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DrRpb



Member Since: 14 Oct 2012
Location: Petersfield
Posts: 572

United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Orkney Grey

Use tesco club card vouchers to get cheaper ferry or eurotunnel etc. £1 club card = £3 eurotunnel Thumbs Up * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975 Smile

Post #193067 29th Jul 2013 8:40 pm
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papa smurf



Member Since: 25 Sep 2012
Location: Brighton
Posts: 214

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Im looking at 17th August ,head light cover do we get away driving in the uk with them on,planning on a night ferry as the wee boy sleeps well in the car.So I better speak to LR Dealer about bulbs.. Iain

Post #193068 29th Jul 2013 8:44 pm
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Hinj



Member Since: 04 Dec 2010
Location: South Ayrshire
Posts: 67

2013 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Manual Ipanema Sand

It's usually 2 or 3 days back in the UK before I get round to removing my deflectors, never been pulled for it but don't know what the law is. LR bulb set will be a lot more expensive than making your own set up. MY 2013 TD4 XS Manual, Ipanema Sand. Cold Climate Pack, Spare Wheel, Side Mouldings, Armrest Pack, Rear Camera, Detachable Tow Bar, Spoiler.
Gone. My 2011 TD4 GS Manual, Cold Climate Pack, Front Sensors, Spare Wheel, Side Mouldings.

Post #193069 29th Jul 2013 8:55 pm
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papa smurf



Member Since: 25 Sep 2012
Location: Brighton
Posts: 214

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Just had a look on ebay for the bulbs there on there for about £25 ..

but thanks for your help: Bow down Iain

Post #193070 29th Jul 2013 9:02 pm
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EYorkshire



Member Since: 18 Nov 2010
Location: (!)
Posts: 4392

If you don't have the 'european union' symbol on your number plate then you do need the GB sticker.

Post #193076 29th Jul 2013 9:49 pm
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chrisr1806



Member Since: 20 Oct 2012
Location: None
Posts: 2220

England 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Get a magnetic one, then you can take it off again when you get home. Thumbs Up

Whilst on my way back through France, I've spotted 3 UK registered FL2s, one of them was a MY13 TD4 GS towing a caravan. Good choice for touring, really enjoyed my trip but now the car is filthy. Sad

I will give it a deep clean when I arrive home. Wink

Post #193087 30th Jul 2013 7:42 am
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papa smurf



Member Since: 25 Sep 2012
Location: Brighton
Posts: 214

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Yep saves driving around with a sticker all the time..Whats the fuel prices at the moment ?

Memo to self ,Put together a small shopping list for car.. Very Happy Iain

Post #193088 30th Jul 2013 7:47 am
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chrisr1806



Member Since: 20 Oct 2012
Location: None
Posts: 2220

England 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Slightly cheaper than the UK, I have payed around 1:34 Euros a litre. Car needs filling up.....again so will have a look before I get on the euro tunnel. Thumbs Up

Post #193089 30th Jul 2013 7:51 am
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papa smurf



Member Since: 25 Sep 2012
Location: Brighton
Posts: 214

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Nice thanks for info Thumbs Up Iain

Post #193090 30th Jul 2013 7:57 am
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kimosabe



Member Since: 24 Aug 2012
Location: Rigil Five (Moonbase beta)
Posts: 122

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Zermatt Silver

I regularly drive to the pyrenees to visit relatives. Research such as this is vital if you want to avoid the various 'local' habits which we tend to find dangerous or unfathomable.

One of the biggest issues Brits have on French roads, aside from driving on the other side of the road which doesn't take long to get used to, is the innocuous sounding 'give way to traffic from the right'. Read up on it. There is a very odd rule (which is gradually being phased out) which says that if you're travelling along what we refer to as an A road (though it also applies to every other road) and a vehicle approaches from the right, you will (in some cases) be expected to stop and give way. It's totally counter intuitive because to us, we have the right of way because we're already on the main road. Not so in France. Anything that is not stopped at the lights and which is to the right of you, even those behind you, have the right of way. Treat it that way and you'll be okay. You'll soon know if you cross someone's path and don't expect sympathy.

If you need to stop to rest while on the road, ONLY do so at an 'aire de...' service station ONLY park in full view of the forecourt CCTV and under the lights. You'll hear scary stories of people being gassed while they slept, by gypsies. This is not a work of fiction and it does happen. It mainly happens to people who park their campervans in quiet laybys or round the back of the services in the car park with the lorries. Please don't take the risk, as the local Police won't thank you for bringing it to their attention at 4am... and they'll probably do Censored all about it too. You are responsible for your own safety, so don't take the risk. Most folk don't see it but it is a serious issue. I was nearly locked up for giving a deserved beating to two Gippos who took a liking to our camper van... while we were sleeping in it at an Aire Service station. It's the closest I hope I ever come to having to defend my life! We took their noxious gas cannister, the screwdriver they were using to force the lock, their trainers, watches and made sure that everyone who was not deaf were woken up. This included some very Censored off French lorry drivers who looked after my missus and who added to the beatings I was still dishing out. I got off lightly and we were relieved to be back home 24 hours later! My missus is French and could speak to the Police....who refused to turn up until she mentioned that I still had one Gyppo in a choke hold (too bloody right I did!) and the other one was bleeding heavily after being sprayed and beaten with, among other things our fire extinguisher and my nunchaku. Remember, we are not there to sort out their societal issues, we are there for a holiday. I only got off because my missus is French but it was a close thing. The French do overnight campsites very well, so please make good use of them. Anyone with a campervan will tell you how great the local towns and villages are at hosting campervans.

As well as spare bulbs, headlight deflector stickers (yes you do need them because if you do drive without them, the French cops are the least of your worries. French drivers generally resort to taking the Censored whenever possible and will blind you with their main beams at a whim. It's very unpleasant and you won't get away with it), high viz, a torch, a paper map, a warning triangle, GB sticker, you'll need the ability to not get flustered when the nutters do really self-centred things like cut you up at 60mph only to pull over somewhere 50yds just infront of you. It's nothing personal, they're just real idiots and they don't do queueing or drive considerately like we try to. You'll probably see the remains of cars in ditches, so don't become one of them. As a general rule, if you can, stay off the roads between midday and 2pm. At 12:01pm, the roads will be full of road racing loonies racing home for lunch and at 1:55pm they'll be racing back to work and knocking anything in their path out of the way. Also, you won't find many places (cafe's, restaurants) open for food at lunchtime...because they have all gone home for lunch, so plan ahead. Best to stay where you are if you can during these times. It's not all bad but why risk it? Oh and do not speed because you will fall into the money trap laid by French Police to teach tourists a lesson.

You need to have a very comprehensive pack of license (3 copies), insurance (3 copies), breakdown (copies) etc docs in your glovebox and elsewhere too and a satnav with every filling/ service station on it. You need to tell your VISA, mobile and insurance companies that you're going to France and for how long so they don't excommunicate you for having to call a hotel to book a room in advance of arriving. Some filling stations/pumps only accept Carte Bleu Cards as payment, so watch out for them because you won't be able to use them. You'll tend to find you need them at 3am and when you have not a lot of fuel left. Plan well ahead and never think you can get to the next filling station on what you have left, because you might but then again... I fill up if I get anywhere near 1/4 tank

Road Tolls. It can add hundreds of pounds to your journey and fuel is not that much cheaper than it is here. You'll need a good stock of coins with which to pay at toll booths or 'Payages'. The toll roads are privately owned and generally well maintained. The A roads are too and can lead you to some wonderful and unexpected places, though they do take longer, are more involving to drive on and may lead you away from your initially chosen course. Bear in mind that lorry drivers also use Satnavs and you will see huge lorries hurtling down otherwise quiet back lanes because their Satnavs told them to.

This is all off the top of my head, so i'm bound to have missed something out. Please ask if you need to know more.

France is a big and very beautiful place so be sure to wander off the beaten track from time to time and to not get too hooked into arriving from A to B without touching the sides. No doubt your Satnav will ensure you get horribly lost but that's when you'll find the real France. Whereabouts unknown stop going to follow stream until reach civilisation stop message ends

Post #193135 30th Jul 2013 6:06 pm
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Steve D



Member Since: 19 Jan 2013
Location: Essexshire
Posts: 4109

United Kingdom 

Don't know if you have time but I have one particular credit card (Nationwide) that has no extra charges for use in Europe and gives a better exchange rate than any bureaux de change. I used that for ALL my fuel and toll charges in France, Switzerland and Italy on my last two European trips on my motorcycle and I use it frequently when I go to Spain too for car hire, meals and fuel. There are other 'no charge for Europe' cards availible - The Post Office do one as well. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card

Edit: went to post a link to my nationwide Gold credit card and I noticed that they no longer offer that one and mine will be running out soon! Can only get a 'Europe free' one now if you bank with them which I don't! So, I've just ordered a Post Office one and I should get it within 7 days. Thumbs Up Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Post #193147 30th Jul 2013 8:43 pm
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papa smurf



Member Since: 25 Sep 2012
Location: Brighton
Posts: 214

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Thanks for all your help,we already have a post office cc and we also have a bank account in Italy as the wife is italian so we don't get charge in Europe (happy days)..now i need to sort car out.. Iain

Post #193159 30th Jul 2013 9:36 pm
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kimosabe



Member Since: 24 Aug 2012
Location: Rigil Five (Moonbase beta)
Posts: 122

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Zermatt Silver

I would say that if you were involved in an incident in the UK and your car was fitted with headlight deflectors, you would have a seriously difficult chat coming up with the Police and your insurer. Same goes for not having them when in France. Whereabouts unknown stop going to follow stream until reach civilisation stop message ends

Post #193178 31st Jul 2013 9:44 am
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ad210358



Member Since: 12 Oct 2008
Location: Here and There
Posts: 7464

England 

I know of a number of people who often pop over the water and have fitted Head Light Defectors and leave them on all the time, this also includes MOT time where it passes. p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Post #193184 31st Jul 2013 12:17 pm
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kimosabe



Member Since: 24 Aug 2012
Location: Rigil Five (Moonbase beta)
Posts: 122

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Zermatt Silver

Ya cannae change the laws of fizzicks!!

So when headlight alignment is being checked at MoT time and the deflectors errrmm ... deflect the beam so that it points to our offside instead our nearside (nearest the kerb), that's okay? I doubt it on the basis of reason but what the RTA says may be different. I also advise that to avoid being continually blinded by banks of oncoming lorry lights, that a visit to Halfords could sort that out. Its not a big deal to do. Whereabouts unknown stop going to follow stream until reach civilisation stop message ends

Post #193186 31st Jul 2013 12:28 pm
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