The Jeep's first trip to France this Thursday!

[macabethiel]

Well despite the threat of French blockade and strikes we are booked on the Shuttle this Thursday.
We have run out of Fiz and are low on other liquids of the C2H5OH persuasion so must go.
I have European Cover for the G.C. so hope that we do not break a spring with the load.
API completed and all levels & tyre pressures are AOK.
Will be interested to see how the fuel economy works out if we are not in a load of traffic.

 

[firebobby]

Well despite the threat of French blockade and strikes we are booked on the Shuttle this Thursday.
We have run out of Fiz and are low on other liquids of the C2H5OH persuasion so must go.
I have European Cover for the G.C. so hope that we do not break a spring with the load.
API completed and all levels & tyre pressures are AOK.
Will be interested to see how the fuel economy works out if we are not in a load of traffic.

Good luck, must admit, I wouldn't want to do that trip at the moment, not just the illegals but also the bloody French strikers...as normal.
Keep your doors locked :thumb2

 

[macabethiel]

France & Back on a tank full of Derv

Well we left Derby Yesterday at 4.30 am had a good run throught the M1 roadworks when we got to the M20 Operation Stack was in full swing.

Well signposted diversion on A20 got to the Shuttle at 8.45 am with a 2 hour delay in place for unknown reasons.

France at 11.45 local time. Loaded at Calais Wines, Piduo & Carrefour. Back to shuttle terminal and managed to get one earlier without charge 4.00 pm ish local time. No sign or burning car tyres or Migrants anywhere.

Had awful Traffic on the Dartford Tunell / M25 but all improved once we joined the M1.
Home and unloaded Jeep at 8.50 pm.

Hot Tub soak at 9.30 pm to remove stress. Trip was 440 miles plus we had already done 41 miles on the existing tank full before we left home. Low fuel light illuminated about 15 miles from home too knackered to fill up last night.

I drove first legg to Folkstone, issus did France and return legg both wacked when we reached home.

Never had any 4WD do our Booze Cruise on a tankful. Might be a shock today when find it has a very big tank.lol

 

[rustic]

When we used to do the booze cruise, we aimed to get to France on an empty tank, and fill up there, as diesel was cheaper than the UK.
The Mav could carry 600 kg... and it did lol.

However petrol is dearer in France. Not sure how the prices work out these days.
When we did the last one, we stopped over night in Dover at a travelodge, made a holiday break.
In the past we had done there and back in a day from Staffordshire, in the early days with a company car, it had european breakdown cover, insurance, and free fuel, so the trip only cost us the ferry journey, and we got a cheap day return offer.
It was worth it then...
We wouldn't do it these days.

 

[macabethiel]

Age catching me up now I'm 67 lol!

When we used to do the booze cruise, we aimed to get to France on an empty tank, and fill up there, as diesel was cheaper than the UK.
The Mav could carry 600 kg... and it did lol.

However petrol is dearer in France. Not sure how the prices work out these days.
When we did the last one, we stopped over night in Dover at a travelodge, made a holiday break.
In the past we had done there and back in a day from Staffordshire, in the early days with a company car, it had european breakdown cover, insurance, and free fuel, so the trip only cost us the ferry journey, and we got a cheap day return offer.
It was worth it then...
We wouldn't do it these days.

I think our days of doing it are numbered I have always worried about taking an older car to France even though the short distance outside the UK is small a simple breakdown would be a potential nightmare. Many Insurance companies have an age limit of 10 or 12 years for European Breakdown cover so our Jeep will be too old soon.
We used to do a stopover near Folkstone at a friends small Hotel and often got a free Shuttle trip as a bonus. When our friend retired and closed the place we started doing stopover in France but have not bothered on the last 3 trips as we need to be closer to home having In-laws that are starting to become frail.

Just fueled her up cost £86.86 averaged 31 mpg despite the hours spent crawling in traffic on the M25 - well chuffed.

Usually the Wife goes with a friend and TBH she treats it as a Mini-break if they stopover.
We have worked out that with fuel and Shuttle cost it works out at about a £1.00 a bottle carriage so its a cheap way to stock up with Wine & Fiz - that how we justify it to ourselves.lol
Also as a result of being regulars at the Wine Warehouse we can qualify for a free shuttle fare by way of Promotion Voucher Code plus we usually get a couple of free bonus cases for our spend as well.

 

[Ogri]

I think our days of doing it are numbered I have always worried about taking an older car to France even though the short distance outside the UK is small a simple breakdown would be a potential nightmare. Many Insurance companies have an age limit of 10 or 12 years for European Breakdown cover so our Jeep will be too old soon.

I was facing this problem as I like my older cars/bikes and found the solution was a new bank account - I have never paid for a bank account before but the Nationwide Flex Plus comes with UK & European breakdown cover with no age limit on the vehicle and covers cars, vans, 4x4's, motorcycles. Covers any vehicle you own whoever is driving it and covers you personally, whatever you're driving. Get a joint account and you've covered all the bases. Also comes with worldwide family travel insurance and some other stuff (mobile phone insurance, and some form of extended warranty etc).

It costs £10/month but pays 3% interest on balances up to £2,500 so if you can keep that amount in your bank (and not everyone can, I know), it works out costing about £4/month after tax on the interest.

I know it's not for everybody but it solved my breakdown cover and holiday insurance for a relatively small fee.

By the way, I don't work for Nationwide :lol

 

[macabethiel]

I was facing this problem as I like my older cars/bikes and found the solution was a new bank account - I have never paid for a bank account before but the Nationwide Flex Plus comes with UK & European breakdown cover with no age limit on the vehicle and covers cars, vans, 4x4's, motorcycles. Covers any vehicle you own whoever is driving it and covers you personally, whatever you're driving. Get a joint account and you've covered all the bases. Also comes with worldwide family travel insurance and some other stuff (mobile phone insurance, and some form of extended warranty etc).

It costs £10/month but pays 3% interest on balances up to £2,500 so if you can keep that amount in your bank (and not everyone can, I know), it works out costing about £4/month after tax on the interest.

I know it's not for everybody but it solved my breakdown cover and holiday insurance for a relatively small fee.

By the way, I don't work for Nationwide :lol

That's interesting I assume you have checked the small print about vehicle age. I might open an account with them as I am at present with the Co-op amongst others.

 

[Ogri]

That's interesting I assume you have checked the small print about vehicle age. I might open an account with them as I am at present with the Co-op amongst others.

Here's a link to the breakdown policy document https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.nationwide.co.uk/~/media/MainSite/documents/products/current-accounts/flexplus/p2221-flexplus-breakdown-policy.pdf&ved=0CB8QFjAAahUKEwiiiOr1rvfGAhWFXBQKHXkcAgM&usg=AFQjCNHFO9alTfhSipQNV262oSXDFE9S-w&sig2=BtdcbN66ttkGoXfRB2WmZQ

I can't find a catch but I'm always happy to be corrected so please do read it carefully before jumping in...

Ian

 

[Paultrol]

Hi, I use the house of Belgium for my beers great prices and service, four mates and me club together if you spend over £100. its free delivery and the price goes down the more you get. Kasteel Donker best beer I've tasted.


I'm joining that nationwide account in August when my RAC runs out they are one of the only ones that cover 8m caravans.

 

[AlexD333]

Don't forget to check your boot on return :augie