Driving in France with a '14 Tekna QQ
Hi,have been living out in France some 10 years,all the points raised are valid,as Donkey says if your pulled by the Gendarmerie (they have dark blue uniforms ,or the traffic police) act totally subservient i know it can be difficult,and dont eyeball them,its yes sir no sir three bags full sir,try protesting and up goes the fine,no money on you,they will escort you to a cash point.Where the rural French are great they will flash you if they have seen a speed trap up the road.Two points if your coming out for a holiday,sat navs with speed camera detection operating is illegalif you suspend this operation on the sat nav no problem.This last one got me,you come to a junction where you can see all the relevant roads ,there is a STOP sign make sure you stop dead rolling out even when no other vehicle is within miles of you is an offence 130 euroes ,the city police(white cars with red and blue stripes) seem normal fellas and ladies,as some one mentioned motoring in France is a dream allthough some of the roads have severe potholes,reckon on getting 60 to the gallon from the 1.5 DCI.Hope this is of help Dave
jamo
Nice tips Dave i didnt know about the stopping at stop junctions, its something i always do if road is clear just slow to a crawl and roll outI do know years ago never to argue or piss off a French traffic officer, even if your right then just apologize and take the rantIm shocked at cost of fines they certainly gone up since the days of the francs and they wasnt cheap then eitherWhats you fuel prices like over there at moment mate? i was shocked at how more expensive petrol was compared to the UK, we sit in England crying and complaining and I was horrified last time petrol seemed more expensiveThankfully a diesel makes scence over there still
Hi DonkeyThe diesel prices at the super markets ie Intermarche,Carrefore,Le Clerc, average about 1.29-1.31 a litre,on motor way services any thing from 1.45-1.52.Most non supermarket garages are same as motorway prices ,but some are having a laugh ie 1.61.Petrol is in the mid 1.50s once again best prices are the major supermarkets.Knowing the rural French if diesel shot up in price.they would roll out the guillotine.I should say these prices in euros,so at best 1 litre in pounds would be around £1.06 at the present rate of exchange.What you save on the diesel they make up on the price of their beer,if you like a beer while in FranceLe Clerc do English bottled beer ,works out about £2.00 a pint far better than some of the stuff they serve in the bars,look for Leffe Afligem,1612,Kronenburg,you cant go wrong with these Jupiter beer is awfull.Hope this is helpfull Dave
jamo
Crikey your fuel has realy gone uphere diesel is around 1.38GBP petrol about 6p a litre cheaperNo one drinks in pubs any more the anti smoking laws killed most of them and those left are strugglingYaking the price of the euro theres not a lot of diffrence now mate
Hi DonkeyMaybe i didnt explain the prices very well,1 ltr of diesel best price £1.06 1 ltr of petrol best price £1 24.I havent used petrol for some 25 years ,so there is quite a saving over here on the diesel,had a spell with LPG even better savings but no one does them as standard kit anymore.Happy days Dave
jamo
Earlier I mentioned avoiding war with Russia (as they nutters) and declaring war on Italy for stealing our QQI say we invade France as a matter of urgencyHow the can fuel be at least 30p English Pence a litre cheaper than us?Makes me wanna say stuff it this country takes the piss
Whilst France is cheap (less expensive) I suspect that as you move further down the socio-economic scale it gets even cheaper. Not relatively of course but where would you rather live?
Tekna CVT 1.6 Magnetic Red - born 4/4/14 P/X 25/10/2015 for £19k with 12,000 on the clock - great car but time to change. No problems whatsoever in those 18 month's.
[quote="PeterL"]Whilst France is cheap (less expensive) I suspect that as you move further down the socio-economic scale it gets even cheaper. Not relatively of course but where would you rather live?[/QUOTE]The other side of fence looking greener you mean?Thats the age old Question I suppose I was born and Bred in London and even in 2014 meet people who still believe London is paved with Gold, yet ive travelled a lot and think London without doubt other than the propertys one of the poorest places in the UKAs you know Scotland currently saying stuff it and voting to break awayAll I know is to me France is somewhere we either go on holdiay or pass through to go on holiday so I see it through rose tinted glasses I supposeI have a similar view of Scotland, to me ive never ever been up there when it didnt rain, as a kid spet a fair bit of time there and it always rains when im there ill say the same thing of Manchester so in typical Englishman style ill speak with the rose tinted glasses and say everyone else has it better lol
