Across 31 European countries at the expense of less than 1,000 Euro

***ColinD*** · 01-01-2006, 17:04

The Fabia powered by a new TDI engine in the 18,000-kilometre economy run

“World economy driving champion” Gerhard Plattner will drive the Škoda Fabia 1,4 TDI from Hamburg across 31 European countries covering 18,000 kilometres while having just 1,000 Euro at his disposal. The objective is to bring back home some money out of the 1,000 Euro intended for fuel.

How far can a driver reach having 1,000 Euro for fuel? This is a question economy driver Gerhard Plattner will have to answer in the coming weeks. Disposing of a coin-purse containing just 1,000 single one-Euro coins, he will set out for a four-week tour of Europe starting in Hamburg on 7th November 2005. He will drive a Škoda Fabia. Because of the late season, the Fabia will be fitted with winter tyres, which will increase safety, but also fuel consumption. “At that time, running on economically more fuel-efficient summer tyres would be careless in terms of safety due to low temperatures,” says the economy driving expert who must also cover several thousand kilometres on ice and snowy roads as the case may be in the North as part of the tour. All the same, he is convinced that he will save some money out of the 1,000 Euro.

For the 1,000-Euro tour, Plattner has opted for a Škoda Fabia TDI hatchback powered by a new three-cylinder engine delivering 70 horse power and reaching an average consumption of 4.7 litres per hundred kilometres. The time table, which must be observed within the tour of Europe because of a number of scheduled events, is extremely busy. “There will be no time left for a crawl,” says the long-distance touring specialist who is going to strive for an average speed of over 80 kph. “But this is not the purpose of the tour. Rather than that, we want to demonstrate that you can drive a Škoda Fabia TDI even under unfavourable conditions in such a way that you can keep or even surpass an average standard consumption of 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres.” He will need to because with the European average price of 1.20 Euro per litre of diesel, the 1,000-Euro fuel money will not be enough for the tour leading from Hamburg to Hamburg across 31 countries.

The route will lead Gerhard Plattner from Hamburg to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and back to the point of departure, Hamburg, Germany.

Tom_vRS · 01-01-2006, 17:07

Sounds like a nice adventure, I'm sure it will be achievable, maybe a good 65mpg average would be enough...

But there must be more economical cars to do it in... The Fabia isn't exactly light or aerodynamic!

meames · 04-01-2006, 01:31

Be interesting to see how far he gets - I am planning on doing something like that in about 2 years time, but without limiting the fuel that much.

xchox · 04-01-2006, 02:43

Thats stife. Cant wait to see the results.

WW_VRS · 04-01-2006, 09:25

He'd better not fuel up too often in GB then - considering on the continent diesel is way, way cheaper than unleaded petrol, whereas here it's a smidgen more expensive instead...

Also, I'd like to see the guy try to pay with Euros in GB

01-01-2006, 17:04	#1
*ColinD* Site owner Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hill & Mountains of North Wales Posts: 10,206 Thanks: 18 Thanked 137 Times in 69 Posts	Across 31 European countries at the expense of less than 1,000 Euro The Fabia powered by a new TDI engine in the 18,000-kilometre economy run “World economy driving champion” Gerhard Plattner will drive the Škoda Fabia 1,4 TDI from Hamburg across 31 European countries covering 18,000 kilometres while having just 1,000 Euro at his disposal. The objective is to bring back home some money out of the 1,000 Euro intended for fuel. How far can a driver reach having 1,000 Euro for fuel? This is a question economy driver Gerhard Plattner will have to answer in the coming weeks. Disposing of a coin-purse containing just 1,000 single one-Euro coins, he will set out for a four-week tour of Europe starting in Hamburg on 7th November 2005. He will drive a Škoda Fabia. Because of the late season, the Fabia will be fitted with winter tyres, which will increase safety, but also fuel consumption. “At that time, running on economically more fuel-efficient summer tyres would be careless in terms of safety due to low temperatures,” says the economy driving expert who must also cover several thousand kilometres on ice and snowy roads as the case may be in the North as part of the tour. All the same, he is convinced that he will save some money out of the 1,000 Euro. For the 1,000-Euro tour, Plattner has opted for a Škoda Fabia TDI hatchback powered by a new three-cylinder engine delivering 70 horse power and reaching an average consumption of 4.7 litres per hundred kilometres. The time table, which must be observed within the tour of Europe because of a number of scheduled events, is extremely busy. “There will be no time left for a crawl,” says the long-distance touring specialist who is going to strive for an average speed of over 80 kph. “But this is not the purpose of the tour. Rather than that, we want to demonstrate that you can drive a Škoda Fabia TDI even under unfavourable conditions in such a way that you can keep or even surpass an average standard consumption of 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres.” He will need to because with the European average price of 1.20 Euro per litre of diesel, the 1,000-Euro fuel money will not be enough for the tour leading from Hamburg to Hamburg across 31 countries. The route will lead Gerhard Plattner from Hamburg to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and back to the point of departure, Hamburg, Germany. __________________ ColinD - 97/100 Limited Edition Octavia vRS < For Sale www.BRISKODA.net :: Site Owner. E-Mail : webmaster at briskoda dot net Got a comment to make about the site? Please feel free to use the feedback form here, we welcome your views.

01-01-2006, 17:07	#2
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 10,777 Thanks: 569 Thanked 362 Times in 244 Posts	Re: Across 31 European countries at the expense of less than 1,000 Euro Sounds like a nice adventure, I'm sure it will be achievable, maybe a good 65mpg average would be enough... But there must be more economical cars to do it in... The Fabia isn't exactly light or aerodynamic! __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green. << Clickable for boring info. My Journal

04-01-2006, 01:31	#3
meames Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Doncaster Posts: 131 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Across 31 European countries at the expense of less than 1,000 Euro Be interesting to see how far he gets - I am planning on doing something like that in about 2 years time, but without limiting the fuel that much.

04-01-2006, 02:43	#4
xchox Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 86 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Across 31 European countries at the expense of less than 1,000 Euro Thats stife. Cant wait to see the results. __________________

04-01-2006, 09:25	#5
WW_VRS Escorted Estate Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oxfordshire/Berkshire Posts: 9,733 Thanks: 44 Thanked 68 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Across 31 European countries at the expense of less than 1,000 Euro He'd better not fuel up too often in GB then - considering on the continent diesel is way, way cheaper than unleaded petrol, whereas here it's a smidgen more expensive instead... Also, I'd like to see the guy try to pay with Euros in GB __________________ WW --->> Project Journal (pic links in first post there)

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