WITH my son's wedding in the offing and in anticipation of vast quantities of wine and food being consumed, it seemed an opportune time for a quick trip via the Channel Tunnel to Europe for some goodies at reasonable prices a good 50 per cent less in fact.

And what better for the trip than a Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.7 Turbo Diesel with the centre row of seats removed?

The Chrysler Voyager behaved impeccably, empty and well loaded up with wine.

I had expected the handling characteristics to worsen with the extra weight, but not a sign of it.

A full test on the car and on the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel will be in next week's Drive.

Advice led me to order the wine via the internet from the Wine and Beer Company and to investigate the epicurean delights of Carrefour's Hypermarket.

The products on display were reasonably priced. In fact, there were bargains everywhere I looked:

n 215g jars of Maile Dijon mustard were about £1.70, compared with a UK price of about £2.80;

n a kilo of Creme Fraiche was about £1.21 (UK £2.60);

n a kilo of Brie, £3.90 (UK £4.50);

n 250g Lavazza Italian Espresso ground coffee, £1.62 (UK £1.98);

n 100g Nestle Alta Rica Instant Coffee, £2.49 (UK £2.58);

n 250g Carte Noir Arabica Exclusive ground coffee, £1.58 (£1.86);

n a kilo of pistachio nuts £3.90 (UK £7.95);

n kilo of cashew nuts, £3.25 (UK £7.50);

n kilo of peanuts, £1.53 (UK £2.20)

n 75cl Carpelli Extra Virgin Olive, £3.21 (UK £4).

n kilo of pitted green olives, £4.34 (UK £6.90); kilo of cocktail olives, £4.34 (UK £10.90); a kilo of fresh stuffed olives, £4.75 (UK £11)

n pate: a kilo of smooth £1.95 (UK £5.50); a kilo of coarse £3.35 (UK £5.50).

In the household goods area, prices were lower but not all that much.

Washing liquids averaged out at about £1.70 compared with UK prices of about £2 per 100ml, and there was about the same difference for toothpastes, soaps and razor blades.

Lagers and champagne were about half price, wines and spirits about 30 per cent less, and there was an excellent selection, too.

As for cakes, biscuits and those wonderful French pastries and breads which just aren't available here, the prices vary hugely, but on average, they are at least half the price of that in the UK.

The same is the case for fish. There are some superb platters at half the UK price.

Mind you, one would want a special event to serve then up at to merit buying the quantities involved.

So was the trip worth it?

Oh yes. The entire operation via the tunnel, collecting the goods, enjoying some fine French cuisine was totally seamless.