What?s the rule with with the GB sticker when taking a car around Europe? Do you need the sticker if your car has the new European style reg plates? I?ve got shot of my tatty old 605 for a smart, shiny, silver 406 and I don?t really want to slap that horrible big GB on it...
Cheers, Dave.
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If you mean some yellow stars laid out as a circle and the letters GB at one end of the plate, I think that meets the requirement. I usually put my GB sticker on the rear screen - it is easier to get it off glass than a painted surface!
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If you've got GB on your plates, then you don't need a separate sticker.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=30518
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=24122&...e
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You are good people, cheers
Another thing springs to mind, the new car has sat nav, I?ve never used one before, I don?t know anything about it, will it work in Europe or will I need "upgrades" of some kind
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It probably has "Major roads of Europe" available. Try planning a trans european journey on it to find out. If it only has major roads, and you want planning downmj to village street level then an upgrade map may be required (ebay?)
what sat nav is it?
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"what sat nav is it?"
I didn?t notice to be honest RF, I collect the car next Monday so won?t know till then. Are they not factory fitted as standard? How does an upgrade come? In the form of a cd? I?m showing gadget illteracy here aren?t I?
Cheers.
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I never knew the 406 even had sat nav!
Nice find Dave - hope you enjoy it.
--
Adam
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"Nice find Dave - hope you enjoy it"
I?m really excited, it was an impulse buy - the aircon on the 605 packed up this weekend, but also the fan system so I couldn?t even blow warm air at my face. Enough?s enough, I thought after frying in 30 degree heat. It?s a V6 too so I can?t wait to get it on the Polish country lanes.
You know what though, I pick it up in Coventry on Monday and it has to be Warsaw on Tuesday - 1030 miles in a day. On my own. All on my lonesome.
What you up to next week Adski?
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What you up to next week Adski?
Find out why he is called "big bad dave" first Adam.
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>>Are they not factory fitted as standard?
Not sure about what factory fit sat nav options were available on 406. I suspect there was never a full screen colour mapping option so if factory fit It may have the silly "turn by turn, arrows and voice only" system.
If an after market one it could be anything from silly to realy rather super.
>>How does an upgrade come? In the form of a cd?
Yes new CD or DVD
>>I?m showing gadget illteracy here aren?t I?
Yes in spades.
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I get the feeling you're really looking forward to it Dave ;-)
When I'm lounging around doing nothing, I'll think of you driving to Warsaw....honest!
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Adam
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"Yes in spades."
I?ll tell you something that will make you laugh and lower my street cred.
I bought the 605 in 1999, it has cruise control but I assumed it was broken cos I didn?t know how to activate it. Yesterday as we were driving along, I said to wifey, excitedly "the new car will have cruise control, all I do is press this button and touch this stalk..." And as I showed her on the 605 it kicked in. Worked all the time, the whole six years. I was just doing it wrong.
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Hahahahah.
Sssssssssshhhhhh. That may have been the deal clincher for the new car!
--
Adam
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I?ve been like a kid since then, using the cruise to speed up and slow down, driving with my feet as far from the pedals as possible, trying to get it to work at 25mph, that sort of thing! Wifey just sitting there shaking her head.
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Picture this.
Neigbour getting rid of petrol Passat, "because its quite thirsty" Day its due to be chopped in, my sons helps in making sure all the crap is out of it. Being nosey Son flicks through the trip computer and finds 4 years of average consumption data.
Neigbour "it has a trip computer"?
Neighbour "Its averaged how many miles to the gallon?"
Neighbour sulks "thats better than the one I am getting."
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"it has a trip computer"
Oh yeah, same here. I knew it had a trip computer, I assumed it was broken cos I couldn?t activate it. It normally just displays temp outside but when the sun caught the LCD screen in the right light I could see loads of other different icons of petrol pumps and wotnot.
But I worked it out about 3 years ago, it was on the end of the windscreen wiper stalk.
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Lots of later 406s - LX model and above - from mid 2002 I think had sat nav as standard.
They're all the same - the factory fit one has an orange light on a black screen and very simple arrows. No idea if it's any good or what the coverage is; I suspect not brilliant, although you could probably buy country CDs if you felt the need.
If it's a V6 though it'll be a bit special - I could have bought one 2 years newer than my 1.9 diesel, with 8,000 less on the clock, leather, climate, CD, ABS and air, for £200 less. Unfortunately I do too many miles to make it a sensible buy but the diesel hasn't been quite as economical as I'd hoped so I can definitely see the appeal of all that extra power.
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"If it's a V6 though it'll be a bit special"
Mmmmm, it?s yummy isn?t it. I?ve struggled hard to justify it but as petrol here is still only 65p a litre and most of my journeys are long, constant 60mph jobbies to our little summer house, I thought what the hell. I can get 35mpg door to door in my current 605 if I?m feather-footed. Barely affected my insurance too, one of the few advantages of being 37.
How do you find living with the 406 in general?
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My understanding is that while the new European style plates are acceptable in the EU countries, you need a GB sticker if you are going to drive in Switzerland. I would take one in the glovepocket anyway, even if you are not going to be in the land of holey cheese, on the grounds that a 50p investment could possible save you hassle from an officious traffic cop.
Have a great trip. B.I.G.
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"even if you are not going to be in the land of holey cheese"
Unless I figure out the satnav pretty sharpish, who knows what lands I?ll be visiting. Is there a feature that lets you turn them upside down, that?s how my wife reads maps?
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wives can not read maps. biology at work here I am afraid.
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I remember a few years ago my aunt's car was off the road and she hired an Astra to drive to my Uncle's in Wales, from Glasgow.
On her return, I was having a nosey in it and commented about it being a 5 speed.
5? she replied.....
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Minor point - on the ferries they sell a magnetic GB sticker-style plate, they don´t fall off, and don´t wreck the paintwork when you pull them off. Maybe available elsewhere too.
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Good idea Barchettaman. I was just about to book the ferry but before I do, I?ll pick the brains of the backroomers one more time.
Firsty, do I always need to book, can I just turn up and buy a ticket given that it will be a Monday evening.
Secondly, as I?m driving alone I want to do maximum ferry, minimum road mileage. Last time I went from some port in Essex, landed in Amsterdam and drove across Holland, Germany and Poland into Warsaw. A bit of a killer. Is there a better way? Do any ferries sail around Denmark and dock in the Baltic sea? Can anybody think of a better way of doing this? I really appreciate any help, advice and recommendations. I?ll make the booking tomorrow depending on what you good people think...
Many thanks, Dave
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some port in essex to amsterdam was in fact Harwich to Zebrugge
Talking of Harwich
Harwich to Cuxhaven is your ferry of choice. Cuxhaven is on the German Baltic coast half way to Poland. DFDS Seaways
You would have to book this as its only three times a week
www.dfds.co.uk/dsw/en
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"Cuxhaven is on the German Baltic coast"
Shame on you RF, Cuxhaven is on the North Sea side of the German coast! Still, it?s a much shorter journey but the ferry leaves at 4pm, which cuts it a bit too fine. Not sure if I can get from Manchester to Coventry, collect the car and drive it to Harwich by 2pm...
Could?ve married a Spanish lass, had to go and marry a Pole...
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"Shame on you RF, Cuxhaven is on the North Sea side of the German coast"
Who Moved Denmark?
(oopps < g >)
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"landed in Amsterdam and drove across Holland, Germany and Poland into Warsaw. A bit of a killer. Is there a better way?"
What about flying ?
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"What about flying?"
Don?t think I?ll get a car through hand luggage
Or are you suggesting I charter an Antonov?
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Magnetic GB plates are also available from Halfords. The one I have "sticks" well and does not leave a mark on the paintwork.
Just a reminder about the headlight alignment, you may have forgotten to arrange new dip beam cut off covers.
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[snip] Mark.
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Regards the ferries....
If cost is important you cant beat Dover short crossings at the moment. Speedferries is around £50 return. and even the Chunnel is cheap if you choose your times carefull (after 5pm is particularly cheap iirc). They have all altered their websites now and it is easy to find cheapest crossings. Also it is not dependant on length of time away.
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Cheers PR, I?m not too fussed about cost, I?m just worried about the distance I have to drive. Short crossings would leave me with a longer drive wouldn?t they? Where would the Chunnel set me down? Never thought about that.
Gotta admit I?m finding the websites a real drudge to navigate, my wife normally does these things, I?m hopeless.
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The chunnel will drop you outside Calais
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I appologise if you find my remarks rubbish. I only meant to do it in a light hearted way.
After what Chirac said, it made me rather cross.
I like going to France, and quite like the French people.
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Fair enough. But please do resist next time.
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Well, in a few hours I?m catching a plane to the UK to pick up this car. I eventually booked a sleeper ferry which docks in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning at 07.30. That gives me the rest of the day to do the 900 or so miles to Warsaw. I?ve done it before, you wing it through Holland and Germany but when you hit Poland it?s single carriageways and crappy roads.
It?s a bit of a drivathon and I?m not looking forward to it but the fun of having a new car should help and I?ve been loading top tunes onto compilation cds all week. I?m taking my comfiest boots and my silkiest boxers for eighteen hours in a leather seat and of course, condoms, should there be a bar full of hot chicks on this ferry. Always thinking positively. It?s also a good opportunity to bring things back into Poland that I really miss, like a boot full of Weetabix.
I?m planning on stopping for half an hour every 200 miles and I?ll take a flask of coffee too. Any other tips...?
Adam, you could?ve come with me matey, helped with the driving and left a pan-European trail of broken-hearted hookers but you chose to stay at home and revise. Don?t feel too guilty though if I die on this long and lonely trip, you just do your best to get on with your life!
Cheers, Dave.
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I think your expectations of the ferry are a little high Dave.
I'm upset. I've missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Not to worry though - should the worst happen to you and you get robbed of your new car and even all of your money by criminals masquerading as women of the night then I'll be inconsolable for at least....a week. Maybe two.
If you read this in time, good luck with the new car and getting it home.
Cheers,
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Adam
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Dear Dave
Dont bother. Your bags and belongings will be waiting for at Amsterdam.
Mrs Big bad Dave (Mk11)
Warsaw
Poland
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I did a day trip a few weeks ago and reckon about half of the UK cars didn't bother with any kind of GB sticker or plate .
This included 05 reg cars where the owner must have had the option of specifying GB type plates, at no extra cost, but didn't bother
It's incredible that people would do this ,as it's been a requirement for decades and I was told that just beyond Calais it's common for French traffic police to spend the day hauling in people for this and other "technical " offences, such as not carrying spare bulbs .Another favourite they have is to stop people with bikes hanging on the back of the car, without a plate and electrics bar installed.
Each of these offences can cost you something like 100 euros in an on-the spot fine, so it seems that people within an hour of reaching France are relieved of typically over £100 ; all for the sake of spending 5 minutes and about £2 beforehand .
If you're going to use stick-on plates you might as well get it 100% right - the GB sticker is supposed to be on an upright surface and they may rule that the window of most hatchbacks isn't
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Just been to France and Belgium on business. No GB plate or implied nationality(EU membership od football tribal colours for that matter) on the number plate. Cruising between Paris and Calais this morning at a nifty pace, passed three stationary Traffic cops no attention paid to speed or lack of plate. I never have or will bother. Only stopped once on the French/Spanish border for a little bit of MPHing. Spoke firmly to them in their own language and got off. No mention made of a lack of GB plate then either.
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