Since we're talking costs, and I don't like doing this, here is a breakdown based on 2011 which was very similar......
- FF - £900
Fuel Total - £800 - £1000 (Including getting there and back via chunnel)
Eurotunnel - £100
2 nights digs enroute and back - £100
French Tolls - £180
Tyres - £640 (for Avons or £500 for AD08’s/R1R’s etc)
Brake discs - £150
Pads - £300
Cash for Food and Drink - £600 (100 Euro a day roughly but obviously this is different for everyone)
This totals
£3,770 but the easiest thing to do is buy a lot of it as you go along. We have a year to do this, so stock pile spares now.
For the trip starting it should only cost fuel and spending money so £1,600 to take.
The cost difference between the ferry and the Chunnel is negligible if sharing a cabin which keeps the cost down.
However it is 711 miles from Ijmuiden to Orange which is a 10.5 hour drive (not including stops) so total drive time using DFDS is 13.5 hours and chunnel is 16 hours; not much in it, and the ferry involves a long overnight sail which extends the time taken somewhat.
Hides iPad from Kathy. 
) 
