MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - secure parking in france

Although I have driven through france quite a bit it has allways been while towing a caravan(I know) or driving a modern car,so here's my problem.
I would like to take my A (roadster)and do a little touring but I dont know how to find overhight stop overs with secure parking,so any advise would be most welcome, PS, by the way im not rich so the RITZ and the like are out, thanks, Vin.
V Rafter

Vin

My experiences in Northern France (Normandy area) and Belgium (Flanders) with the MGA have been very good. I have always left it in public parking areas overnight and never had a problem. However, I am not sure I would leave it around Calais at the moment!

I always remove all valuables, isolate the electrics, remove the rotor arm and lock the boot. On one early visit I used to take the steering wheel off!

Cheers

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, you have been watching too much Mr. Bean!
Art Pearse

Vin, If you want basic but clean and purposeful, both hotelformule1.com and hotelpremiereclasse.com often have secure locked parking. Also try etap hotels, hotel campanile, or for a more French flavour Logis hotels or Chambre d,Hote. All are bookable on the net and most will say if they have secure parking. I have used all of the above at one time or another and have been happy with the accomodation/cost.
Tony Mitchell

The Red Michelin Guide has details of all hotels with secure parking and garaging - with a price reference- France has become expensive this year with the current exchange rate and it seems quite an inflation cost as well
Paul
P D Camp

I have stayed at Campinale hotels and the car parks had high fences and a padlocked gate. But you need to check before.
I had the car broken in, in Paris, in the hotels underground car park - but I stupidly had left a case in the car and they were only interested in the contents of the case, not the car.
GrahamMV

I think you would find any countryside stop would be OK, just the big cities are a big problem.
dominic clancy

Thanks everyone for your advise ill try to put it to good use. Vin
Vin Rafter

I hope you dont mind me using your thread to ask everyone a similar question. i too have been planning an eventual mga journey through france,then on to the costa blanca and i had wondered about the hotel/ parking situation. has anyone done this journey or similar and have any advice on similar hotels in spain?
(My car has a particularly noisy note and ultra hard suspension so i may cheat and take the ferry to santander and drive down from there.)
thanks
colyn
c firth

Colyn

I think you will find the Costa Blanca a different proposition to France. My cousin lives in that part of Spain (just south of Torrevieja) and tells me that theft from cars is rife (she has had her car broken into by the beach). All houses/apartments have lockable grids or shutters on the the windows and doors; most have alarms. She has also had her apartment broken into despite these measures! The thieves simply put a chain round the grids, attach to their vehicle and pull them off. The problem appears to be refugees and illegals from North Africa, plus a fair sprinkling from Eastern Europe. I certainly would not leave my MGA unattended on the streets in the area.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Colyn, Sounds like you would be better off coming with me lol, Vin
Vin Rafter

Touring with the mga through france sounds great Vin, it would be a fantastic way to to celebrate my cars 50th birthday next year!
Anyone else out there with a 1960 car think thats a good idea?
(oops thats twice i have hijacked your thread, sorry)
colyn
c firth

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2009 and 29/07/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.