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driving to germany

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 02:30 am
by matt~driver
Hi im planning on going over to Germany for a week in November/December I am getting breakdown cover but wanted some advice on any parts I should take with me just in case I have a Volvo 360 gle (carb one) it dose run on after tuning off at the mo but that comes and goes

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 12:55 pm
by alf
Hi matt!
Personally i would take with me: usual tools, electrical tape, ignition module, a good spare tire, 1 meter of hose for fuel, a dizzy cap, 1 liter of engine oil, a relay, fuses, a thermostat.
I hope that`s enough! sm4

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 03:48 pm
by macplaxton
Winter tyres. Not mandatory, unless the weather is crap, so either prepare to park-up if the weather turns sour or be ready to pay the fine if busted.

Breakdown cover is for girls... :lol: sm34

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:27 pm
by Chris_C
macplaxton wrote:Not mandatory, unless the weather is crap, so either prepare to park-up if the weather turns sour or be ready to pay the fine if busted.
There's a fine, so yes they are ;)

I know a bunch of chaps who didn't know of this ruling going to Germany last December.

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 07:16 pm
by trabitom99
I think what Rich means is "not mandantory just because it happens to be December". It's the conditions that count, no one will bust you on a sunny winter day with no snow. If you hold up the traffic because you can't get up a hill, or land in a ditch in a corner, it's a different matter.

It's not just Germany with "winter tyre regulations", many other European countries have rules regarding them too. They've changed a lot in recent years, so don't rely too much on some website you've googled from 2006 :-)

T.

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 12:05 am
by macplaxton
trabitom99 wrote:It's the conditions that count
Yup, you got it in one and understood me perfectly. 340pw

Remember high-viz vests for France, one for every occupant and don't leave them in the boot :wink:

I had a starter motor and bought other stuff as I went along. Credit card is handy for emergencies. Oh and look at the small print on the breakdown cover, some policies don't cover very much.

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 09:53 pm
by V6 Man
Chris_C wrote: I know a bunch of chaps who didn't know of this ruling going to Germany last December.
Correction...

You know a bunch of chaps who knew of the rule but decided to ignore it!

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 05 Nov 2011 08:04 am
by pettaw
Also will need a full set of spare bulbs, certainly for France, and I think most of Europe too.

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 05 Nov 2011 10:35 am
by trabitom99
What's the big deal on breakdown cover in the UK? Here, it only costs an additional 20 or so Euros a year on the car insurance for EU-wide cover.

Tom

Re: driving to germany

Posted: 05 Nov 2011 05:44 pm
by macplaxton
trabitom99 wrote:What's the big deal on breakdown cover in the UK?
It's overpriced for starters (AA & RAC). I heard it was probably cheaper just joining ADAC instead.

The main problem from my perspective is that they usually run a mile if the car is over a certain age (be it 10,15,20), unless it's personal cover (rather than registered vehicle cover). Then there might be a recovery clause in it such as: "we will recover you vehicle at a cost of up to the vehicle's value", potentially leaving you in a bit of a bind if the car isn't worth thousands... I'm sure you could cover all these eventualities with insurance of some sort, but it would probably be silly money.

Hence why a set of tools and a few spares and self-insuring was my preferred option.