The Art of French Driving
Now that we've been driving for a few days, I thought I'd tell you about a few of our experiences and share a few words of wisdom with you about driving in France and Europe.
First, the car. If you are going anywhere that is even remotely close to France, you should do a hire-purchase deal with one of the big French auto-manufacturers. Ours was with Renault - and we've now driven over 1000km in a brand-spanking new car with automatic everything (lights, locks, windows, climate, windscreen wipers, cruise control)... except for the gear-shift, which is manual (and which, I should add, has been a source of some consternation for Tova). In any event, driving it is a dream and I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason these very good deals are done is so that you'll love the brand and then buy a new Renault/Peugeot/Citroën when you get back home.
Second, the roads. We decided at the start of our driving trip (after a few false starts in attempting to get on the right road away from Versailles and avoid driving back into Paris) that we'd drive mostly on smaller roads and avoid the big toll roads. There are many advantages to this approach. Chief among these is that the roads are very picturesque an
d you get to see scenes like these: this one on the right being of an old aqueduct adjoining the Loire River. However, this method of travel is admittedly slow. During our drive from Tours to Bordeaux, we realised that we were not as close to our destination as we should have been and decided to opt for the A10 toll road. Although this allowed us to cruise at average speeds of 130-140km/hr, the €13.50 toll hurt.Third, the cities. Avoid them, if possible, when driving. Narrow country village streets (which you cannot avoid if you are not taking the toll roads) with only enough room for perhaps a bicycle, let alone two cars side by side, are bad enough. But if you happen to have driven into a city, the way to make the most of your French driving experience is to embrace it and do as the French do...
4 comments:
Hi guys. Viv only just told us about your blog and I have left a comment on the Hungarian family - under Vivi's one. I haven't read the rest yet but I will when I have more time! With love, Andrew
Hi Guys, love the BLOG. I like to way you parked in this photo. I wonder if you'll get a chance to do some French style bumper parking where you squeeze into the spot by bumping the cars ahead and behind ? Keep having fun !!!!
Dave Ramsay
Josh - isn't hire purchase agreement, when you hire the product with an agreement to purchase it at the end?
Em.
PS Blog is fantastic as always.
PPS Great job on the ring, it is stunning.
Perhaps I used the terms a little too loosely - what we have done is purchased the car, and are selling it back to Renault as part of the same contract at the end of the "hire period". That way we avoid European VAT and other taxes and it works out to be as cheap as hiring an ordinary used car (if not cheaper).
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