I've a 13/60 and put one just before the petrol pump

And the weather should have been good into the bargain. Get next year booked then . . .

We got back from 8 days in sunny Bretagne ourselves this afternoon to sunny Normandie.

29 minutes ago, Shepsy said:

couple of days in Dinan?  🤞

We will be staying there tomorrow night, we've stopped there 3 or 4 times when passing to or from Brittany, always the same hotel. Mercure, Dinan Port Le Jezual.

1 hour ago, JohnD said:

France has almost no graffiti or litter. 

The first time my parents came over to visit us after we moved they commented on how clean and tidy places were and that nobody had ripped the plants out of the various beds in villages. They even commented that the farms were tidy.

8 minutes ago, Clive said:

Just don't be tempted by e85 fuel!

Much cheaper than the real stuff, 1/2 the price, but you are right the car won't thank you for it.

Dito all above comments. I live in France with a RHD 13/60 without any undue worries. People will give you a thumbs up, or flash headlights as they go past in the opposite direction.

The speed limit situation is now far more complex than it was. In brief, the national limit on open roads is 80kph unless marked otherwise, not as it used  to be 90. Certain departments have gone back to 90 on lots of roads, as here in the Orne, with ceertain sections as 80. Here in the Orne we, drivers that is, stuck to our usual habit of driving at 100 in the rural zones so never noticed the changes 😁

One point that is worth noting is that when you get a section at 70 it is mostly for a good reason, so keep your eyes open.

Driving a RHD car here isn't too much of a handicap, if on empty roads it isn't at all, just position yourself so you can see round the vehicle ahead down their left side or right side depending on the road. If you have a passenger they can give you the all clear to pull out.

Another tip, if you pull in for petrol try and turn into a station on the right. when you pull out again, if there isn't other traffic about, you are less likely to use the wrong side of the road.

Final point, the dreaded 'priorité à droite' (I hate it). In some towns you might be on the main road but a car coming out of a side street has right of way so will very likely not slow down. The French themselves aren't totally ok with it either. A town i go to regularly, was there yesterday in fact, when I leave the side road I'm on joins the main road so I have priority over the cars coming from my left, I never trust them so take care. Yesterday if I had just carried on my modern would now have a big dent in the drivers side, the car driver who in theory should have stopped never even looked at the side road, fortunately I did slow right down and stop. The opposite has happened where I stopped as did the car on the main road.

Out of town it does exist on mainly small rural cross roads, look out for a triangular sign with red border and an X in it. At these cross roads it is the car to the right who has priority, should there be another at the junction at the same time.

Sounds worse that it is really, just take care.

Driving in France is usually a real pleasure, think about it - country double the size of Britain with the same population. A LOT more room.

I'm  off to Brittany tomorrow for a holiday and we usually avoid motorways whenever possible and take the scenic route.

Bonne route!

2 hours ago, richard w said:

If not I'll keep the 3XL and turn the temperature on the washing machine up!

Don't shrink it, you'll grow into it in time

Nice!

37 minutes ago, Adrianb said:

It’s because the French Apreciate the finer things in life ! Like Fine Wines, Fine Cheeses,

That's why I moved here 😁

I have a friend here who sends me links to Heralds for sale from time to time and the prices asked for them seem very high as well.

Do the cars actually sell for those asking prices that is the critical point.

17 minutes ago, thescrapman said:

Could be,  which way are wipers parking? 

 

Look to be pointing to the left viewed from inside the car. Mind you mine are the same and mine is RHD, I think they are supposed to be the other way round but not certain.

From memory not a Spanish one either from before they changed their format.

Also not a French plate pre 2009.

48 minutes ago, thescrapman said:

exhaust is on wrong side?

Photo inversed?

On 16/08/2023 at 20:48, AJS said:

FRANCE : The registration plates issued since 2009 use a XX-NNN-ZZ format, composed of a series of 7 alphanumeric characters: 2 letters, 3 numbers, and then 2 letters (e.g. AB-126-FD). 

Definitely not a French plate.

That seems to tick all the boxes and at a good price as well.

Something I do for winter is run an elastic bungey from front to back of the car between the car and cover to give an air gap, I also leave the windows open a little.

I put foam pipe insulation over the elastic as a protection for the body work. Also on sunny winter days uncover the car to let it air and if possible spread the cover out upside down to make sure it is also dry, I actually turn it inside out and put it over my modern to do it.

55 minutes ago, standardthread said:

I think to order from France with carriage and taxes would push the price through the roof.

Quite right, as I said the supplier wouldn't be right for you but you have a starting point to check out UK suppliers. Try Google with the make of the cover 'Coverek' and see what you get.

Ooops !

https://www.comptoirducabriolet.com/fr/housses-protection-mixtes-coverek/bache-de-protection-mixte-coverek-taille-m.html?search_query=housse coverek&fast_search=fs

Something else to look out for is a strap that passes under the car, stops the cover flying away in really bad weather even though it might come off part of the car. I also put 2 eyelets on the front and used elastic between them that I hook under the front overriders to stop the front of the cover lifting when there are stong winds - the car faces towards the west and we get the full effect of the west winds.

This link is to the one I bought 3 years ago, I'm in France so I guess the actual supplier isn't ideal for you. It does give you an idea of the structure, the price has doubled since I bought mine. The first one I had was from  a well known supplier of covers, it was expensive but wasn't up to the job - seems soon started to come aparty and I had to do regular glueing jobs.

The current one is wearing well, despite our cats climbing on it to sleep and strop their claws on it.

Mine is on a 13/60 so to give added protection to the cover I have glued a piece of thin, tough foam in the inside back corners where the 'fins' rub on it.

Looking at the number plate, style and layout, I'd say a European registration

I've had a couple of occasions when there has been a similar sound from the brakes on my modern. Each time it was a small bit of grit wedged in the brake pad and rubbing on the disc.

10 hours ago, WIMPUS said:

Today i was shocked that it was already friday.

It didn't shock me that it is Friday, what did was the fact we are already 1/2 way through July!

52 minutes ago, Clive said:

It is unusual for car people not to lose stuff. And generally not found until you order another. 

That's why I have several spare spares . . . .

11 minutes ago, Adrianb said:

Does anyone else suffer from SPS I’ve bought some fittings boxed them up and put them in a Safe Place now I can’t find them!

When we left the UK for France and unpacked we couldn't find the plate for the microwave, bought a new plate. Eventually found the first one safely packed with some spare crockery a couple of years or so later.

Bits from a 13/60 for sale in Normandy well situated for anyone going to Le Mans. :

1.      15”” steering wheel, flat, leather and boss are in good condition. The spokes were painted black by a previous owner so can’t vouch for the state of the chrome.

2.      Speedometer works except for the trip is accurate on my car. Replaced simply because I wanted one in kilometers.

3.      Sealed beam units, a pair, chrome, paint and metal in good condition. They work, of course. Changed because they are RHD and I need LHD.

4.      Set of 4 JBW 5.0 x 13. White with machined lip, very good condition. I preferred the original steels hence why for sale.

5.      4 Blade fan. In working condition. Replaced by a 7 blade plastic one to better cope with the heat in Normandy.

 6.      Tonneau cover. Pale grey, zip works fine some staining. To be honest would look much better if dyed black or a dark colour.

I don’t want masses of money more to clear space and find them a good home.

I have photos if anyone is interested in anything