575 MPG

Took my 575 on a run down to Le mans last week. It was my daughters birthday and with 5 days off I suggested we make the run just for the heck of it. South Cheshire (Manchester) to Le man via the channel tunnel saw the car clock up 1225 miles on the round trip.

The suprise was the mpg. I was expecting it to run around 9 or 10 miles to the gallon (that is a British gallon of 4.78 litres not the US gallon which is 3.75 litre) which is the normal mpg I average. I was shocked when I filled it up and checking it I found it returned a figure of 20.3 - fair to say our speed was pretty steady at 80 / 90 mph. The next part of the journey saw our speed vary from 25 - 70 mph as we drove through the French countryside including a stop start sojourn through the centre of Paris (not for the faint hearted or without Sat Nav) The mpg reading 18.4!

At no point in the journey did the car drop below 17.0 mpg and that included the early morning run from Albert to Calais on the auto route a distance of approx 70 miles at a steady 100 mph with a burst of 150 when a Swiss Porsche suggested we both stretch our legs.

For you gents on the other side if the pond the French motorways are a dream to drive, free of traffic and I mean free especially at 6.00 in the morning! You take your chance with the road police but then if you choose to speed on a public road then fair do's.

And for those considering a visit to Le man whether it be for the 24 hour race or one of the classics, do it. Drive it if possible but either way just do it. Stay at the Le mans country club and take plent of pictures!