Hmm. European travel (a bit OT, prolly Ping: Dervy)

Pete M · 2007-10-16T01:57:59+00:00

Here's a quandry.I'm planning a trip to Czech sometime around Xmas, I've got a shedload of stuff I need to take with me, and I'm planning on bringing a load of stuff back with me so I'm thinking taking a vehicle is a good idea, and likely to be fun.However, at this moment I only have a choice of two vehicles to take, the Scorpio or the Rangie (gearbox willing). The Rangie would be the better vehicle because it has a larger boot, 4wd, a towbar, a better stereo, and tyres more suitable to Czech winter conditions (-10 deg C)So take the Rangie, I pretend to hear you saying (because that's what I'd really like to do...)Unfortunately, it's likely to average around, um, 16 mpg and it's 970 milesish each way if I use the Eurotunnel. This means spending around £525 on fuel for the return trip - it's near as dammit 300 miles just to the bloody tunnel but the tunnel is £88 return, so say £615.If I go by ferry from Hull to Rotterdam I can do the round trip in 1400 milesish (the ferry is 222 miles each way) so that's around £380 for fuel (fuel calculated at an average of 95p/litre). the ferry is £288 return. so £668.According to the Routeplanner thing it'll take around 26 hours (one way) if I use the ferry, but there's 8 hours drinking and sleeping included in that (drinking not factored into costs yet), whereas it'll take 19 hours (no sleep or beer, one way) if I use the tunnel, these times don't include the Rangie breaking down or time taken stopping for fuel.Advantages of the ferry are booze and sleep with a nice break in the driving for 8 hours or so, not having to go Dahhn Sahhhf, and 600 less miles for the Rangie to break down / blow up in.Alternatively, using the Scorpio means finding winter tyres, but saving around 10 mpg so if I went by ferry it'd cost £415 return (fuel + tunnel not inc tyres). or £520 by ferry (not inc tyres).So, there's a theoretical saving of near enough £275 if I use the Scorpio and don't fit winter tyres (probably lethal choice), then...

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DervMan 18 years ago

Hmmmmm does it have to be one of yours?

But barely, really. I mean, sure, it'll be better, but hardly suitable.

Hmm...

Ouch.

Ditto above.

So, 22 hours, given its thirst... :)

That break will be welcome though.

You want winter tyres. End of really.

Do you have to go solo? If I can shunt Charlie off to America could I give you a lift in the diesel Saab? Is it for charity?

But, call it a thousand miles each way. Depending on the speed, the 9-3 isn't especially economical. Call it 45 to the gallon at the European speed limit.*

So that's 2,000 miles at for arguments sake a quid a litre, I make that £200. Throw in winter tyres (but, Saab, FWD, hmm) if you like. What's the tunnel - bet the diesel 9-3 isn't much cheaper.

Hmm pity. I've not managed a long haul road trip this year. :-/

*not checked. Just have a pretty good idea. :)

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Bob Sherunckle 18 years ago

The bit about the Zytek controlling all of the new injectors knocks it on the head really.

The Aldes ECU copies what the OEM petrol ECU does and then adds a factor to keep the amount of gas correct. If there is more than one ECU then the whole idea is fehecked.

Never mind...

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Tim S Kemp 18 years ago

No but we managed an early, rapid and impromptu one yesterday morning!

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Douglas Payne 18 years ago

I know a few people who keep a set of wheels with winter tyres and a set with normal tyres. They make a big difference in certain conditions. Such conditions are relatively rare in the UK.

The tyres that came on my car are called "Nexen".

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AstraVanMan 18 years ago

Is that the hairdresser's tyre of choice or something?

Peter

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conkersack 18 years ago

I have, I survived a whole Canadian winter without crashing! Whilst it's nice to have winter tyres, they really aren't strictly necessary if you keep your wits about you and drive slower. The nail I owned had four different tyres, one of which was studded (rear driver's side) - It was fine, just drive slower. Driving on packed snow is a piece of piss anyway, there's more grip than you'd realise. Obviously, it's the ice you have to look out for, but that's the same anywhere.

Chances are, if you took care, you'd be fine.

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conkersack 18 years ago

It says they don't sell to the UK - what did you do to them?!?!

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Pete M 18 years ago

Accompanied by the sound of a chisel on slate DervMan, managed to produce the following words of wisdom

As I'm planning on going to see the g/f for "N" days, and possibly bringing her back here (again) it'd be a good idea to take mine.

The stereo is noticeable...

80 litre tank, doesn't take that long to fill.

This is a Range Rover, Mr Derv. A Quality item. [1]

M&S Michelins will do though...

It's not for charity, it's for fun. There will be lashings of beer and food at the other end though.

That's obscenely economical.

The tunnel is around £100 return. It's also 300 miles from here and in a part of the country I avoid.

Heh.

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DervMan 18 years ago

Rapid for me. :)

Say I wanted to ask you how badly the 9-3 soots, and if the headlights were dazzling?

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DervMan 18 years ago

Gotcha.

Armed escort? :p

I meant the tyres, but, you've answered that below.

It isn't so much the size of the tank, but the necessary frequency!

Aie I didn't mean from comfort, but, given the time of year, the weather may be s**te in at least part of the trip. A break, something else to focus the eyes on, may well be welcome - especially if it's the inside of your eyelids...

Sounds like something related to the girlfriend... oh, the tyres. D'oh. :p

Hmmmmm.

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Timo Geusch 18 years ago

Yep, if that wasn't too dangerous 'cos you'd get run over by a car.

Oh, I like driving in snow and I've got plenty of experience doing so. But down here, it's a joke that's best enjoyed being somewhere inside watching people drive cars into each other.

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Steve Firth 18 years ago

I've got that arrangement, haivng bought a set of alloys cheap on ebay. I have on-road tyres for normal driving and a set of mud and snow winter tyres for when I try to cross the Alps/Dolomites/Appenines in winter.

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Carl Gibbs 18 years ago

Heh, very true!

Where abouts are you then?

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Bob Sherunckle 18 years ago

It says they don't sell to the UK - what did you do to them?!?!

Sent them the money....

There was a rumour that the sole uk importer wasn't too impressed...

I guess I got lucky. I was up and running for well under 600 by the time I bought the tank and some tools I didn't have.

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Timo Geusch 18 years ago

I live in Kent these days but that wasn't always the case :)

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Albert T Cone 18 years ago

I don't know anything about this, but in the spirit of usenet, I'm not going to let that stop me suggesting something: Couldn't you use the kit for replacing the normal petrol injectors and leave the extra turbo-dependent ones squirting petrol? I realise that it's not going to be AS fuel efficient, but better than running just on petrol, surely?

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Doki 18 years ago

Much as I like Cz, I don't think I could cope with sharing a ferry cabin with PeteM for 14 hours.

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Carl Gibbs 18 years ago

I was gonna suggest that, but thought I might be being stupid so didn't ;)

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Pete M 18 years ago

Accompanied by the sound of a chisel on slate Doki, managed to produce the following words of wisdom

Ta matey.

I'm not /that/ weird....

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Doki 18 years ago

I'd only know for sure once I was trapped...

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Hmm. European travel (a bit OT, prolly Ping: Dervy)

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