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ericvv

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

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

Lish, one more thing that people sometimes are confused about. You do not need the GB oval white with black lettering country sticker on the back of your truck here in Switzerland or anywhere else in Europe. You have EU type number plates now in the UK, and that is good enough also for Switzerland.

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

17th Jan 2014 6:10pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

^^^ mmm ... it's in the EEA

can't believe the vignette has not been increased - good stuff

"ARB Bushranger X-Trax" - like waffle boards but for snow / sand, if you get stuck, put them under your wheels.

http://www.amazon.com/ARB-Bushranger-X-Tra...B004TCW698

17th Jan 2014 6:13pm

ericvv

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

^^ Steve, this was your response to me saying that you need to be corrected about Switzerland not being in Europe?

Well, need to correct you again.

Switzerland is not in the EEA.

Read this:
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/funding/biomedic...004113.htm 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

17th Jan 2014 6:18pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

agreed Eric but "Swiss nationals have the same rights as EEA nationals."

17th Jan 2014 6:55pm

ericvv

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

That is true

17th Jan 2014 6:56pm

Montblanc

Member Since: 10 Feb 2013
Location: Les Houches, Chamonix Valley
Posts: 14

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Zermatt Silver

Forget about Alcotests - the legislation is "suspended until further notice" - French for "dead in the water". I don't know any French drivers who even bought the kits but they were still being sold at the channel ports to unsuspecting Brits. after the legislation was dropped by the Holland government. We Brits try to follow the rules to the letter - the French have a more relaxed attitude (which many of us find infuriating at times).
Your tyres will be fine: M+S complies with the law (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) for winter tyres but "Mountain Snowflake" are far, far better in frost and Ice and about the same in fresh snow and slush. You have to carry one set of snow chains but you won't use them. I have only ever put snow chains on when Green (white) Laneing for fun and I live over 1,000m altitude.
You asked for advice for winter driving; WATCH YOUR SPEED. Remember you have 4 wheel drive but only the same number of brakes as every other car but you carry twice the weight! Luckily ski resort access roads are well maintained in winter because it's the lifeblood of the local economy.
Bon Ski.

17th Jan 2014 10:00pm

NoDo$h

Member Since: 18 Aug 2007
Location: Buried in deer guts in Dorset
Posts: 972

I shall wave as I drive past on my way to Les Contamines in 4 weeks time....

54 Freelander modded for mud
2008 D3 SE
2010 90 XS SW
1978 88 Series 3 undergoing surgery with a new owner
2007 90 County Truck Cab - gone
2006 D3 SE - gone
2004 Freelander Sport - gay
1999 Disco V8 ES rotted to bits

17th Jan 2014 10:30pm

udderlyoffroad

Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 124

Montblanc wrote:
You have to carry one set of snow chains but you won't use them.

Just to be clear, Montblanc is talking about France here. As EricVV has previously advised, it will be clearly signposted in Switzerland where you require snowchains, and unless you're attempting the highest mountain passes you will not need them. Not the approach roads to mountain resorts, they are kept well clear.

Also, please do not attempt not only fitting one set of snowchains, on a permanent four wheel drive you need all four wheels to be chained up.

Do yourself a favour and buy a vignette even if by some chance you think you will avoid Swiss motorways. The border patrol (Grenzwache) and/or customs (Zoll/Duaone) will not like you either not displaying or purchasing one.

Just one more tip re driving in Switzerland, people indicating on roundabouts is different from the UK. Like most of the rest of Europe (EU/EEA/Schengen whatever you want), people only indicate off roundabouts at their exit. In the UK, if our exit is past the 12 o'clock position, we indicate that we will stay on, then indicate off at our exit (as per the highway code). Obviously you will give way to those approaching from the left, but the only indicating off will still discombobulate you at first. As I found today, when I drove from rural Cantone Berne to Thoune (visiting aged Swiss parents).

Have a good trip, and remember to check your medical insurance covers wintersports!

Matt Real trucks don't have spark plugs

18th Jan 2014 9:53pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

and what ever else you do ... DON'T SPEED in Switzerland, they simply don't tolerate it and impose heavy fines.

example: BBC report : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10960230

19th Jan 2014 8:29am

ericvv

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

There is nothing to say in support of 290 km/hr. What the BBC don't say is that since the new Swiss federal law on speeding which came into force as of 01-01-2013, speeding like that means that the judge has to MANDATORY confiscate the car which should be either sold or crushed, and MANDATORY has to convict the driver to a minimum effective jail sentence of 1 year.
Now Swiss prisons are not that bad as I hear, frankly way too good for such a dangerous idiot.

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

19th Jan 2014 8:53am

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

someone I know got caught doing 100KMs thru a tunnel in CH towing a trailer, he was "offered" 10 days in such an establishment BUT they wanted to charge him 70CHFs per day

19th Jan 2014 8:56am

ericvv

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

I think I have heard something similar. And for that price he will not get "Filets de perches du Lac sur plat avec pommes alumettes maison accompagné par 3 deci de Chasselas" in the evening.

Not even if the filets de perches du lac would have been imports from Estonla.

19th Jan 2014 9:02am

Montblanc

Member Since: 10 Feb 2013
Location: Les Houches, Chamonix Valley
Posts: 14

Just to be clear: why should you carry snow chains in the alps in winter?
All alpine countries mark the roads where snow chains have to be carried and these are not just high passes (google search if you wish to see what the signs look like). Take for instance, where I live just next to a main ski lift: you can drive from the motorway (autoroute blanc) through the village to the ski lift car park without passing a snow chain sign BUT all the roads off this have snow chain signs. So, you drive all the way from the UK but you can get the last 300 yds to you hotel! It is the same 11km away in Italy and the same 25km away in Switzerland.

In addition if conditions are bad the police will stop all traffic and make drivers fit snow chains - including 4x4 with winter tyres. You will see laybys designated for this purpose - signposted "aire de chainage" in this part of the alps. In my case this is on the motorway before climb to the Mont Blanc Tunnel about 6km away. Almost all the Alpine ski resorts have similar arrangements for their approach roads. The police will turn you round if you don't have chains!

0ne or two sets of snow chains - Obviously 2 sets are best and give the most predictable handling. I have never seen the police, the fire brigade, or the boarder police fit more than one set on their defenders even when nothing else is moving on our roads! Yes the French, Swiss and Italian emergency services use Defenders here because of the snow. I only carry one set unless we are going "playing" off road. Land rover recommend fitting chains to the front if only one pair are used as the front wheels cut a track for the rear wheels. I would add that on difficult descents fit them to the rear rather than the front as you don't want over steer on a downhill bend.

Long winded but I hope it helps clear a few thins up.

19th Jan 2014 9:19am

NoDo$h

Member Since: 18 Aug 2007
Location: Buried in deer guts in Dorset
Posts: 972

Since the law became more stringent on speeding in Switzerland I've noticed their motorways have become one giant tailgating exercise, with everyone in the outside lane doing exactly the speed limit, usually 1 car length from the one in front of it. Don't even think about using the inside lane and then pulling out to overtake a truck , you won't make it

Just like the UK, only the speed is at least constant unlike the 90-50-90 you get on the M3

Still, better than it was the first time I drove through around 15 years ago. Having spent a week driving in Italy I was shocked to find Switzerland had the worse / most aggressive drivers at the time

19th Jan 2014 10:16am

familymad

Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3481

2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black

Who said 'built on galvanised chassis'? 1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI
1995 90 300TDI

19th Jan 2014 10:43am

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