Well, I think it’s about time to replace my European road atlas, for some reason I get very attached to maps but I am sure new roads must have been built during the last seven or eight years since I bought it… prior to buying that one I was using an atlas that was 16 years old 
Looking at ebay, there are three publishers of European maps in my price range, AA, Collins and Philips.
Any suggestions as to whether any of these is better than the others, and why?
To be honest I use Collins and AA euro atlases.
Collins mainly for journey planning and the fact it has a lot of small villages in. The scale is great for long term planning. Michelin euro atlas is pretty similar.
AA is better for the final few miles as the scale is smaller(or bigger always get confused) and ideal as the detail round town is for me easier to read than the Collins and also I find the dual language in Bulgaria very handy.
So in my opinion treat yourself to both, and keep an eye out in The Works bookshop. My Collins euro atlas was £1.99.
Ben9:
To be honest I use Collins and AA euro atlases.
Collins mainly for journey planning and the fact it has a lot of small villages in. The scale is great for long term planning. Michelin euro atlas is pretty similar.
AA is better for the final few miles as the scale is smaller(or bigger always get confused) and ideal as the detail round town is for me easier to read than the Collins and also I find the dual language in Bulgaria very handy.So in my opinion treat yourself to both, and keep an eye out in The Works bookshop. My Collins euro atlas was £1.99.
As Ben says try the works their 2012 Collins Euro Atlas is £4.99 which is 50% off rrp.
I last went to Lisbon for CM Downtons in 2011. I used be a subbie for RD thought I wouldn’t need a map, got past Villa Formosa and didn’t have a clue where I was, IP5 was gone so just followed Lisbon signs on empty new motorways, now I know where my £150 per week PAYE has gone. 