Petrol prices and road trips...

[NDA]

I have booked a 3 week road trip in France this year - like most of us, 2 years of cancelled holidays has been enough.

My 4.8 V8 Morgan does under 20mpg when being properly driven, I reckon that's about £1,500 in petrol costs. Roughly.

I also have a Tesla. It actually has a longer range than the Morgan. Much more comfortable, easy for luggage....

No, it should be the Morgan. You only live once - top down, sides off, cruising around Provence. The holiday is costing thousands anyway, what's another £1,500?

I assume the vast majority on here would go Malvern not Musk.

[Bill]

I must be getting old but my first thought was autoroutes, air con and sunburn.

You could trailer the Morgan?

[Tyre Smoke]

For me, the pleasure of driving is the point of the holiday.

My thinking would be if you can't afford to run the Morgan when you want to, why have you got it?

Morgan all the way man! Why are you even asking?

[NDA]

Tyre Smoke said:

For me, the pleasure of driving is the point of the holiday.

My thinking would be if you can't afford to run the Morgan when you want to, why have you got it?

Morgan all the way man! Why are you even asking?

You are completely and utterly correct. I pose the question partly in jest - as I wonder what the tipping point might be between taking an electronic blob Vs handmade sports car.

Fuel shortages? £2.50 a litre?

I doubt any of that would stop me - but it might for some.

[Tyre Smoke]

Only those with no soul!

Yesterday I took.my son to an open day at Bristol University in the Chimaera. On the way up the M5 we passed a big Healey, gave each other a cheery wave. On the way home caught up with a cute little Elan (pop up headlights) and had a spirited drive along the twisties. Again, flash of the headlights and a cheery wave as we parted company on a roundabout.

Don't get that in a Tesla, do you?

Next weekend, two nights in Birmingham for a birthday. Yep, Chimaera. Open day at York University next month, Chimaera.

Any excuse.

[Far Cough]

Morgan all day long. I`ve a trip booked and the only thing that will stop me going is if Putin nukes us all. Like you say , 2 years of nothing so the increased price of fuel doesnt bother me as I didnt pay for any for the last 2 years !

[Dog Star]

I have to admit to thinking the same thing. I was looking forwards to taking our ebikes over to Belgium Holland or Germany for a week or two (we took them to the Ardennes in 2019 and it was scorchio and just brilliant) however this year the price of fuel *might* put me off.

However one way to look at it is that according to some stuff I'm reading the actual "real", non-Covid skewed price of a litre of petrol in the UK at the moment should actually be about £1,50 a litre allowing for "natural" inflation etc, so if the stuff is costing £1.60 or whatever it's not massively over what you'd pay anyway. If I was to do the Ardennes again I'd just fill up in Luxembourg.

[plenty]

At today's prices your £1,500 in petrol would still have been £1,300 last year.

Considering how much depreciation (maybe not on a Morgan, mind) upkeep, RFL, insurance etc. cost I'd suggest £200 is not a significant amount.

Will you be able to charge Tesla everywhere you plan to park up?

Avoid refuelling at autoroute service stations and seek out petrol at hypermarkets which are typically 0.20/l cheaper.

[NDA]

plenty said:

Will you be able to charge Tesla everywhere you plan to park up?

Avoid refuelling at autoroute service stations and seek out petrol at hypermarkets which are typically 0.20/l cheaper.

I am not seriously considering the Tesla - it was an idle thought. But yes, France has Tesla chargers all over the place.

I will be autoroute the whole way down, so it might be tricky to avoid their petrol stations.

[plenty]

NDA said:

plenty said:

Will you be able to charge Tesla everywhere you plan to park up?

Avoid refuelling at autoroute service stations and seek out petrol at hypermarkets which are typically 0.20/l cheaper.

I am not seriously considering the Tesla - it was an idle thought. But yes, France has Tesla chargers all over the place.

I will be autoroute the whole way down, so it might be tricky to avoid their petrol stations.

You can almost always find a hypermarket within 5 miles of an autoroute exit. Depends on how much saving 10 Euros vs an extra 20 minutes journey time is worth to you.

[NDA]

plenty said:

You can almost always find a hypermarket within 5 miles of an autoroute exit. Depends on how much saving 10 Euros vs an extra 20 minutes journey time is worth to you.

True. All good advice.

[mwstewart]

We have our usual 3k mile jaunt booked for May. I think mine is somewhere around 13 MPG, so figures are similar.

Can't put a price on the memories.

[Dog Star]

mwstewart said:

We have our usual 3k mile jaunt booked for May. I think mine is somewhere around 13 MPG, so figures are similar.

Can't put a price on the memories.

True!

I’m 54 and have enjoyed euro road trips for over 3 decades - I feel that regardless of my age - it’s a less carefree experience than it used to be for one reason or another.

I think there are a man awful lot less to go than I’ve already had.

[Griffith4ever]

As soon as France and Italy chill a bit more over covid I'll be taking my car to Italy to see friends etc, via the top route (France , Belgium, lux, Germany, Switzerland).

Mine does around 11mpg. Gulp. So think of your V8 as economical!

[NDA]

I think France is reasonably relaxed now isn't it? If you're jabbed, you're pretty much free to enter and exit?

Hope so!

[Griffith4ever]

Yeah - France is stepping back, but Italy is still fairly rabid with masks (indoors everywhere and outdoors if crowded). You are required to carry one with you at all times. I'll wait till that clears up.

[Whats on Second]

i understand the wish to drive your pride and joy, but 3 weeks of driving, that's what, at 300
miles a day well over 5000 miles ? on bad maintained french by-ways and with crazy french drivers ?

nah, put that mileage on a hire car and save your car for sunday drives for lunch.

[Freakuk]

It would be the Morgan all day long for me, the memories alone would be worth it which is what holidays are all about aren't they?

As much as I think an EV would make the trip easier barring any range anxiety, it just doesn't excite me in anyway other than saving a few quid.

[MrBig]

Morgan. The time you have this option is (I expect) becoming increasingly finite.

[plenty]

Whats on Second said:

i understand the wish to drive your pride and joy, but 3 weeks of driving, that's what, at 300
miles a day well over 5000 miles ? on bad maintained french by-ways and with crazy french drivers ?

nah, put that mileage on a hire car and save your car for sunday drives for lunch.

Each to their own. I couldn't think of a better way to spend three weeks.