Taking Octavia III Vrs to Italy

[Watfordbrianskoda]

Hi all,

Apologies if this should be in a different section of Briskoda.

Planning on taking VRS to see family in Northern Italy, first time taking car abroad.

Do I need headlight beam thingys even with Xenons???

Anything else needed????

Regards

Brian

[parsey83]

The headlights can be adjusted within the car setup for driving on either side of the road, have a look in your manual if you can't find it.

[Yeti_Man]

Just enable the 'tourist mode' under the lighting menu on maxidot. Sorted 

[skodanorman]

^ WHS

 

Plus you'll need a spare bulb kit, warning triangle, hi-vis vest. 

[fewie]

And if driving through France 2 disposable breathalysers!

[Yeti_Man]

And if driving through France 2 disposable breathalysers!

Incorrect. It was never actually fully brought in and was withdrawn fully January 2013 iirc. Re the hi vis vests - you'll need one per passenger and they must be within the cabin, not in the boot. Enjoy the trip - driving to Italy is great!   

[gdswiss]

If you drive through Switzerland be careful for speed traps as it's expensive and also you must drive with either headlights or daytime running lights on at all times. Oh, good luck at the Gotthard tunnel!

[Neily03]

Just enable the 'tourist mode' under the lighting menu on maxidot. Sorted 

 

It's not on the maxidot, its in the infotainment under 'Lighting', also it's not called tourist mode, you just select which side of the road you're driving on.

[Yeti_Man]

Its all changed since my day! Should have realised MQB Mk3 would be a different setup.

[Watfordbrianskoda]

Thanks to everyone who's replied and given tips etc.

Just struggling to get head round spare bulbs with Xenons, would any bulb kit suffice??

Regards

Brian

[Neily03]

Thanks to everyone who's replied and given tips etc.

Just struggling to get head round spare bulbs with Xenons, would any bulb kit suffice??

Regards

Brian

 

You don't need spare xenon bulbs as they're dealer fit anyway.

[Mikebham]

What about fog light being on the wrong side?

[Neily03]

What about fog light being on the wrong side?

 

i don't think that's an issue if you're only visiting....

[gt40]

Take a lot of €1 coins for the coffee machines in French service stations (1 coffee = about 3 hours of high awareness) plus know your fuels in French/Italian.

 

France is getting very expensive, just even passing through, but Italy, and even Switzerland if you go that way, are more reasonable. As Yeti_Man says, however, it's a fantastic trip so make the most of it.

[Watfordbrianskoda]

With the language barrier SWMBO is Italian and can spk a little French etc.

Route on google to in-laws shows 3 options Vicenza

1) A4 via Stuttgart and innsbrook

2) E40 Brussels touching Cologne then as above

3) A2 Via Basel Milan and then across

Which would people go?

Regards

Brian

[gt40]

With the language barrier SWMBO is Italian and can spk a little French etc.

Route on google to in-laws shows 3 options Vicenza

1) A4 via Stuttgart and innsbrook

2) E40 Brussels touching Cologne then as above

3) A2 Via Basel Milan and then across

Which would people go?

Regards

Brian

 

I've only ever driven to Turin/Genoa/Tuscany and I would go from Calais to Reims, Dijon, turn left before Lyon, South of Geneva and over/through the hills to Aosta.

 

edit - we once had to turn back on our return journey north of Turin as all the roads were washed away or blocked due to terrific flooding. We went round the coast to Monaco and it added about a day to our journey.  Oh well!

Edited 13 May, 2014 by gt40

[Shermo]

edit - we once had to turn back on our return journey north of Turin as all the roads were washed away or blocked due to terrific flooding. We went round the coast to Monaco and it added about a day to our journey.  Oh well!

 

How did you cope? Monaco is such a shabby place! 

[London Les]

Quite envious of that road trip! Good luck.

[Watfordbrianskoda]

Thinking to try the Stelvio Pass, top gear best EU road...

Also a guy at work mentioned Swiz / Austria with a car tax pass?????

[RandomSkodaperson]

For Austria you need the Vignette about 25 euros depending on the length of your stay. You can pick up in newsagents / pertrol stations I think. Make sure you buy one and display it!

 

The lived in Germany and did the Cologne to Innsbruck many times. Great fast run down but more fun in the Alps.

[gt40]

Talking of driving to Italy reminds me of this allegedly true tale:

A Scotland supporter returning from the World Cup in 1990, on stepping off a plane from Turin at Edinburgh airport, phoned his wife to request she pick him up. She said she wouldn't and when asked why replied: "because you took the f%ing car to Italy!"

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Watfordbrianskoda]

Talking of driving to Italy reminds me of this allegedly true tale:

A Scotland supporter returning from the World Cup in 1990, on stepping off a plane from Turin at Edinburgh airport, phoned his wife to request she pick him up. She said she wouldn't and when asked why replied: "because you took the f%ing car to Italy!"

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

If True Fantastic 

 

Brian

[pipsyp]

If you have Amundsen or Columbus nav the car should automatically determine whether to configure the lights for LHD or RHD based on GPS and mapping location, this has been covered and supposedly confirmed on another topic. If no nav then it has to be done manually.

If no xenons then you need the lens stickers.

[mkaye1310]

Hi Brian

We drove to Garda 2 years ago. Are you overnighting ?. We used the motorway through France and stayed in Epinal for the night. Campinile hotel. Then travelled down through Switzerland dropping onto the top end of Milan. 25 euro pass needed in Switzerland payable at the border. They will give you any change in swiss francs. Then the motorway to Garda. This was a really good journey with no hold ups at all. Have a good journey whichever way you go.

mick

[Watfordbrianskoda]

Hi Brian

We drove to Garda 2 years ago. Are you overnighting ?. We used the motorway through France and stayed in Epinal for the night. Campinile hotel. Then travelled down through Switzerland dropping onto the top end of Milan. 25 euro pass needed in Switzerland payable at the border. They will give you any change in swiss francs. Then the motorway to Garda. This was a really good journey with no hold ups at all. Have a good journey whichever way you go.

mick

 

Initially thinking Geneva maybe???

 

Regards

Brian