Well my list of things i'd like to do/buy now I actually have my Yeti is steadily getting longer and more expensive..

 

Haldex sieve clean

Smart Link activation for Apple CarPlay

Towbar

Goodyear Vector all season tyres

Hatchbag boot liner

 

Thankfully the cheap unbranded roof bars I've removed from the wifes Tiguan fit the Yeti rails, so that saved me some cash.

 

 

6 hours ago, J.R. said:

What have I said that would lead you to conclude that I am anything but a very considerate driver Xman?

 

I have never reversed into a parked car except one that had boxed me in (which happens all the time where I live) and the guy was drunk and belligerant (he had driven to a bar) and refused to move forward even 6", laughed at me (playing to an audience) and said (in French) what are you going to do about it! So I showed him.

 

Were you to live here you would realise what a massive problem tailgating is, and I mean almost rubbing paint tailgating, slowing down just exasperates, a dab of the brake lights makes them even more determined, a full on emergency stop does the trick, since fitting the larger more visible Nato coupling it happens a lot less.

 

I have had severe rear end shunts 3 times over the years, never through brake testing but the inattention of the other driver, 3 cars written off insurance wise, 6 if you include theirs, all of mine have been easy repairs because thanks to the towbars fitted the damage has been relatively cosmetic, the impact dissipated evenly between the 2 chassis rails, the bumpers usually pushing out & needing minimum paintwork.

 

I dont hate caravanners or any group. My choice of tow coupling is for my needs and not to minimise the self inflicted damage done to the vehicles of inattentive, aggressive or selfish drivers.

 

I do know a couple of young children (adults now) who have broken their legs whilst running around playing too close to a parked vehicle with a towball, in that respect the swan neck removable are much more dangerous while they are fitted because they stick out much further, and many people do seem to leave them fitted, the flange on my towbar is so tight to the bumper that have had to drill clearance holes for the few threads that project from the bolts and have to use wedges in order to even get the nuts in position, with a standard towball fitted its flush to the bumper, the one in the photo by its nature sticks out more but less than most swan neck balls.

I see that you live in France and having driven there a few times many years ago it seems that some (not all) have a view that their masculinity depends on the weight of their right foot and parking is a dodgem sport. I can’t really say much else apart from that living in North Yorkshire most drivers are more considerate of other drivers and don’t tailgate or park so badly as those drivers you seem to have to deal with. I wish you luck and can only imagine the cost of insurance with 3 cars written off over the years. It would seem that rather than a towbar at the rear for protection you need an RSJ on the front and back of the car for complete protection! Best of luck in the future.

 

Sorry, I have to disagree. I have towed in France each summer since 1999, doing up to 3,000 miles some years.  I've found open roads, less congestion and more tolerant drivers. I'm guessing the later is because they see the GB plate and a caravan and give me a bit of space. The first time I ventured over with the Yeti was a near 600 mile trip in one go. Every couple of hours I could pull over at an aire, stretch my legs, go the loo and have a drink. You cannot do that in the UK. What an absolute joy. 

 

Colin

 

French motorway lane discipline is some of the best in Europe (evidence: many European miles annually except 2020 unfortunately). You will be tailgated if you stay in an outside lane unnecessarily but no different to here. OK, parking in some cities is sometimes 'shunt and squeeze in' but no different to here. And yes, the Aires are delightful.

 

Edited 25 October, 20205 yr by Bexhillian

All rear end shunts were in the UK, the last one while I was French resident, always claimed successfully from 3rd party insurers, no loading of my premiums, I retained the salvage and made money from the repairs although would rather have avoided the situations.

 

Tailgating never a problem on the autoroutes, its in hick areas like mine where people want to push the car in front to go faster rather than overtake, driving standards en campagne are deplorable, pretty much every journey you will see another wrecked car in a filed having rolled multiple times, a dead straight road with no side turnings, no other vehicles involved, loads and loads of drunken drivers.

 

Get on the périphérique de Paris and you will see a very high standard of driving and lane discipline, very cut & thrust and no-one is hanging around.

 

Parking in Paris & large cities is another matter entirely, people park bumper to bumper actually touching & will have caused dents & scratches each time, when the plates were pressed steel they would look like something on a dodgem car, nobody uses their handbrake when parking like that, when someone needs to extract their vehicle they just push the line of cars ahead or behind, or both until there is enough space to get out.

 

I drove to the Monaco Grand Prix in 2004 in a split screen camper, we camped in the street and it was constantly being shunted by people parking or wanting to extract their vehicles, at the traffic lights on the steep hills we noticed that people were stopping touching the bumper of the car in front (we kept getting shunted again) and soon found out why, nobody could do a hillstart with the handbrake, they would release it and roll back into the car behind before engaging the clutch. We would leave a normal gap and the car in front would roll back gathering speed and ram us the bedbug had super solid bumpers and they would damage their vehicle and tell me it was my fault for not being close behind them or touching!

Didn't think my little unwoke joke would spark a passionate debate. Just to point out to @Llanigraham that I only posted here because @J.R. incorrectly dragged my name into this thread when he should have quoted @Expatman's name instead, as that is who I think he was responding to.

 

But apparently he's half blind and getting on for being half french and always a bit grumpy so I suppose I must make allowances before filing a slander suit.   ( that's yet another throwaway joke btw for any briskodians who missed it)

 

I will leave the thread now, my honour hopefully restored  ...and fully awake btw.....  

•  

I thought you once may have been called Pat!

 

Am hoping the half blindness may be half resolved with another operation tomorrow.

On 23/10/2020 at 21:08, Llanigraham said:

North West Tow Bars have come highly recommended in the past and even used a Yeti in one of their videos, also PF Jones, a nationwide mobile company, have a good reputation and have been used by many members.

And go for the dedicated wiring loom and NOT the by-pass system. That is much better and allows full integration with the car's electronics.

 

North West Towbars fitted my Westfilia towbar yesterday with dedicated wiring for £600. Nice people, very professional.

 

 

Edited 5 November, 20205 yr by Dale_Stevens

NWT fitted my Witter fixed towbar, they did a neat job and everything electrical worked perfectly.  

On 24/10/2020 at 22:02, Dale_Stevens said:

Well my list of things i'd like to do/buy now I actually have my Yeti is steadily getting longer and more expensive..

 

Haldex sieve clean

Smart Link activation for Apple CarPlay

Towbar

Goodyear Vector all season tyres

Hatchbag boot liner

 

Thankfully the cheap unbranded roof bars I've removed from the wifes Tiguan fit the Yeti rails, so that saved me some cash.

 

 

 

Well the towbar and SmartLink Apple CarPlay are now ticked off my list as done. I got the SmartLink activated at the dealers on Tuesday which cost me £146. Not cheap but Apple CarPlay is very good. I'ts nice to have the Apple apps on the cars display. I'll mostly be using Amazon Music, Waze and Audible.

 

One thing I've noticed with Audible is when selecting a chapter of an audiobook to play, it sometimes starts playing a completely different audio book, which is strange. 

Other than that, I love it.

 

Next job will be the Haldex clean, although the previous owner did have the Haldex oil change at 30k miles (now got 35k miles) but I can't be sure the filter was cleaned.

Next i need a boot liner, but all the season tyres may have to wait until next year if the money tree develops some fruit.

 

 

Edited 6 November, 20205 yr by Dale_Stevens