Is diesel generally now cheaper to buy in France than it is in the UK?

[Marco]

Guys,

We're planning a trip abroad soon and would appreciate advice on the above, particularly from those who currently live in France and/or have travelled there recently by car.

We always leave home with a full tank of fuel, and from previous experience, once arriving at Dover (from Wrexham) there's usually just under half a tank left. Up until now all the cars I've owned have had (unleaded) petrol engines, and it was the case that unleaded petrol was always dearer in France, therefore we filled the tank full up at Dover, before joining the ferry to Calais.

However, with having a diesel car this time, if diesel is cheaper in France, then it makes more sense to fill up when we arrive abroad. Anyway, perhaps someone could confirm that is the case? What is the current average cost of Diesel per litre in France? Cheers! :)

Marco.

[Stratmangler]

http://www.fuel-prices-europe.info/

[Marco]

Ah, cheers, dude! Still be good to hear from those with any practical experience :)

Marco.

[Oldpinkman]

It is Marco - but much cheaper at hypermarkets than nearly all dedicated petrol stations. Much more so than over here. Motorways are obviously much more expensive. If you've not been for a while, the good news is that with chip and pin you can now use the 24/24 pumps. France shuts a lot. Whole regions on a Sunday sometimes :)

[Firebottle]

Marco the price of diesel near us is at the mo about €1.32 per litre.
It does go up and down on a regular basis :scratch:

Check this site for regional differences http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/?module=dbgestion&action=search

The larger E.Leclerc or Intermarche are always some of the cheapest outlets.

Have a good 'un, don't forget to check out the Jenlain Ambree if you like a nice beer,

:cool:Alan

[Oldpinkman]

Have a good 'un, don't forget to check out the Jenlain Ambree if you like a nice beer,

:cool:Alan

Falling over water! i have a friend whose parents live 300yds up the road from the brewerie

[Firebottle]

Hi Richard, I take it you like it too.

The wife and I visited the Jenlain brewery in 1993 when we came over for the day by light aircraft.

Took some samples home as well :cool:

[Oldpinkman]

Hi Richard, I take it you like it too.

:cool:

Sure do. And their other beers. My friends are half way up the hill from the brewery back to the village. I attended Xaviers wedding there - huge log fire spit roast (4 lambs, 2 pigs, dozens of chickens) and there was a fair bit drunk then. Most bizarre experience with it though was driving across the black mountain between Toulouse and Narbonne on a Sunday, and coming to a tiny village (eventually) with a bar. Just a big glass pane on a corner, the only commercial establishment for 20 miles, inside were a few bare tables and cheap chairs, and a bar in the corner like people have at home, with a couple of optics and a beer pump. Jenlain. When the little 4 year old in the empty bar fetched "Grandad" to serve us a sandwich and a beer we got talking. There were red and white pennants and scarves over and on the bar - "USVA" (Valenciennes 1st division football team). Xavier used to work there selling programs. "Grandad" was a former centre-back for them! Usual compliments about my fluent french, we asked if they had many English people there. I don't suppose the population of this place was much over 250 - they had 34 English speaking families there (mostly american and irish) and 23 of them were ex-teachers! Funny world.

[Marco]

Marco the price of diesel near us is at the mo about €1.32 per litre.
It does go up and down on a regular basis :scratch:

Check this site for regional differences http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/?module=dbgestion&action=search

The larger E.Leclerc or Intermarche are always some of the cheapest outlets.

Have a good 'un, don't forget to check out the Jenlain Ambree if you like a nice beer,

:cool:Alan

Cheers, chaps - all info noted. We're off to Italy, via France, spending 3 nights of the journey touring the burgundy wine region and the Ardèche, so can't wait. Our first stop in France will be in a quaint medieval village, just south of Paris, at this charming little hotel:

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9647/xwek.jpg


Apparently, they have a great reputation locally for superb regional cuisine and have an excellent wine cellar! :cheers:

Marco.

[Gordon Steadman]

Hi Marco,

Which part of Italy??

The other love of my life (second only to me darlin' wife!!) was an Italian girl eighteen years my junior. She lived in Milan at Paderno Dugnano. I have many happy memories of the years I stayed there, from early morning cheese collection by the side of Lake Como - fresh Parmesan and Gorgonzola to die for - to trips down to Giglio to stay in an old castle with some friends of hers. Plus all the usual touristy bits in Tuscany. Wonderful country, fabulous food (fish restaurants in Milan.... my mouth still waters) and extremely friendly people. Being part of the family helped of course. They lent me an Alfa saloon to use whilst I was there, what could be a better life? Its bin great:)

[Marco]

Hi Gordon,

We're off to Tuscany, in the beautiful mountain village of Barga (we have a place there), just north of Pisa and Lucca. Some pics:


http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5793/m3vx.jpg


http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7016/l98w.jpg


http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/600/4z7a.jpg


We love the vibe there, especially as it's where my family roots are :)

Marco.

[Oldpinkman]

Hi Marco,

Which part of Italy??

The other love of my life (second only to me darlin' wife!!) was an Italian girl eighteen years my junior. She lived in Milan at Paderno Dugnano. I have many happy memories of the years I stayed there, from early morning cheese collection by the side of Lake Como - fresh Parmesan and Gorgonzola to die for - to trips down to Giglio to stay in an old castle with some friends of hers. Plus all the usual touristy bits in Tuscany. Wonderful country, fabulous food (fish restaurants in Milan.... my mouth still waters) and extremely friendly people. Being part of the family helped of course. They lent me an Alfa saloon to use whilst I was there, what could be a better life? Its bin great:)

Gordon - if we ever get together with a bottle of plonk, for goodness sake don't bring up the subject of ex's in the presence of my Missus. We'll never get a record on... :rolleyes:

[MartinT]

I've always found diesel cheaper over there. I'm off to Ypres soon and won't bother filling up before putting it on the Shuttle.

[Gordon Steadman]

Marco,

Its entirely possible I have seen the place but I don't remember after all these years. We spent a week driving around the hills north of Pisa. My abiding memory of the whole region is terracotta. My sketchbook was full of red roofs!! Lovely part, I envy you.

[Gordon Steadman]

Gordon - if we ever get together with a bottle of plonk, for goodness sake don't bring up the subject of ex's in the presence of my Missus. We'll never get a record on... :rolleyes:

Don't worry, its not something I talk about very often. In any case, there are too many to get in over a single bottle:eyebrows::eyebrows:

[Marco]

I've always found diesel cheaper over there. I'm off to Ypres soon and won't bother filling up before putting it on the Shuttle.

Yup... Like I said, this is the first time we'll be in a diesel car. Normally, the unleaded petrol is more expensive. Anyone any idea why it's only the diesel that's cheaper? :scratch:

Anyway, you'll be looking forward to taking your jalopy to Belgium, Martin! :)

Marco.

[Marco]

Marco,

Its entirely possible I have seen the place but I don't remember after all these years. We spent a week driving around the hills north of Pisa. My abiding memory of the whole region is terracotta. My sketchbook was full of red roofs!! Lovely part, I envy you.

Hi Gordon,

Terracotta is about right - and everything is up on the top of a hill! But yes, it's an idyllic and stunningly beautiful part of the country. I'm very fortunate that my family come from there. Don't worry, we'll take plenty of snaps for posting on the forum! :cool:

Marco.

[Covenant]

Hi Gordon,

We're off to Tuscany, in the beautiful mountain village of Barga (we have a place there), just north of Pisa and Lucca. Some pics:


http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5793/m3vx.jpg


http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7016/l98w.jpg


http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/600/4z7a.jpg


We love the vibe there, especially as it's where my family roots are :)

Marco.
Is in near Stigliano Marco? This is where we are going in the summer:
http://www.hpb.co.uk/bond/location/default.aspx?ST

[Marco]

Hi Jerry,

I believe that Stigliano is near Siena, which is south east of Barga, probably around 180km away. If you look at the map below and find Bagni di Lucca and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (above Pisa and Lucca). Barga is in between those two towns:


http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/7449/skc.gif


I've been to Siena (it's a gorgeous city) and also to San Gimignano. Both are 'must sees'. Stigliano looks very typical of a Tuscan hillside town - I'm sure you'll love it. Hope you can speak some of the lingo! ;)

Marco.

[Covenant]

We have been before, twenty odd years ago and are staying in the same apartment at the top of the stone bell tower. I hope I can still run up the steps. Lot's of nice memories of Tuscany including sitting in a restaurant located in a vineyard with a steak in front of me split down the middle and stuffed with truffles......

[MartinT]

Anyone any idea why it's only the diesel that's cheaper?

Market forces: some 65-70% of all cars in France are diesel.

[Oldpinkman]

Market forces: some 65-70% of all cars in France are diesel.

Actually I think the question is any idea why its not here. 65-70% of cars in france are diesel because its cheaper. As it is in all of europe. Because its used in trucks - an essential part of the distribution chain. And in france les camionistes are influential:)