e type to South of France by train

[slurpysi]

I am planning to take my e type to the South of France this summer. I would like to take it by train to Nice from Kent.

Has anyone tried this recently and can offer some advice? I don`t want to drive all the way down there.

Thanks

[Dave K]

Why not? thats the whole adventure.

Dave

[38E]

...I don`t want to drive all the way down there.

Holy smokes, why ever not! I have to agree with Dave.

I've done that trip in a number of different cars in the past, and although here's not much chance now, I'd just love to be able to do it another time in my E-Type.

[Tony]

Slurpsi,

I suppose it depends on what you want from the holiday. I did the trip the year before last and if you do not mind living out of a suitcase and stopping for one night a different hotel then go for it. If you like to stay at one place for a week and use it as a base for day trips, then I suppose the train is a good option. However if you really want to explore France then the drive down can be a great adventure and you get to see some great places. However if you are going to use the motorways then you will see very little and may as well drive up and down the M6. Now none of this has answered your actual question to which I do not know the answer, but have a great trip whatever you do. Do not break down whatever you do as the French garages do not have a clue and that in includes the jag dealerships.

[1954Etype]

Gentlemen, good answers but doesn't address his question. He didn't ask for your opinions about whether he should drive or catch the train.....

now, has anyone done it?

[Heuer]

"French Motorail used to link Calais with southern France once a week from mid-May to mid-September. However, Rail Europe announced the closure of all French Motorail trains from Calais as from 2010 onwards. Due to rising costs & poor exchange rates, French Motorail will not be running in 2010 or 2011."

[PAUL MORRIS]

I Would Not trust them at all car could be visited or worse.
The trains are very old and you have a low manifold it will catch
Going on. I would be scared to have the care stolen, bad feeling

[slurpysi]

Thanks to those who gave a helpful response. Some responses remind me why I don't use the Pistonhead forums !

I have driven a variety of old cars through France over the years, including my e type.

This year I wanted to use the car for driving around whilst being based in St Tropez, time not allowing a full drive down there.

It does appear the train option appears limited and risky so I may think again

[PAUL MORRIS]

If July or worst August I can't imagine enjoying a E Type
In St T area. The traffic is impossible 12 hours per day
And would not leave in public car park either.
You may overheat in traffic also.

It's no longer the 60s or 70s except for Brigitte Bardot

If I was you Take a cheap flight and Rent a 308 CC
Which has A/C and hard top.

Go by Easy Jet and leave your lovely car home

[PeterCrespin]

Have to agree on the traffic in those months. May is nice, June starts getting busy. Sept no too bad, but very tacky and congested along the C?te d'Azur and through Monaco into Italy in high summer.

It's nice inland and of course the weather and scenery are great but the actual coast is best if your base is actually in the hills somewhere and trips are inland rather that coastal unless you drive down to La Mer at the crack of dawn and home at night. It was congested enough on motorbikes in 1974 and it has only got worse from the few times I've passed through since. Nose-to-tail crawls with no parking on the coast road.

My other halves have both liked just vegging out by the beach. Once I'd chatted to my first topless sunbather, as a teenage motorcycle tourer (she turned out to be from Manchester) I've never really seen the attraction of cultivating melanomas lying in a mixture of other people's skin flakes and sunscreen residue, lapped by the listless, oily, tide-free backwash of a million incontinent nippers.

If that's what you've been commissioned to supply this summer, fly in and out and save the stress of wondering who is carelessly opening a car door onto your pride and joy. Or take an FHC with a bike rack up top and enjoy the roads on two human-powered wheels. If you drive down, plan two nights each way for a more relaxed pace, unless your missus doesn't mind you turning the wick up.

Pete

[frogeater]

hello slurpysi,
I agree with the post of Paul Morris (except the 308 peugeot :) ) and peter Crespin: I had a flat for 15 years in saint Tropez, until 10 years ago, and I really don't want to come back there anymore, for summer. Too many persons everywhere! I won't bring an e type there because of the traffic jam, and also being afraid to have a dent on the body. In fact, Saint tropez is a beautiful little town "infected" by all the people coming from other town and camping...
As a French, I wouldn't trust the "SNCF" staff for a classic car, even if I never heard a problem with that.
Emmanuel

[Malc]

Hi - there are limited motor rail services, but these are mainly to Italy (Tuscany) although with some to Nice. Most services seem to leave from Holland (Den Bosch) which is a bout 2.5 - 3 hours from Calais. Look at www.seat61.com or www.railsavers.com. Alternatively I think SNCF do a train from Paris - you put the car on a train and then you follow on another train! (well it is France). Good luck - let us know how you get on as I'm tempted to do this too - meandering round the South of France is enjoyable; belting down there along the motorways is not!

[PAUL MORRIS]

Allot of Stollen Cars Recently avoid the Trains, Some very competitive Road transport for sports or racing cars in Europe. Far safer & better & Door to Door.