I used the M1 once in the 1970s and never again (apart from as a passenger in coaches when it's somebody else's problem). Nowadays I always take the M40 south of Birmingham (and the toll road round Birmingham - that bit of the M6 is the only motorway I know with ruts in it). The M42 can be a bit congested but it's not so bad since they introduced variable speed limits, same as the M25 between the M40 and M4. Good luck.