How long do you stay and how do you cross?
Discussion
Morning all.
Me and the lads are weighing up our 2014 trip (our second time) and again, we're most likely be doing thurs-mon, but last year we took my car only which was perfect and we took the tunnel as our crossing.
This time round, there's a couple more of us, and a support vehicle, which means I'd like to take my more thirsty car, and so would another fella, so 6 of us in three vehicles.
This has made us start weighing up costs going from Essex to Arnage. How do you get there? I suppose it comes down to cost vs time so where are you, and what crossing do you take and why?
Cheers all
Me and the lads are weighing up our 2014 trip (our second time) and again, we're most likely be doing thurs-mon, but last year we took my car only which was perfect and we took the tunnel as our crossing.
This time round, there's a couple more of us, and a support vehicle, which means I'd like to take my more thirsty car, and so would another fella, so 6 of us in three vehicles.
This has made us start weighing up costs going from Essex to Arnage. How do you get there? I suppose it comes down to cost vs time so where are you, and what crossing do you take and why?
Cheers all
We are in Nottingham, I have have been 6 times so far (although I've had a break for the last 6 years)
Have done a multitude of crossing, Newhaven - Dieppe, Dover - Calais, Portsmouth - Le Harve and the Tunnel.
I lived the over nighter from Portsmouth but i couldnt sleep so probably wont do that again, as good as it was)
This year I think i Will do Dover - Dunkerque (Thurs - Monday) But head up north on sunday evening and do the D-day beaches as its the 70th Anniversary and went just after the 60th anniversary and it was really good.
Matt
Have done a multitude of crossing, Newhaven - Dieppe, Dover - Calais, Portsmouth - Le Harve and the Tunnel.
I lived the over nighter from Portsmouth but i couldnt sleep so probably wont do that again, as good as it was)
This year I think i Will do Dover - Dunkerque (Thurs - Monday) But head up north on sunday evening and do the D-day beaches as its the 70th Anniversary and went just after the 60th anniversary and it was really good.
Matt
By coincidence we are in Nottingham too.
Been to Le Mans 3 times now and we prefer Newhaven Dieppe Weds night as although it leaves the UK at about the same time as Portsmouth - Le Havre, the crossing is only 4.5 hours so it drops you in Dieppe at 4am, as opposed to 8am in Le Havre
This then means that we get to Le Mans by 7.30am on the Thursday to collect our tickets before the rush starts.
We then get the Monday pm Dieppe Newhaven back.
Been to Le Mans 3 times now and we prefer Newhaven Dieppe Weds night as although it leaves the UK at about the same time as Portsmouth - Le Havre, the crossing is only 4.5 hours so it drops you in Dieppe at 4am, as opposed to 8am in Le Havre
This then means that we get to Le Mans by 7.30am on the Thursday to collect our tickets before the rush starts.
We then get the Monday pm Dieppe Newhaven back.
RobGT81 said:
Dover to Calais on the ferry
+1Edited by RobGT81 on Thursday 5th December 12:28
Gives you a nice break from driving and a chance to grab some tucker. We travel from West Sussex, so about the same distance from Dover as Essex, usually pick up a ferry around 9am. It's an early start but means the roads are quiet and leaves enough time to go off piste South of Rouen whilst still making camp in in time for tea. Certainly go Thursday-Monday, gets you there in time for all that goes on, on Friday and avoids having to hot foot it back after the race.
Portsmouth crossings are pricey, and what would you rather do? spend 4hrs twiddling your thumbs on a ferry or 4hrs sat behind the wheel of your R32?
Thanks for the replies
We will be doing thurs-mon again I reckon.
This is what we're weighing it up for mellow. I'm dying to take my 32, or maybe (if I can finish it in time) my old 1602, but I'm trying to work out the saving going from Calais and driving them extra miles in the 32 to going on the more expensive crossing and a shorter drive. The Skyline can be quite thirsty. Especially doing 700 miles some between 15-20 mpg!
I'd love to take it though!
We will be doing thurs-mon again I reckon.
This is what we're weighing it up for mellow. I'm dying to take my 32, or maybe (if I can finish it in time) my old 1602, but I'm trying to work out the saving going from Calais and driving them extra miles in the 32 to going on the more expensive crossing and a shorter drive. The Skyline can be quite thirsty. Especially doing 700 miles some between 15-20 mpg!
I'd love to take it though!
Sod the cost, from Yorkshire overnight from Hull to Zeebrugge is hardly different than from Dover-Calais when you figure in a hotel stop and the extra mileage.
Personally, I'd much rather spend an extra hour driving in France/Belgium than the 4-6 hour pain that is the UK motorway system. If that costs an extra £50-100 it's well worth it.
Personally, I'd much rather spend an extra hour driving in France/Belgium than the 4-6 hour pain that is the UK motorway system. If that costs an extra £50-100 it's well worth it.
DeanR32 said:
Thanks for the replies
We will be doing thurs-mon again I reckon.
This is what we're weighing it up for mellow. I'm dying to take my 32, or maybe (if I can finish it in time) my old 1602, but I'm trying to work out the saving going from Calais and driving them extra miles in the 32 to going on the more expensive crossing and a shorter drive. The Skyline can be quite thirsty. Especially doing 700 miles some between 15-20 mpg!
I'd love to take it though!
IMHO the drive to Le Sarthe and back is part of the whole Le Mans experience if you're in a decent car, especially on Thursday when the crossing and every petrol station is full of Brits en route. Got to be worth an extra £150 in fuel, that's only £75 each if you're two up.We will be doing thurs-mon again I reckon.
This is what we're weighing it up for mellow. I'm dying to take my 32, or maybe (if I can finish it in time) my old 1602, but I'm trying to work out the saving going from Calais and driving them extra miles in the 32 to going on the more expensive crossing and a shorter drive. The Skyline can be quite thirsty. Especially doing 700 miles some between 15-20 mpg!
I'd love to take it though!
Alternatively, if you do feel the need to take the oil burner use a bit of "Man maths". R32 will use about £300 of fuel, Beemer will use around £150 and carry twice as many people, so instead of costing you £150, it will only cost you £37.50 saving you and the passenger you would have taken in the R32 £112.50 each. That gives you £225, more than enough to pay for fuel and crossing to take the 1602 to the Le Mans Classic in July - See you there
Man maths at its best right there Mellow!
There's 3 of us now in the 32, so even more money for the petrol kitty. I'd love it to only cost 300 there and back. 700 miles though? I suppose most of it is motorway. I reckon we'd end up doing the tunnel though. Just to get the sitting there waiting bit over with!
Where are you staying Mellow?
There's 3 of us now in the 32, so even more money for the petrol kitty. I'd love it to only cost 300 there and back. 700 miles though? I suppose most of it is motorway. I reckon we'd end up doing the tunnel though. Just to get the sitting there waiting bit over with!
Where are you staying Mellow?
6 of 1, half a dozen of the other in regards to distance between Dover and Portsmouth for me, The Brittany ferries fastcraft is good but You can get a sea sick if its bumpy. Eurotunnel is great, but once in France its a fair old drive to Le mans, (not that I mind that) 
But it depends what your driving and what YOU want out of the trip.
For example Eurotunnel might be approx. £100.00 return, but add on your fuel stops there and back, it might not work out the best price?
This year I'm going on the fast craft from Pompy Just for the change (I've done Eurotunnel the last few years). The fast craft is filled on a first come first served basis, the prices go up as the sea cat gets filled, get in early and its not bad, book it late and it then is not really an option. But the roads are nice to drive in Normandy
We also go down Thurs to Monday, my group has split this year due to the numbers involved, some doing the tunnel, others going to Le havre, Cherbourg. Sailing times also come into play, I did not want to get to France late afternoon and then have to drive to a campsite and pitch up a tent late evening
We leave the circuit at the end of the race and top the weekend off in a Chateau Monday we plan to visit the D-Day beaches 
See you there
But it depends what your driving and what YOU want out of the trip.For example Eurotunnel might be approx. £100.00 return, but add on your fuel stops there and back, it might not work out the best price?
This year I'm going on the fast craft from Pompy Just for the change (I've done Eurotunnel the last few years). The fast craft is filled on a first come first served basis, the prices go up as the sea cat gets filled, get in early and its not bad, book it late and it then is not really an option. But the roads are nice to drive in Normandy
We also go down Thurs to Monday, my group has split this year due to the numbers involved, some doing the tunnel, others going to Le havre, Cherbourg. Sailing times also come into play, I did not want to get to France late afternoon and then have to drive to a campsite and pitch up a tent late evening
We leave the circuit at the end of the race and top the weekend off in a Chateau
Monday we plan to visit the D-Day beaches See you there
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff