Heading to Toulouse this summer?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23619783

 

-Andrew

The whole of Europe needs to get over it, speed itself doesn't kill. The problem is people that take the piss. Doing 45mph past a school at 8am you deserve what you get, doing 90 or even 100 on an empty motorway that's no problem. The limits should be guidelines and olivine should take common sense into consideration.

All this if your doing over a 100 you will go to court and probably get a ban business is ludicrous.

Just don't go over the limit simples :)

Just don't go over the limit simples :)

 

Easier and better to avoid France :)

Heading to Toulouse this summer?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23619783

 

-Andrew

 

 

Haha...YES! In 3 weeks time and in the Z!

 

The French police have been targeting British drivers for years. They were pulling all lorries into a control point on the road near St. Malo when I was went over last, think I was in my VW then. All the French registered lorries were allowed to go straight away without being checked, the British and other foreign registered trucks were severely delayed while they went through all the paperwork, tacho, etc. I have no problem with them doing checks, but don't like being discriminated against just because I happen to have a British plates!

 

Having said that, I've been pulled in my Z and given the standard €90 fine for doing 125km/h in a 100 zone. Unfortunately on the main dual carriage way round Caen (N17 I think) I got done by a hidden speed trap and was pulled over by the Gendarmerie....in...an Impreza WRX!!! Was quite gob smacked to be honest, no horrible little navy blue 306 XND which used to be standard-issue transport for them up until about 5 years ago...but something that could at least keep up with me! They waylaid me unfortunately as an on-the-spot-fine was made. I didn't have enough cash, so I was asked to follow them to the ATM...I think they'd taken onboard my frustration about probably missing my ferry a little too much and proceeded to drive like idiots...of course I duly kept up with them, yup, breaking the speed limits by a considerable amount through rural villages and overtaking in rather more than 'enthusiastic' over taking maneuvers. That was quite good fun, but my mere 25kph over the limit on an open-dual-carriageway fine then seemed disproportionate to what I'd just done!

 

Eventually after they'd all leering over the car (doubt they'd ever seen a Z32 before), I handed over my cash and drove off, followed them back to the N17 at considerably more than their limit allowed!!

 

Boarded the ferry with minutes to spare. Bum clenched the entire way back to Ouistreham (Port of Caen). I was the last car on board with 10 minutes to spare before the vessel sail!!

Easier and better to avoid France :)

 

France has some of the very best roads in Europe, not just in terms of landscape, but because they are wide, very smooth, free from traffic and free from roadworks. When I go for a long jaunt in my Z, it's usually to the awesome roads in Normandy. Sweeping, empty, smooth - pure GT car territory. North East France I'll leave exempt from that apart from some areas of Pay de Calais as it's not the nicest area, but the Normandy roads especially are some of the best quality I've driven on in Europe. Stark contrast to Belgium which has some of the most horrendous road surfaces this side of India. You'd have thought the country which many see as the focal point of the European community would actually have nice smooth roads, but they're terrible, all broken up and pot-holed. Head then over to Holland and cross the border, most noticeable around the Middleburg area of Holland, it's like driving from a war-trench onto a glass coffee table, you can literally see the difference at the border point.

Look at this, so pretty, empty and nice. I implore EVERYONE who wants to enjoy their Z to drive it in France. If you then don't like it, that's your problem, but the Z will get the most ridiculous amount of attention you'll ever experience.

 

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I have to say SI, that is the most boring video I've watched this year. You are however correct, my parents live over there and its an abandoned country in most parts, Fantastic twisty roads. However it must also be noted there are place sin france id never bother going again let alone take a zed to. Leon for example is a seriously busy crap city, you would be very lucky to come back to a car in the morning there, esp with it on English plates. The way they park is unreal! I asked my father in law(a Frenchman) why the cars had scratches on the roofs, I could see where the other bumps came from, they all leave their handbrakes off and just push into a space. the roof marks were from people putting all their shopping ontop your car while they load up their own, get their keys out etc. He also explained how on market day its not unusual, to come out to your van and the door is missing. Tools still in there though :s the door will be for sale on the auto parts market in town the next day! Checky buggers.

It wasn't supposed to be exciting! It shows how empty and deserted the roads are. :)

 

Abandoned country in most parts? I've traveled extensively in France, there's no way I'd ever consider it that. It's got a LOT of open spaces. Leon and Paris and some of the other large cities are not fun, but neither is Birmingham or Manchester (and they're both awful too). The worst city I've been in for battered cars though (in Europe) goes to either Barcelona or Lisbon, I generally don't find French cars in that much of a sorry state unless I'm in a big city, but the cars in Barcelona are absolutely shocking. I remember walking down quite a nice avenue off of the Ramblas in Barcelona and noted that EVERY single car was dented and scratched. In fact after walking down there, I looked at every car for the next 10 minutes and they were all wrecks, even newish cars. Dents, scratches and birdshit everywhere.

 

Germany is where you find cars in the best condition.

I went on a cycling holiday in Barcelona about years ago, that place is mad. when people are beeping at ambulances to get out the way even with their lights on the driving nuts. Agree though Birmingham, leeds, Mancester and Stoke are lovely places lol guess I just upset a load of members. I don't do London and don't do the midlands/north.

I am pretty much of the same opinion *hides from any incoming* - I like rural England, the sea and non-built up areas.

When I came back from LeMans this year I had my car's cruise control set on 130km/h on a stretch of 130km/h, spotted a french policeman on a bike, dropped 10k and moved to the outside lane to let him on.

 

Pulled back on and he sat behind me, kept at 120km/h eventually he overtook, blue lights on and waved me into the services.

 

Accused me of doing 25km/h over the speed limit (100mph!!) when in fact he'd sat there with no guns pointed up the road toward me, gps was on so i know exactly what speed i was doing when i came over the hill and fleeced me for 90 euros instant fine.

 

They were laughing and joking as they wrote out the slip, then another came in with 4 more cars in tow. They must have made a bloody fortune that day. I was the only english car on that stretch and although my french was alright he wouldn't provide proof of the radar gun, no print out and with a guy holding a sub machine gun next to me with his finger on the trigger i wasn't going to argue.

 

What a bunch of ****s the french military police are :(

France has some of the very best roads in Europe, not just in terms of landscape, but because they are wide, very smooth, free from traffic and free from roadworks. When I go for a long jaunt in my Z, it's usually to the awesome roads in Normandy. Sweeping, empty, smooth - pure GT car territory. North East France I'll leave exempt from that apart from some areas of Pay de Calais as it's not the nicest area, but the Normandy roads especially are some of the best quality I've driven on in Europe. Stark contrast to Belgium which has some of the most horrendous road surfaces this side of India. You'd have thought the country which many see as the focal point of the European community would actually have nice smooth roads, but they're terrible, all broken up and pot-holed. Head then over to Holland and cross the border, most noticeable around the Middleburg area of Holland, it's like driving from a war-trench onto a glass coffee table, you can literally see the difference at the border point.

 

 

I've driven through France a few times and do agree. France is a lovely country, I just don't agree with an awful lot of the population..

The whole of Europe needs to get over it, speed itself doesn't kill. The problem is people that take the piss. Doing 45mph past a school at 8am you deserve what you get, doing 90 or even 100 on an empty motorway that's no problem. The limits should be guidelines and olivine should take common sense into consideration.

All this if your doing over a 100 you will go to court and probably get a ban business is ludicrous.

 

Yup - I'm with you there Steve.... The trouble is mate, common sense is simply not so common these days:sad:

 

I am pretty much of the same opinion *hides from any incoming* - I like rural England, the sea and non-built up areas.

 

Same here Si; anywhere off the beaten track in this country is still a good place to visit!!

 

I've driven through France a few times and do agree. France is a lovely country, I just don't agree with an awful lot of the population..

 

Heh heh - likewise Dave!!

 

Richard:flowers:

I've just come back last weekend from the S of France and I didn't see one gendarme in 2 weeks of driving! I did notice many more speed cameras around though. Mind you - they did give you warnings, so if you didn't slow down in time, then its almost like you deserved to get caught! Caen Ouistreham, St.Malo, etc and any port is a hotspot for getting "easy" money from us Brits though - what are you going to do - miss your ferry or pay your Euros?!

I've just come back last weekend from the S of France and I didn't see one gendarme in 2 weeks of driving! I did notice many more speed cameras around though. Mind you - they did give you warnings, so if you didn't slow down in time, then its almost like you deserved to get caught! Caen Ouistreham, St.Malo, etc and any port is a hotspot for getting "easy" money from us Brits though - what are you going to do - miss your ferry or pay your Euros?!

 

Yup, they are better sign posted than in the UK. I was just careless. They'll signpost a speed camera about half a kilometer from the actual camera location. Having said that, French parliament have passed new legislation allowing authoritative departments to remove the signs.

 

Did you take your Z??

Very right si, they have already started in some parts removing those advanced postings.

I am going to have to be suuuper careful I think. The Z attracts a LOT of attention in France and I am sure the police will not think twice if they can think of ANY reason. I don't mind being pulled over, but I am worried about being accused of something that may not have happened. I can speak French, but I wouldn't want to argue the toss with an angry 'flic'.

....I go to France 3-4 times a year anyway, but usually my VW. I last took the Z July last year. I've only just pulled all of the Brittany Ferries tickets and cabin things out of the glovebox. I have never had any trouble, just the one time and that was totally my fault for speeding.