Gerry had it in for us from the start what with the sabotage attack on the solar before we had even got to the channel.
La France...
- Thread starter Stay Frosty
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I reckon it was the Fifth Columnists before you set off.....
I'm guessing it's too late now but we were in a similar position with our European trip this time last year. Ours was a power steering issue but we were about to give up exactly as you are but despite the problems we overcame them and had a great trip. So much so that we are back again doing the same now. We are glad that we didn't give up then and our problems were probably more serious than yours. Good luck whatever you choose. 
Part of the harbour at St Martin de Re, believe it or not it was raining half an hour ago.
To conclude our misadventures we're hoping to catch the Sunday ferry back from Cherbourg tomorrow, mind you that's 300 miles north/east of here so anything could happen.
Well we're on our way back and as if to vindicate that choice the weather has turned tous merde.
Before anyone accuses me of being a lightweight, I am, the amber engine management light is still illuminated, I mention this as after driving a mere 50 miles back towards Hingerland the bastid orange spanner and 550 miles left countdown decided to disappear to be replaced by 5,000 mile range remaining... nothing to see hear, just move along please.
What a poxy piece of ransomware and if I was a sad git, I am, I might take against our gorgeous but fickle holiday home on wheels.
VW might have missed a few opportunities as they could have written in code for automatically locking you out when the remote battery gets low, someone farts or when you don't get in the car within 10 seconds of plipping your key... hang on that last one might be fun when it's raining.
One last thing, does blind rage count as a disability as literally just spotted that I'm the problem, phew.
Before anyone accuses me of being a lightweight, I am, the amber engine management light is still illuminated, I mention this as after driving a mere 50 miles back towards Hingerland the bastid orange spanner and 550 miles left countdown decided to disappear to be replaced by 5,000 mile range remaining... nothing to see hear, just move along please.
What a poxy piece of ransomware and if I was a sad git, I am, I might take against our gorgeous but fickle holiday home on wheels.
VW might have missed a few opportunities as they could have written in code for automatically locking you out when the remote battery gets low, someone farts or when you don't get in the car within 10 seconds of plipping your key... hang on that last one might be fun when it's raining.
One last thing, does blind rage count as a disability as literally just spotted that I'm the problem, phew.
Well we're on our way back and as if to vindicate that choice the weather has turned tous merde.
Before anyone accuses me of being a lightweight, I am, the amber engine management light is still illuminated, I mention this as after driving a mere 50 miles back towards Hingerland the bastid orange spanner and 550 miles left countdown decided to disappear to be replaced by 5,000 mile range remaining... nothing to see hear, just move along please.
What a poxy piece of ransomware and if I was a sad git, I am, I might take against our gorgeous but fickle holiday home on wheels.
VW might have missed a few opportunities as they could have written in code for automatically locking you out when the remote battery gets low, someone farts or when you don't get in the car within 10 seconds of plipping your key... hang on that last one might be fun when it's raining.
One last thing, does blind rage count as a disability as literally just spotted that I'm the problem, phew.
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Sad to hear, remember the good times though.
I wouldn’t touch a Euro 6 T6 to be frank, it’s cheaper to run a very reliable Euro 5 and on occasion pay an environmental charge.
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I hadn't paid for pan European VW Assistance so I guess they knew, as @DXX said earlier though it guarantees their emissions are absolutely clean when you can't start the engine anymore.Had the same nonsense with the 650 count down last year in France, like yours it reset itself, probably after a regen, never been on again since, . Im convinced it geofenced, it knows when you're on holiday
We're back at Cherbourg now 2 &1/2 weeks early...
@Stay Frosty. In the words of the late, great Victor Meldrew 'I don't bloody believe it' but I think I've just caught you 'T6 Ad Blue in France Affliction'. As I mentioned earlier, I topped up the AdBlue last weekend before we set out and had a range of 5500 showing immediately I restarted the engine. Just over 500 miles later (on the road down to Carcassonne) there was a bleep from the dash and a message (avec orange spanner) saying 650 miles to refill. We pressed on and 20 Km later, it went down to 600 miles and 20 after that it went back up to 5000 miles. I wait for the next chapter with baited breath and will report back if necessary.
Bl00dy French...
@Ayjay I feel for you mate, I'm typing this sat back at home in Northampton, why would you code into the vehicle an engine start defeat command and make that non start decision rely on the input from a semi submerged sonar detector probably crusted up with urea crystals?
Got the camper booked in to the local main stealer next Tuesday for a 2 hr post mortem and lobotomy, if actual surgery is required then we're looking at mid August as Northampton Vindis needs more technicians.
Bloody VW @Drive Wayne as France was a pretty good place with friendly helpful people, I know, I thought they hated us too but apart from an inability to queue in an orderly fashion or accept that French is a minority language it was and they were lovely.
OT but if you're thinking of fitting 20" rims, 35 profile Ditchfinder tyres and a 120mm drop on Solows do it and then drive the result on French roads, it will feel like a limo.
French roads are genuinely covered with velvet and the Autoroutes have an additional layer of 4 way stretch carpet and Dynamat foundation, basically our roads are merde compared to theirs.
Got the camper booked in to the local main stealer next Tuesday for a 2 hr post mortem and lobotomy, if actual surgery is required then we're looking at mid August as Northampton Vindis needs more technicians.
Bloody VW @Drive Wayne as France was a pretty good place with friendly helpful people, I know, I thought they hated us too but apart from an inability to queue in an orderly fashion or accept that French is a minority language it was and they were lovely.
OT but if you're thinking of fitting 20" rims, 35 profile Ditchfinder tyres and a 120mm drop on Solows do it and then drive the result on French roads, it will feel like a limo.
French roads are genuinely covered with velvet and the Autoroutes have an additional layer of 4 way stretch carpet and Dynamat foundation, basically our roads are merde compared to theirs.
Almost everywhere I’ve been in Europe has better roads than the UK with the exception of some parts of Italy which are prone to significant earthquakes.
Lucky we got out freedom back to have sh1t roads if we want, that’ll teach ‘em.
With regard to the French, I must say I am totally balanced. I have a chip on both shoulders. Over 20 years ago on a European tour on a Pan European Honda motorbike, Middle of la France, couldn't get a hotel anywhere due to a grand prix happening. 5am, 600 miles on a bike in a day isn't healthy, pouring with rain.. at an odd junction I manage to slip and drop the bike, thank goodness, my girlfriend at the time, got her leg caught between the pannier and the road, the bike was fine, phew. A couple of locals stopped, ran over to us to check we were OK, realised we were 'ros beef' and went back to their cars.@Ayjay I feel for you mate, I'm typing this sat back at home in Northampton, why would you code into the vehicle an engine start defeat command and make that non start decision rely on the input from a semi submerged sonar detector probably crusted up with urea crystals?
Got the camper booked in to the local main stealer next Tuesday for a 2 hr post mortem and lobotomy, if actual surgery is required then we're looking at mid August as Northampton Vindis needs more technicians.
Bloody VW @Drive Wayne as France was a pretty good place with friendly helpful people, I know, I thought they hated us too but apart from an inability to queue in an orderly fashion or accept that French is a minority language it was and they were lovely.
OT but if you're thinking of fitting 20" rims, 35 profile Ditchfinder tyres and a 120mm drop on Solows do it and then drive the result on French roads, it will feel like a limo.
French roads are genuinely covered with velvet and the Autoroutes have an additional layer of 4 way stretch carpet and Dynamat foundation, basically our roads are merde compared to theirs.
On the other shoulder, my sister in law is from the depths of Marseille, trapped my brother into a 'necessary' marriage, and has been 'une vache' for nearly 30 years! She indeed has been guilty of colouring my perception of the French.
I know they are lovely folk, every two or three years we go and stay with my mate Hagrid (Ian, owns Cannock Resprays - a moho repair specialist) in a little village near Percy, northern France, the locals have started recognising us now and no mention of Ros Beef!
Crepes to die for, still wouldn't buy a French motor tho'.
Which route did you take down there, just booked LeShuttle for July so now need to work out route/stop offs for our trip down to Southern Spain
@Jonesy68 We have been on a bit of a tour to find good weather which on the whole we have managed. Our route down was as follows. There are many more direct routes but we also avoid tolls wherever possible and we also wanted to spend some time in the Pyrénées. Personally we always give Paris a wide berth. Don’t forget a crit air pass as a few routes will take you through low emission zones such as Rouen and Montpellier.
Calais to Montsoreau to Sainte-Foy-la-Grande to Ainsa (Spain) to Bagnères-de-Luchon (back in France) to Niaux to Argelès-sur-Mer
Calais to Montsoreau to Sainte-Foy-la-Grande to Ainsa (Spain) to Bagnères-de-Luchon (back in France) to Niaux to Argelès-sur-Mer
Thanks @Higgidav we want to give Paris a miss to, it's bad enough without the Olympics.
I'd be avoiding most of the major conurbations after the election; a respected correspondant is predicting significant violence !
Further to my earlier post (quoted above), this is just to update the Ad Blue position with my van. It has since done around 2000 miles and the MFD tells me there's an Ad Blue range of 4000 (5000 - 2000 = 4000, I don't think so!). I mentioned the above to the dealer yesterday when it was it was in for a service and also gave them a note outlining the circumstances in the post above. They promised to have a look so I went away to get some breakfast and then waste another 2 hours whilst the 'while you wait' service was done. When I returned to collect the van I was told that there was a software update required to sort the Ad Blue problem but they hadn't had time to do it so I've now got to book it in again and do another 100 mile round trip. The only problem is that we're driving / sailing to Greece next month and there isn't time to get an available slot in the workshop before then so we will have to set off with fingers and toes crossed.
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