MINI2

wrenny · Nov 2nd, 2003, 09:10 AM

Apologies for the detail but if any of you are alcoholics and are in a dilema about taking the MINI on a booze cruise read on.

I have been over to Calais many times for wine, spirits, Leffe brown YUM YUM. This time I wanted to take the MINI rather than my Focus diesel.

For you non-Brits, this because tax regimes on alcohol, tabacco is much lower in France/ Europe generally than in Britain.

Ferry crossing 07.45 Dover/ Calais P&O £25.00 for car and upto 5 people, got spirits on the boat as they are cheaper than France for brands. Best price was two litres Jim Beam for £24 !

There is a large shopping "mall" called CITE EUROPE near the transmanche tunnel link near Sangatte just along the A16 from the ferry terminal, 5 minute drive. However I have been there a few times and it really fills up with UK shoppers with the same thing in mind, good place if you fancy a fight.

Fancying a little drive "frenchside" we decided to go along the coast to Boulogne about 30 minutes which gave me an opportunity to open things up a little

and shop in a half empy supermarket.

Made a mistake by going back to Calais and stopping at Eastenders, to top up, which is a UK run booze warehouse, cheap enough but a bit pants. One trick they pull is that prices are in UK pounds but unless you pay uk cash they convert to Euro at crap rate 1.5 and then charge you that on your credit card, so prices are 10% higher than those quoted.

In then end we had 100 bottles of wine, some boxes and bottles. 10 Litres spirits, 12 bottles of cider, 48 small bottles of Leffe brown (half uk price) and 100 cafe creme cigars (half price) bit of a downer really as I only went out for a loaf of french bread

The MINI had no issue with the weight at all which was spread out evenly upto the back seats pulling really well, there may be flatspots in the rev range but it has very little problem coping with additional weight.

Now where is my wine glass

PMM · Nov 2nd, 2003, 10:49 AM

Doing a quick 'back of the fag packet' calculation, with a driver and passenger, and the wine, etc, the MINI would have only been loaded to about 2/3rds of its maximum permitted weight.

When I last popped over I got about 9 1/2 cases in the boot, and another 11 or 12 on the back seat. I was also surprised that the car handled and pulled well, when quite so full.

I would never bother with Eastenders, etc having seen them pull the same tricks as described above. I usually just go to Sainsbury's by the Auchan. You can check the prices online before you arrive, and provided that you do it about a week in advance, you can place an order online and they have it ready to collect, which saves a bit of time. Also any problems with what you have bought, you can pop it back to your nearest UK store.

By the way, P&O are doing cheap crossings at the moment from £10, if you follow this link www.poferries.com/dailymail

v8voodoo · Nov 2nd, 2003, 12:36 PM

Hi guys...!!
If you ever see an EB/W MCS with white bonnet stripes in the Dover area, it'll be me... just mind I ain't on duty (in the port) when you return back into the UK..

Nige.

wrenny · Nov 2nd, 2003, 01:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by v8voodoo

Hi guys...!!
If you ever see an EB/W MCS with white bonnet stripes in the Dover area, it'll be me... just mind I ain't on duty when you return back into the UK.. ;o)

Nige.

Nice police car

dcfkan · Nov 2nd, 2003, 02:45 PM

Oooooo, you have discovered Boulogne being much nicer to shop than Calais too!

After being pushed and shovelled once too often at the Carrefour at Cite Europe, I was advised to try the Auchan at Boulogne.

What a contrast! I can always find a packing space, one can park the trolley and admire the goods on the shelves as long as one takes without being pushed.

The range of goods are just as good as Carrefour (except they do not do their own brand of Mocha coffee), the place is heaven compared to Carrefour's hell!

No going back to Calais now.

Our day trip routine is now off to Boulogne for a nice meal while packing the car in an underground secure car park, bit of shopping in Boulogne, then off to Auchan to stock up food, wine and beer.

For Belgian beer, I prefer to go to Pidou as it has a very wide selection. And it has food stuff too. So if I do not have the chance to go anywhere else to buy food, I would stop at Pidou's.

I have never been to EastEnders so I do not know what it is like. I quite like Wine and Beer Co. as it allows you to try before you buy. However, their trolleys are very difficult to navigate around the narrow aisles

I get the ciggies and spirits at the Eurotunnel shop as I have Point Plus, and I get points for shopping there.

If we are stopping over at Boulogne for the night, we would go to Auchan first, put all the booze in the boot, and the food in the front, then drop the car in the secure carpark before going off for a blow out meal in one of our favourite restaurants

Last time we went, we had the thermostatic cool box with us, so we bought back food that required refrigeration, like cheeses and sausages

The MINI is big enough for the 2 of us, and often, we have spare capacity and buy boxes of wines and beers for my mates at work

Another thing about Boulogne, great roads from Calais

DK

:apple:

Hat · Nov 2nd, 2003, 02:55 PM

now i'm really hungry.....

dcfkan · Nov 2nd, 2003, 03:07 PM

I prefer to cross the Channel by the tunnel, roll on roll off without the need to leave my car and have to put up with screaming kids running around a ship!

It costs more, yes, however, I'd rather pay more for the peace and quiet and convenience

Not to mention the short crossing time of 35min

Ooooo, did not I mention that it is 50% off (thereabout) if one books in advance by early Jan 2004 for all long-stay trip in 2004? For INMM 2004 in Switzerland in Jun, the long-stay trip is about 170 GBP return compared to the normal price of 330+ GBP, bargain! Short stay is from 99 GBP return.

DK

:apple:

Hat · Nov 2nd, 2003, 08:00 PM

Dora - i'm off over to Lyon on Tuesday for a couple of days with work. What local delicacies whould i look at buying to bring home, bearing in mind i'm on a plane with only 1 small bag to put anything in

dcfkan · Nov 2nd, 2003, 10:53 PM

I have yet to visit Lyon, hoping to go in 2006 as I have already decided my holiday destinations in France for the next 2 years

Meat as in saussages, the more exotic meat the better, just don't tell the others what they are until after they have eaten it

I love the French, they are like the Chinese - they eat everything

Stinky cheeses that can stink a cabin locker even when double wrapped, those that are un-pasteurised are not easy to find in UK (not suitable for young children, OAPs and pregnant women though).

Pate, fois gras especially (I prefer duck to goose ones, less rich, excellent on toast, and for indulgence, on spagetti

).

For spirit, the best cognac you can afford - much cheaper in France than in UK. Armagnac could be a cheaper alternative.

These are the things I normally bring back via airports

I have checked the airport, and there is a foodie shop. If it is on par with the one in CDG, then I could spend a fortune in there!

Ooooo, Lyon has many restaurants that have Michelin stars, so I hope you have the chance to eat out or be taken out to a nice meal

Have fun!

DK

:apple:

lugnutz · Nov 3rd, 2003, 03:20 AM

here's just the thing for your trip...

btw, where's "wrenny" from?

signed
J. Wren !

wrenny · Nov 3rd, 2003, 07:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by lugnutz

here's just the thing for your trip...

btw, where's "wrenny" from?

signed
J. Wren !

I am from UK, London originally now moved out to Essex.

D. J. Wren

ps I wonder how many other Wrens have bought MINI's around the global village ?

adios

lugnutz · Nov 4th, 2003, 02:09 AM

Not a common name in the US. My GGfather emigrated from Ireland in the mid 1800's. BTW, DJ Wren is my brother...Daniel Joseph!

MarkL · Nov 4th, 2003, 11:59 PM

The best place to buy Belgian beer is ... Belgium :-)

We've just returned from a trip to Cologne in MINI Two and stopped at the Carrefour in Liege to stock up on beer and wine. With the luggage for a 5-day trip for two we easily fitted in 68 bottles of beer, 16 bottles of wine, and a bag or two of other stuff. A lot more civilised than Cite Europe, too.

BTW Wrenny, if you like Leffe Brune/Bruin then you might like Westmalle Dubbel, a genuine bottle fermented trappist beer.

dcfkan · Nov 5th, 2003, 12:06 AM

I don't think I have been to a supermarket in Belgium, tend to leave food and booze shopping till the end of the trip I guess

DK

:apple:

gibbon · Nov 6th, 2003, 01:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dcfkan

I love the French, they are like the Chinese - they eat everything

lol

The French eat ANYTHING .... If it moves, eat it ! They also drink a lot, like me

MarkL · Nov 8th, 2003, 01:00 AM

Somewhat off-topic (but related), is it just me or do other MINI owners get stopped for security checks when using Le Shuttle from the UK to France?

We've been over to France 3 times by MINI (twice in the One, once in the Cooper) and have been pulled over each time. We have never been checked going back and never checked when previously crossing in other cars.

Perhaps they just like MINIs

dcfkan · Nov 8th, 2003, 12:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkL

Somewhat off-topic (but related), is it just me or do other MINI owners get stopped for security checks when using Le Shuttle from the UK to France?

We've been over to France 3 times by MINI (twice in the One, once in the Cooper) and have been pulled over each time. We have never been checked going back and never checked when previously crossing in other cars.

Perhaps they just like MINIs

Only once the first time I took Apple across last year, because the officer wanted to look at the inside of the car, no search or anything, and waved me through

DK

:apple:

Harry@Piekarnia · Nov 9th, 2003, 04:30 PM

I used to be at university in Southampton so I'd go over to Le Havre at the start of term to get the beer for the term (for me and my flatmates). One time I was driving back in and customs told me "You can't bring that much beer." "What do you mean? I'm under the limit!" "Yes but your car is bottoming out and sparks come off it....."

dcfkan · Nov 9th, 2003, 05:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Harry@Piekarnia

I used to be at university in Southampton so I'd go over to Le Havre at the start of term to get the beer for the term (for me and my flatmates). One time I was driving back in and customs told me "You can't bring that much beer." "What do you mean? I'm under the limit!" "Yes but your car is bottoming out and sparks come off it....."

PMSL

Glad you have a better car now

DK

:apple:

Nov 2nd, 2003, 09:10 AM	#1
wrenny MINI2 Senior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Braintree, Essex Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 577 Offline	Booze cruise, how much can a MINI hold ? Apologies for the detail but if any of you are alcoholics and are in a dilema about taking the MINI on a booze cruise read on. I have been over to Calais many times for wine, spirits, Leffe brown YUM YUM. This time I wanted to take the MINI rather than my Focus diesel. For you non-Brits, this because tax regimes on alcohol, tabacco is much lower in France/ Europe generally than in Britain. Ferry crossing 07.45 Dover/ Calais P&O £25.00 for car and upto 5 people, got spirits on the boat as they are cheaper than France for brands. Best price was two litres Jim Beam for £24 ! There is a large shopping "mall" called CITE EUROPE near the transmanche tunnel link near Sangatte just along the A16 from the ferry terminal, 5 minute drive. However I have been there a few times and it really fills up with UK shoppers with the same thing in mind, good place if you fancy a fight. Fancying a little drive "frenchside" we decided to go along the coast to Boulogne about 30 minutes which gave me an opportunity to open things up a little and shop in a half empy supermarket. Made a mistake by going back to Calais and stopping at Eastenders, to top up, which is a UK run booze warehouse, cheap enough but a bit pants. One trick they pull is that prices are in UK pounds but unless you pay uk cash they convert to Euro at crap rate 1.5 and then charge you that on your credit card, so prices are 10% higher than those quoted. In then end we had 100 bottles of wine, some boxes and bottles. 10 Litres spirits, 12 bottles of cider, 48 small bottles of Leffe brown (half uk price) and 100 cafe creme cigars (half price) bit of a downer really as I only went out for a loaf of french bread The MINI had no issue with the weight at all which was spread out evenly upto the back seats pulling really well, there may be flatspots in the rev range but it has very little problem coping with additional weight. Now where is my wine glass CHILLI RED, CHILLI PACK, MAGNEX & PIPERCROSS BAGS OF FUN gone now but not forgotten, an s next time ?

Nov 2nd, 2003, 12:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
v8voodoo MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kent, UK. Local Time: 12:37 AM Posts: 182 Offline	Hi guys...!! If you ever see an EB/W MCS with white bonnet stripes in the Dover area, it'll be me... just mind I ain't on duty (in the port) when you return back into the UK.. Nige. EB/W Cooper S, leather, 16" x-lites, climate, sunroof, heated seats, MFSW, Alpine CD. Whalen Shifter, Bonnet stripes, tints all round. Normally to be found in the outside lane of the M20. Last edited by v8voodoo : Nov 4th, 2003 at 12:01 AM.

Nov 2nd, 2003, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrenny MINI2 Senior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Braintree, Essex Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 577 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by v8voodoo Hi guys...!! If you ever see an EB/W MCS with white bonnet stripes in the Dover area, it'll be me... just mind I ain't on duty when you return back into the UK.. ;o) Nige. Nice police car CHILLI RED, CHILLI PACK, MAGNEX & PIPERCROSS BAGS OF FUN gone now but not forgotten, an s next time ?

Nov 3rd, 2003, 07:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
wrenny MINI2 Senior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Braintree, Essex Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 577 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by lugnutz here's just the thing for your trip... btw, where's "wrenny" from? signed J. Wren ! I am from UK, London originally now moved out to Essex. D. J. Wren ps I wonder how many other Wrens have bought MINI's around the global village ? adios CHILLI RED, CHILLI PACK, MAGNEX & PIPERCROSS BAGS OF FUN gone now but not forgotten, an s next time ?

Nov 6th, 2003, 01:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
gibbon puddled primate Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: barrel of red wine Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 209 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by dcfkan I love the French, they are like the Chinese - they eat everything lol The French eat ANYTHING .... If it moves, eat it ! They also drink a lot, like me http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/gibbon/27059.jpg

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Nov 2nd, 2003, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
PMM - Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cambridgeshire Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 100 Offline	Doing a quick 'back of the fag packet' calculation, with a driver and passenger, and the wine, etc, the MINI would have only been loaded to about 2/3rds of its maximum permitted weight. When I last popped over I got about 9 1/2 cases in the boot, and another 11 or 12 on the back seat. I was also surprised that the car handled and pulled well, when quite so full. I would never bother with Eastenders, etc having seen them pull the same tricks as described above. I usually just go to Sainsbury's by the Auchan. You can check the prices online before you arrive, and provided that you do it about a week in advance, you can place an order online and they have it ready to collect, which saves a bit of time. Also any problems with what you have bought, you can pop it back to your nearest UK store. By the way, P&O are doing cheap crossings at the moment from £10, if you follow this link www.poferries.com/dailymail

Nov 2nd, 2003, 02:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
dcfkan In exile, down SOUTH! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London WC1 Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 13,213 Offline	Oooooo, you have discovered Boulogne being much nicer to shop than Calais too! After being pushed and shovelled once too often at the Carrefour at Cite Europe, I was advised to try the Auchan at Boulogne. What a contrast! I can always find a packing space, one can park the trolley and admire the goods on the shelves as long as one takes without being pushed. The range of goods are just as good as Carrefour (except they do not do their own brand of Mocha coffee), the place is heaven compared to Carrefour's hell! No going back to Calais now. Our day trip routine is now off to Boulogne for a nice meal while packing the car in an underground secure car park, bit of shopping in Boulogne, then off to Auchan to stock up food, wine and beer. For Belgian beer, I prefer to go to Pidou as it has a very wide selection. And it has food stuff too. So if I do not have the chance to go anywhere else to buy food, I would stop at Pidou's. I have never been to EastEnders so I do not know what it is like. I quite like Wine and Beer Co. as it allows you to try before you buy. However, their trolleys are very difficult to navigate around the narrow aisles I get the ciggies and spirits at the Eurotunnel shop as I have Point Plus, and I get points for shopping there. If we are stopping over at Boulogne for the night, we would go to Auchan first, put all the booze in the boot, and the food in the front, then drop the car in the secure carpark before going off for a blow out meal in one of our favourite restaurants Last time we went, we had the thermostatic cool box with us, so we bought back food that required refrigeration, like cheeses and sausages The MINI is big enough for the 2 of us, and often, we have spare capacity and buy boxes of wines and beers for my mates at work Another thing about Boulogne, great roads from Calais DK :apple:

Nov 2nd, 2003, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hat ITS RAINNIN' SIDEWAYS My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2002 Local Time: 12:37 AM Posts: 15,920 Offline	now i'm really hungry.....

Nov 2nd, 2003, 03:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
dcfkan In exile, down SOUTH! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London WC1 Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 13,213 Offline	I prefer to cross the Channel by the tunnel, roll on roll off without the need to leave my car and have to put up with screaming kids running around a ship! It costs more, yes, however, I'd rather pay more for the peace and quiet and convenience Not to mention the short crossing time of 35min Ooooo, did not I mention that it is 50% off (thereabout) if one books in advance by early Jan 2004 for all long-stay trip in 2004? For INMM 2004 in Switzerland in Jun, the long-stay trip is about 170 GBP return compared to the normal price of 330+ GBP, bargain! Short stay is from 99 GBP return. DK :apple:

Nov 2nd, 2003, 08:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hat ITS RAINNIN' SIDEWAYS My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2002 Local Time: 12:37 AM Posts: 15,920 Offline	Dora - i'm off over to Lyon on Tuesday for a couple of days with work. What local delicacies whould i look at buying to bring home, bearing in mind i'm on a plane with only 1 small bag to put anything in

Nov 2nd, 2003, 10:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
dcfkan In exile, down SOUTH! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London WC1 Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 13,213 Offline	I have yet to visit Lyon, hoping to go in 2006 as I have already decided my holiday destinations in France for the next 2 years Meat as in saussages, the more exotic meat the better, just don't tell the others what they are until after they have eaten it I love the French, they are like the Chinese - they eat everything Stinky cheeses that can stink a cabin locker even when double wrapped, those that are un-pasteurised are not easy to find in UK (not suitable for young children, OAPs and pregnant women though). Pate, fois gras especially (I prefer duck to goose ones, less rich, excellent on toast, and for indulgence, on spagetti ). For spirit, the best cognac you can afford - much cheaper in France than in UK. Armagnac could be a cheaper alternative. These are the things I normally bring back via airports I have checked the airport, and there is a foodie shop. If it is on par with the one in CDG, then I could spend a fortune in there! Ooooo, Lyon has many restaurants that have Michelin stars, so I hope you have the chance to eat out or be taken out to a nice meal Have fun! DK :apple:

Nov 3rd, 2003, 03:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
lugnutz MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: us Local Time: 12:37 AM Posts: 105 Offline	here's just the thing for your trip... btw, where's "wrenny" from? signed J. Wren !

Nov 4th, 2003, 02:09 AM	#12 (permalink)
lugnutz MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: us Local Time: 12:37 AM Posts: 105 Offline	Not a common name in the US. My GGfather emigrated from Ireland in the mid 1800's. BTW, DJ Wren is my brother...Daniel Joseph!

Nov 4th, 2003, 11:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
MarkL MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Abingdon, Oxon. Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 228 Offline	The best place to buy Belgian beer is ... Belgium :-) We've just returned from a trip to Cologne in MINI Two and stopped at the Carrefour in Liege to stock up on beer and wine. With the luggage for a 5-day trip for two we easily fitted in 68 bottles of beer, 16 bottles of wine, and a bag or two of other stuff. A lot more civilised than Cite Europe, too. BTW Wrenny, if you like Leffe Brune/Bruin then you might like Westmalle Dubbel, a genuine bottle fermented trappist beer.

Nov 5th, 2003, 12:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
dcfkan In exile, down SOUTH! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London WC1 Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 13,213 Offline	I don't think I have been to a supermarket in Belgium, tend to leave food and booze shopping till the end of the trip I guess DK :apple:

Nov 8th, 2003, 01:00 AM	#16 (permalink)
MarkL MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Abingdon, Oxon. Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 228 Offline	Somewhat off-topic (but related), is it just me or do other MINI owners get stopped for security checks when using Le Shuttle from the UK to France? We've been over to France 3 times by MINI (twice in the One, once in the Cooper) and have been pulled over each time. We have never been checked going back and never checked when previously crossing in other cars. Perhaps they just like MINIs

Nov 8th, 2003, 12:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
dcfkan In exile, down SOUTH! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London WC1 Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 13,213 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by MarkL Somewhat off-topic (but related), is it just me or do other MINI owners get stopped for security checks when using Le Shuttle from the UK to France? We've been over to France 3 times by MINI (twice in the One, once in the Cooper) and have been pulled over each time. We have never been checked going back and never checked when previously crossing in other cars. Perhaps they just like MINIs Only once the first time I took Apple across last year, because the officer wanted to look at the inside of the car, no search or anything, and waved me through DK :apple:

Nov 9th, 2003, 04:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
Harry@Piekarnia MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: Warsaw Poland Local Time: 02:37 AM Posts: 80 Offline	I used to be at university in Southampton so I'd go over to Le Havre at the start of term to get the beer for the term (for me and my flatmates). One time I was driving back in and customs told me "You can't bring that much beer." "What do you mean? I'm under the limit!" "Yes but your car is bottoming out and sparks come off it....."

Nov 9th, 2003, 05:39 PM	#19 (permalink)
dcfkan In exile, down SOUTH! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London WC1 Local Time: 01:37 AM Posts: 13,213 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Harry@Piekarnia I used to be at university in Southampton so I'd go over to Le Havre at the start of term to get the beer for the term (for me and my flatmates). One time I was driving back in and customs told me "You can't bring that much beer." "What do you mean? I'm under the limit!" "Yes but your car is bottoming out and sparks come off it....." PMSL Glad you have a better car now DK :apple:

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