bpg
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Post by bpg on Mar 13, 2021 14:34:13 GMT
I have to drive down to Bavaria next week a round trip of ca.800 miles. I need to transport 3 adults, four suitcases, two rucksacks, jackets, walking poles and whatever other paraphernalia they have. Do I take: • Diesel Volvo, stick the roof box on, limit my speed to 80mph and do it on a single tank of diesel • Electric KIA, will still need the roof box, limit my speed to around 60mph due to the extra drag and stop every 200 miles to recharge for an hour or so, assuming I can find 100+kW chargers • Petrol Focus estate burn three possibly into a fourth tank of petrol and not worry about keeping speed in check |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 13, 2021 16:09:52 GMT
Give the Focus a fast run.
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Post by Humph on Mar 13, 2021 16:12:26 GMT
Suppose it depends on how much joy you would like it to involve. From what you've said elsewhere, you might reasonably deserve a bit of a treat. You have a fast-ish car ideal for German autobahns that will take you, your fellow travellers and their kit...
No brainer for my 2 pfennigs worth.
😉
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 13, 2021 16:31:34 GMT
If this was the UK I might have been tempted to say take the Volvo because the Focus would be no faster here at a cruise. Not legally anyway.
But the other reason I said Focus is I'd take the new car and not an old Volvo diesel for a 1600 mile round trip. I wouldn't want the hassle of finding myself with car problems.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Mar 13, 2021 16:37:24 GMT
Focus for me too. Fast, comfortable, spacious and no awkward driver-on-wrong-side moments.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Mar 13, 2021 18:31:35 GMT
Thanks all for replies. I was leaning towards the Focus, I've had it since August and only put 2,300kms on it. It's barely run in. The only fly in the ointment might be the weather. Forecast -6 on Sunday night and I don't have winter tyres on it.
Driving RHD doesn't bother me,never has. I happily bring LHD to the UK. Reliability had never been an issue for either of the diesel Volvos I've had.True,this one is ten years old though it only has 85,000 miles on it and is still covered by Volvos service activated recovery.My previous S60 is still going - 16 years old, last MOT was just short of 240,000 miles, still no advisories on the MOT website for it.
If it were just the two of us and I had a few days I'd be tempted to take the electric car just to see what is possible.
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Post by dixinormus on Mar 13, 2021 22:57:55 GMT
I’ll be the odd man out: I would think the diesel Volvo ideal for a long motorway cruise like that. And if it saved me 150 quid in petrol costs...
As ever, the 2 unique variables are time and money: how much you want to spend on each?! Nursing an EV on the autobahn at 100km/h whilst looking for charging stations would be purgatory for me!
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Post by EspadaIII on Mar 14, 2021 13:47:44 GMT
The question is really how much do you value your time.
This is a but like me and my annual long trips for a client where in October 2020 I did almost 1,000 miles. There is a sweet point between driving at 60mpg and getting 45mpg and driving at 75mph and getting 38mpg. How much time do you save by driving more quickly compared to the money saved.
Each trip has its own criteria. If it is for pleasure then maybe driving more slowly and taking perverse pleasure in absolute economy (diesel) or seeking out the charging points and having a coffee at each one (EV) may be the way. But if time is more of the essence, the Focus is the only way.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Mar 14, 2021 18:27:24 GMT
This time is a splash and dash. Need to be home as my wife has an appointment with immigration on Tuesday morning which is rearranged from two days after she had her heart attack for her permanent residency biometric details. Brexit keeps on giving.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 9:22:44 GMT
Thanks all for replies. I was leaning towards the Focus, I've had it since August and only put 2,300kms on it. It's barely run in. The only fly in the ointment might be the weather. Forecast -6 on Sunday night and I don't have winter tyres on it. Driving RHD doesn't bother me,never has. I happily bring LHD to the UK. Reliability had never been an issue for either of the diesel Volvos I've had.True,this one is ten years old though it only has 85,000 miles on it and is still covered by Volvos service activated recovery.My previous S60 is still going - 16 years old, last MOT was just short of 240,000 miles, still no advisories on the MOT website for it. If it were just the two of us and I had a few days I'd be tempted to take the electric car just to see what is possible. I vote for the Focus too. But your winter tyres comment - aren't they a legal requirement in Germany at certain times of the year? |
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Post by Humph on Mar 15, 2021 9:36:38 GMT
That reminds me, I really must get around to taking the winter tyres off the Merc this year. They've been on since Nov 2019.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Mar 15, 2021 9:57:44 GMT
I vote for the Focus too. But your winter tyres comment - aren't they a legal requirement in Germany at certain times of the year? Winter tyres are a legal requirement but only if you are driving and it is really for wintry conditions. If you get stopped at a spot check you could get an on the spot fine the reality is more if you are blocking the road or have an accident you have a real problem then. If it's bad/wintry weather I use the Volvo, that has winter boots on all year round. |
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Post by Humph on Mar 15, 2021 14:12:06 GMT
That's interesting BPG, I mean about you leaving the winters on the Volvo permanently. I left them on the Merc last summer, and contrary to what I'd believed, I didn't notice them feeling unstable or whatever during hot weather, or indeed notice them wearing any quicker.
Not that the car was being used nearly as much last summer obviously.
I might as well swop them this spring I suppose, as I do have 4 perfectly good summer tyres in the garage.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Mar 15, 2021 21:05:18 GMT
I only really use the Volvo over the winter months. If I do use it in the summer to give it a run you can hear the tyres tearing at the road as the car starts to drift slightly once the temp gets into mid to high 20's. Above 30 Celsius it gets a bit Starsky and Hutch with tyre squeal.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Mar 20, 2021 6:57:55 GMT
Update: after further checks, fine for not having winter tyres 60€ and 1 point on your license. Fine if you have an accident or block the road 80€ and 1 point plus all the insurance grief.
If you get 4 points or more on your license then they take remedial action and send you back to school for more training.
It's been snowing all week down there though not hanging around... Until last night. Snow is now accumulating. Volvo it is then.
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