Driving in Germany

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:50 pm

That's brilliant what the Germans have done, basically if you're a foreigner entering their territory, basically it's going to cost you money for the privilege to drive your car

We should have the same system in this country, any foreign cars have to pay a ROAD TAX payment for the period that they are visiting for.

In Switzerland bless them, back in the eighties (i think) they were fed up with foriegners just blasting through & not even stopping for fuel or buy food or anything but using those lovely pristine roads, so they decided that every foreigner would have to pay a road tax charge if you wanted to use the main highways. But being the swiss & wanting to make this fair, they decided that all swiss people had to pay this as well

Lets hope the uk adopts a similar system as the swiss, but doesn't actually charge uk plated cars anything unlike the swiss

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:58 pm

I notice they will still charge you 15 Euros if for some reason they cannot issue you with a ticket...

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:01 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:I notice they will still charge you 15 Euros if for some reason they cannot issue you with a ticket...

At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!!!

Wooscary · Post by **Wooscary** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 1:36 pm

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

I'll be driving a 93 TZD.

Looking through all the various Umwelt related websites, I'm totally confused.

Going to the tyre place I use tomorrow to see what they'd have in the size, if anything.

Are snow chains worth looking in to? Does anyone have a set they'd hire me for 5 days?

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 2:20 pm

I'd be inclined to pick up a set when you're over there if you want them. Certainly in France, every hypermarket will sell them for less than you'll pay over here. However, if you're not going very high, you may not need them - I've only needed them in the mountains when I've been abroad.

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 4:08 pm

Wooscrary wrote

Looking through all the various Umwelt related websites, I'm totally confused.

The one I posted is the official one of the private company who run the whole 'scam' for the German govt.
I can tell you already that you won't get one for your BX. No diesel BX qualifies even for the lowest category 'red' badge unless it's got an after market Cat fitted and even then that would have to be fitted before 2008 to be valid and have exactly the right 'key' number to get the lowest category which wouldn't get you into Berlin anyway. You could try your luck and just do it as someone has got to physically spot you and even if they do it's a €40 fine which the badge would cost!

Wooscary · Post by **Wooscary** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 4:51 pm

Ok, well that's a shitter, but at least I know now. Cheers for the straight forward reply. I'll just have to take the risk.

I managed to drive through several tolls and charge zones in Norway a few years ago without getting charged at all, so maybe I'm lucky.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 8:21 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:I'd be inclined to pick up a set when you're over there if you want them. Certainly in France, every hypermarket will sell them for less than you'll pay over here. However, if you're not going very high, you may not need them - I've only needed them in the mountains when I've been abroad.

What are those snow-chain-alternative devices called? The ones that have straight grippy strips that fit across the tyre tread, and are really quick and easy to fit.

EDIT: Quoted Mat by mistake - but you get the drift...

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 8:43 pm

I think they're called snow socks.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:32 pm

This is more what I was thinking of http://www.gbdriver.co.uk/index.php?mai ... cts_id=427

but the socks look good too, and there's a spray on resin for emergency use (50 mile life) http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/winterdr ... regrip.php

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:57 pm

It say's on the website that: Please remember, GoClaws are only suitable for 4x4, Commercial and Camper Van sized wheels.

Wooscary · Post by **Wooscary** » Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:17 pm

So, just actually braved the cold to have a look at my tyres, turns out they are mud and snow rated, so I'm thinking getting hold of a set of chains as well will work out as a good solution.

Now the biggest problem - having to replace my magnetic GB badge...

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:09 am

MULLEY wrote:It say's on the website that: Please remember, GoClaws are only suitable for 4x4, Commercial and Camper Van sized wheels.

That adds up as the only time I've seen them in use was when I hit a patch of sheet ice in Scotland and my Rangey slid ever so slowly into a ditch, another Range Rover driver happened to be passing and pulled me out with the aid of a similar traction devices. It took him and his mate about 2 minutes to fix them to all 4 wheels.

I can't really see why they wouldn't work on a car with large enough diameter wheels though... a Tranny wheel can't be that much bigger than a BX wheel, can it?

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:56 am

scarecrow wrote:a Tranny wheel can't be that much bigger than a BX wheel, can it?

It can. Quite a bit actually.

You've also got the issue of much more clearance between the wheel and the arch/any other bits of car. Snow chains can do spectacular damage to bodywork if they're fitted to a car with not enough clearance.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:20 pm

Oh dear. Yes, I never thought of that. I've only ever used them once - and I could have walked where I needed to go in the time it took me to fit them

Edit: Though the device I was looking at appeared to be non-metallic and to need less clearance than a normal chain... The manufacturers obviously would market them for cars if they could, so there must be some issue.