Deactivating the alarm

[glastoveteran]

Hi all,

Is it possible to deactivate the alarm other than by pressing the lock button twice on the remote? I haven't checked yet but is there a fuse I can take out?

I have the car booked on the Auto Train to the South of France in a couple of months and would rather it didn't arrive with a flat battery!

Cheers,

Alex

 

[srhutch]

Think your best option would be to disconnect the battery from the car it that is possible under your circumstances.

 

[pvr]

With a boot full of clothes ?????

 

[srhutch]

With a boot full of clothes ?????

All right smart arse, what's your suggestion.

P.S. you can ask flimper about his parking on the Vines Z day

 

[pvr]

I have only done the double lock on the ferries and not had any alarms go off. There is nothing else you can do really.

 

[glastoveteran]

Think your best option would be to disconnect the battery from the car it that is possible under your circumstances.

Sadly not an option as you have to drop the car off and let them drive it onto the train and unload it the other end!

Surely there must be a fuse - I will check but just thought I'd ask first.

 

[Lance]

I doubt a fuse removal will do the job, surely this would be a major flaw in the whole security process.

As pvr says I reckon.

BTW, have you used the motor-rail before?

 

[pvr]

Sadly not an option as you have to drop the car off and let them drive it onto the train and unload it the other end!

Bye bye alloys ...

 

[glastoveteran]

I doubt a fuse removal will do the job, surely this would be a major flaw in the whole security process.

Good point Lance.

BTW, have you used the motor-rail before?

Yes we used the French Motorail a couple of years ago in 2008 from Calais to Frejus and back then we had an overnight couchette with the car going on the same train. This time the car is going on the Auto Train from Paris to Nice and we're making our own way down by TGV. It's a fraction of the cost of the Motorail, which I'm not sure is even running any more?

Did you have any wise words of advice?!

 

[glastoveteran]

Bye bye alloys ...

The ramps are pretty wide I think so hopefully will be ok! Last time we did it there were 2 Ferraris and 2 Astons on the same train, so if it's good enough for them...

 

[pvr]

Did you consider driving down at all? I have done that route a few times and it was a 12 hours door to door to Sussex, but leaving from near St Tropez.

I drove back from Scotland yesterday which was 750 miles and the M was very comfortable I must say.

 

[glastoveteran]

Did you consider driving down at all? I have done that route a few times and it was a 12 hours door to door to Sussex, but leaving from near St Tropez.

I drove back from Scotland yesterday which was 750 miles and the M was very comfortable I must say.

Yes we did, but after the South of France we're off to Tuscany and then all the way back up so it'll be a good 3000 mile trip, and getting the train some of the way down just breaks it up and makes it slightly less tiring. It works out a bit cheaper on the train as well (even 1st class) as a bonus.

 

[Lance]

I have used the motor-rail about 6-7 times, although always by motorbike, which you load/unload yourself. This of course means we got to see the whole car on car off process, which I must say was done very carefully and with much caution. I would quite happily let them take my car

If you're going the TGV route it won't really apply, but anyone else thinking of doing the Motor-rail (still running), stock up on drink/food because the buffet car is shy't.

I used the German motor-rail last year Dusseldorf to Villach on the Austrian/Slovenian border, and the buffet car was much better.

 

[DrNick]

I have many childhood memories of that motor-rail journey used to whizz us down to south of france for our eurocamp holidays - when we first used to use it they would make you drive your own car on and off but then health and safety reared its ugly head.

I thought I read an article in the paper last year saying that they were stopping it...? Killed by cheap fly drive holidays... (although why anybody would want to fly ryan air/easy jet I dont know!)

 

[glastoveteran]

I thought they had stopped it, mainly because googling "french motorail" only really turns up Rail Europe who used to sell it but don't any more, and also a couple of articles saying how much it's gone down hill! But Lance says it's still going.

Stocking up on food and drink is a good bit of advice - we had done that anyway so didn't have to experience the buffet car!

Like I say the Auto Train / TGV combination is significantly cheaper, although it does cover less distance. We have just paid £130 from Paris to Nice for the car and 2 people 1st class TGV. The Motorail is generally £500 - £600.

 

[Lance]

I stand corrected 8) , it has indeed ceased to be in France, although still available from other North European towns/cities, down to various places down south, Italy/Austria/France/Germany included.

Apologies for confusing things :wink: