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Zach10791
Moderator
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 815
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 Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 6:49 am Post subject: Question about driving in Russia. |
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| I’m working on a story right now and I have a really stupid question I need answered so I can continue writing. Can you drive from Moscow to Saint Petersburg? How long would it take and how many miles is it? Can you also drive from Moscow to Rostov-On-Don? |
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Vic
Talk Show Host
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
Posts: 298
Location: Moscow, Russian Federation
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:08 am Post subject: |
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| Yes and Yes. To St.Petersburg about 6-7 hours and to Rostov-on-Don about 14 (maybe a bit more or a bit less). |
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Zach10791
Moderator
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 815
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks.  The distance didn’t look to far away on the map just wanted to clarify. |
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vettra
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Cleveland
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 3:45 am Post subject: |
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This thread brings me to why I originally visited this web site (only to encounter a barrage of snide remarks from the arrogant trolls).... How safe would y'all say it would be, driving a foreign car, that is, with non-Russian plates? I'm planning to take a SUV with Washington DC license.
The question has various levels: what's the cop/bribe frequency - amount;
also theivery - breaking into a car, or getting the car stolen. Are the days of highway carjackings over? Also, are there motels in Russia, like in America? |
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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:21 am Post subject: |
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| vettra wrote: | This thread brings me to why I originally visited this web site (only to encounter a barrage of snide remarks from the arrogant trolls).... How safe would y'all say it would be, driving a foreign car, that is, with non-Russian plates? I'm planning to take a SUV with Washington DC license.
The question has various levels: what's the cop/bribe frequency - amount;
also theivery - breaking into a car, or getting the car stolen. Are the days of highway carjackings over? Also, are there motels in Russia, like in America? |
Vettra,
At risk of being labelled an arrogant troll, can I ask why you're planning on doing this ? Given some of your questions, it doesn't seem like you're up on how things work here, and I really wouldn't recommend importing a car if you don't have a damn good idea of how things work here.
If you're bringing it over with you because you're gonna work here, I'd completely advise against it. The import duties and cost of shipping and time-consuming bureaucracy of translating and notarizing all the documents will be a pain in the ass. Of course you can shell out another grand to have someone do it for you (more expense).
If you're bringing it as some part of another temporary trip (and again, my question is why) then of course, you can get temporary transit plates at the border.
If you're coming only to Russia temporarily, you're really better off renting, I think.
Security - I've never heard of a carjacking in Russia. Ever. Only in the US. There are people who will set you up so you hit THEIR car, and then ask you exorberant prices for the repair, but that's completely different.
Biggest problem is probably theft. It has nothing to do with foreign car or not. About half of all cars here are foreign. Both Russian and Foreign cars are equally stealable. If you're gonna leave your car out on the street, I'd highly recommend a removable radio and leaving nothing in site inside the car. A non-factory installed imobilizer would be a pretty good idea too.
Otherwise, leave it on a lot that you can pay about $40-50/month for. They're protected by guards and fences.
I can't say whether the rates of theft compare to other big cities. I suppose it really depends where you leave your car, how vulnerable it is with anti-theft tools, if you leave it on a lot, etc. I had an Audi that I parked outside my apartment building for 4 years and I had my hubcaps stolen twice. But I lived in a decent neighborhood. A paid secure lot is really your best bet.
Motels ? Um, no. Heck, 'roads' is a generous term. Infrastructure here can be non-existant between cities. Of course there are people who do it, but inter-city transportation is usually not done by car. The roads are horrible, there's no place to sleep or eat in between, etc. Rail is probably the transport means of choice for both passengers and cargo.
Hope that helps,
Intourist |
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vettra
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Cleveland
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:42 am Post subject: |
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Intourist, I thank you for the reply. As to the trolls - a lot of people should realize not everybody regards ribbing and snubbing as friendly conversation. Some people are more sensitive to abuse than others and this is a public web site with a wide variety of readers [i guess].
now, I'm sure I'll get flamed for what I'm about to write.
My SUV is impressive. It's a Durango: big, plus an extra 5" lift. It gets a lot of smiles here in USA. Next to a Æèãóëè - you get the drift.
Function #1: I need an SUV ("jeep", in Russian) to haul my music gear around to gigs.
Function #2: Every great car should have a beautiful woman in it. That's the theory. I'm ready
I'm not gonna take a Ferrari to St. Pete, I figure it'll get ripped off immediately, and who'd want to drive that on those roads anyway? And why? Losing the SUV won't be a catastrophe, and since it's a Durango, I hope thieves know it'll be easy to spot as I've never seen any Durangos or any Chryslers for that matter in the Soviet Union anyway.
Last edited by vettra on Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vettra
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Cleveland
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:50 am Post subject: |
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| [a note to all you wanna-be flamers: BACK OFF. I'm not interested in your criticism of me trying to find a mate. What I'm doing aint no different than everyone around you. If you want to take a poke at this basic human..er animal instinct, take it to your local single bar / meat market, there should be plenty of victims for you in the city you're in] |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 3:13 am Post subject: |
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As I much as I find what you're doing truly pathetic and I wont flame you for it though, I agree with Intourist. Its not worth the hassle given the cost of importing it in. Since it is a rare car, it has a much huger chance of it getting jacked. So you have to spend extra on security devices and pakring it special places which might not even prevent that from happening. Not to mention if it breaks down, you have to shell the bucks again to import the parts and find a mechinic that can fix it for you. Not to mention the insurance will be astronomically high as it is a "rare" car.
You can just sell the car in the US or sell it there and use the money to buy a nice one either in Russia or in Eastern Europe. You can get yourself a nice 3-10 year old second hand Audi, BMW, VW, Alfa Romeo, Mg Rover, Volvo, or even a Merc or a knockoff Merc: Brabus. With those cars, you'll be able to repair it there, be able to blend in more easier (i.e less chances of it getting stolen or you getting pulled over), get chicks  and save a fortune that way. |
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wavetossed
WayToRussified
Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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Fact is that you are driving a vehicle that marks you out as a mafia boss or a senior executive or the right hand man of an oligarch. In many cases, this means that you can leave the car with the door open and the engine running while you spend half an hour making a few purchases in a shop. Not in a big city of course, but elsewhere I have personally witnessed this.
I suspect that you may not be allowed to drive the vehicle in Russia with US plates, so that might solve part of your problem. |
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Mark
Frequent Guest
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Driving here is like asking for trouble, walking the streets is like wanting to die young.....Though it's all fun and games.I drove in the UK but here i wont even consider it... |
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cyndy22
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 1076
Location: massachusetts
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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I say go for it Vettra, you and your sex machine. Boy you Vettra are in for a rude awakening Mr. Muzik man. Intourist, you are absolutely right, this dude has no clue what he's getting into! 
You tried to warn him. |
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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| wavetossed wrote: | | Fact is that you are driving a vehicle that marks you out as a mafia boss or a senior executive or the right hand man of an oligarch. In many cases, this means that you can leave the car with the door open and the engine running while you spend half an hour making a few purchases in a shop. Not in a big city of course, but elsewhere I have personally witnessed this. |
Wave, I don't mean to be pedantic towards you, but you just seem to harbor a lot of incorrect impressions or outdated. Driving a Jeep or foreign vehicle most definitely does NOT mark you as a mafia or senior executive. Even if you are, it most certainly does not preclude you from theft. What prevents theft here is leaving your car locked, no visible radio, and a good immobilizer system. I have a friend with a Durango here, and he wouldn't leave it unlocked outside his own office.
Again, the best thing is to have a paid lot, and if you look at some of those lots in the center, they have VERY expensive cars in there (proving that even the filthy rich are rightfully worried about theft, regardless of whether they're mafia or not)
TO VETTRA - E's sentiments are right on. While I think you're completely succumbing to materialistic stereotypes of Russian women which are way off, if a nice ride to show off to the women is really what floats your boat, then sell your car at home and use the money to buy something here. You will not enjoy the hassle of importing a car here (especially if you choose to do it yourself). You can't begin to fathom the amount of paperwork and fees and duties you will pay (probably more than others since you're a foreigner).
And driving here is completely easy. All the expat naysayers who say it's too crazy have probably never really tried. It's no more difficult or hectic than any other large city, like New York, for example. What CAN be annoying here are the traffic jams. |
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Mark
Frequent Guest
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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Some of us naysayers can't read a word in Russian maybe thats why 
Besides this ,i think it's pointless driving here cos the metro is so cheap and easy to use... |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Code: | | And driving here is completely easy. All the expat naysayers who say it's too crazy have probably never really tried. It's no more difficult or hectic than any other large city, like New York, for example. What CAN be annoying here are the traffic jams. |
In the few days I was in St. Pete and Vyborg, i've found that Russians are no more crazier drivers than Italians or French or Californians for that matter and the traffic jams are no worse than in London or LA. You'll be fine. 
I would guess the only real "problem" is driving in wintry condtions on poorly maintained roads.
| Quote: | | i think it's pointless driving here cos the metro is so cheap and easy to use... |
Yeah. The public trans system and the way cities are so setup in a pedestrian friendly way, that my girlfriend has never been behind the wheel in a car in her life and she's in her mid-twenties. |
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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 6:22 am Post subject: |
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| Mark wrote: | Some of us naysayers can't read a word in Russian maybe thats why
Besides this ,i think it's pointless driving here cos the metro is so cheap and easy to use... |
Not reading Russian shouldn't be a problem (given that they don't have any signs telling you where to go in the first place)
I agree, the public transport CAN be efficient and cheap. It can also be a royal pain in the butt. Large crowds packing into cars with no thought to lines and lots of pushing and shoving. Colds or flus that spread like wildfire with no ventilation and people coughing over you. Trams, metro-cars and buses that have been in use since the 60's.
Why, just yesterday, I had to wait 15 minutes in line to get a ticket at Belorusskaya at 6:45am ! That's why I prefer driving. |
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