More attention from the public in Europe than the UK?

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PrinceRupert

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Over the Easter weekend I took my new to me Gransport for a small road trip to Normandy. I was surprised by how much attention it seemed to get from the French - a lot of looks and several comments (including an amusing moment we returned to the parked car with a woman waxing lyrical about how much she loved it to her husband and being embarassed when we unlocked it). It doesn't seem to get very much attention in the UK. Anyone else experience the same?
 
When we get off the ferry for the annual Le Mans trip and park up somewhere because we've got lost, we often get the locals' attention.

I think the sentiment is 'mon dieux, not you lot again?'.

It's not just Maseratis but if there's a big race in France, 2 or 4 wheels, you tend to get the locals on the streets watching the exotica leave. Different strokes.
 
I always get positive comments and attention in France, both the F360 and the Granturismo (not so much the Ford Transit..)
Unlike the UK where the F360 has received negative attention on occasions..
 
PrinceRupert said:
Over the Easter weekend I took my new to me Gransport for a small road trip to Normandy. I was surprised by how much attention it seemed to get from the French - a lot of looks and several comments (including an amusing moment we returned to the parked car with a woman waxing lyrical about how much she loved it to her husband and being embarassed when we unlocked it). It doesn't seem to get very much attention in the UK. Anyone else experience the same?
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Any tips from the trip?

MarkMas

Thread 'Normandy and Brittany'

I'm thinking of a 'road trip' to Normandy and Brittany this summer.

Any recommendations on ferries, roads, restaurants, hotels, sights, etc?
 
MarkMas said:
Any tips from the trip?

MarkMas

Thread 'Normandy and Brittany'

I'm thinking of a 'road trip' to Normandy and Brittany this summer.

Any recommendations on ferries, roads, restaurants, hotels, sights, etc?
Click to expand...
We got the Tunnel across on Thursday evening, stayed at a Chateau 20 mins from Calais, then drove south to Lyon-la-Foret (near Rouen). Spend a few days round there including visiting Monet's house and garden at Giverny. Went to the Michelin starred restaurant in Lyon-la-Foret but it wasn't particularly special for the cost so wouldn't necessarily recommend, and Lyon-la-Foret itself is pretty but quiet and not particularly interesting. The areas/villages around it were pretty and the roads were fairly decent, though, and good walks in forests etc. too.
 
My Spyder got lots of attention and positive comments at the Oulton Park family day yesterday - and it also can happen at petrol stations. Never had much in Europe tho'.
 
Parked in Ayr centre at the weekend - passer-by “nice; not many Maseratis in Ayr!”

A year or two ago swinging round in an estate outside Dumfries some local urchins sitting on the kerb shouted “nice car mister”.
 
Took Grace Jones - yeah, I wish... - to Modena via Stelvio and Bormio, and then on to Ancona. Everywhere I got kids nudging each other, pointing at the car and whispering - Maserati... Smiles and nods by adults too... Have gotten the same in the UK too - but much less often. Still think a Nero Carbonio Maserati is seen as less ostentatious than an equivalent Ferrari 612 or 599, hence the better reception... Europeans just love seeing "exotic" cars...

Reminded me of another funny one - back in 2006 I bought a brand new Imola Red Z4M Coupe... Took it on a Ring trip and then down to the South of France to run it in. The amount of attention this car generated was off the charts. I still think the design is strikingly beautiful. I would never forget parking next to a F355 in Nimes and returning to the car park to see my car being papped by all and sundries, while the red donkey was being totally ignored...
 
Definitely on all my Europe road trips, way more positive attention for Aston, Maserati even nice Audis
 
PrinceRupert said:
We got the Tunnel across on Thursday evening, stayed at a Chateau 20 mins from Calais, then drove south to Lyon-la-Foret (near Rouen). Spend a few days round there including visiting Monet's house and garden at Giverny. Went to the Michelin starred restaurant in Lyon-la-Foret but it wasn't particularly special for the cost so wouldn't necessarily recommend, and Lyon-la-Foret itself is pretty but quiet and not particularly interesting. The areas/villages around it were pretty and the roads were fairly decent, though, and good walks in forests etc. too.
Click to expand...
Chateau de Cocove by any chance?
 
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