Touring in a VRS : anyone done it?

[homerjh]

Had the suggestion from the OH that if i get a fabia then it would be good to take a weeks holiday and take it around europe camping, up to hull then over the week down to france via places then back over to the chunnel and back to sunny north west.

so the question is, has anyone done similar? how has the car coped with it, and with the potential for good MPG could be a good trip.

and also space in the car, is the boot larger than it initially looks to put stuff camping stuff in?

just wondring you see!

cheers

[oilburninnut]

it will cruise all day long at any legal speed and return excellent mpg,it even gives around 37mpg when cruising accross europe,at 100+ for hours on end,get one with cruise controll and away you go

[vRSLen]

I can think of no better thing to do in a vRS

[jasc1988]

Cruise control is a must, you can even get it fitted at a dealers or have a go yourself IIRC

[homerjh]

thanks all.

may ask the dealer about the Cruise control as a sweetner for the deal..

[Decron]

Done it



I have found the Roomster far superior in several ways whilst touring however.

[foureyes]

Not exactly a tour - but we drove 4 up and boot full to Disneyland Paris in less than a day in mine for a long weekend! And I got over double the mpg the in-laws were getting following in their CRV!

We've also driven to Chamonix and back in 1.6 Clio Si over the course of a 10 day trip 3 up - which isn't exactly roomy - without problems. Got just over 40 mpg out of that which I thought was quite good too.

I say go for it!

[IainsTheName]

There's a guy on here that went on a Czech Skoda road trip, forgot his name, I think it's Neil

Anyway he's been pretty far in his Fabia, I'm guessing he'd have a thing or two to say about long trips in the Fabia

IMO though with driving a max of about 7 hours I noticed my lower back starting to really ache because of the lack of lumber support in the vRS seats

[ap0gee]

As we've found now we have a baby, that the boot space can be expanded quite considerably by using a dog guard and then filling the boot up to near the roof. We're thinking a roof box might be necessary when we go on holiday, but we'll see how we get on stacking stuff next to the little 'un (have to be careful there, though!)

As far as lack of support on the front seats goes, I've driven Manchester-Edinburgh, stopped only for a drop-off / pick-up and then driven straight back twice in the Fabia. Not hanging around (3 3/4 hours each way), the return trip used a whole tank, but I had no probs with my back. I think I first got the idea from the Autocar long-term test final report, but I find the seats are most comfortable set higher than you might expect, and with the back fairly upright

[IainsTheName]

Originally Posted by ap0gee

As we've found now we have a baby, that the boot space can be expanded quite considerably by using a dog guard and then filling the boot up to near the roof. We're thinking a roof box might be necessary when we go on holiday, but we'll see how we get on stacking stuff next to the little 'un (have to be careful there, though!)

As far as lack of support on the front seats goes, I've driven Manchester-Edinburgh, stopped only for a drop-off / pick-up and then driven straight back twice in the Fabia. Not hanging around (3 3/4 hours each way), the return trip used a whole tank, but I had no probs with my back. I think I first got the idea from the Autocar long-term test final report, but I find the seats are most comfortable set higher than you might expect, and with the back fairly upright

yeah you're most likely right, it's probably the way I have the chair set

[robbyboyce]

We did a 2500 mile trip down to Chamonix last summer then down to the mediateranean coast and back over 14 days. Averaged around 48mpg with 2 people and a car full of kit cruising at around 85 mph. The furb performed faultlessly.

The motorways do get a bit tedious after a few hundred miles so try and include some cross country driving- much more interesting, quiet roads and lovely scenery. Some of the Alpine passes are certainly worth visiting

[IainsTheName]

Originally Posted by robbyboyce

We did a 2500 mile trip down to Chamonix last summer then down to the mediateranean coast and back over 14 days. Averaged around 48mpg with 2 people and a car full of kit cruising at around 85 mph. The furb performed faultlessly.

The motorways do get a bit tedious after a few hundred miles so try and include some cross country driving- much more interesting, quiet roads and lovely scenery. Some of the Alpine passes are certainly worth visiting

Wow that sounds amazing, would love to do something like that! Any pointers, tips for starters?

[tjdixon911]

We went down to France in ours Last Year and it performed excellently, then also a weeks Camping in the UK late last year, there is plenty of room for me and the GF with all our stuff.

We are off to Italy in it later this year which will be a 2week trip, I anticipate it to have enough room but we may need to use the back seats.... I guess thats going to be circa 3-4k miles!!

[TomH]

Originally Posted by homerjh

and also space in the car, is the boot larger than it initially looks to put stuff camping stuff in?

Not really, no! It is quite deep but ultimately small. I'd suggest a roof box if you have loads of camping gear, but then that knackers motorway fuel economy!

[Callum]

I did it in March 08', me and 2 mates drove to Switzerland, it was 700 miles each way, and was awesome! I had the trusty roof box on and we cruised at about 80-85mph, I got about 40-42mpg not bad considering we were fully loaded! I've got cruise control fitted now, but didn't at the time, it wasn't a major problem, I've got a dvd player in mine, so we were watching films most of the way!!!

[foureyes]

Originally Posted by IainsTheName

Wow that sounds amazing, would love to do something like that! Any pointers, tips for starters?

A few friends and myself have done the Alps twice on the bikes too. 1st time we stook them in a van and drove there in order not to kill a set of tyres on the way. A lot of excellent roads either on a bike or in a car. So easy to get into Italy and Switzerland too. Can get cheap ferries to France thru Speedferries.

The second time we did the Pyrenees (without the van) on the way there. More expensive as it was an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao... but you get to Bilbao turn left, head for the hills... get off at the south of France, follow the coast for Nice and Montpellier then Monaco and head north-east-ish a bit towards Chamonix. Plenty of camp sites that we just fell upon. Our use the cheap Formule 1 hotels that litter France.

Then cane it back along the A road so you don't miss the ferry home from Calais... well, that was us anyway!

I can't recommend it enough! The only problem we've had is that a lot of the self service fuel stations don't take UK cards. Oh, and none of our cards worked to let us through the Mont Blanc tunnel either... queue: 3 bikes being ridden steadily over the top, in october, brr... picture 4 if you're interested!

Maybe slightly off topic, but hey ho... its nice to share!

[IainsTheName]

Originally Posted by foureyes

A few friends and myself have done the Alps twice on the bikes too. 1st time we stook them in a van and drove there in order not to kill a set of tyres on the way. A lot of excellent roads either on a bike or in a car. So easy to get into Italy and Switzerland too. Can get cheap ferries to France thru Speedferries.

The second time we did the Pyrenees (without the van) on the way there. More expensive as it was an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao... but you get to Bilbao turn left, head for the hills... get off at the south of France, follow the coast for Nice and Montpellier then Monaco and head north-east-ish a bit towards Chamonix. Plenty of camp sites that we just fell upon. Our use the cheap Formule 1 hotels that litter France.

Then cane it back along the A road so you don't miss the ferry home from Calais... well, that was us anyway!

I can't recommend it enough! The only problem we've had is that a lot of the self service fuel stations don't take UK cards. Oh, and none of our cards worked to let us through the Mont Blanc tunnel either... queue: 3 bikes being ridden steadily over the top, in october, brr... picture 4 if you're interested!

Maybe slightly off topic, but hey ho... its nice to share!

Ha! Brilliant my good man! Thanks very much for your experiance and tips, will get the lads together and see if they fancy this! 2 cars and some walkie-talkies

[Sonic1980]

I drive annually to Switzerland - 12 hour trip non stop (except lunch, fuels), good tunes + great scenery.
Car copes fine.

As said - cruises at 100+ and will return 35mpg+ easily.

Space is a problem ar times -takes miltary organisation at times.

Only thing I find is that as Im well over 6' the lack of lumbar support makes the little car uncomfy.

Rolled up sweater or towel sorts this.

[Ruxpin]

I've done a couple of fairly long distance drives into europe in the vrs

1st was Eurotunnel to Hannover and back via Antwerp. About 500miles each way.

2nd was Eurotunnel to Courmayeur (other side of Mt Blanc tunnel) and back for skiing. About 580miles each way.

Car performed faultlessly. I personally find it very comfortable and was able to get all the way to Courmayeur with only a few stops - roads were very clear so was able to cruse at 130kph for hrs - infact i think only 2 people pulled out in front of us on the way down!

Mpg does suffer at the higher crusing speeds in europe (germany) - only 45ish mpg but then where else do you legally get to push the car to 134mph.....

[Ruxpin]

Take chains and a shovel if going to the alps in the winter.....

And remember where you parked it