remove the headlights. It will be good practice should you need to replace a bulb. You really cannot go wrong.
The slightly harder bit is identifying the switch inside the headlight housing to switch the beam from left to right. Again read instructions in the handbook and look at YouTube. Once identified it’s very simple to switch it from one to the other. I suggest switching before you leave home and leaving the reset until you’re home again.
My Boxster is insured through the club scheme with Locktons and UK & European breakdown and recovery is included at no additional cost. The likes of RAC and AA offer cover. Prior to insuring with Lockton I had RAC cover and I had to use the service when a tyre punctured and was beyond repair. It worked well. Incidentally if, as in my case, a tyre has to be replaced, the tyre on the other wheel on the same axle also has to be replaced too in France and I believe some other countries. Make sure that you have tyre goo and that it’s within date. It’s not worth taking the risk!
I don’t think you can turn the alarm off completely but double clicking the fob should make it ok for the ferry. I’ve never had a problem.
Make sure you comply with the speed limits. Police are pretty keen.
Enjoy your trip.

 
We too are off to France in Sept for the week in our Gen2 987 with xenon lights.
Taken the car to Europe before, it will be great.

For cover I've used the RAC as I'm covered for breakdown with them. About £9/day for a very comprehensive cover, check it on line, arrange it same way.
I have the bulb kit, hi-vis, breathalysers etc, litre of oil and a torch, bottle of screen wash, tyre puncture repair in a can, plus the best tool to carry, a mobile phone!

I use the stick-on beam deflectors as my headlamp release key bent/twisted the first time I tried to use it! I use the Chunnel, so fix the converters on the train going, and remove them coming back, so the car is legal in the UK and France.
Hope you have a great trip. [:)]

photo sharing
 
France is a great place to enjoy your car. I have driven back and forth for eight years to our house in the SW.
A couple of points worth remembering, the speed limit on single carriage roads(excluding built up areas) has been reduced to 80kph. If you update your TomTom etc. it will probably be on there and the "danger” areas for speed cameras. The other tip I would give is always watch out for traffic thinking they have the right of way when joining from the right. Even the signs, a yellow diamond shape, do not always agree with the road marking at the junction.
Enjoy.
I am planning a trip to Italy next year, so any tips for Italy would be great.
 
mclark said:
France is a great place to enjoy your car. I have driven back and forth for eight years to our house in the SW.
A couple of points worth remembering, the speed limit on single carriage roads(excluding built up areas) has been reduced to 80kph. If you update your TomTom etc. it will probably be on there and the "danger” areas for speed cameras. The other tip I would give is always watch out for traffic thinking they have the right of way when joining from the right. Even the signs, a yellow diamond shape, do not always agree with the road marking at the junction.
Enjoy.
I am planning a trip to Italy next year, so any tips for Italy would be great.
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There are more speed cameras in Italy than anywhere else we've found. However, the locals seem to ignore them, and many you can tell are fake but only once you are alongside them.
Italian driving is interesting! They seem to think that the closer they get to your rear bumper (usually straddling the opposite lane) the faster you will go or that they think they can pass you, even though there is no room in front of you.
Head for the Dolomites where the roads/views are stunning, although you will likely get stuck behind dawdlers/cyclists instead.
 
Re Italy
We have a house in the Abruzzo mountains and travel down once a year.
I’d say don‘t rush to get here from the point of view of getting off the motorway in Switzerland and going over the top is amazing. Although after this trip avoid Ferrari’s, the speeding fines are large and easy to get carried away!
I always make a point of stopping in the lakes as I think they are the most beautiful place on earth. As for the rest of it just make sure to get on the back roads and up into the mountains. The roads up to our place and just the greatest.
Things to watch out for are literally just the Italians. They will take the racing line round any corner, blind or not. Plus on the motorway they will undertake you if there space in front even when you are travelling at 110mph. The police are liberal. I’ve had one give me a thumbs up whilst doing over 100mph. The locals tell me anything up to 150kph is acceptable.
Fuel here is expensive I paid €1.74 a litre today and there is no high octane generally.
I would say when people call this God’s race track it couldn’t be more accurate. It’s just endless great roads and the space and scope to enjoy them. If you want to PM me or message me 07968099948 I can let you know some good websites for places to stay or anything else you would like to know.

M
 
Mark_collin1977 said:
Re Italy
We have a house in the Abruzzo mountains and travel down once a year.
I’d say don‘t rush to get here from the point of view of getting off the motorway in Switzerland and going over the top is amazing. Although after this trip avoid Ferrari’s, the speeding fines are large and easy to get carried away!
I always make a point of stopping in the lakes as I think they are the most beautiful place on earth. As for the rest of it just make sure to get on the back roads and up into the mountains. The roads up to our place and just the greatest.
Things to watch out for are literally just the Italians. They will take the racing line round any corner, blind or not. Plus on the motorway they will undertake you if there space in front even when you are travelling at 110mph. The police are liberal. I’ve had one give me a thumbs up whilst doing over 100mph. The locals tell me anything up to 150kph is acceptable.
Fuel here is expensive I paid €1.74 a litre today and there is no high octane generally.
I would say when people call this God’s race track it couldn’t be more accurate. It’s just endless great roads and the space and scope to enjoy them. If you want to PM me or message me 07968099948 I can let you know some good websites for places to stay or anything else you would like to know.

M
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Thanks Mark for the information. I will take you up on your offer to contact you once my plans are complete.
 
Mark_collin1977 said:
You have to watch the age of the car on a lot of European breakdown policies as most have a limit. The cheapest way and which we do is to open a nationwide flex account which is £13 a month but their account includes a euro breakdown that is it age limited.
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Just wanted to pick up on this for clarity. I think it has a bit missing and should say "isn't age limited".
I have the Nationwide Flexplus cover and have been recovered in a 1989 car with 180,000 miles on the clock as well as a more recent one with similar mileage that broke down in France. Both were dealt with very well by the breakdown cover.
 
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