Great driving roads in France?

M

MrDo

Member
 London
I'm visiting family in Western France near Vannes (Southern Brittany). I'm keen to spend a week enjoying some fine country roads in France before we return to the UK. Any tips, especially in Southern Brittany, Loire and Central France as I'm not sure I can convince my wife that a drive to the South of France is such a good idea. :P

Loving the smooth, empty roads here, unlike the potholes and congestion of London, but that's another story. Z4's seem very unusual in France, not seen one in 2 days where I see at least a few every day in the UK.

Possibly crazy idea I've just had of driving to Bilbao, northern Spain and getting the ferry back to UK, has anyone done that? Advice? :?

I need some sunshine too, if anyone has any going cheap :driving:
 
Not too sure on France myself - have just driven across the North. The other option you do have (which I didn't know about), drive into France and then get a car train down to the south of France - where it will be warmer and do your driving around there!

There is a Road Trip section in Meets and Events which is worth a browse - some great posts in there... please report back afterwards :wink:
Here's a link for a search list: Road Trip Section, France Search
(I think you'll need to be signed in for the search to return)

Good luck getting it sorted, one of the best ways to use the Zed :driving:
 
Sadly the motor-rail doesn't run from Calais anymore and I'm fairly sure it doesn't run in France at all.

To get your car south by rail, you have to go to Dusseldorf or Hertogenbosch which do various routes south, but very very few to destinations in France.

France has some brilliant roads and for me the far south is best. but from Clermont Ferrand down, Millau, Massive Centrale, Ales, Mendes, Dordogne, French Pyrenees etc. As nice as it is, I don't bother with Provence or the Riviera unless I'm passing through to the Alpine regions.

There are good roads further north too, they just take more effort to find.

As for the spain/uk ferry, makes sense but can be expensive and i think (not positive) it stops running out of season. The crossing on that though can be very very choppy at times.

Good luck :thumbsup:
 
lots of speed cameras on the A10. For non motorway well worth investing in a Coyote, everyone uses them over here.
 
ChawenHalo said:
lots of speed cameras on the A10. For non motorway well worth investing in a Coyote, everyone uses them over here.
Click to expand...

If you're in a UK plated car just do your thing, unless they stop you there and then, there's nowt the french authorities can do.
 
Lance said:
ChawenHalo said:
lots of speed cameras on the A10. For non motorway well worth investing in a Coyote, everyone uses them over here.
Click to expand...

If you're in a UK plated car just do your thing, unless they stop you there and then, there's nowt the french authorities can do.
Click to expand...

The French police have a different mentality to the British police who generally 'focus on the easy target/least hassle cash-cow UK cars' (before I get flamed, it's only my personal point of view - I've seen loads of old Lithuanian/Romanian audis and bmws driving at stupid speeds through cameras and past the cops). You might get away with it in a UK car if you're caught by camera, but caught by the gendarmes/police, or an organised speed trap, your day may turn bad very quickly if they think you've been taking liberties on their roads.

@chawenhalo - what's the legal status of those in France, are GPS-based speed camera alert systems ok?
 
From memory the coastal road that runs south from St Nazaire all the way to Rochelle is an excellent though boringly straight road.
It was a long time ago though so maybe it's changed.
 
Watch out for speed alert systems in France guys some of these are illegal to even have in the car...http://english.controleradar.org/speed-camera-detector.php

generally 500 euros there and then if you get busted by the gendarmes with speed gun ... Have been blasting down french motorways for years and so far they only got me once with a speed camera . This was when I borrowed a french friend of mine's mother's car and forgot I had french plates and went merrily sailing past a camera - she was not impressed when she got a fine :oops: luckily it was only 40 euros and there were no points.

Car train to the south is v v expensive, looked to do that once was more than the cost of peage+petrol down to south of france...

Unfortunately don't know Brittany too well so no ideas but enjoy those smooth quiet roads whilst you can...
 
Dev said:
Lance said:
ChawenHalo said:
lots of speed cameras on the A10. For non motorway well worth investing in a Coyote, everyone uses them over here.
Click to expand...

If you're in a UK plated car just do your thing, unless they stop you there and then, there's nowt the french authorities can do.
Click to expand...

The French police have a different mentality to the British police who generally 'focus on the easy target/least hassle cash-cow UK cars' (before I get flamed, it's only my personal point of view - I've seen loads of old Lithuanian/Romanian audis and bmws driving at stupid speeds through cameras and past the cops). You might get away with it in a UK car if you're caught by camera, but caught by the gendarmes/police, or an organised speed trap, your day may turn bad very quickly if they think you've been taking liberties on their roads.

@chawenhalo - what's the legal status of those in France, are GPS-based speed camera alert systems ok?
Click to expand...

Lance and Dave. French police is far less understanding that UK. Above 168 kmph they can and will just take your car. Fines are cash or you part with your car. GPS warning systems are OK but to be honest the problem is not so much fixed cameras (although they are not necessarily signe posted and are difficult to see) but its gendarmes hidding in the bushes. Thats why so many in France use the Coyote that has an advanced on the spot warning. Drivers in front flag hidding pigs and you get the warning. The systems tells you how many guys i front you have that have the system. It saves me and a lot of mate a lot of points. 8) :driving: :D
 
If u can, go to Bordeaux... a true gem of a city with a riverside boulevard Z4 cruise to die for.

Then there's the old part of the city itself, I've visited many on this planet & on a hot summers night there aren't many that can better it
 
Jembo said:
If u can, go to Bordeaux... a true gem of a city with a riverside boulevard Z4 cruise to die for.

Then there's the old part of the city itself, I've visited many on this planet & on a hot summers night there aren't many that can better it
Click to expand...

you forgat to say that we also make the best wines in the world (and the most expensive!) otherwise, yes its all correct, well done :D

did I mention the women? :rofl:
 
Sorry folks, can I move it to the road trip section or does that need a moderator to do that? :oops:

Thanks for the tips :)

ChawenHalo - I'll keep close to the limits, my SatNav flags when 15% over the limits, although I had to turn the audio warnings off as it was driving me nuts :lol:

It's the coastal/country roads I'm after not just straight line speed. Thanks for mentioning the 168kmh car take away rule, that would ruin my week. May check out Bordeaux for the restaurants and wine with my wife, the ladies are all yours 8)

Still not seen one other Z4 here in France in 4 days now, new or old style. My 2004 roadster is getting lots of looks, and I doubt it's just because of the UK plates out of season. Just had the top down for the first time this week :driving:

On a side note, been using 98 fuel for the first time this week, seems smoother and car pulls better, although not sure it's worth the premium for my day to day driving back in the UK. Thoughts?
 
BMWZ4MC said:
I thought you had a penchant for German women? :poke:
Click to expand...

I was indeed (33% frequency rate) but she hated the Z so it did not work out (amongst other things of course). Now trying the local flavour :D
 
MrDo said:
Sorry folks, can I move it to the road trip section or does that need a moderator to do that? :oops:

Thanks for the tips :)

ChawenHalo - I'll keep close to the limits, my SatNav flags when 15% over the limits, although I had to turn the audio warnings off as it was driving me nuts :lol:

It's the coastal/country roads I'm after not just straight line speed. Thanks for mentioning the 168kmh car take away rule, that would ruin my week. May check out Bordeaux for the restaurants and wine with my wife, the ladies are all yours 8)

Still not seen one other Z4 here in France in 4 days now, new or old style. My 2004 roadster is getting lots of looks, and I doubt it's just because of the UK plates out of season. Just had the top down for the first time this week :driving:

On a side note, been using 98 fuel for the first time this week, seems smoother and car pulls better, although not sure it's worth the premium for my day to day driving back in the UK. Thoughts?
Click to expand...


PM me if you do come over I have an unflagering list of restaurants in my phone (much of my job involves wine-ing and dining)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom