I'm interested in the bus-phobic comments here. My wife is from the States and although she has lived in Europe for many years she still has a prejudice against buses. She says many Americans regard these as second-class transport for those who can't afford anything else.

Assuming the bus/coach alternative is not a wheezy old diesel and either makes decent rest stops or has 'refreshment' facilities I think most Europeans' positive impression of 21st century public transport means they would regard the saving of 5 hours travel time as a no-brainer