Things for France.

[Phil 117]

As some of you may have seen, I've recently taken a new job, and as a result, my other half decided to treat us to a holiday before I start mid December. This also meant I needed to get my new car sooner, so have had to opt for a demo to get it earlier.

We are going to drive down, and I've only ever driven in France once before with a rental DS4 which I picked up from the airport.

I'm actually picking the car up on the 1st December, and also going to drive down that as soon as we pick it up. A friend is dropping us off at VW then off we go. Nothing like familiarising yourself with a good 2000 mile drive.

I have made a list of what I  need to do, but there are something not sure on, so there's a few questions in regards to the car.

1) Tunnel or Ferry? I've been on the tunnel tons of times when we used to drive down to France when I was a kid, but looking at prices, it's 3 times the price of a ferry, but 3 times quicker. 30 Mins tunnel (£180) 90 minutes ferry (£60).

2) Xenons. Do these automatically change, or do I need to flick a switch on the lights or something similar to stop them dazzling other drivers?

3) V5. It's to my understanding that you need to take the V5 with you. I will only have the green slip, presume I wouldn't have any issues with that?

4) Pro Nav. I'm guessing it's got speed camera warnings installed which are illegal in France. It's up to a massive £1500 fine! I would assume it has got an option to turn the warnings off? I also saw the thread about the Sat Nav updates. Is the Pro an SD card or just on the hard drive? If the latter, do you just need to save the update on a USB and install it?

And then on top of those, I've made a list of bits I know about.

GB Sticker. Check.
Warning Triangle. Ordered.
2 High Vis Jackets. Ordered.
Spare Bulbs. Ordered.
Passport in date. Check.
Breathalyzer. Checked on the internet and no longer needed.
Told credit card company I'm going abroad. Check.
Tell o2 I'm going abroad. Need to do as getting iPhone 5s next week. On this one, does the GTD have an old style iPhone adaptor, or the new shape one?
Sanef Tele Peage thing order to skip through the tolls. Check.
Travel Insurance. Check.
Learn french CD saved onto an SD card. Check.
Some Euro money. Ordered.

Apart from that I think I'm all okay. Please let me know if I missed anything off.

[Mark V GTD]

I can help with some Phil,

I would take ferry and use the money saved for fuel - unless I was so well off I did not care - or in so much of a hurry I had no choice!

V5 slip - thats all you will have - take it.

On the earlier Golfs there was indeed a little switch to flip on the back of the lamp units - someone will need to look and confirm that.

Pro Nav does not have speed cameras installed by VW as I understand it.

Enjoy the holiday!

[GTI-7-Performance]

Tip for Autoroute driving: at the toll barrier take the credit-car lane and shove your CC in the slot. But your Missus will have to do this from the passenger seat.

This usually avoids booths with queues, is very quick and there's no messing with foreign cash.

When you get home you cc bill will have all the charges neatly listed and converted to GBP for you. Some booths you just take a ticket and pay on exit. The Credit card works a treat there too.

I wouldn't bother with a GB sticker. I don't have a CH on my car and drive to the UK twice a year. Also I don't change the dip (can't) or put stickers on the lights - this is a very British thing...

[dippy_x]

Changing the lights is available from the car settings menu on your pro nav.

[Gnasher]

If you've got EU plates (with the blue section on it with GB on) you don't need a GB sticker anyway.

And don't speed (too much) on the autoroute - apparently they can use the times you go through the toll booths to calculate your speed too!

[Phil 117]

Tip for Autoroute driving: at the toll barrier take the credit-car lane and shove your CC in the slot. But your Missus will have to do this from the passenger seat.

I've bought a little Sanef Tele Paege fast track thing. This was mainly for when the other half goes to sleep, I can still get through the tolls without her.

Basically it's like a little tag (1/3 of the size of an Iphone), and you stick it up by your rear view mirror.

You can then just go through the ones with the little orange T, and as you're approaching the barrier, a camera will read the tag and open it without you stopping.

It cost like £20 one off of charge, will use it yearly, and then it's like a direct debit and charges your usage per each month. My dad highly rated this so I thought I'd give it a go.

[Phil 117]

Changing the lights is available from the car settings menu on your pro nav.

Thank you!

Is it easy to get to, or in a mix of menus?

[domrees]

You can't change the lights in the car menu, you have to do it at the dealership.

Trust me on this, I tried extensively and had to resort to reading the manual!

The toll thing is worth its weight in gold, a definite yes.  You also get all the french drivers behind you, taking evasive manoeuves because they think "les rosbif" has got it wrong and will be stuck there...

one other thing, the Adaptive cruise control is great, but the French/Belgians and especially German drivers will just cut into that safe gap you have made for yourself.  So you either accept this or drive like they do, 4 inches from the bumper in front.

[Mark V GTD]

You can't change the lights in the car menu, you have to do it at the dealership.

The poster who said you can has Pro Nav - is that the difference?

[mullermn]

You can't change the lights in the car menu, you have to do it at the dealership.

Trust me on this, I tried extensively and had to resort to reading the manual!

Hmm, this is interesting  - I've not heard that you can't do this yourself.

Can anyone confirm this? I'm planning on going to France in the new year and I was thinking I'd get away without the nasty sticker mess on the lights this time.