40th anniversary of the 480 - planning thread.

[jifflemon]

Planning is everything…….

I’m starting now. I’m guessing people will fall into two groups;

Group A, cannonball straight to the event.
Group B, a more leisurely drive to the event.

I’m hoping to get people to convoy - safety in numbers. I’ll probably be taking a whole bunch of tools and spares, meaning we should have extra safety. I will also be doing a “things to check before you travel” thread,

So, let’s start the discussions now.

[dragonflyjewels]

I can definitely recommend the convoy after our horrendous experience at a French club meeting.
My beloved Snazzy overheated in exceptionally hot weather after her fan disintegrated. We had breakdown insurance so I wasn't overly concerned until I rang them.
I was informed that for recovery to the UK I had to remove all personal property from the car - not possible to carry it all on the journey by public transport with the amount we had. Then I had to sign her over to them. This gave them the right to scrap her if recovery costs were higher than her value which they would determine. Due to the very hot weather they had a 3 -4 week delay on recovery transport so she would be put into secure storage which would be expensive. I would not be given the option to pay the difference. With over 200k on the the clock of a basic model scrapping seemed almost inevitable.
Needless to say the French club rallied round and saved the day but if it had happened on the journey there or home we wouldn't have had any help.
A third option for us would have been to let her cool off then limp her to the nearest safe parking then travel home and hire a trailer to go back in the Saab and collect her. As soon as we got home I rang the hire company to ask if they allowed their trailers to cross the channel. They said yes as long as we told them in advance as they then had to let their insurers know. Not an option for anyone without another car with a towbar or with a less accommodating local trailer hire company.
Although we've kept the breakdown insurance for breakdowns when there isn't a backlog, we also now always take two cars in case we need to do our own recovery. I always like to have back up plans so I definitely want to join a convoy !

[Martin63]

I can definitely recommend the convoy after our horrendous experience at a French club meeting.
My beloved Snazzy overheated in exceptionally hot weather after her fan disintegrated. We had breakdown insurance so I wasn't overly concerned until I rang them.
I was informed that for recovery to the UK I had to remove all personal property from the car - not possible to carry it all on the journey by public transport with the amount we had. Then I had to sign her over to them. This gave them the right to scrap her if recovery costs were higher than her value which they would determine. Due to the very hot weather they had a 3 -4 week delay on recovery transport so she would be put into secure storage which would be expensive. I would not be given the option to pay the difference. With over 200k on the the clock of a basic model scrapping seemed almost inevitable.
Needless to say the French club rallied round and saved the day but if it had happened on the journey there or home we wouldn't have had any help.
A third option for us would have been to let her cool off then limp her to the nearest safe parking then travel home and hire a trailer to go back in the Saab and collect her. As soon as we got home I rang the hire company to ask if they allowed their trailers to cross the channel. They said yes as long as we told them in advance as they then had to let their insurers know. Not an option for anyone without another car with a towbar or with a less accommodating local trailer hire company.
Although we've kept the breakdown insurance for breakdowns when there isn't a backlog, we also now always take two cars in case we need to do our own recovery. I always like to have back up plans so I definitely want to join a convoy !

A convoy definitely sounds like the right way to do it Sylvia. I was relieved last year that I was heading to the Netherlands as I knew if I was going to need any parts (or the people with the essential skills and knowledge) that was the right place to be. With Germany being the same the next day.

I also was glad I followed your advice on Eurotunnel/Le Shuttle. It was definitely the most straightforward and fast way to cross the Channel.

[Martin63]

A possible add-on to the trip could be to take in the DAF Museum in Eindhoven and also the former DAF factory in Limburg. I visited both last year and especially enjoyed the museum.

They wouldn't be too much of a detour from the UK - either on the way out to the Cologne area or on the way home.

[jifflemon]

OK,

My initial plan is looking like this.

Thursday evening: travelodge, Ashford (m20) - its about half an hour to Dover/Folkstone from there.

Friday morning - Cross the channel - Not sure on timings or Method yet.

Once in France, it's around 5 hours to hotel, which gives ample time for stops en-route.

Stops en-route also give opportunities for other owners to join the convoy.....

[jifflemon]

Early indications are that Chunnel is around £200 return.

Still to early for ferry pricing

[royhedger]

Count me in for this convoy idea.
Was looking into Hull to Rotterdam crossing aswell but i think it'll be cheaper and safer (safety in numbers as you say) for me to drive south, and cross the channel.

R

[MisterH]

As mentioned elsewhere I will be in deep with uni work then so it will likely be a spur of the moment thing for me, Eurotunnel is supreme, and I know from my Denmark Run that I can get to NL in about 12 hours which is easily doable. As for the car, given it will be returning to daily use pending brake ailments finally getting sorted, I am hoping she will be good to go.

Can't know if I can do it until about a week before launch mind...

[Jay-Kay-Em]

Stops en-route also give opportunities for other owners to join the convoy.....

I'll be joining en-route as i'm making a holiday of it and will be in Dutchland already.

The small print of these recovery companies makes you so scared you'd barely leave the house. Given the "We Buy Any Car" valuation of my car is £280 (no joke) you can only assume recovery companies will be using the same valuation guides.

Repatriation up to that market value won't get you much

Previous trips I have tried to get recovery company "agreed valuation" before I depart but I was wasting my time.

As others have said, safety in numbers and the rest is up to the reliability gods.

[royhedger]

Jay,
The RAC will recover your car to the uk regardless of its value. Some recovery companies put a limit on their costs upto tne value of the car, but i beleive RAC do not.

A friend of mine fell foul of this on a jaunt in his Hilman Avenger estate to italy in 2018. He had a hell of a job convincing the recovery company that his newly restored car was worth more than the repatriation costs. Squeaky bum time for a week or 2.
I was with him at the time in a 1978 Chrysler Sunbeam and i checked my policy and it was the same as his. Ive never been so motivated to roadside fix myself any issue which occurred on that trip...

[jifflemon]

Oh and in case anyone needs a kick up the motivational behind (can’t imagine who!)

42 weekends left!

[Martin63]

Early indications are that Chunnel is around £200 return.

Still to early for ferry pricing

There are often Black Friday deals in November/December for Euro tunnel (or Le Shuttle as it's now known)

[jifflemon]

So, updated Vague(ish) plan is:

Thursday evening: travelodge, Ashford (m20) - its about half an hour to Dover/Folkstone from there. I've already got my room booked!

Friday morning - Cross the channel - Probably aiming for 10 oclock ish crossing (gives people who don't want an overnight stop time to head down). Chunnel is looking more favourable (quicker and about the same price, but may look wait for potential Black friday deals before booking!)

Return journey for me will be monday, so probably mid afternoon return.

[jifflemon]

Just another planning reminder

Get your healthcare cover abroad

[jifflemon]

Just another update

Chunnel!

Outbound: Friday 22 May 10:20AM
Return: Monday 25 May 6:36PM.

[Martin63]

Just another update

Chunnel!

Outbound: Friday 22 May 10:20AM
Return: Monday 25 May 6:36PM.

It was disappointing that their Black Friday deal was so poor this year - Chunnel/Euro tunnel/Le Shuttle is the way to go though.

[royhedger]

Having had a good look into options, I'm gonna travel Hull to Rotterdam and back as it cuts a huge chunk of driving out for me.
I'd be very interested in meeting with you all in France or Belgium and joining a convoy to Germany.

On previous road trips I have used "Life360" which is a free app to track participants locations, especially useful if one of us breaks down or gets lost. www.life360.com

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

[jifflemon]

Makes sense Roy. Any idea yet what time you land

Good to have options, I’ll start looking at routes and meet up points

[ArcticTony]

Anyone planning on getting the ferry from Dover? It’s about £80 cheaper than the tunnel. Appreciate it’s longer crossing time but still leaves sufficient time to do the Fra to Ger leg

[royhedger]

Jeff,
I arrive in Rotterdam at 08:45 on the Friday.

Looking on the map, Ghent looks like a good place to rendezvous.