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Paul55



Member Since: 03 Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere in my head!
Posts: 510

England 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
You may or may not require a GB sticker too depending what's on your rear number plate Very Happy Cogito ergo sum
Post #643124 11th Aug 2017 7:28am
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6260

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
sticker there from 2 years ago......knew it might come in handy. Very Happy
Post #643135 11th Aug 2017 8:33am
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ChrisCM



Member Since: 10 Jun 2013
Location: Cornwall uk
Posts: 572

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Santorini Black
Don't leave any valuables in the car when you park if you can avoid it. I lost a camera and iPad from the locked boot of a hire car when at a Lidle store! The thieving gits seem to be watching and target hire/foreign vehicles and we all know how insecure the Landie is!
But don't get paranoid about it, just sensible precautions. Enjoy your trip. 2010 Defender 110 Station Wagon, Santorini Black.
Post #643145 11th Aug 2017 10:17am
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RustyM



Member Since: 28 Oct 2013
Location: Africa/The Med
Posts: 222

England 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
How is/was Spain?

I have driven many a 110 from the UK through France and Spain to the get the either the Algeciras or Tarifa ferry to Morocco many times.

My advice for France is to just watch out for the speed cameras as they recognise a Defender as a commercial vehicle and therefore enforce the lower speed limits.

Spain... well "mańana" Laughing Thumbs Up 90 & Wolf
110 XS
Previously owned SI SII SIIa SIII & Light weight (air portable)
Post #647601 1st Sep 2017 9:57am
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ericvv



Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

Switzerland 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
^^Never heard that France have such sophisticated speed cameras able to distinct vehicle types. And since when are there different speed limits in effect in France for passenger cars and for vans?
Here's an official website with current info.
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F19460 You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw
Post #647606 1st Sep 2017 10:41am
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RustyM



Member Since: 28 Oct 2013
Location: Africa/The Med
Posts: 222

England 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Hi Ericvv,

There has been "gross vehicle weight" based speed restrictions in France for sometime. Now most police officers tend to look the other way with regards to Defenders but there is always one or two that don't... From experience it depends on the mood at the time of the said police Confused This is also the case in the UK Whistle

Yes the tech to tell the difference between a car and van has been around for again sometime. A non speed related example would be. Have you ever gone through an automatic road toll in your Defender and had to pay the "Van" price? Big Cry

The main cameras I have "seen" that can do larger vehicle differences are near Paris and Bordeaux, sure they are creeping in more and more though. Hope that helps. 90 & Wolf
110 XS
Previously owned SI SII SIIa SIII & Light weight (air portable)
Post #647642 1st Sep 2017 2:36pm
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ericvv



Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

Switzerland 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
My Defender is registered as a "passenger car". No different than a VW Passat to give an example. And I never had to pay "van" tariffs on french payage highways, matter of fact never was asked about that. Wouldn't do it, as I'm driving a regular passenger car. Whistle
I wait to see proof of what you call gross vehicle weight specific french speed limits. Never seen a written word of that.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw
Post #647649 1st Sep 2017 3:22pm
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6260

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Spain was amazing!
Weather was fantastic and although the truck was like a pig when I got to the port (UK) it was a dream all the time in Spain although the Intake air temp was registering about 10-20C down most of the time I was there?

I ended up doing some off road tracks unexpectedly and about 16kM (expectedly) - mostly in low range and the scenery so far as I'm concerned was to die for in the Picos. The tracks were easy enough and the I loved it (family enjoyed it too - and for the wife to agree that going 'off road' was a good choice is monumental!).

My biggest regret is to realise how few photos we took - I will however try and get a few photos up to give you a taste of what we experienced - it makes you realise what an inconvenience work is to getting on and enjoying life. Thumbs Up

managed to get 3 short rides in on my bike with temps of c30C and they are possibly the best 3 short rides I've ever done.

One night stop off at Astorga while heading to our first base near Ponferrada;


Click image to enlarge


can't recommend enough having a fridge in the boot when doing a fair bit of travelling in 30+C temps (cold drinks, fruit, yoghurt, ham, cheese etc. Ok they're not cheap but there's no doubt in my mind they're an investment.

moving on to our first base the hotel was about 100 mtrs past the village of Acebo near Ponferrada. When I say small village this is the main road through the village leading to the hotel - nice a quiet it was. Except for an almost constant stream of 'pilgrims' on the Camino de Santiago.


Click image to enlarge
Post #647720 2nd Sep 2017 7:00am
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Mystic Merlin



Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Malaga
Posts: 15

Spain 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White


Osborne Bull complete with oversized Tow- balls Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter
Moved to Malaga Province of Spain some 16 years ago, and truthfully never regretted it once, not for a millisecond - well, unless you count the Brexit debacle !!
The Spanish understand that life is for the living, not to kill yourself working all the hours God sends to pay for the Chancellors Downing Street cock ups !!!
All you need is a a varity of spanners, a Nanocom, a Disco 2 and a Defender and your life is full of adventures and treats. There is not enough tea in China to ever tempt us back. Enjoying this life way too much to go backwards

Click image to enlarge
Post #714741 27th Jun 2018 12:45pm
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Adam17



Member Since: 15 May 2018
Location: Within Bedfordshire
Posts: 1193

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Java Black
bpman wrote:
Check your tyre pressures - might save a few ďż˝ by adding a few lbs (see what I did there)

Paper maps back up for naughty satnav, check you have your security wheel nut, copy of v50 and ins docs, make photo copies of your bank cards and hide the or photograph them on you phone ( if your cards get pinched you'll need the numbers to report them), first aid kit, few cable ties, bottle of superglue and some duct tape ( you may want to kidnap someone) ..

Enjoy your trip


Love it!!

Thanks all for the heads up, im planning next year too. Regards
Adam

Loving The Duchess
The Defender 110 TD5 XS

My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html
Post #747915 29th Dec 2018 2:01pm
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Adam17



Member Since: 15 May 2018
Location: Within Bedfordshire
Posts: 1193

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Java Black
Mystic Merlin wrote:

The Spanish understand that life is for the living, not to kill yourself working all the hours God sends to pay for the Chancellors Downing Street cock ups !!!
All you need is a a varity of spanners, a Nanocom, a Disco 2 and a Defender and your life is full of adventures and treats. There is not enough tea in China to ever tempt us back. Enjoying this life way too much to go backwards


Agree with that statement totally.
In the next 2 years im hoping that we will move, and buy a small house out right, and work 3-4 days a week and enjoy life a little more...
I've always been a work to live, not live to work kind of guy...

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do out their to earn your bread and butter???
I have most my family in Spain, my folks have 'retired' out there, my uncle runs a garage (air brushing and mechanics - was called air brush shack, and now the mustang sally garage - I think)
But my sister, she moved to gran caneria, and it all went pete tong - put me right off moving abroad, so will settle with somewhere south England, and spend my time travelling and visiting Europe... Regards
Adam

Loving The Duchess
The Defender 110 TD5 XS

My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html
Post #747918 29th Dec 2018 2:29pm
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Birdy



Member Since: 07 Oct 2011
Location: CĂ´te d'Azur
Posts: 848

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
“…put me right off moving abroad”

In my experience (limited, but I’ve lived and worked in Luxembourg, Syria, Bosnia and the Caribbean, and have owned property in France for over thirty years), the difference between those who enjoy moving abroad and those who don’t is simply a matter of whether or not they’ve bothered to learn the language.

“But everybody speaks English”? They DON’T, and certainly not amongst themselves or when they’re talking about you. Do you want to be able to chat with your neighbours, watch the television, enjoy your coffee and croissant at a nearby café reading the local paper? Make friends who can pass on tips and ideas? Manage the bureaucracy without too much hassle (says he who’s being trying to change his UK Driving Licence for a French one for the last eight months)? Or do you want to live in an ex-pats ghetto being ripped off by the locals and bitching about how much better it was in the UK?

Peter
Post #747922 29th Dec 2018 3:07pm
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Adam17



Member Since: 15 May 2018
Location: Within Bedfordshire
Posts: 1193

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Java Black
I wouldn't say that your experience is limited, Wow that travelling sounds amazing. Go you! I do hope one day ill have the means to do that.

The reason my sisters troubles put me off moving abroad was - as you put it - being ripped off by all the locals, the officials and even the solicitors...
-She said they would turn up and make up a 'licence or certificate' they didn't have and charge them. They would check with their neighbours (locals) who had never heard of the particular cert or licence in question, but were stuck with chasing the cert and paying fines...
-The business premises had a gas and electric bill from the previous renters and the power company cut power (several times I believe) to the premises, Which they eventually sorted I believe.
-Solicitors and at that several British solicitors had given bad info, over charged, not done paperwork correctly etc etc etc...
It was just hell for them, My sister came back to the UK to nothing as she had given it all up to move abroad, she put all her monies in to it and came out with nothing, her relationship at the time fractured.

I had gone to the trouble of learning Spanish, I got to level 4(it got real difficult at that point) Rolling with laughter
I was going to continue to level 5, but decided as I wasn't going to move out there, I knew enough to get by... But now that I haven't been using it, the fluentness has gone. I can get by ordering foods etc, but couldn't have a conversation in Spanish. Kudos to all those that have made a life abroad, and an effort to learn the lingo.

I think moving/living abroad should be 'easy & stress free'(I get its not lol) my sisters struggles just made it to be too much BS for that...

My uncle's lucky, his other half speaks fluent Spanish and deals with all the paperwork side of the business. Regards
Adam

Loving The Duchess
The Defender 110 TD5 XS

My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html
Post #747927 29th Dec 2018 3:35pm
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bob neville



Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3247

Spain 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
We are moving out to Spain this year as soon as our house has sold here, that stupid B....t thing is causing all sorts of issues with house sales.

In fact we have just come back from Marbella, and I am seriously thinking of going back next week, 20c on three days last week and returned to Bristol yesterday to 6c 😮

Having spent years living and working in the Caribbean we just can’t take the wet and cold English winters anymore.

We are both learning Spanish and try to use it when we are over there as much as we can, the locals do respect you for trying to hold conversations in their language but they normally switch to English so it makes the learning process difficult !

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !
Post #752355 19th Jan 2019 1:35pm
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6260

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
good for you Thumbs Up

I hope it turns out to be everything you hope for. I don't think you'll be missing too much - especially the weather.
best of luck.
Post #752361 19th Jan 2019 1:53pm
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