Time-budgeting: Drive or take the train from Paris to the south of France?

So it sounds as though you are asking if a week is enough time to drive from Paris to the Spanish border.

And also if there is "enough to see."

Yes on both counts. But I would propose taking the train partway anyway. You'll get to see more and at a better pace.

For instance, if you take the TGV to Avignon and rent a car, you can tour western Provence for a few days and then head towards Spain. Arles, Nimes, St Remy, and some of the hill towns of the Luberon, followed by Montpelier, Perpignan, Coullior, and maybe if it is your sort of thing, Carcassonne.

Or head further north to see Albi.

You can just drive the whole way, but the TGV is wicked fast and you'll have more time to enjoy the sights.

Alternatively, drive from Paris to Arles with a swing though Beaune, Lyon, and maybe Annecy. Then take the train to Barcelona.

But I think the first alternative is the better itinerary.

Good thoughts from Adam.
First-timers on the TGV may be surprised by how fast that train is. But a question will be, at a certain point south of Paris, you'll start wanting to visit country locations. Then you need a car.
IMO some cities like Avignon and Nimes are better seen on foot/taxi/local bus, even after you have the car (because of parking and traffic).
But to see country locations, for example Les Baux, you need the car.
Since you're doing a one-way car rental, picking up in Paris (but not in the city center) also could make sense--it depends on how many things in the near south of Paris you might want to see (for example, the Burgundy wine country, depending on time of year).

There are weeks and weeks worth of things to so between Paris and the Spanish border. I think you should do some research and decide which regions are a match to your interests. RS books give great suggestions, but they are selective in destinations. There are many super destinations that are not covered at all, for example, my favorite, Auvergne.

If you have 2 weeks and are spending 5-7 days in Paris, you really don't have much time. You'll have to be selective in what you see.

Love the fast trains and driving. The fastest we've been on was from Barcelona to Madrid. The electronic sign in our car hit 300 kph much of the time.

We didn't go quite that fast on the route between Aix-en-Provence and Paris CDG.

My must sees for the Mediterranean coast and nearby include Pont du Gard, driving through the Camargue down to the beach town of Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer and the Esterel Massif near Cannes.

I definitely agree that you need to think about what all you would like to see throughout France. The countryside south of Paris is beautiful (the Loire valley is chateau country), then further southward, you have the Dordogne and Lot regions. To be able to see these regions, you'll need a car. The south of France is one of the most beautiful regions in the world, so again, you need to decide what you would like to see. If you want to leave from Paris and head straight to the south of France, then take the TGV rail - lightening fast, and it stops in Avignon, which is a great "jumping off" point for the Provence region.

So, can't really answer your question directly, but I will tell you that you will soon discover that you will need to return to France - it is that charming. You will discover that two weeks doesn't leave enough time to truly discover France.

Good luck
Lisa