Guest pelmetman Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Filled up Horace yesterday at a Esso garage in Peterborough, went for the top grade diesel that I'd used for the past 3 months in France & Spain paying on average 1.20€ ish so less than a pound a litre, standard diesel was advertised at £1.21 so expected £1.30 ish, actual price................£1.42.......nearly 2€ a litre 8-) ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 pelmetman - 2015-04-25 8:44 AM for the past 3 months in France & Spain paying on average 1.20€ ish so less than a pound a litre, You was robbed its cheaper in Gibraltar, where they claim to be British until it comes to paying British taxes *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teflon2 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 pelmetman - 2015-04-25 8:44 AM Filled up Horace yesterday at a Esso garage in Peterborough, went for the top grade diesel that I'd used for the past 3 months in France & Spain paying on average 1.20€ ish so less than a pound a litre, standard diesel was advertised at £1.21 so expected £1.30 ish, actual price................£1.42.......nearly 2€ a litre 8-) ....... Just smile nicely and pay up someones got to pay for my pension. John (lol) (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Did you factor in the price of your crossing to France and the cost of toll roads there ? I go to France frequently and I know that the UK is cheaper overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 vindiboy - 2015-04-26 7:50 PM Did you factor in the price of your crossing to France and the cost of toll roads there ? I go to France frequently and I know that the UK is cheaper overall. At £1.42 a litre, it wouldn't take many tank refill's to negate the cost of the crossing ;-) ..........Plus you must go to some expensive places if you find France more pricey than the UK :-S ..........During our recent 10 day trip back from Spain, I spent a grand total of 3€ on aires :D ........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I go to France twice a year, seven / eight week trips each time, rarely feel the need to use toll roads, and staying using a mixture of ACSI, Municipals, and Aires I can tell you it's way cheaper than touring the UK, but for us that's only half the story, the sheer ease of using a motorhome over there is fantastic, and for us even if the overall cost was the same or more it would still be our preferred destination. When ever I read or hear anyone saying the UK is on a par with France for touring with a van, I can only assume they actually have never been, or their idea of touring is being encamped on some boring site for weeks on end, occasionally popping out to Morrisons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 After suffering a strange and still unexplained massive increase in fuel consumption on one tank full of fuel, we topped up several times with premium diesel, compared to our normal fuel mileage and power it seemed to make little if any differance. But at no time did we pay a near 20% premium for it like you seemed to have, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 We've only been here a few weeks, but by and large we find the general cost of our daily life is much cheaper in rural France, although that could change over time. We do not mind paying autoroute tolls because we don't pay for a tax disc, and we don't travel on the autoroute system a lot. We try to distinguish between those things that are cheaper because of the exchange rate, and those things that simply cost less, like food etc. The simply fact that there are really no boutiques or fancy shoe shops has reduced the cost of living by a huge amount, and the way they bundle phone/tv/internet for €40 a month, and that includes free phone calls to land lines in most of the known universe, means that I no longer dread the phone bill arriving. After 6 weeks we're still waiting to be connected, but it will happen. If it helps, it's raining and not very warm, but we like it here, and as we now say," c'est la vie". AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antony1969 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Where in France have you moved to AGD and hopefully not been too nosey but what type of property have you bought ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Having toured France for many years we have noticed a definite rise in general costs there, especially in the last 5 years or so. Last year diesel prices for example were down because Hollande demanded a cut, but before then €1.40 was quite common. We compared these costs with Spain where the recession has held down prices markedly, and found that the overall cost of a trip was much reduced, even taking into account the longer journey. I could also add that a couple of wet summers in the Dordogne kinda encouraged a move further south. Of course as a tourist we avoid costs applicable to residents, and I know electricity prices for example are high in Spain, and again as a resident you are liable for tax etc, which may or may not be better than the UK. I did work out my tax liabilities in Spain as an exercise and i was about 20% worse off in Spain than the UK, but then on the other side with cheaper daily costs, who knows. We also dabbled, as did many, with the idea of moving to France as yes, the lifestyle was attractive. But we did not take the plunge and do not regret it, but wish all those who have the very best of success. Travelling as a tourist with the ability to enjoy any locality, and then move on, is our choice nowadays. We are also now at the age where the thought of moving home has little appeal. Spent far too many years of working life living abroad. As thye say 'seen it, done it, and got a T shirt'. However, back to the OP. Is Britain a rip off? In a number of ways yes. We pay more for many items than other countries, and it is not just due to tax regimes. In addition, whatever your poltical colour, services are not always getting better, but costs are always rising. But the upside is that you live in a familiar country, probably with your family at a reasonable degree of contact. You know the good and bad of where you live, and how to make the best of it. You can, hopefully, read and understand all official documents that drop in your letterbox, and if you do fall foul of authority, have some hope fo getting your best help without having to rely on a 3rd party translator. So, all in all, I will stick with what I have, and enjoy other countries at will. It will not stop me shouting abuse at the Government of the day, and complaining bitterly in a motorway service area, but............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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