Why doesn't she understand me? Why?

[devilishdoc]

Hello All,

Planning a Euro driving trip in down to Tuscany and back up through central France. Cant wait as get to really stretch the legs on the beloved Z4!

Beginning to feel like I am a little deranged though as I am spending inordinate amounts of time looking for accomodation with secure parking (especially in cities like Florence - absolute nightmare trust me), the missus is about to kill me as I keep ruling out her accomodation choices :? As I know I will get a more receptive audience here....

Couple of questions:

1/ As per the above anyone driven to or near Florence and can recommend mid range accomodation with secure parking?
2/ Door defenders (For parking in car parks and avoiding door dents) anyone have any recommedations?
3/ Any tips for driving in Italy , apologies in advance to any Italians on the forum but you have a reputation for driving like mentalists on the motorway :evil:

Thanks

 

[adey]

rode down to tuscany a couple of years ago italians are dangerous just pull out in front of you on a roundabout i didn't feel safe on a motorbike florence is a very busy city,we stayed out of florence and took the train in, the trains are very reliable and cheap,i did ride to pisa and lucca but wished i had took the train don't know what route you have planned we went down east side of framce taking in the route napoleon on the n85 awesome road

 

[James_G]

Have previously driven in Italy, it's a nightmare basically. They will sit on your tail, in the outside lane, flashing to get passed. Just ignore them.

Anyway, stayed here back in March this year:

http://www.hotelathenaeumflorence.com/

Big underground car park, lots of space, really nice hotel. I'd recommend it, but we were upgraded to a superior room and I've read reports that the regular rooms were a bit small. Still, underground parking - what's not to like. Oh and it's a ten minute walk to the sites which reviewers on trip advisor regularly complain about. Good exercise I say.

 

[RichardG]

Quite simply the further south you the worse the driving gets, to far to go round the roundabout no problem just take the short way round against the traffic, see your friend on the street, simples, stop car get out hug and kiss go for coffee oblivious to the chaos you are causing.
As some of the other posters are suggesting find nice accomodation away from the cities and let the train take the strain, it's bad enough driving down there in a hire car never mind your pride and joy.

 

[roofless]

I think driving in general in France and italy has improved considerably over the years. Once upon a time the French would only overtake if they were within 50 yards of a blind bend.
Haven't found the Italians too bad and bearing in mind some of the driving i see in this country it's a relief to get on the continent quite often. Just avoid Belgians, sorry to any forum members but your countrymen are generally the craziest and most inconsiderate road users i come across. If i see a belgian plate i normally keep well away and just keep shaking my head in amazement at their antics till they disappear.

 

[Guiseley]

+1 for commuting the last few miles by train - scooters come at you from all angles in the bigger cities. I'd avoid getting lost in Luca too - see Top Gear for details (try to avoid ending up on the top of the city Walls!)

 

[decio]

I live in Croatia which is very near Italy, and I spend good part of my life in Italy, have some parents there...bla,bla! Italians are in general a good drivers. The traffic in their cities is very chaotic and hasty. But still safe; I have never feared to drop my self into early morning rush on a scooter. But... some suggestion for you and your Zed. Don't ever,ever go with your beloved Zed in the center of any Italian city. That is the first rule! Try to find (I like to call it) a tactical accommodation. It is a safe place in "Campagnia" (country side). You can use public means of transportation which by the way are very good to get in the center of Firenze, Verona, Ferrara etc... The best way to feel these cities is to walk, walk and only walk sulle strade delle cita'! So exclude Zed of sightseeing! One more tip! If you plane to travel in this part of the year, try to find an accommodation with closed or shadowed parking place. The Mediterranean sun is lethal in this part of the year and it's not good for you, your soft top, leather seats etc... Mediterranean people instinctively are always trying to live their car in the shade and they fear the sun like the devil!One more thing, if you have some more time on your disposal try to avoid l'autostrada, and go around Italy and Toscana by local road...is much more better (don't forget to bring a GPS).

 

[ChawenHalo]

Well, I've got the benefit on having lived in Uk and continent. Brits and Germans are the better drivers.

The French were OK, plenty of space to overtake, get back in their lane on motorways etc but due to crap cars often crashed. NOw lots of speeding cameras the french just drive slow. They still get exited by nice cars with some flashing and hooting. Coppers just want your money. Don't exeed 165 kph they take the car away, unless it owned (the parers) by an other person- read in that what you will.

Italians tend to love pretty cars and treat them well. All blokes think they are Fangio though...

 

[glastoveteran]

Hmm, maybe I won't be too popular but I think I'm on your missus' side on this one - it's a Z4 not a Veyron!!

I've taken my Z4 to Italy twice now and honestly can't say I find the driving that bad.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Hmm, maybe I won't be too popular but I think I'm on your missus' side on this one - it's a Z4 not a Veyron!!

I've taken my Z4 to Italy twice now and honestly can't say I find the driving that bad.

I'm in total agreement here.
I've driven in most countries of Europe, lived in Paris and find the driving different but frankly no more dangerous than it has deteriorated to in the UK. Sure they drive closer and use bumpers as bumpers to park. Try Central America if you want to see wild driving :thumbsdown:

As far as basing hotels on secure car parks then I have to say 'get a grip'. It's a cheap sports car and if you're that worried take a hire car or park somewhere secure and get a cab to the hotel your missus wants. Not worth the agro.

 

[T1berious]

Hmm, maybe I won't be too popular but I think I'm on your missus' side on this one - it's a Z4 not a Veyron!!

^this^
(flame retardant suit on)

I've driven to Tuscany twice and never had any issues , if you're going to be stressing about the car, do yourself a favour. Fly, rent a car, enjoy your holiday

Holidays are all about stress relief not finding more stress

Just a thought

 

[glastoveteran]

italians are dangerous just pull out in front of you on a roundabout

I have a feeling that's just because they have different rules on different roundabouts. Sometimes those on the roundabout have right of way (as we do here) but sometimes it's the exact opposite and someone approaching a roundabout has right of way over those on the roundabout.

So this person that pulled out in front of you possibly had right of way and in fact it may have been you that was dangerous for not giving way.

 

[ChawenHalo]

Hmm, maybe I won't be too popular but I think I'm on your missus' side on this one - it's a Z4 not a Veyron!!

I've taken my Z4 to Italy twice now and honestly can't say I find the driving that bad.

I'm in total agreement here.
I've driven in most countries of Europe, lived in Paris and find the driving different but frankly no more dangerous than it has deteriorated to in the UK. Sure they drive closer and use bumpers as bumpers to park. Try Central America if you want to see wild driving :thumbsdown:

As far as basing hotels on secure car parks then I have to say 'get a grip'. It's a cheap sports car and if you're that worried take a hire car or park somewhere secure and get a cab to the hotel your missus wants. Not worth the agro.

+1. Its no Ferrari or GT3.

 

[adey]

italians are dangerous just pull out in front of you on a roundabout

I have a feeling that's just because they have different rules on different roundabouts. Sometimes those on the roundabout have right of way (as we do here) but sometimes it's the exact opposite and someone approaching a roundabout has right of way over those on the roundabout.

So this person that pulled out in front of you possibly had right of way and in fact it may have been you that was dangerous for not giving way.

your probably right but there was no signs to indicate this, i have probably ridden about 30,000 miles round europe on a motorbike over the years spain,france,italy,germany,belguim,etc and the std of driving in italy at times is the worst i have seen,there are some in this country though that come close to it :lol:

 

[devilishdoc]

Thanks for the feedback, I know I am being over protective but my little Z4 gives me alot of joy so I just want to try and minimise chances of damage/stressful driving

Will check out the hotel suggested (thanks for that) and will certainly avoid the centre of Florence. Otherwise I cant wait, just really looking forward to the whole trip!

Must remember to get a sunshield for windscreen though (good tip)

Cheers

 

[glastoveteran]

Enjoy - you'll have an amazing time

 

[roofless]

Thanks for the feedback, I know I am being over protective but my little Z4 gives me alot of joy so I just want to try and minimise chances of damage/stressful driving

Will check out the hotel suggested (thanks for that) and will certainly avoid the centre of Florence. Otherwise I cant wait, just really looking forward to the whole trip!

Must remember to get a sunshield for windscreen though (good tip)

Cheers

AND POST IN THE ROAD TRIP SECTION We want plenty of pics and tales of your journey

 

[James_G]

Hmm, maybe I won't be too popular but I think I'm on your missus' side on this one - it's a Z4 not a Veyron!!

I've taken my Z4 to Italy twice now and honestly can't say I find the driving that bad.

I'm in total agreement here.
I've driven in most countries of Europe, lived in Paris and find the driving different but frankly no more dangerous than it has deteriorated to in the UK. Sure they drive closer and use bumpers as bumpers to park. Try Central America if you want to see wild driving :thumbsdown:

As far as basing hotels on secure car parks then I have to say 'get a grip'. It's a cheap sports car and if you're that worried take a hire car or park somewhere secure and get a cab to the hotel your missus wants. Not worth the agro.

+1. Its no Ferrari or GT3.

Sorry, but I totally disagree. It's not what the car costs but what the value of the car is to the owner. If I earnt £3m a year, a £100k Ferrari is neither here nor there. If I earnt £30k a year and I have a £10k Z4 then that's quite a big deal. Someone's pride and joy is their pride and joy, irrespective of the cost. I can't imagine you being all so zen about it if a car turned up in the "Buy and Sell" with some Italian parking damage.

Secondly if somebody clouts your wing mirror off on the first day of your holiday because "it's just a Z4 so I'll park it on the road", not only do you have to then drive the rest of your holiday without being able to see behind you, you've got the aggro of getting it fixed in the future. And that's a royal pain in backside no matter what you drive.

So I say to the OP, don't ruin your holiday by staying in hotels miles away from places you want to actually go to, but do definitely seek out some hotels with some decent parking facilities. Or get your other half to underwrite the cost of repairing any damage.

 

[SuZ4]

Sorry, but I totally disagree. It's not what the car costs but what the value of the car is to the owner. If I earnt £3m a year, a £100k Ferrari is neither here nor there. If I earnt £30k a year and I have a £10k Z4 then that's quite a big deal. Someone's pride and joy is their pride and joy, irrespective of the cost. I can't imagine you being all so zen about it if a car turned up in the "Buy and Sell" with some Italian parking damage.

Secondly if somebody clouts your wing mirror off on the first day of your holiday because "it's just a Z4 so I'll park it on the road", not only do you have to then drive the rest of your holiday without being able to see behind you, you've got the aggro of getting it fixed in the future. And that's a royal pain in backside no matter what you drive.

So I say to the OP, don't ruin your holiday by staying in hotels miles away from places you want to actually go to, but do definitely seek out some hotels with some decent parking facilities. Or get your other half to underwrite the cost of repairing any damage.[/quote]

 

[Bradders75]

Completely agree with James_G on this. It's not for other people to tell a caring owner that it's not a Veyron, especially if it's their P&J they've worked their arse off to afford and run. For what it's worth OP, I'd be exactly the same as you and also rejecting hotels with rubbish parking! Thankfully my girlfriend is extremely understanding about it though (well, to my face! :wink: ) And, yes, that's coming from the lowly owner of an 03 but it's the best car I've ever had and I'll do everything possible to keep it immaculate...