EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile Euro Trip - Part 4 - Calais to Millau

Lee aka ‪@TheMacMaster‬ and myself have done a number of driving challenges putting the internal combustion engine against electric propulsion, but for this one we wanted to go BIG.
Join us for PART ONE as we drive from Calais to Millau.
EV vs ICE 1,300 mile EPIC Road Trip Challenge Full Video Series:
PRE TRIP - Preparing my car for the road trip
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
PRE TRIP - Giving up on that car and buying a different car
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
PRE TRIP - Preparing the V70 R and some behind the scenes B Roll
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
PRE TRIP - The drive to Dover and Showing MacMaster my Volvo V70 R
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
THE BIG TRIP PART 1 - Calais to Millau
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
THE BIG TRIP PART 2 - Millau to Benidorm
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
THE BIG TRIP PART 3 - Conclusions & Summing up
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
Driving home Part 1 - Driving from Malaga to Santander, 650 miles… EASY!
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
Driving home Part 2 - Santander ferry to Plymouth, then home to Worcester… NIGHTMARE!!
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
Selected Outtakes
• EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile ...
#travel #roadtrip #adventure #spain #volvo #roadtrip #topgear #topgearchallenge #ev #tesla #challenge #gumball

[@GeoffBuysCars]

EV vs ICE 1,300 mile EPIC Road Trip Challenge Full Video Series: Preparing my car for the road trip kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGGyZZaVqJaKjac Buying a completely different car for the road trip kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5-1i4SbpK2bo9E Preparing the V70 R and some behind the scenes B Roll kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqe6nq2sptyhiJo The drive to Dover and Showing MacMaster my Volvo V70 R kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ-xaZZuqsyVkNk PART 1... The big Video... Calais to Millau kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJaYqIWBbsl3mac PART 2... The big video... Millau to Benidorm (coming soon) Part 3... Conclusions (coming soon)

[@G58]

23:25 I should recognise those rear lights. But what is it?

[@G58]

Geoff, you could have gone slower, saved fuel, and still got there in front of Lee.

[@G58]

Cowboy just bought the farm, and now Joker is looking for payback. Time for the bravest VC sniper girl to recite her poem. I never watch TV. Peace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@G58]

I’m post “Mickey Mouse” now and just caught up. You got trounced in the wallet department mate. Definitely should have bought a Tesla. Congratulations Lee. Finally your Taykan takes a trophy. Excellently done. Europe likes you and your Porsche. Epic stuff Geoff.

[@orionbetelgeuse1937]

you don't have to win by 3 1/2h, you could win by 1/2h and the fuel consumption will drop enough to match the price of the electricity. Anyway you are a winner, the car has 26 years and still performs very well, from the video it's obvious you drove very fast but without any reason. If the ev had to match the time it would've used a lot more energy and a lot more money. The taycan will not even be remembered at 26 years mark because it will be trash from more than 15 years and due to the battery degradation in a few years it would need a lot more recharging stops and the efficiency will drop. The degradation of the taycan might be as much as those 90 euros. Anyway it's a big car with automatic transmission which needs more fuel than a manual. You could've used a fiat panda and that car would still reach the destination at least 1h faster than the ev with half the money. What's the point in having a ev supercar with hundreds of horsepower when a fiat panda can perform better.

[@pault7977]

Geoff, I'd give the "WIN" to the ICE car. Time has a value and saving 3 .5 hrs is something that needs to be factored in to the journey 'cost'.

[@dancarden72]

This point is so important.

[@christopherwhitehead8946]

I’d pay 150 quid to arrive 3.5 hours early. Or- I’d carry on driving for 3.5 hours and get nearer to my destination.

[@davidmaskew]

I definitely would prefer to save the 3½ hours on the journey. Especially as if I was doing something like this it would more than likely be with my wife and 2 children.

[@GrrMeister]

*3½ Hours at £20 = £70 so not really a saving !*

[@MakeAMark1755]

He could had shaved a hour and a half to two hours off th3 journey easily. He wasn't racing

[@batmanlives6456]

Doesn’t matter how much extra it costs… Sitting at a recharging station would do my head in !!! I’m ICE all the way !

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

Lee got lucky at the chargers. If they were all taken he's could have been waiting an hour just to plug in.

[@markburton8303]

@@asensibleyoungman2978 got lucky? The car shows you how many are free? Why would you wait for a charger?

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

@@markburton8303 If you need charge you need charge. You can't pick and choose when your range is below where the next charger is.

[@markburton8303]

@@asensibleyoungman2978 lol, is that what think? My cars sat nav goes on real life data and works with a charge overhead, and it's give quite a few options along the way. It also shows how many chargers there are and how many are being used, and it they are full it'll direct you to another site. I'm sorry if that doesn't align with clickbait videos.

[@markburton8303]

​@Test-Tube-Baby-xo8xx Is that what you do when you set the sat nav in a petrol car? I'm able to change my mind and go to different places.

[@V70P3rules]

This is more like it you guys. Two opposing technologies competing on a level playing field with more than a splash of humour. Great stuff.

[@RodneyW]

Agreed, this is a very good video, steering clear of being an echo chamber. It's not surprising that a car which is 23/24 years newer is cheaper to run. It should be - especially when you consider the level of taxation on petrol! The difference would be even more pronounced in city running (which is where there is a real benefit from driving an EV or hybrid). What I'm most impressed at is Geoff's ability to find interesting and fun cars at a relatively cheap price. That's inspiring!

[@GrrMeister]

*Level Playing Field If only ! - EV's are Subsidised on Purchase, no Road Tax, No Low Emissions Charges [by the Tax Payer - You and Me - Robin Hood comes to mind] and even Porsche contributing to Charge Costs !*

[@toonmag50]

Level playing field? Everything here is distorted from the start in favour of the 'lecky car!

[@markburton8303]

@@GrrMeister no road tax lol are you serious? I had a petrol car that had no road tax. EV's don't pay low emissions charges as there's no tail pipe emissions, any emissions are from a power station, but that power station is producing power for your house. Unless you want to pay emission tax on your house? And subsidised charging? I remember when you could buy a Corsa and you'd get free fuel for a year.

[@pistonburner6448]

"Level playing field"...except completely ignoring the trillions which the forced EV-push will cost Europe. Zero accounting for the true costs of that 'excellent charging network' as all that has been done on loans, the car has been developed, produced and sold with massive subsidies which are so far paid for by loans...and no taxes paid by EV manufacturers or drivers as opposed to ICE which are a fraction of the cost *_and_* they pay massive taxes to society! Once that bill hits...OOF!

[@bentullett6068]

What you have to remember Lee has to sit in that souless silence all the way. Whereas you have a lovely sounding 5 cylinder to play with. Also note for every mile Lee does his car depreciates in thousands. The Volvo will be appreciating in value.

[@keithdenton8386]

Listening to the drone of an engine becomes tedious on French Autoroutes, and becomes hypnotic. In any event its drowned out by the music you're playing. Give me a nice quiet EV any day on a long journey, I have done this trip many times in Petrol, Diesel and EV. EV wins for the most stress free.

[@rosen9425]

The worst noise to deal with is road noise. A badly sound proofed car will mess you up, especially on corse asphalt used in winter climate countries

[@Ivorbiggin]

Dam right !

[@MrYAMAHA32177]

Riding in silence but wondering if your battery will explode into a huge fireball and this could be your last trip on earth.

[@khalidacosta7133]

I dislike EV's and even then, I'd still pick an eV. Infact I'd pick something like an S class. Comfort wins over long journeys.

[@craigthev]

I'm liking the speeded up footage with the jazzy background music. Great editing Geoff.

[@markbray2988]

Geoff mate... You chose the right car... Your focusing on the cost like it's the most important thing... One doesn't drive a high performance V70R if economy is an issue. It's all about SPG not MPG.

[@elliottharley1386]

Yet the EV has way more performance....

[@robblack7560]

@@elliottharley1386 I agree but the Volvo only costs a couple of £s and no depreciation.

[@markbray2988]

​@@elliottharley1386and yet the Volvo got there three hours sooner!... Go figure!

[@noelward8047]

@@elliottharley1386 Performance is relative. Will the EV still be on the road in 20 years ?

[@RodneyW]

@@elliottharley1386 One thing that EV's have taught me.... is that once you get to certain level of acceleration, it really doesn't matter. How many people absolutely floor there car to get from 0-60 anyway? How long can you access that performance? IMNSHO, EV's are at their best in the city. Quiet and smooth and efficient conveyances for travelling in traffic, and you don't travel far, so you can charge while you sleep. (Preferably outside of the home.).

[@Elsie-uy2kl]

The two of you are so much more entertaining than any other channel chaps. Can't wait for part 2. 😆👍

[@stuartfitch7093]

Geoff, the reason why it's cheaper for Lee to charge his Porsche in France than for you to fill your petrol Volvo is probably because of the French electricity grid. Most of their electricity is generated via a large number of nuclear power stations which means they can generate lots of power cheaply. Here in the UK, Governments have always been more scared of the anti nuclear people and so failed to invest in them. This is probably also why, in the UK it is not only more expensive for Lee to charge his EV porsche than in France but it also takes longer to charge. Because in the UK the power isn't there in the grid because the electricity grid is often running at almost maximum capacity to begin with. Therefore in the UK, the charging rate it states on the public charge station often is a fantasy because the UK electricity grid can't support that charge point capacity. As for cost, thats simple supply and demand. Because in the UK the grid is often operating near to capacity, it means limited supply and with limited supply of anything, the individual price goes up with increased demand.

[@jcfallows]

Geoff I think you had the right car for a long journey, you can't beat Volvo seats and it's left you in good shape after a day's driving. Can't understand why Lee is so far behind!

[@steamisbest]

Brilliant, I'll go and fast forward through Mac's now, how he can stretch the same journey to that length of video is beyond me. I know how he does it, he repeats himself that many times it's like watching the tele, and the bloody adverts.

[@davidnm21]

Well said I agree👏🏻

[@stevenballinger7976]

Well said

[@noelward8047]

Oh dear. It's called fun. You have clearly forgotten those days. Oh well. Enjoy watching the BBC Haha

[@noelward8047]

@@davidnm21 I disagree. Gosh, what do we do now ?

[@noelward8047]

@@stevenballinger7976 Empty vessels ! You like listening to yourself though. How odd ... don't you think ?

[@tee_m]

3 1/2 hours of peaceful Leffe consumption is worth much more than the extra cost!

[@Listen2Concentr8]

The chemistry between you two guys are just great, it's really a joy to watch.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

thank you!

[@christopherwhitehead8946]

Lee’s car has depreciated so much, the savings on “fuel” go not matter one jot!

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Lee not so sure you beat him on cost, he didn't pay £120000k for the volvo! :-)

[@leegould5306]

Anyone would think you are trying to lose this one!

[@markfroggatt591]

Can you imagine back in the day what an awesome piece of kit that volvo was , still looking great today. Going to be a great challenge. 👍

[@adewhite3921]

Epic Stuff Geoff, it's not about the cost of the journey, it's about the time it took, 3 1/2 Hours faster than Lee. Look at what you had time to do waiting for him. Can't wait for part 2.

[@keithg1xfl]

I thought (Hoped) that the Ferry Company would Refuse the EV Mob

[@matthewgodwin3050]

Properly engineered EVs aren't too much of a risk. It's Elon's 🔥 prone shit boxes that should be banned for public safety. And anyone who buys a Tesla ought to be sectioned for the same reason.

[@watchvidjedi]

Great stuff! I couldn't agree more about the lane discipline on the continent. It is lovely. Almost like they were taught better than most UK drivers!!!

[@AnnieRed66]

I think that a factor in the bad driving, over here, is due to the amount of new comers we've had, in the past few years. From what I can tell, many of them are driving on foreign licences and have absolutely no idea how our roads work. They should be made to take the UK test.

[@keithphilbin3054]

Yes, boats usually pass each other on the left hand side..

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

🔥Petrol for the Win🔥 Let's go, Onwards my friends!!!!!

[@Elsie-uy2kl]

Epic stuff Geoff. Yes I did get to the end of the video whilst I was eating my tea. 😆👍

[@waughontheworld6530]

I always fill 2 gerry cans and a full tank in Spain or England first, that gets me through France the way I go without filling in France

[@jfletcher1029]

Not only are there few potholes in the French motorways, they also use the quiet sound absorbing tarmac which makes it a pleasure to cruise on.

[@GrrMeister]

*With Low Profile Tyres my Car (W247) is almost silent !*

[@jfletcher1029]

@@GrrMeister Indeed. The indicator clicking away becomes the loudest thing, I'm afraid it will wake up the kids sleeping in the back. Totally unreal. Old diesel W212 here.

[@stephenjones9153]

But how much more do you and everyone else have to pay in France over 1 year towards the road's. Here in UK for my little Toyota 1.4Ltr Diesel it's £20/year . I would have to use those horrendous back road's that are full of potholes and hairpin bends for mile after mile 😢in France.

[@jfletcher1029]

@@stephenjones9153 I have no idea as I'm from the UK as well. All I know is some stretches of the French motorway you pay a toll on and depending upon how far you go can be quite expensive if used frequently. Their taxes on cars is also greater.

[@AI-Records24]

Plus you can do 130mph through most of it with no cameras although their lane discipline is terrible

[@lawreence13]

Point is Geoff don't beat yourself up over the fuels cost I think its 79 % tax in France, Take the tax away and the fact the electrical charging seems far cheaper in France. Take that away and the EV loses hands down

[@PointNemo9]

In Britain more than half of the cost of petrol is duty and tax.

[@lawreence13]

@@PointNemo9 Actually its 73%. France is higher

[@foxxster3565]

And when more and more people are FORCED into evs, the tax take from petrol and diesel will drop significantly which means they will add a large tax on electricity delivered by ev chargers. Or they will charge a per km tax on evs which will negate any price advantage.

[@lawreence13]

@@foxxster3565 Of course

[@Eric_Hunt194]

In France they have lots of spicy rocks ☢ that give them loads of electricity... Also, epic stuff Geoff!

[@COIcultist]

And at 15.10 onwards, a wind turbine that isn't turning a blade. That, unlike the roads is just the same as the UK!

[@roddorman8292]

Do love a Leffe! Was in Millau in 2008 on the motorbike, done the bridge but the way i went took me under the bridge, into Millau that was more spectacular than going over it.

[@Thunderbloke2]

We did that on the motorbike and thought the same.

[@robstevens6590]

First went to Millau in 2006 .... 2 years after it was completed. Fantastic !!! This brought back great memories. Next time dont forget your Crit' Air sticker .... Avoids fines in certain town centres.... Enjoy

[@martinwalker3372]

Epic stuff Geoff. Great video. I hope you enjoyed "Pet Sounds" too.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I prefer 'sunflower' and 'surfs up' actually :)

[@martinwalker3372]

@@GeoffBuysCars Interesting choices Geoff and each to their own. I've always thought "Sunflower" quite weak but "Surfs Up" certainly put them back on the map 👍

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@martinwalker3372 Sunflower is a little slower / darker isn't it :-)

[@johnuk5160]

Plus EV Carnage = the " Real Top Gear ", 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@markburton8303]

🤣🤣😂

[@AI-Records24]

Cringe as fck

[@chefineer]

Lee saved £70, and took 3.5 hours longer . His time is worth £20 per hour !

[@sahhull]

How much did the Porsche depreciate in the time?

[@chefineer]

@@sahhull Over £1000. That buys 140 gallons of diesel, enough for 7000 miles !

[@checker3694]

Also in France and I have driven and ridden on motorcycle virtually every part of it, 4G never drops signal anywhere. Everything works in France 🇫🇷

[@philiplindley7384]

I drove HGVs in Europe for 30 years ,never used the peripherique, it's madness.

[@Stefano1475]

In the EV vs Ice road trip challenge- Geoff buys cars and The Macmaster the winner for best cinematography goes to- Geoff buys cars…Awesome video great work

[@Petrolheadd-u2u]

That volvo is so cool my dad had the same one with the same colour when i was 15 im 41 now! He had the C70 t5 as well both with dolby surround sound about 16 speakers! such a cool car💙

[@stevenbrown2523]

More people would have admired the volvo than the Porsche. Makes people smile. 27years old and looking in rude health. A real head turner.

[@dannydee2668]

After spending years living in the south of France the one good thing about owning an old car is they don't rust a lot down here

[@mowermanone1621]

I really enjoy watching your humorous conversations “not that we were in the same room”, so funny. Also I enjoy viewing your highways and ferries. Good job guys, I really enjoy your videos.

[@johnlesueur1992]

This was excellent......Looking forward to the next bit!

[@ronrichardson3103]

Dont forget Geoff that in the UK. The price for petrol on the motorways are insane prices also .

[@estern001]

Your roads should be perfect when you don't pay for defense. You're welcome, France!

[@annebeignatborde1832]

The maintenance of those roads is financed by the tolls. If there are potholes people will prefer saving their money and taking the more scenic route. There is a controversy because of the concession to private companies infrastructure paid for by taxpayers. In what way does France not pay for defence? France has an army, submarines, the atomic weapon... It's not in great shape but then neither is the army in the UK.

[@FreeFlyerUk]

No. We wasted money on Tack and Tace etc

[@FreeFlyerUk]

​@@annebeignatborde1832No, their other roads are just as good.

[@robblack7560]

The problem here in Northern Ireland isn't the potholes, we find the landmines a bugger.

[@annebeignatborde1832]

@@FreeFlyerUk most yes but not all. There are some regions and towns where the roads aren't very good.

[@janingemandelid69]

Epic stuff Geoff 😂👍👍 I would choose the Volvo every time, all the times!

[@dannyjonze]

Remember the days when you arrived in France and diesel was half the price. Never had a diesel but now I don't know why.

[@edtheroverman]

The fact that France is about four times bigger than the UK, but roughly the same population might have something to do with why the roads are bloody amazing over there. I'm certainly not sticking up for our utterly want government for letting the roads and everything else go to total shit, but that is definitely a factor. Fuck all to do with whether they pay for defense or not. Good on them.

[@jameschambers6975]

At least French human beings get to see blue skies, something the UK human beings are denied by their demon gauliters.

[@leninism100]

Plus they seen to be driving on Toll Roads

[@markmitchell590]

True, but that means they've had to pay for 4x the mileage of blacktop to get the infrastructure. The real difference is they ram it through without 200 years of consultancies and public enquiries, route changes, tunnels, SSI holdups etc, which means the original plan comes in within sight of the original budget, and is easier to maintain going forward.

[@anthonybelham1466]

So does that mean the McMaster is moving to France for the betterment of his EV charging car costs 😂😂😂😂

[@colettedunton5334]

Friendship will always beat anything the WEF dreams up and that's epic stuff Geoff!

[@vossierebel]

Yep... epic stuff Geoff - however, time is money... you should get a bonus point for every minute you arrived before Lee... and each bonus point equates to one euro fuel!! Now... That's EPIC STUFF GEOFF!! Just btw - GGG!!!

[@michaelstimpson1137]

Time is money if you have something to do. I think if you can work your way through a decent audiobook on a long trip and enjoy the ride that's worth it's weight in gold.

[@robertsmith6297]

EPIC STUFF GEOFF! I drive to Toulouse 3 times a year, always do it non stop from North Wales. Takes 14hrs, something special driving through the night watching the sunrise.

[@gadgetfellow]

I am ready for part 2. If your wipers are up in a fuel station in South Africa it signifies the petrol attendant has washed your windscreen for you and its drying ...... have the tip ready....

[@breseler]

Geoff, address the elephant in the room - what excess mileage is Lee paying on the Taycan? If it is 21p per mile then it is going to add ~£250 to his journey down to Benidorm. And another ~£250 for the return trip! He's already "in the red" for something like £4200 (@21p per mile) for his excess mileage to date (he stated he'd done ~20,000 miles over his annual mileage 'allowance' in a previous loan car video). You could still snatch victory from les MÁChoires de la défaite!!!..

[@RobertSmith-cv1cu]

Epic stuff Geoff. Your mistake was buying fuel on the motorway.

[@Kivetonandrew]

Loving this. Can't wait to see the MacMasters version and who wins. Better than broadcast TV!

[@TABRO284]

I strongly agree.

[@NickMM34]

Epic Stuff Geoff. Roads like that we need here. Did remind me a bit of driving on the A90 in Scotland, as so much less traffic in most places than in southern England.

[@DoktorLorenz]

Moving up to Scotland a decade ago, has been the best decision I made as a hgv driver, the roads up here are so much less hassle to drive on than in Midlands and se England

[@johnrtrfc25]

From Lee's channel, brilliant to see it from another side, also you had a legend Volvo!

[@carsandcustard]

At circa 5:00 you look similar to Drew Pritchard. I believe he’s fond of a fast old Volvo too!

[@leegould5306]

It’s the hat & nose shape!

[@koolerking440]

18:08 Of course the roads are nice and smooth, France a long time ago decided roads are economically important so the quality is great.

[@beefovbd2]

geoff , can i just add in lees recent service video , he is over his millage contract and will be charged per mile on his lease ver the agreed mileage , sure that 1300 miles should be factored in to running costs as it truly is a running cost .

[@saxon-mt5by]

Lee bought his car, it's not leased, so he won't be paying for an excess mileage charge - but he is loosing money hand over fist in depreciation.

[@beefovbd2]

@@saxon-mt5by watch his service video , lee and porsche leeds say its over its declared mileage allowance ,and says his self there is a charge per mile on end of contract .

[@noelward8047]

Gosh. You are taking this all far too seriously. Just enjoy the fun.

[@markburton8303]

@@beefovbd2 why would you compare the overall running costs? I mean, it's a new Porsche, it's not comparable to an old shitbox. If it's a race to the bottom, just buy an old fiat panda for £100 and drive it there and save yourself some cash.

[@nigewot9535]

"Epic stuff Geoff." The best "stuff", - in the world! 😄

[@robc3056]

Hah at last something decent to watch Cmon The Geoff T5r fro the win and the colour suits its hidden charms ! Lees`s serious about this one hes even saved some weight with that haircut !!

[@lynoxberry1507]

And don't forget the frequent bowel emptying. 😂

[@bignormy]

motorway service stations are always expensive for fuel, that's true in the UK too - emergencies only!

[@michaelcarr7170]

You are paying $8.66 per gallon in U.S. dollars, PLUS all those toll booth stops! OMG it's really expensive to drive in France.

[@garrygraham]

Fair dinkum, the price of fuel is high in Europe . In Aus we pay around AUD2.20 for premium, which is euro 1.30. No wonder you are worried about the cost! You should run the Volvo on regular fuel for motorway cruising. You still need to factor in time savings, even though you seem to be doing everything you possibly can to make the McMilk float look good.

[@forrestrobin2712]

Hope you used DFDS and not P&O. I’ve not forgiven P&O for the way they treated their staff a couple of years ago. Also they no longer do a proper breakfast, just crappy expensive "wraps" . Nope DFDS every time for me!

[@barrycoomer8137]

Epic stuff Geoff ! Can’t wait for part two. 👍👍

[@kevinsmoother]

One of the best videos I've ever seen on KZbin. Brilliant work Geoff. Top notch.

[@guy4469]

i love the petrol and services boards that say next services 30 km 70km 105 km 180km 250 km you can plan Ahead .We dont have this total are the cleanist in Europe .And i use to do manchester to paris six night a week for 18 months hardest job ive ever had .

[@mikecorrigan763]

Fantastic to follow your trip on your channel and the Macmaster's channel. Just like the old Top Gear road trips but even better because it's the real deal. No fakery and no BBC production team following you in Range Rovers.

[@MeyerFerreira-b5o]

can't wait for part 2

[@ianmccurley2806]

Macmaster. One of them. One of them

[@adamwarren1104]

Epic stuff Geoff. However do I remember YOU originally planned NOT to.use the toll roads so saving on rolls and cheaper non motorway fuel price. Perhaps with the family driving back check that distance time??

[@GeoffBuysCars]

when i was going to use a diesel, i was going to avoid tolls to even it out, but since buying the petrol i changed my plan.

[@robertallen8715]

Epic stuff Geoff, thank you.

[@PhilipDjaferis]

prices on French autoroutes are always ridiculous...95 Octane should have been fine. And I'm glad you didn't take the B roads

[@douglasb.5601]

'Epic stuff Geoff!' 👍🏻 I once got pulled over on the M6 by a senior policeman driving your car back in about 2000. I couldn't shake him...managed 126 uphill (in my brand new 206gti) and he was stuck on my tail. After a very nice chat in his Volvo's passenger armchair he let me off...top bloke. 😳👍🏻😎

[@AlexLancashirePersonalView]

Don't forget, Geoff, they clock you between toll booths using the pay stations.

[@TheLastSock]

No they dont.. ;-)

[@noelward8047]

Oh dear. Do you make everything up ?

[@Lukey-jy4ez]

But you got to be driving a fast car, fast

[@dancarden72]

It has been known for police to use speed cameras on your approach to a toll. I've done France twice in the last 3 weeks. I didn't see any issues but then I didn't speed on the approach to a toll. Just floor it on the way out.

[@AngusSibbet-jg9fj]

Epic stuff Geoff, thank you, I really enjoyed that. Oh those road surfaces! And yes, the standard of driving too. I actually think that Volvo looks better than the Taycan, it's a pure, uncompromised design. R-plate was a very good car year. The challenge isn't just about cost and time, I'm also hoping it shows what an older, quality car with some miles on it can still do. Let's see how it works out...

[@robinlittle8445]

Love the video, im currently in la manga near cartagena spain i drive a 72 plate mercedes-benz cla 220d and since leaving Bridlington East Yorkshire ive covered 2719.5 miles with an average mpg of 68,9mpg diesel here is currently 138.9 euros per litre

[@AI-Records24]

Get that DPF off, EGR blanked and swirl flaps gone with an intake clean and remap and you’ll do 80-85mpg easily!

[@hamshackleton]

Seeing all that lovely black pollution, and your comment re ULEZ - Several times I have asked if Rishi's ULEZ included railway diesel loco's, or the ships on the Thames but so far no answer! - - - Epic stuff, Geoff! (see, I did watch it!)

[@808duguid808]

Geoff you didn't have to put on new tyres before you left and if you did wouldn't cost half much. so you did save money.

[@davebarron5939]

This should be fun! Thanks for taking us along, you guys working together, ROCK! I was wondering IF they would deny Lee's Milk float as a fire danger.

[@HonourablePigeon]

For the next trip you need to get yourself an old 940 turbo diesel and then run it on used veg oil, it would be interesting to see how that compares to the Taycan on cost. You can get used veg oil for well below £1.00 per litre, excluding whatever you want to add to stop the fuel system clogging (5-10% petrol mixed in might do the trick.)

[@MadIIMike]

Gotta be careful where you do it tough, in germany at least you can get fined for tax evasion unless you pay additional tax for using veggy oil as fuel.

[@therogers4432]

If you buy unused cooking oil from a cash&carry in 10 litre cans it costs way less than £1/litre and doesn't have bits of chips in it... Edit: I just checked and if you use a clubcard 5l of (new/fresh/unused) Vegetable Oil costs £6.60 in Tesco's, or £1.32/litre. But if our wonderful and benevolent masters dip your tank then they'll fine you thousands or crush your car, so you shouldn't use it in your car on public roads. Also, it only works well in cars with a diesel pre-heater, otherwise vegetable oil is too viscous and clogs filters and injectors up really badly. But any auto electrician can/will install a pre-heater for not much money. I've never used it myself because it's illegal, and without diesel receipts I couldn't claim for mileage, but I worked in the construction industry for a very long time and an awful lot of the boys did if they could, and at one point sunflower oil was half the price per litre from Asda than diesel from the filling station outside so go figure...

[@COIcultist]

@@therogers4432 In the UK, you can legally use up to 2,500 litres per year without paying tax on the veg oil. Now, how they measure how much veg oil you are using, and can anyone use more than 2,500l per year unless they are running a coach or narrow boat as personal transport. Older, pre common rail engines are easier to run on veg oil. Change the filters frequently initially, the veg oil will dissolve or at least lift a lot of the gunk out of the Diesel engine fuel tank.

[@BionicRusty]

Epic stuff Geoffers. ROAD TRIIIIP 🚗 💨 ⛽️ 🚙 💨 🪫

[@etiennebaree6176]

on the highway the gas is always more expenses.on the National route you don't have Tol

[@fortnitegamer-my6fh]

Brilliant video. Throughly enjoyed it

[@TimK2646]

Every 1 hour Lee spends charging costs around £40 quid. So 2.5 hours is £100 quid.

[@Sp_75-76]

he is on Holiday

[@robertwiddrington]

Literally epic stuff Geoff. These challenges are my favourite thing that you guys do.

[@lylobean]

Count depreciation on the cars by end of journey.

[@JohnJohnson-lu9we]

Great video, takes me back to the road trips to the south of France I used to do in my cars and m/bike pre pandemic. As you say, the Autoroutes are great, but you do pay for them, neck end of £80 top to bottom if I remember correctly, and horrendous around Lyin, till you get to know the slight bypass route. And, if you break down, it costs you £100 to get towed off the autoroute, so you can then be recovered by your breakdown cover, they are not allowed to pick you up directly on the autoroute. That's the trouble with the A routes being privately owned, and hence no potholes !

[@tpmg5272]

Let us know how many speeding tickets you get through the post the next 4 weeks!. 😂 . Also for the tolls if you use a litter picker, you can swipe the card and collect the ticket.

[@therogers4432]

I was going to say about the litter-picker too: a paltry £1.50 from Poundland to save all that undignified grief, and especially the undignified grief of climbing over the centre console and back in a hurry, then sitting on your 🍒 when the barrier rises and it taking the next 20km to get properly comfortable again 😖

[@AI-Records24]

I do very high speeds through there and haven’t ever gotten a ticket from them, wonder why?

[@tpmg5272]

@AI-Records24 you are lucky then. We run a transport business and receive speeding fines on a weekly basis from the French.

[@matthewjchild]

Nice one Geoff, I've been waiting for this one to come out, looking to do a similar route this year in my Caddy. If you could do small diversions off the motorway, could you save more on the fuel? We would do the same here and pop to a supermarket fuel station? Lovely car and Colour despite what he says!!

[@johnuk5160]

If the whole " system " was restructured and the costs were honest, how little would petrol and desiel prices be, 1st of June in London for the patriots picnic, 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@chrisaris8756]

You need to count what Lee spent charging up in Dover as well, because he started with a full charge do the first part of his journey was done on his U.K. charge.

[@johnuk5160]

Whoever wins the race not a race, one's doing it virtually anonymously and the other was totally under the microscope, private is everything, 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@therogers4432]

Yup... ^EXACTLY THIS^ Except for the ANPR cameras on every tollbooth and major road intersection of course, but that's why I wear both a false moustache/spectacles combination *and* a burqa whenever I drive in Europe.

[@JoLovell]

Very entertaining, didn't want it to end, looking forward to the next leg of the journey.

[@Russell-mj6zc]

did you go dfds??? if so did you get a beef brenda? haha

[@coldbeer8230]

Ive done this drive about 9 tlmes. I love it

[@hillsbills7431]

First ❤ ..well done you guys ❤

[@vulcanvoyager]

Geoff, just one thing. I appreciate you are doing this on "fuel" costs only, but you can't do that! You have to factor in, the cost of the vehicle in the first place!

[@G58]

The buddy movie we all asked for. The best buddy movie IN THE WORLD!

[@LaZoucheCustomshop]

Epic stuff Geoff. So fast charging sounds good but that Porsche battery will be dead far faster now as crash charging damages batteries. Value over time is still the killer for EVs, Petrol or Derv are still winners hands down regards longevity but short term EVs, especially on the continent, are good.

[@theodavies8754]

Great to know where all the copper went. There are some tracks in the Amazon that are nearly as bad as the UK roads.