EV vs ICE #1,300 Mile Euro Trip - Part 2 - Geoff goes CRAZY choosing the car

After spending 10 days preparing an Olive Green Volvo 850 TDi for our epic 1,300 mile road trip, I went wild and bought a Volvo V70 R. Was this a mistake? Possibly.. Let's look at the car.
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]

This video was meant to be the 2nd in the series, not the 1st…. Admin error on my part, now you’ve all seen the car! Oops! Car will be for sale soon as it’s back in the UK. My heart is with my 850 TDi.

[@jamesfranke]

Doh! 😂😂

[@kevinmott6205]

Durrr

[@Rich.Aardvark]

Keep it. Its what people want to see.

[@philliphugh3347]

Joli chapeau Geoff 🤠👍

[@philliphugh3347]

Or should it be: bonito sombrero Geoff 🤠👍

[@igorbogdanoff4517]

Dang those orange V70's have aged like fine wine

[@ibrstellar1080]

The great thing with this Volvo is you can sleep in it once the Lady Geoff finds out how much you spent😆.

[@bigjoeangel]

Doesn't matter what you do, you've won, because that Taycan depreciates so fast you could use that money to buy the whole Volvo and all the fuel and the holiday.

[@antonyread5595]

😅 the accuracy of this 😂

[@Barbarapape]

Lee has just released a video and Porsche are so desperate to sell him a new Taycan that he is now only £10k in negative equity, and after this trip will be worth even less, Geoff has paid half that for car that will win.

[@antonyread5595]

@@Barbarapape that’s ridiculous 😂

[@pachy444]

You do realise some of us own petrol and diesel cars and also an EV, EVs are way better to drive, I don't care what it's worth next year, or the year after, obviously you care, but that just means you're poorer than me.

[@neilgorin1037]

"I think you'll find I'm considerably richer than you"

[@redditchscroller7049]

£5000 does'nt sound bad for a Volvo in that conditon. Probably about the same as what Lee's Taycan is worth these days!!! 😂

[@5ebra1]

Your car will be worth more than Lee’s in a couple of years.

[@volvo850enjoyer8]

in Germany the v70r espacially in orange are way above 10K, if you ever find one...

[@Self-reflection-academy]

Fair play that volvo looks lovely.

[@andrews5956]

My mother had a Volvo S70 2.5D. A guy crashed into the side of her at a crossroads. She crashed into a house, got out without any injuries. Always loved these old beasts. 👍

[@greg5639]

Geoff, have you heard about the bus fire in London yesterday where some 16 or 18 firemen attended over several hours trying to put the fire out, the report was, they wasn't sure if it was a diesel or an electric bus ! Come on I'll put my house on it that it was an.electric bus !

[@tonybeck7399]

M guy has a vid on it.

[@rrg6625]

They say diesel. According to the registration.

[@ibrstellar1080]

That Volvo looks amazing Geoff and that colour is so bright and happy😁.

[@V70P3rules]

Now you're talkin' Geoff. A proper Volvo.

[@antonyread5595]

A saffron v70r nicely done there Geoff.

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

2 days at 600+ miles, you made the right choice. A little comfort goes a long way, hopefully all 1300 miles to somewhere nice and warm. You’ll love it, the family will love it, and we (your audience) love it too. I’m guess there will be someone who doesn’t, but he’ll be miles behind you coming up with a myriad of excuses… as usual. Safe travels 👍

[@markbray2988]

You have redeemed yourself Geoff... I completely approve of your choice of vehicle for the blast down to Costa Packet 👏🏻

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Thank you!

[@clairebroughton3244]

Oh Geoff ❤ I had C70 coupe in this colour T5, best car I’ve ever owned 😮

I bought a Landcruiser, 5 Yrs old, for £5,200 in '05, Geoff. 3 litre/4 cylinder diesel, manual. 10 CD autochanger, aircon, etc. Had great service for the next 15 years. Got £800 for it. Excellent value for money. Good luck on the trip!

[@jcfallows]

How many £1000's did you spend keeping it on the road & How many times did you break down?

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

Would never have thought an orange Volvo would look as that. Nice.

[@GT380man]

Funny old world. If these were available new, now, I’d go out and buy one, the last car I’d ever need. A Time Machine of a vehicle.

[@hamshackleton]

It's bronze, not orange!

[@Carol_in_Spain]

I live in Valencia. You will pass us on the way down. Safe travels.

[@VXGaming]

Should still get about 30mpg out of that.

[@kaybee2930]

Nice 👍 The same engine as Ford put in the Focus RS ST, they sound beautiful

[@bentullett6068]

Or Ford S-Max MPV

[@syracuseephelump9995]

It was the reason Ford bought Volvo, the t5 engines.

[@marekdziecio6563]

Nope.. RS was 2.5. ST and S-max 2.5 had open deck design so 3 different engines.

[@amandareynolds6311]

Lovin the colour Geoff

[@JoeBManco]

Don't use cheap oil in the engine. Those 5 cylinder engines are famous for sludge.

[@howardsportugal]

Frankly, the Porsche is going to depreciate by 5k on the journey 😁

[@MillhouseSpeaks]

Definitely use the volvo for another challenge

[@HonourablePigeon]

A fine car Geoff, I was drooling over this one myself, it really does look the part in that colour, and with those Comet alloys. It will be quite the challenge to drive it sensibly down to Benidorm....

[@grahamclifton1483]

Volvo T5. Best car on this man’s road…beautiful engine, self steering rear suspension… lovely drive…happy trails..!

[@bullfrommull]

I had a S60 T5. Could get 42mpg. The sound system was the best I have ever heard. Really was. The build quality was also the best I have ever had. The ride was ace. The seats again the best. When Volvos were the most underrated cars ever.

[@tomcurran65]

Brilliant car, great choice, cant wait for the result (win), my money is on the Volvo. Enjoy the trip and the holiday Geoff and be sitting at the bar with a beer when that other fella roles in, Top Gear style!

[@Bob-_-Smith]

I used to love Volvos in the 90s, even owned a few but I wouldn’t have the modern ones given.

[@Karthig1987]

Hope you keep this car. That's an amazing color. Please kick his ass. I am a new viewer but please do not lose to the EV.

[@sib923]

Rather special car for a rather special Journey at a decent price! Plus I'm certain your family will love this, perfect for Malaga!

[@user-eo7vm6kp3g]

As they used to say on the FastShow, JazzClub: Nice!

[@pistolpete65]

lol's, the showing of the boot, brought back memories for me of my tour of Germany in the late 80's before the wall came down. We would have said that was at least an 8 crater, possibly an 11 if you folded the seats, as in you could get at least 8 crates of beer in the back for your duty free when going home on a visit. :) happy memories.

[@johnlladron735]

Thanks for the video, Geoff. Decent car by the looks of it. I wouldn't think the mpg is anything to worry about as you can fill up in 5 mins, so you could probably stop nine times for every one time that Lee stops for a charge. In 5 mins you get over 450 miles, he will take much longer to get much less range.

[@noggintube]

I'm not sure about this one, I think this is one will be closer because over that distance you really do need more time to rest now and again. That plays into the hands of the EV charging. As long as the networks Lee uses are all working and high speed (and no queues) he might be in with a shout. I don't think he would beat Geoff, but I think it'll be a lot closer than previous challenges.

[@StevensPaul]

Don't forget to get the oil 🛢️ changed if you hadn't already. Also check out the Air Filter and the Housing for any detritus or woodland creatures🐿️🐦🤪🐈 living in there!

[@amandareynolds6311]

Looking forward to the challenges ahead

[@paulmuff9883]

Excellent Geoff , looking forward to this because videos with you to in are brilliant just like the good old days of top gear ❤ stay safe and enjoy 😊

[@ilollipop100]

F*ck it... Nice car!!! I approve. Still a fraction of the MacMaster's Por-shay....

[@barriewilliams4526]

Looks like you might have to work hard to win this one Geoff, as. Apart from the wrong Volvo, it looks like Lee has changed horses. Judging by his latest video, he has been high jacked by the Porsche Nottingham EVangelists, and is an up-and-coming convert. This being the case, he will be trying really, really hard. Keep an eye on him, he could try some dirty tricks to win this one. You know what these EVangelists are like.......

[@Marcobelluchi-xl3gc]

I have a new name for Lee, the "ClickBait Master". Just be careful around this guy!

[@hamshackleton]

Yes, at the Porsche garage, they told him how to turn ON the regen, so he'll get that bit more range! RTFI, Lee! 🙂

[@robertbox5399]

Halfords do the harness convertor for the stereo. The built in CD player is the worse thing about the car, but the speakers are amazing.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Ah I should have looked I just presumed it would have been unobtanium. One of the best car speaker set ups I’ve come across. Crisp and balanced. Quality, not volume, if that makes sense.

[@robertbox5399]

@GeoffBuysCars Nope. It's a standard harness for 'DIN' car radios. Just plugs in.

[@Law24809905]

Driven that route going down to the south of France. Beautiful landscape.

[@eirik_halvorsen]

Lovely! The colour is iconic. But I'm not settled with it yet ... (after twenty something years). But the condition of this particular one would have made me buy it too without a hesitation! 🤠 I'm catching up with you guys today even though I've been excited about your trip since you announced it.😉

[@carsandcustard]

My old man had a Saffron C70 T5! One of Volvo’s best colours behind cream yellow. Best of luck with the trip, I’m excited for the videos. 👍

[@thegrandpumbaa]

I had one of those from new, only difference was mine was manual. Most comfortable car I owned and that was coming from 850 T5R. Can confirm it will do more than 150mph. Can also confirm that the mileage will be awful. Looking* forward to seeing the series.

[@GT380man]

I have to say, it looks like a glorious car.

[@breseler]

Wonder if at the end of this 'challenge' Geoff says "I'm keeping this car"....🤔

[@AlexLancashirePersonalView]

Like my 960 that I had when the R reg was out. Mine was 2.3 petrol about 180 bhp. Lovely motor, yours looks great.

[@Elsie-uy2kl]

That Volvo looks lovely Geoff. Love the colour and whichever car you use you'll still beat the MacMaster - again. I'm so looking forward to this challenge - it may be the best one yet. 👍😆

[@joannasharpe4895]

Hi Geoff, What a great car, I had one years ago in exactly the same colour, its called Saffron Pearl metallic and as the name suggests it's a pearlescent paint. The Dolby surround sound system in your car has was a very expensive option when new!

[@markfletcher8040]

Use the cruise Geoff, and you'll improve your fuel economy. My ford XR6 ,4ltr/6, auto hummed along from Mildura to Balranald on cruise @110kph and got 45mpg, with AC . Your Volvo should get close to that, good buy too.Happy travels

[@Marcobelluchi-xl3gc]

Brilliant! Great choice Geoff!

[@TRUE.SMiFFY]

Spoke to the previous owner when he was getting a Tyre sorted at AA Slicks, Beautiful Motor!

[@Alan-wc7dl]

30mpg plus motorway fuel prices , no wonder it cost so much to drive to benidorm

[@MegaGolfer4]

British touring car special Geoff 🤙🏾

[@destrozar]

Absolutely gorgeous car. You would have gone past when you went through Clermont, I live in Lyon 😊

[@ujay888cc]

Always wanted a V70R. Not everyone knows about them or appreciates them. You WILL enjoy your trip in this car. Drive safely.

[@clivefowler1932]

Absolutely love the colour geoff, I had my R5 gt turbo sprayed pretty much that colour back in 2004 ish

[@sib923]

Fantastic! Love that colour!!

[@stuartfitch7093]

Love the colour Geoff. I've had a couple of different cars a similar colour.

[@chefineer]

Lurvley car. When my Renault Laguna company car was in for a replacement engine at 15k miles, the lease company sent me one of these the day before I was going on hoiiday, down to the Norfolk broads.

[@Calvi36]

So, so, so looking forward to this trip that is not a "race", best of luck Geoff and MacMaster.

[@chriswarren2599]

A lovely car Geoff. They really have something about them. I’ve never been into Volvo’s but you have converted me!

[@skaraborgcraft]

Did a 2500km trip from Sweden to Brittany with one overnight in Belgium. 1.8 Toyota petrol Avensis estate with CVT=50mpg.

[@andrewmitchell8859]

These Volvos where the dogs Bollocks back in the day , totally bomb proof as all Volvos where that’s why the coppers used them ! Hard as nails

[@wyb80]

I have the same car, same colour…use it every day…absolutely love it… A Great car for your Trip 👌🏽…look forward to seeing updates. 👍🏼😊

[@GeoffBuysCars]

It’s the ultimate colour

[@BRMCaptChaos]

£5k was £4k two years ago thanks to….. (so you’re still Geoff and family matters) Love the V70R, whip the tints off, proper engine, tidy the stereo (Infinity indeed) and detail, you’ll make on this and drive around in a “very nice car”. Lee meanwhile is motoring at £5 a hour depreciation plus charging costs and a set of tyres every cigarette stop. I did the trip Gloucestershire to Barcelona regularly in a work Passat 1.6d, enjoy!

[@Sierra747]

Beautiful car. My first job was at a Volvo dealer in Chelmsford when these were new and I’ve always wanted one since then although I’d have an 850 t5r or r over a v70r.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Same, but T5R are usually more money

[@Sierra747]

@@GeoffBuysCars yes t5-r’s go for silly money. Your v70r is lovely though.

[@sonofdat]

I'm not a Volvo guy, but I love it! Very nice. It may have cost more than you wanted, but it's not as much as Lee has lost on his.

[@jasonmedhurst9105]

I love your work, Well done

[@ReCheck_WotTheFluck]

Nice. Looks clean. Do like the T5R's, mate had one in yellow like the one in your banner. Few mod's when he floored it my calf muscles got left behind. Not bad for an estate.

[@Paul-li9hq]

Sweet looking motor... Always like those big volvo estates: they still look good... The win, of course, is a forgone conclusion because even if you have to fill up twice as many times as the electric car needs charging - you will be doing it in a fraction of the time 😂

[@LeeCharles90]

Need an epic road trip film from both of ya

[@highflowhighflow9896]

lovely very special color, i really like those from the 90`s i think its worth that 5000 😊

[@nigeldutton4559]

You have made me dig one I have out,and sell only been sat 3 years , good cars

[@benjelly4976]

Good luck Geoff. Have a great time...

[@BartMGRX]

Ooh, suits you sir. Car looks great and you'll easily beat Lee with that. Now I'm of to check if there are any for sale near me in the Netherlands😁

[@ianchalklen1047]

Undoubtedly you should get there first but I think this may be closer on cost.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Great choice, thats a long trip...Got to reign in your lead right foot though. It will guzzle petrol.....🤔😳😮😏🇬🇧

[@radio-controlledcouk]

Its a good looking car, and it really does have that touring car look! Lovely.... not sure about gold but we'll let you off!

[@encerche5629]

I have done long holiday trips with an Audi 100 S4 '93. It has 1000km range with a full tank. 240hp stock, plenty of torque with the torque converter automatic, no oil consumption, torsen quattro, easy to do on the road maintenance, good AC, very little rust compared to Volvos, and 5 cylinder soundtrack.

[@tiedway]

Have a great journey both of you. We do the same route 2 or 3 times a year to Barca. May have gone Atlantic coast if going further South? 🇵🇹 & beyond 🙂

[@Dogooddontbesilly]

Your new car matches the colour of my new shorts. I wanted outrageous buttercup yellow shorts but my colour blind wife bought me copper ‘yellow’ shorts. She swears blind they are yellow and just what I wanted. I still love my wife and am wearing these new ‘yellow’ shorts. If I made a video complaining she would kill me. 😂

[@Rich.Aardvark]

Om nom nom, real Volvo. Really looking forward to this. Cars like this are why I subbed.

[@rayshaw7446]

Beautiful car Geoff, maybe a keeper??? Safe travels anyway to ya and family

[@PrimeraSRi]

Don't forget the GB sticker, first aid kit and any other crap you need in your car for travelling through Europe

[@746laurie]

Has to be a UK sticker now. Is that one of the Brexit benefits that the Tories are desperately trying to find? 😁😁

[@Galerak1]

Triangle, replacement bulb kit.... can't think of anything else, it's been a while since I crossed the water. Oh yeah, passport, and baseball bat in case any immigranians try to hitch a ride coming back 🤣

[@paulzx10]

@@Galerak1 hi viz vest needed for each passenger too apparently.

[@annebeignatborde1832]

You need a high viz vest and a triangle. Those are mandatory, the bulbs are not but are probably a good idea to have.

[@PrimeraSRi]

Driving in France you need 2 breathalyzer kits, bulb and fuse kit, UK sticker, UK magnetic plate, UK number plate stickers, first aid kit, Hi-vis vests for driver and passengers, headlamp converters, warning triangle and a zippable holdall. In Spain a fire extinguisher, spare glasses if you wear them, blankets, torch and spare drinking water. Lucky you're taking an estate.

[@karlmabe1649]

Best entertainment all bank holiday weekend

[@BlackLines]

Name a better all-round car for 5 grand, I'll wait.

[@aliveRaptor2929]

Perfect choice ICE performance and comfortable 🫡👍🚗

[@Law24809905]

Thats some drive calais to millau good luck getting around the peripherique near Paris.

[@Paul-67]

Nice one Geoff, love the car, love the colour.

[@15DEAN1995]

i have never seen a volvo 850 t5 manual, thats pretty cool to know they exist

[@bullfrommull]

I got from Central Scotland to Soissons France on one tank . In a T5 S60.

[@stevenballinger7976]

Make sure you win Geoff. As the macmaster has turned he now loves evs and turning in to Ev angelist.some say hes being eating cucumber sandwiches

[@lesklower7281]

I do like the colour of this Volvo suits the station wagon very well and Lee may be in with a chance especially with this Volvo that likes petrol but it is much quicker to fill up a car with petrol than recharge an EV

[@Lexusman65]

But the milk float has to stop off on the way down with deliveries haha.

[@jonhigginson4096]

I wonder what that 2G Taycan that Lee’s had would do to the competition?

[@matsv201]

I checked A better route planer for the route, and as far as i can find it need 10 charges. Moost of them are 10--15 minute, but the longest is 23 minutes. So a total of say about 120 minutes extra, that might not be that bad on a route that far. But well.. there is a few issues. Firstly not all of the charging points are right by the highway. Some are, and the added time of apart from charging may only be 2 or 3 minutes. But for some chargpoint he will need to get in and out of villages next to the highway. Well it get worse. About half of the charging point only have 4 charges at full speed, and one even only have 2. A few charge points had 4 or 6 charges at 300-350kW but then a additional few more on anything from 50 to 150kW. one chargstation that was recomended had 4 charges at 300, 4 at 250 and 4 at 150kW. Of cause, chyarging at 250kW in steed of 300 is not that bad, but 150... yea. that is not fun. And.... well there is one more absolutely huge drawback that EVengalist will never admit. If the route map say its 4 charges at 300kW, there is really just 2. How it typically works is that every charger have two cables. So you can indeed charge two cars at the same time. But the maximum charge speed for both cars combined are 300kW, not 600. The idea is that when one car start getting up to 80-90% and it will ramp of, the other car well get more juice. This might work in theory. The issue is that when everyone doing long runs with route-planing, everyone is doing 20-80% charges, and everyone is only doing full blast charges. So the sharing really don´t work. The result of that is that the diffrance from the charge point being basically empty, and it being full with cars lining up, is actually very small. So a charge point with 8 charging position that have 3 cars, looks like its basically empty, but in reality its at 75% capacity. One more car, its at 100%. Any car after the first 4 will be lining up, but they will line up plugged in. So it looks like they are charging, but in reality they are waiting on the car next to be finished.

[@loonaticsrunningtheassylum]

And charging at those rates destroyes the batteries anyway... So reduces the life of the lovely EV 😂

[@matsv201]

@@loonaticsrunningtheassylum weelll.. you are not wrong.. but on the other hand, stopping 45-60 minutes charging everytime is not fun on a road trip. Doing it once is ok. But 3-4 times for one day driving.. not fun

[@stevenbrown2523]

Those stereos with multi cd in the front and dolby were cracking

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Superb quality sound.

[@markstorer7204]

Nice car Geof, lovely to see the blue dials ❤

[@TrumanShow-im2ve]

That looks absolutely fantastic.

[@marcwebb687]

Used to own a C70 convertible 2.3 T5 auto Not quick and very very thirsty, however it's smooth

[@davidflamee]

Great choice. Should be a doddle, walk in the park, no contest. Good luck and, stay safe everyone.