Calais to Cannes in petrol?

[caduceus]

Has anyone driven to the south of France from blighty in a Chimaera 4.5/4.0/etc? How much petrol did you use to get there?

Just to give us a rough idea.

Thanks in advance
Cad

[Paul Goldstar]

Not done it but planning a similar trip in our RR Sport petrol which does about the same mpg. It’s approximately 1200 and I reckon you’ll get close to 25mpg (40km per gallon) so at that rate it’s 30 gallons or £450 per leg. Adjust for your car

[FarmyardPants]

Paul Goldstar said:

Not done it but planning a similar trip in our RR Sport petrol which does about the same mpg. It’s approximately 1200 and I reckon you’ll get close to 25mpg (40km per gallon) so at that rate it’s 30 gallons or £450 per leg. Adjust for your car

That’s £3.30/litre.

30 gallons should cost about £190 (assuming £1.40/L).

When I drive to the south coast of Spain and back it costs around £900 for the 15 or so fill-ups . (I average 24mpg in the Cerb).

[Paul Goldstar]

Maths went a bit awry at the end there, you’re right I mixed gallons and litres - d’oh. 30 gallons or 145 litres about £200 each way. My old maths teacher will be spinning

[Classic Chim]

Paul Goldstar said:

Maths went a bit awry at the end there, you’re right I mixed gallons and litres - d’oh. 30 gallons or 145 litres about £200 each way. My old maths teacher will be spinning

I did in in my 450,,,, I can’t remember but £200 sounds about right now I think about it.
I averaged around 28-29 mpg I do remember that.

[Classic Chim]

Classic Chim said:

I did in in my 450,,,, I can’t remember but £200 sounds about right now I think about it.
I averaged around 28-29 mpg I do remember that.

To clarify
I went from the centre of England via Dover/ Calais then through central France so the most direct route using mostly motorways to St Tropez.
About 950 miles.
I think it cost around £240 as I was doing 70 mph most the way.
Interestingly I seemed to use less coming home running at 80 and often 90 mph for long periods so in my 450 3200 revs it’s more efficient than 2800 or I might have had a tail wind. Hard to say.
I hit a traffic jam on the way down which would have been a factor as I was crawling along for 40 mins!
I have to tell you at the time I really didn’t care that much, it was such a joy to have open roads the cost seemed minimal to me at the time

[caduceus]

Thanks for the info gents.

I did do some rudimentary calcs and it was roughly around the £240 range. Just needed to check to see if they were close to real world figures. So I think we'll be driving to the south rather than a ferry, which is not only dearer, but takes more time and less scenic...and less enjoyable! No brainer.
She'll certainly be run in after this trip

[RUSSELLM]

I’d agree with the £200 figure.

The most economic my Cerb has ever been, was stuck at 80mph across France, when it returned 27 mpg.

The only thing I would add, is that from previous experience, I wouldn’t attempt that Calais/Canne run, in 1 day in a TVR. That would be a 2 day trip for me.

[Zeb74]

If you want scenic roads, go via Grenoble, it will not increase a lot the time but the view is much more interesting than staying in the Rhone valley.
Usually on the highway I'm staying around 75mph and not driving like a maniac on roads, and this is difficult to do better than 24-25 mpg.

[so called]

Done a few SoFrance and Spain runs in my Tuscan and have similar, 27 to 29mpg results as mentioned.
Don't forget the Toll costs @ about €110,- Calais to Nice.

[magpies]

Work your route avoiding tolls, usually give a more scenic drive and only 4 hours difference (12 vs 16). The saving will pay for the hotel.

[so called]

magpies said:

Work your route avoiding tolls, usually give a more scenic drive and only 4 hours difference (12 vs 16). The saving will pay for the hotel.

I read last week A/B roads have been reduced to 80km/h(50mph). Surely it will take a lot longer toll free?

[Zeb74]

so called said:

I read last week A/B roads have been reduced to 80km/h(50mph). Surely it will take a lot longer toll free?

It has been reduced but then some local authorities have decided to come back to 90 on some portions. But honestly, this is really hard to keep such a pace, and if you are not using a GPS and only relying on the tacho, you will soon have a lorry sucking your rear bumper.

Motorways are boring but using only free-toll roads could be a nightmare. The best is to alternate, for example going from Troyes to Mâcon in a straight line (on the map not on the road :-)), so you can see Semur en Auxois or Cluny for example. Then if you go via Grenoble, you will have motorways and also nice mountain roads (some limited to 90). And after Sisteron you go directly to Cannes via Castellane.

[FrazDav]

This site can be helpful when planning a route as it combines a fuel cost estimate and tolls for the sections of payage you chose to use.

Watch out for the speed cameras... I got caught at 94kph in a 90kph limit around Paris. It was a nice letter to come home to!

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Routes?departure...

[Malcster]

I did this in a Chain 400.
Returned 28MPG.

Worth checking out Route Napoleon and the Bourgogne Cote d'Or on your way down.

[caduceus]

Thank you for the tips gentlemen, very helpful! We have a lot to plan and research before embarking on our first euro road trip. Already had one hiccup yesterday when I found out the power steering conversion I was going plan to have at Lloyds Performance is a no go now because they are booked up till August My fault for leaving it till now Looks like heavy steering for the trip then, and the missus not driving now.

I might have to do another thread asking which are the best roads from northern Italy through Switzerland and back home.

Thanks again
Cad

[so called]

My first Chimaera was a 1993 4lt model no power steering.
My Wife was learning to drive and the instructor asked why she hadn't insisted I get a car with power steering.
She replied, "Its good exercise for my t1ts".

I had to agree.

[caduceus]

I assume 'Waze' is the satnav of choice to use in the EU? I really don't want to have a letter waiting for me when we get back.

[TwinKam]

caduceus said:

I assume 'Waze' is the satnav of choice to use in the EU? I really don't want to have a letter waiting for me when we get back.

Be interested to hear the answer to this... everyone uses Waze, but it shows 'speed traps', which is a guillotineable offence in France... so do they have that aspect disabled?

[Zeb74]

I'm using Coyote which is another apps indicating "dangerous" zones, this is working very well until now. But I know some people using Waze and they seem happy with it too.