Paging the Frenchies

It looks like I'll be taking the new stupidmobile into France over the
bank holiday weekend but I need super unleaded of the "at least 98 octane"
variety, the more the merrier.

How easy is it to get this stuff in France?

 

But, but - the bank holiday weekend's got a SUNDAY in it! Are you mad?!?

 

I plan to fill up on Saturday and Monday.

Cunning, eh?

 

Genius. Those froggies will be kicking themselves when they realise
you've found a loophole.

 

wessie scribbled on the back of a napkin:

Super Unleaded @98 should be OK, Optimax or similar may be better...

 

Superplus 98 is available at practically all petrol stations. A few
have now gone over to this new Shell 99 octane stuff or whatever it is
as well.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Depends whether you've got a Frog chip & PIN card or not ;-))

As otherrs say, 98 octane is available everywhere.

 

Depends whether you've got a Frog chip & PIN card or not ;-))[/QUOTE]

Most recent UK ones work over here now.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Most recent UK ones work over here now.[/QUOTE]

About bloody time.

 

Most recent UK ones work over here now.
[/QUOTE]
Mine didn't on the French Run. In fact, the petrol station had a sign
up, reading (in English) 'French Cards Only'.

 

Mine didn't on the French Run. In fact, the petrol station had a sign
up, reading (in English) 'French Cards Only'.[/QUOTE]

Is it one of the recently re-issued "Chip & Pin" cards? I know my UK
bank and credit cards have both been recently replaced with ones that
are compatible. The key question seems to be this: did the new card
come with a new PIN which you can change anywhere? If so, it _should_
be compatible. I think.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

All the garages seemed to have the written message that TOG quotes.
Despite the message I tried my shiny new chip & pin at a garage at got
a card no accepted message in froggish. However, it was used
successfully in staffed garages where I was required to input the pin,
so on a limited sample it looks like the frogs have yet to update
their automatic pumps.

 

Ace scribbled on the back of a napkin:

That's even better.

How much money are we talking per litre, btw?

 

If you'd tagged along with us, you'd have seen the notice that said (in
French) "Cards not working, pay at kiosk".

 

Err, I think it's about Eu1.10 a litre, although it varies, of course.
TBH I avoid buying in France if at all possible, given that it's
10-15% cheaper in Switzerland.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

I guess that could be the case, but I'm surprised, as in general it's
the UK side that's just caught up with the French system. I guess some
garages with auto-pumps might not be as well connected, though.

I was not at all surprised to find that in Italy, like Switzerland,
all 24-hour pumps take cash as well as almost any card imaginable. The
Swiss ones will even take Euros as well as Swiss Francs.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

This isn't quite the case. My understanding of the situation is that
the new (well, first) UK system conforms to the new euro-wide
specification, and the French are in the process of upgrading their
system to work with both the new system[1] and the previous French-only
one. There's probably a cut-off date for the old system, but knowing
the French, they'll either leave it to the very last moment to upgrade
everything or just ignore the deadline.

[1] my chip-and-pin card works in Auchan @ La Défence, but not in the
petrol auto-pay that's near La Coquelles.

 

Ace scribbled on the back of a napkin:

Ta, but that doesn't really help seeing that I'm aiming for
Bordeaux/Poitiers
That said, 1.10 is fine compared to the prices I'm seeing here...

 

See it's the French, still living in the dark ages WRT to technology.

 

Or maybe they're just close enough to england to not want to risk the
cash being nicked.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`