i30 Owners Club
GENERAL STUFF => CLUB MEETINGS & MEMBERS TRIPS => Topic started by: AlanHo on May 25, 2012, 19:25:17
-
We set off yesterday for the first leg of our journey to Scotland driving from home in Solihull up to to a village near the magnificent Humber Estuary Bridge to stay with friends overnight.
The route was 114 miles of motorway (M42, M1, M18, M189, M181) with about 4 miles of urban rods at the front and 11 miles at the end of the journey. Total 129 miles which took us 2 hours 20 minutes – average speed 55 mph (87 kph).
I had brimmed the car a few days before we set off and reset the economy recorder and odometer Trip A to zero at that time.
When we set off the trip odo read 198 miles (319 km) and the trip economy was 58.6 mpg (4.82 l/100 km).
On arrival the trip odo read 327 miles (526 km) and the trip economy read 59.7mpg (4.73 L/100 km)
However – about 40 miles into the journey I noticed that the trip economy was steadily falling – even though I was cruising at between 58 and 64 mph on a level motorway in 6th gear. It steadily fell over a distance of 25 miles – reaching a low of 55.3 mpg (5.11 L/100 km. Afterwards it very gradually climbed to 59.7 mpg (4.73 l/100 km) when we stopped for the night.
I can think of no other cause for this behaviour – other than premature DPF regeneration - despite there being no indication in the instruments - so my curiosity was primed for the following day.
*****************************************
Today we drove up to a hotel near Berwick on Tweed – a total distance of 207 miles (365 km) which we completed in 3 hours 56 minutes – average speed thus 53 mph (85 kph). The route was about 170 miles of motorway class roads plus 37 miles of country roads across the Northumberland National Park.
When we set off the trip odo. read 327 miles (526 km) and the trip economy was 59.7mpg (4.73 L/100 km)
On arrival the trip odo. read 534 miles (860 km) and the trip economy read 61.0 mpg (4.63 L/100 km)
I kept glancing at the trip economy reading throughout the trip and was happy to see it steadily climb to 62.5 mpg (4.52 L/100 km) after 70 miles. I glanced at it again a short while later and was amazed to see it reading 72.5 mpg (3.89 l/100 km) and that this reading was steadily increasing decimal by decimal until it reached 74.8 mpg (3.77 l/100 km) in a distance of about 3 miles. I was aware that just at that time the motorway had changed from being dead level to a very slight decline which might explain a small steady increase - but I could not understand how it got to the high figure in the first place and the rate it was changing.
It hovered at round about this high figure for the next 5 miles before starting to fall steadily to a low of 56.1 mpg (5.04 l/100 km) over the next 25 miles of flat motorway class road where I maintained a fairly constant cruising speed of 58 to 62 mph. It then climbed gradually over the remainder of the journey – with a few ups and downs caused by hills – to reach 61.0 mpg (4.63 l/100 km) when we reached the hotel.
So I am totally perplexed. On each occasion that the trip average economy was changing rapidly I switched the display to the instant economy bar graph. This showed that when the average was falling the car was achieving only about 35 to 40 mpg on the instant display – but because the bar graph maximum is only 50 mpg you cannot see what is happening when the average is increasing.
The only way I can think that the trip economy jumped up so dramatically is if the trip reset itself to zero and then displayed a new calculation whilst the car was cruising on a very slight decline and when I wasn’t looking . But why would it do that? The only possible clue is that a few weeks ago I saw it reset to zero but assumed it was because I was coasting in neutral down a hill at the time. This time coasting is not a factor – perhaps it wasn’t then.
This was followed by a steady worsening of economy over the next 21 miles – but why?. Is it conceivable that the DPF would regenerate yet again.
There are at least 1000 miles yet to travel during this holiday and I suspect I will have a phobia about the trip economy reading, or the DPF, or both – before the holiday is over
More anon.
-
enigmatic indeed............. will sit here awaiting the next episode :Shocked: :Shocked: :Shocked:
-
No answer to this, except a serious enquiry to the dealer to see what instantaneous fuel economy means.
Maybe all of us have assumed the calculation is based on the normal parameters but could it be a calculation based on time eg each hour of driving, or a certain quantity of fuel e.g. each litre. Clearly, the previous miles traveled were not in the calculation where the car was traveling downhill.
In our car, if the trip isn't reset, I can't get the l/100 to move no matter how the the car is driven. This is because of the large km base in the calculation. :neutral:
-
Will be interesting to see how your manual fuel calculations pan out Alan :goodjob:
-
:whsaid:
Yes, my breath is bated while I wait. :)
-
It is Saturday 26th May and today we drove from our hotel near Berwick on Tweed to the final destination of Drumdadrochit – a total distance of 227 miles (which took us through Coldstream (the home of the famous Coldstream Guards regiment) up to Edingburgh and across the Forth Bridge and then north via Perth, Kinross, Pitlochry, and Inverness. Spectacular scenery all the way – enhanced by cloudless blue skies, an afternoon temperature which reached 26*C and very quiet roads which allowed me to cruise at a comfortable 55 to 65 mph.
With 62 miles left to reach our destination the fuel warning light came on. The trip computer showed that the tank would empty in 80 miles so I refuelled in Inverness which was 16 miles from our destination. The car had done 744 miles (1197 km) on the tank and the trip showed that there was 49 miles left in the tank when it was refuelled. Afterwards the display showed that the miles to empty would be 505 – despite the fact that both the last two fills have exceeded 700 miles. So much for the computer having a learning capability.
I brimmed the tank – as before – and this time the tank took 58.59 litres. (Yes - you read it correctly - more than 58 litres)Hence the average fuel economy on this tank has been 58.8 mpg (4.8 l/100 km).
This calculation allows for a proven under reading by the odometer by 1.8%. (For every 100 miles shown on the odometer the car actually travels 101.8 miles - checked against my sat-nav and the distance boards on the UK motorways)
After the problems with the trip economy recorder the previous day I kept an eye on it regularly. 140 miles into the journey it was reading 59.7 mpg and I saw it suddenly flash to showing 3 bars then within 5 seconds return to show 40.5 mpg. I was climbing an incline in 5th gear at the time and assumed the trip had reset itself to zero and had started to calculate afresh because it gradually went down to 37.8 mpg as the hill continued. However, as soon as I got onto level ground the trip suddenly changed to 64.5 mpg then slowly dropped decimal by decimal to 53.1 mpg even though I was cruising gently in 6th gear. It then gradually increased during the rest of the journey (with ups and downs reflecting the terrain) and read 64.6 mpg at the time I refuelled. A figure I find difficult to believe.
I might have a problem demonstrating this problem at to the dealership.
I will try and keep a more accurate record of any future "incidents" during the holiday and the long drive(s) back home to try and peg down just when and why the trip is resetting itself - is it distance or time or whatever?
-
The re-setting is odd Alan but I'm guessing you are pleased with the 4.8 LPH (and around 1200kms from a tank full) :mrgreen:
P.S. What does your wife think of the new i30 so far? is she impressed :razz:
-
It's going to be difficult to trap without a trip engineer on board to monitor all these activities. But it is either a set distance or a set time, to me. Perhaps, those few owners of 2012 models can check theirs too. :neutral:
-
Alan, try to spend more time enjoying your new car :cool:
-
It's going to be difficult to trap without a trip engineer on board to monitor all these activities.
I've heard that young, attractive Swedish Au Pairs are quite often skilled in this area too, so it might be worth considering acquiring one of those Alan and seeing if there's anything she can do to help. They are good at multi-tasking apparently ;)
-
We are staying in a cabin on the side of a hill above the village of Drumnadrochit which is on the North West bank of Loch Ness – about half way down (16 miles) from Inverness.
There are several cabins in the holiday complex scattered apart on the hillside and accessed by a winding steep track just wide enough for one car. Our cabin is 580 feet above the village and the track climbs at an average gradient of 1 in 8 for a distance of 0.7 miles to our cabin. Parts of the track are much steeper requiring the use of first gear and plenty of revs. One of the holiday makers in a cabin lower down than us cannot get his VW golf up the track – it is a 1.4 petrol and lacks enough oomph to climb the hill. They are having to leave the car at the bottom and walk up to their cabin each day. When I went for my morning paper I saw the couple trudging up the hill carrying bags of shopping – so I stopped to give them a lift. Even my car resented doing a hill start with 3 up – it is the first time I have truly appreciated the hill start (anti roll-back) feature on my car.
Other than the problems I have had with the trip economy recorder – the car has performed well. It is a delight to drive and both my wife and I find the seats very comfortable on a 200 mile plus journey when the temperature outside has exceeded 26*C. Parts of Scotland saw temperatures of 28*C yesterday – hotter than most parts of the Mediterranean. I have had plenty of opportunity to play with the 3 steering modes and find the middle (normal) mode the most useful when cruising and the lightest (Comfort) mode ideal for about town and for getting up the track to the cabin which is a series of sharp hairpin bends up the side of the mountain.
I have mentioned before that the car lacks the eagerness of my previous i30 – that car seemed to be always poised for quick acceleration – the new car has a relaxed air and if you want to feel any fire in its belly you must drop one or two gears to get rapid response. Having said that – get it into the right gear for 2100 rpm and it will accelerate as quickly as the previous car, but uses higher revs. You could be forgiven for thinking there was a petrol engine under the bonnet and there is a lack of diesel noise to give the game away. I am having to use the gearbox much more. It’s a good job the gear change is so slick and light to operate. My car has done only 2000 miles so the engine is probably still tight – but I suspect that the engine mapping has been tuned to give lazy throttle response at revs below 2100 and thus encourage economic driving.
Before setting out for this holiday I took the advice regularly given by members of the forum to use a higher tyre pressure. I pumped all the tyres up to 38 psi and the car feels somewhat more assured when pushed without any noticeable effect on ride quality or road noise. I think I will standardise on this pressure.
-
So, this one's a keeper :goodjob:
-
I brimmed the tank – as before – and this time the tank took 58.59 litres. (Yes - you read it correctly - more than 58 litres)
Where are you? ----- Ahhhh yes of course Scotland ---- The land of tightness.
So don't forget that you'll probably find that a scottish litre is 0.9 of an english litre :whistler::lol: :lol: :lol:
-
One of the holiday makers in a cabin lower down than us cannot get his VW golf up the track – it is a 1.4 petrol and lacks enough oomph to climb the hill. They are having to leave the car at the bottom and walk up to their cabin each day.
Suggest to him that as his car is front wheel drive then he should try reversing up the hill.
i.e. traction at the rear so it will be pushed up rather than being pulled.
-
Interesting read, Alan. :goodjob2:
It's allways nice to follow your observations, and I must say I share your wonder regarding the trip computer.
-
Thanks for the latest feedback Alan .. I like the sound of everything but the fact you have to use the gears more :(
-
Good read Alan, sounds like you're having fun. What improvements are being done to your home while you're away, you've set a precedent now :question:
-
Thanks for the latest feedback Alan .. I like the sound of everything but the fact you have to use the gears more :(
:whsaid:
I am really pleased that we all have the "heads up" on the new model and know what to look for.
-
When I went fo26*C. Parts of Scotland saw temperatures of 28*C yesterday –
Alan,
Knowing your penchant for accuracy the following may interest you.
alt 0176 = ° (degrees)
alt 0177 = ±
alt 0178 = ² (squared)
alt 0179 = ³ (cubed)
alt 0188 = ¼
alt 0189 = ½
alt 0190 = ¾
alt 0247 = ÷
There are others for eighths etc
The numbers must be entered via the number pad. These do not work with some keyboards.
-
Thanks Baradeur .. :goodjob: Just testing .. it is only 6°c here after a light frost :confused:
-
Yesterday was fairly uneventful. The unusually hot summer weather (25*C) for the Highlands continued for another day but the forecast for the rest of the week is that the temperature will fall and the skies will cloud over.
We drove to Cromarty yesterday – a round trip of 90 miles - to visit some old friends of mine I had not seen since 2004 at my late wife’s funeral. It was a splendid reunion for me and a chance for my wife to meet and be greeted by friends from my past who live 500 miles away from our home and who I can normally only communicate with by phone and Email. There was much wine consumed but my wife kindly kept dry so that one of us was OK to drive back to our lodge. It was the first time she had driven my car for any distance and she found it as easy to drive as her i10 and offered to swap cars when we return home. I graciously declined her kind offer.
Some have noticed that I post to the forum at some strange hours – this is because for many years I have averaged only 4 to 5 hours sleep per day - so find myself up and about either very late into the night or very early in the morning. My early rising paid dividends this morning because I went out onto the cabin veranda and disturbed a small herd of deer grazing on the grass verge alongside the cabin. The herd included a stag with magnificent antlers but they saw me and ran off down the hill before I could get my camera. My wife – who for many years has been in training to sleep for England – will be disappointed that she missed them.
The trip recorder is still behaving itself since I reset the distance and fuel economy trips to zero when I refuelled 212 miles ago. It is currently showing an average fuel economy of 51.2 mpg (5.5 l/100 km). The steep climb 500 feet up the mountainside to the cabin and the hilly terrain we travel each time we go out is such that I cannot expect any better. In truth, I am delighted because my previous car would only achieve that sort of economy on long smooth motorway runs.
Today – if the mist clears – we will give the car a rest and take a coast to coast return train trip across the highlands from Beauly near Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh. It takes just over 2 hours in each direction and we will have a couple of hours at Kyle to browse and walk across the bridge to the Isle of Sky so that we can claim to have been there. It is claimed to be one of the top 10 scenic rail trips in the UK and we are hoping it lives up to the hype. It is 5.15 am as I pen these words and too early to tell whether it will be possible because the cabin is swathed in mist.
There is no broadband available where we are staying so I brought with me a pay-as-you-go 3G dongle which should have worked here according to the network coverage map. It doesn’t. Hence to get onto the internet I have to connect when in Inverness which I sometimes go to early in the morning to buy the English version of the Daily Mail newspaper. If I don’t post on any day it will be because we have headed off in another direction.
Oh, I nearly forgot – we have to take our recycling rubbish to the local collection point which is located behind a tourist information centre in the village car park. We did this on our way out to Cromarty and found the car park full of bikers – I have never seen so many motor bikes and bikers congregated in one place in my life. It was a riot of chrome and colour. This seems to be a favourite area for bikers – you see them on the roads all the time. However – I digress – the thing I wanted to mention was that on the car park was parked a blue 2012 i30 CRDI Style with a Manchester registration. I waited for about 10 minutes in the hope the driver would appear from the local post office but no-one turned up for a chat. Blow me down – 5 minutes later and just a mile up the road my wife spotted a silver 2012 i30 pass us from the opposite direction. Later that evening on the way home my wife pulled up behind a new blue i30 at a junction – but I have no idea whether it was the same car we saw 9 hours earlier.
I am able to confirm that both the blue cars had colour coded reversing sensors Lester.
It seems strange that in the 7 weeks I have owned my car and the 2300 miles I have travelled, I have previously seen only 2 other new i30’s on the road, I then drive 500 miles up to Scotland and I see 3 in just one day.
(Thanks for the tips baradeur - but it doesn't work on my laptop. As soon as I press Alt -0 the browser closes down this forum and opens up my home internet page. If I try to do it in Word - the display changes from landscape to portrait)
PS
I have just noticed after posting this that my post to the thread yesterday has been lost in a server crash. I have no idea what I blathered on about yesterday other than to reply that the guy with the Golf cannot get up the hill because of lack of power not wheel slip. Reverse will be worse anyway because it is a higher gear ratio than 1st.
-
Hi Alan, glad you are enjoying our fine country!!
As with the Series One i30, we canny Scots seem to have picked up on the extreme value for money these vehicles offer, Lester and Steve couldn't believe how many of those I reported seeing back in 2008 and Lester even suggested to Steve that they come up to Aberdeen pronto so they could report they had seen another.
Are you going to be anywhere near Aberdeen Alan??
-
Becoming a really good read - thanks :D
And just in case Lester missed it...
I am able to confirm that both the blue cars had colour coded reversing sensors Lester.
-
It's going to be difficult to trap without a trip engineer on board to monitor all these activities. But it is either a set distance or a set time, to me. Perhaps, those few owners of 2012 models can check theirs too. :neutral:
I wonder if Alan could put one of those in car video cameras in that is directed onto the dash, so it records what he his talking about and then he can show it to the hyundai boys...
-
I feel sorry for poor Alan - his latest holiday is being mostly spent for our benefit :undecided:
So thanks, Alan :winker:
-
I'm enjoying you little holiday Alan, thank you :goodjob: :goodjob: :rofl: :rofl:
-
I feel sorry for poor Alan - his latest holiday is being mostly spent for our benefit :undecided:
So thanks, Alan :winker:
I think he gets a kick out of it too.
I thought of that too neptune, a camera focused on the instrument with a time display would give us some clues. :goodjob2:
-
It looks as though we will be kept indoors this morning - the mist is not clearing and there is little point in going out sightseeing because we won't be able to see any. I went down into the village to get a newspaper and looked on the carpark for the blue i30 - but it wasn't there.
Having some time on my hands whilst my wife continues with her beauty sleep (it is 09:30), I have been re-trying the computer in the cabin to try and get an internet connection with my 3G dongle plugged into the laptop. But without success.
However I found a USB extension lead in my travel bag - so I ventured into the woods and found a long tree branch. I hooked the dongle on the end of the branch and cantilevered it from the veranda railing 2.5 metres out into space. Lo and behold, eureka and gadzooks - it works - and I can access the internet. My wife will be happy because she can now communicate with her daughters and Email them some pictures.
I am by no means sacrificing any of my holiday with these posts - I can now use the computer when we are in the lodge to fill in the spare time. The alternative would be to watch TV but I am not a TV fan.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/DongleExtension.jpg)
-
At last Alan has figured out our rural 3-Tree connection!! :happydance: :happydance:
-
:rofl:
I love the ingenuity. Priceless. :lol:
-
Thanks for the pic Alan. I love reading about your car and holiday and now I can visualise you typing away and accessing the world through that little device, through all that mist too.
-
At last Alan has figured out our rural 3-Tree connection!! :happydance: :happydance:
:baps:
-
Becoming a really good read - thanks :D
And just in case Lester missed it...
I am able to confirm that both the blue cars had colour coded reversing sensors Lester.
Yes it is on my list when I call next at the dealers to ask why mine are black
-
Excellent.. We now have a "Branch" of the i30 Club in Scotland :happydance:
I thought you were going out on a limb spending so much time on the forum while on holidays Alan...
Mind you, we are enjoying your Holiday almost as much as you are :happydance: :goodjob:
-
He wasn't going to have anything to with the forum whilst away but decided to turn over a new leaf and include us :whistler:
-
parked a blue 2012 i30 CRDI Style
Later that evening on the way home my wife pulled up behind a new blue i30
I am able to confirm that both the blue cars had colour coded reversing sensors Lester.
Cheers for that so I can say a friend has seen 2 new shape blue i30's and both have colour coded rear sensors when I visit the dealers.
ps
they were 12 plated?
-
parked a blue 2012 i30 CRDI Style
Later that evening on the way home my wife pulled up behind a new blue i30
I am able to confirm that both the blue cars had colour coded reversing sensors Lester.
Cheers for that so I can say a friend has seen 2 new shape blue i30's and both have colour coded rear sensors when I visit the dealers.
ps
they were 12 plated?
I only looked at the number plate of the i30 on the car park - like my car it was 12 plated.
-
Surely if they are the new model they can only be 12 plated ??
Were the first ones not from end of March in UK and 62 is not until September???
-
Surely if they are the new model they can only be 12 plated ??
Were the first ones not from end of March in UK and 62 is not until September???
My dealership has a 2012 i30 demo car which is 61 plated - so some must have been pre-registered by the dealers before the launch date.
-
Hi Alan, glad you are enjoying our fine country!!
As with the Series One i30, we canny Scots seem to have picked up on the extreme value for money these vehicles offer, Lester and Steve couldn't believe how many of those I reported seeing back in 2008 and Lester even suggested to Steve that they come up to Aberdeen pronto so they could report they had seen another.
Are you going to be anywhere near Aberdeen Alan??
I have only just seen your post. I'm afraid we are travelling back home via the west coast so I will not be anywhere near Aberdeen. T'would have been nice to meet up though.
-
That's cool, next time perhaps.....
My dealer has only ever had 12 plated i30's, they must have had to wait for their consignment!
-
It was dull, cool and misty yeterday with spits of light rain so we spent the day in the city of Inverness - taking in the sights along the river, the architecture of the old buildings and of course the dreaded shops.
Inverness would not make it onto my list of the top 100 town and cities in the UK. I found it rather drab, uninviting and the city centre is badly in need of a serious upgrade. Even the people seemed to be dour and glum - shop assistants included. Perhaps the sudden return of cool weather after a few days of sunshine had affected them.
My wife bought a few gifts for the family and a set of 3 single malt whisky miniatures to sample. She enjoys the occasional whisky but I cannot drink it. Many years ago I got seriously plastered at a friends stag do where we drank Guinness and whisky chasers. I was ill for two days afterwards and truly wanted to die. Since then just the smell of whisky causes my body to revolt.
The car continues to behave impeccably. I have done 270 miles since I brimmed the tank and reset the trips to zero and the economy trip is reading 50.9 mpg and has not (yet) faltered.
Perhaps I need to take back what I said earlier about the inaccuracy of the distance to empty forecast and the computer not learning - it is currently reading 430 miles giving a projected range of 700 miles which is much more realistic.
One guilty pleasure was that when I saw my friend in Cromarty on Monday we went out together to get some wine from a store 11 miles away. My car was blocking his Audi A3 2.0 litre petrol on his drive so we used my car. After a few minutes as passenger he commented on how quiet my car was compared with his and how roomy it felt. He had no idea he was riding in a Hyundai.... :goodjob:
-
It's great to hear stories like that. :goodjob:
-
It's great to hear stories like that. :goodjob:
X 2 :happydance:
-
@Alan,
Did he know it was a diesel :question:
-
@Alan,
Did he know it was a diesel :question:
I doubt it. He knew that for many years I have only ever bought Audi cars and he assumed that he was riding in a new 2012 Audi A3. He was rather taken aback when I enlightened him and was further gob-smacked to learn that my car was a Hyundai diesel. His car is due for replacement soon and the experience gave him food for thought.
To be fair to him he has little interest in cars - he has a car only because his wife refuses to ride pillion on any of his bikes. At present he has only 9 motor bikes ranging from a 1921 Levis 2 stroke and a 1950's Velocette water cooled bike right up to a Vincent, AJS 7R, a 1950's 500 cc shaft drive Wooler and some modern Jap bikes. He is the same age as me and admitted that he is seriously thinking of selling off the bikes because he has macular degeneration and it is not safe to "ride" them sportingly.
***********************************************
I believe that I have found the problem with my Instant fuel economy trip resetting itself to zero – it possibly does not reset itself – I may be doing it involuntarily.
When we were out today I saw the trip reset to zero and I happened to glance further down at the position of my hands on the steering wheel – they were not at their usual position of 10 to 2 – but were at 10 to 5. My right hand was low on the steering wheel and pressed against the “spoke” containing the trip buttons. The lowest button is the trip “Reset” which has to be held in for only one second for it to zero the trip. I am not certain that I did this – but I have reconstructed the possible scene of the crime - it looks mighty suspicious.
I am aware that on a long drive I do vary the position of my hands on the steering wheel but am not aware that I press on the buttons. However – I have sat in the car and tried various positions and it has become glaringly obvious that it is easy to operate the rest button without knowing about it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/P1020225Medium.jpg)
An hour later I had to turn sharp left at a Tee junction. As I completed the turn I noticed the trip reset to zero again. Yet again I reconstructed what my right hand might have been doing at the time – and again it looks suspiciously like I pressed the reset button.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/P1020224Medium.jpg)
I have no doubt that the reset button is easy to press and that it resets the trip to zero in about a second or so. I have also realised that I have a habit of moving my hands to the lower segment of the steering wheel for short periods. I most definitely move my hand close to the trip buttons when making a sharp turn. Hence I am almost certain that the trip problem is caused by the reset button being located where it is all too easy to operate it without knowing.
-
Oh well thank heavens we've got to the bottom of that <sheees>...
So, it's either an amputation at the wrist, or a new steering wheel Alan :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:
-
Oh well thank heavens we've got to the bottom of that <sheees>...
So, it's either an amputation at the wrist, or a new steering wheel Alan :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:
That sounds like a bit of an over reaction to me Asa... maybe if Alan just had his thumb removed to start with :sweating:
-
Oh well thank heavens we've got to the bottom of that <sheees>...
So, it's either an amputation at the wrist, or a new steering wheel Alan :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:
That sounds like a bit of an over reaction to me Asa... maybe if Alan just had his thumb removed to start with :sweating:
Well quite possibly Dazz but I am a believer in decisive action, ya know, cure the problem at the off :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:
-
This has been a great read for me. My wife and I are flying to the UK on 11 June, staying in London for 5 days then just over 2 weeks in various parts of England. We then head up to Ayrshire where I was born but have not seen for 46 years (I was 5) and work our way up to Inverness. Then we have 5 days between Inverness and Edinburgh that we don't have accomodation booked, so if anyone can suggest the best places to fill in this time, given that we will have seen the west coast, we would appreciate advice. The end of our trip includes 3 nights in Edinburgh and 3 in Glasgow so we will get time to see around these areas. Our hire car is listed as a Focus Titanium or equivalent, so maybe we might get a base model i30.
-
I mentioned earlier that we had planned on taking a train trip from Beauly near Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh. I changed my mind and today we used the car to drive a 195 mile (313 km) circuitous trip to the Isle of Sky and back. On the way there we followed the famous scenic railway line and enjoyed most of the splendid scenery we would have seen from the train. The final 6 miles of the train route is reputed to be awesome - but the road misses this out. However - we were already over-awed with the mountains and Lochs we had seen on the drive so we don't feel deprived.
We returned to our Lodge in Drumnadrochit by a southerly route which went through some huge mountains and skirted the banks of some beautiful Lochs before travelling north east along the bank of Loch Ness. Yet again, the monster failed to make an appearance.
My wife drove the car for about 50 miles on the winding and undulating roads through the mountains and was a little hesitant at first because she is not familiar with the extra 6th gear. However she gained confidence as the miles passed by and finished up driving with assurance and at cruising speeds not far short of mine.
I zeroed the fuel economy trip before we set out and was more than surprised to see it reading 63.1 mpg (4.47 L/100 km) when we returned "home" having regard to the hilly roads and about 30 miles of single track switchback roads included in the trip. I feel that the car is loosening up and seems to be a little more lively - but only if you use the gearbox to maintain revs above 1750 rpm.
So far I have added 1052 miles (1690 km) to the odometer since we left home just over a week ago and the sat-nav tells me that barring any diversions from the shortest route, I will add a further 420 miles (680 km) by the time we get home.
Tomorrow we do the first of three legs on the journey home - to a hotel on Loch Lomond just 110 miles (178 km) away. The car will be much heavier on the return trip - madam has been shopping and has also collected a rather large rock destined for our garden rockery which she salvaged from the banks of a river here.
Edit
I forgot to mention that I spotted another new i30 today when we were on the Isle of Skye. It was a silver one and was travelling in the opposite direction so I only got a quick look. The reg. began with 'E' which means it was registered in Chelmsford Essex UK. It was clearly a long way from home. This brings my total to 4 new models seen in Scotland.
I have seen very few previous model i30's - possibly 10 maximum - and I have yet to see an i20, ix20 or i40 but I have seen lots and lots of i10's evenly split between red and silver ones.
-
As usual, very interesting Alan :goodjob:
-
Really enjoying your trip Alan. :goodjob: Please travel often. ;)
-
Really enjoying your trip Alan. :goodjob: Please travel often. ;)
That could be taken the wrong way :rofl:
-
Really enjoying your trip Alan. :goodjob: Please travel often. ;)
That could be taken the wrong way :rofl:
Yeah... Go fly a Kite ... :whistler: But make sure you write a report about it :winker:
-
The first leg of our journey home was to a hotel in a place called Ardlui on the bank of the northern end of Loch Lomond. It was a journey through some quite awesome scenery of only 112 miles (180 km) but it took us 7 hours due to all the stopping off for sightseeing and for my wife to fill her camera with photos.
It was interesting to see the flight of 4 huge locks being operated on the Caledonian canal in Fort Augusta (which is the southern end of Loch Ness) to allow passage for a large passenger cruiser and 4 smaller pleasure craft. I asked one of the boat crew who were in the final lock how long it had taken them to get through the first 3 locks and he told me they entered the first lock an hour and a half ago.
The next large town on the route was Fort William sitting at the base of Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles at 1344 metres to the summit. It is a major attraction for climbers and the town has hundreds of bed & Breakfast establishments which were virtually all displaying “No Vacancies” boards. It reminded us that it was the first Saturday of the main summer season and would normally be a bank holiday if it had not been pushed back by one week to make room for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
On the edge of the town there is a large visitor centre – which is actually a huge Shop and café stuffed full with Scots clothing, gifts, whisky and all sorts of expensive touristy stuff with a Highland twist. We followed 2 huge coaches into the car park which were sign-written in Japanese. The sounds of a pipers lament drifted over the car park inviting you into the shop entrance where stood a piper in his magnificent regalia. We had been in the gift shop for a few minutes before it was invaded by hordes of Japanese tourists intent on buying-up Scotland and all its bric-a-brac. They resembled a swarm of locusts as they descended on the shelves stacked high with rip-off priced stuff I wouldn’t be seen dead with. It was truly amazing. When we escaped from the store the Jap tourists were queuing up to be photographed in small groups with the poor piper who was trying to keep playing his bagpipes whilst being jostled into position for each group.
The drive from Fort William to our destination took us through the famous Glen Coe – a winding road through a valley between huge mountains which climbs 1246 feet (380 metres). Possibly the highlight of our road trip so far. We were fortunate because the weather this past week has treated us kindly with many sunny days and today was no exception. It was late afternoon and the sun was at the perfect angle to illuminate both sides of the valley and mountains. The only downside is that there are few stopping places up the pass and they were all full of cars so we were not able to stop for photos at the best locations.
I have mentioned before that I have never seen so many motor bikes in my life as I have the last few days. There are thousands of them all being ridden fast but sensibly. A bunch of about 50 of them overtook us on the way into Fort William all wearing a bright pink Cherokee comb hair style on their helmets – some were wearing pink lace skirts outside their leathers. We caught up with them on the Fort William car park and got chatting to a couple. They told us that they were on a 3 day charity ride from John o’ Groats to Lands’ End – 900 miles (1500 kms) – in aid of the MacMillan nurses. (Terminally ill patient care).
There are also a surprising number of cyclists on the hilly main roads. We have seen many instances over the past few days where cyclists have been holding up traffic. Today we saw a couple of them climbing a steep hill coming towards us holding up a queue of cars which was unable to pass them. My wife counted the cars, lorries and motor coaches stuck in this walking pace queue and there were 103 – a total being added to after we passed other vehicles fast approaching the back of the queue. I realise that cyclists have nearly as much right to the roads as car drivers – but they are not popular for the very reason that some of them are so inconsiderate. This couple of idiots could so easily have pulled over every few minutes to let traffic through.
The room in our hotel for the night had a splendid view across Loch Lomond to the surrounding hills with a small marina to our right full of pleasure craft. Fortunately, we were not able to see from our room a large caravan site to the left of the hotel spilling from the road down to the bank of the Loch – also owned by the hotel – that was an ugly blot on the landscape.
Yet again the car performed faultlessly and is a joy to drive. I brimmed the tank before we set off and the average fuel economy for the last tank calculates at 56.8 mpg (4.9 l/100 km) which I am happy with considering the sort of terrain we have travelled over the past 648 miles.
-
Another really interesting report Alan.. You do paint a lovely picture (hopefully we will get to see some when you arrive home) :winker:
-
As Dazz says, very nice report... Already looking forward to the photo's :goodjob: :goodjob:
-
We feel like we're all there too Alan. :goodjob2: :goodjob:
-
Yes, it's been quite a holiday and I feel very relaxed now :)
-
The second leg of our journey home from Loch Lomond to a place called Carnforth added 229 miles (370 km) to the odometer. The route took us down the full length of Loch Lomond on a narrow and twisty road which was slow going - especially because there were several traffic light road works along the way. We then had several miles of stop - go traffic driving through the outskirts of Glasgow before we got onto the A74 motorway and was able to cruise south unobstructed. I cruised the car at just above the legal limit and made such good time the sat-nav predicted we would arrive at the hotel way before check in time so we did a 20 mile diversion onto the Yorkshire Dales to take a look at a cottage we have hired for a week in July.
The car averaged 56.6 mpg (5.0 l/100 km) today which came as a pleasant surprise.
There is no doubt that the car economy on the drive up to Scotland and the return home has been affected by the fact that it is quite heavily loaded with luggage compared with when we were doing our daily sightseeing trips and there was just the two of us in the car.
-
we did a 20 mile diversion onto the Yorkshire Dales to take a look at a cottage we have hired for a week in July.
Now you are going into God's country :)
-
we did a 20 mile diversion onto the Yorkshire Dales to take a look at a cottage we have hired for a week in July.
Now you are going into God's country :)
No, he's just left it :whistler: :whistler: :whistler:
PS Alan, Fort Augusta was in Pennsylvania, you visited Fort Augustus :winker:
-
we did a 20 mile diversion onto the Yorkshire Dales to take a look at a cottage we have hired for a week in July.
Now you are going into God's country :)
I didn't know he was coming here.... :Shocked:
I'll get the good crockery out. :winker:
-
Probably a good idea to put some clothes on too Rusty, you never know who else will come along. :whistler: Sure to be a photographer or two when the big day arrives.
-
I've got my birthday suit on....what more do I need? :whistler:
Perhaps I could make an effort and get the iron out.... :undecided:
-
We are now back home after completing the last leg of the return journey. I learned last evening that a very dear 92 year old friend had been taken into hospital with a serious cardiac condition (she already has a heart pacemaker fitted) so we set off very early this morming and I travelled at maximum speed down the length of the M6 motorway so that i could see her ASAP. I am her unofficial carer and executor of her will and there were some delicate matters that needed attention.
The journey home was 142 miles and it took less than 2 hours door to door - it is a bank holiday and there was little traffic on the motorway in the early hours. The trip computer displayed an average speed of 76 mph (122 km/hr) when we got home - which aint bad. The car averaged 53.6 mpg (5.3 l/100 km) for the journey. I was not able to do the trip any faster because I had to slow down on the sections my sat-nav warned of speed camera positions and when there was a car in sight . The police on the M6 use unmarked cars of various makes and colours to catch speedsters. I saw them in a bronze coloured VW passat CC and a silver Volvo Estate at two separate locations on the hard shoulder having stopped cars.
As it happens the hospital had stabilised her and although she is a very sick lady - the grim reaper will need to be patient. For sure she is not going to be able to drive again so I will have to sell her Suzuki Alto car for her. It's sad really - 3 weeks ago she was a dynamic lady full of life dashing about to socialise with friends and today it has all come to a shuddering halt. It make you think about your own mortality and further evidence that you must cram as much into life as you can, while you can.
Back to the car - this holiday added 1889 miles (3040 km) to the odometer. I brimmed the tank the evening before we set off on holiday and have just brimmed it upon our return so that I know for sure that I used 154.93 litres during the holiday. This calculates as a fuel economy of 56.42 mpg (5.00 l/100 km) . The calculation is adjusted to allow for the fact that my odometer is 1.8% slow.
One thing I have noticed is that the trip economy display is very innaccurate.
The last 3 fills have been :-
58.59 litres to brim - 744 odo miles covered - calculated economy 58.79 mpg (4.8 l/100k) - trip display 62.6 mpg (4.51 l/100k) - error + 6.4%
(Brimmed with 54 miles to empty on display - range = 798 miles)
52.80 litres to brim - 648 odo miles covered - calculated economy 56.82 mpg (4.97 l/100k) - trip display 58.9 mpg (4.79 l/100k) - error + 3.7%
(Brimmed with 89 miles to empty on display - range = 737 miles)
43.54 litres to brim - 497 odo miles covered - calculated economy 52.84 mpg (5.35 l/100k) - trip display 55.7 mpg (5.07 l/100k) - error + 5.4%
(Brimmed with 221 miles to empty on display - range = 718 miles)
-
Sorry to hear about your friend Alan and I hope she recovers, or, has a peaceful end of life if that's where she's at.
Your holiday has been most enjoyable Alan.
Like many others I await, with eager anticipation, the photographs.
Thank you
-
I am also sorry to hear about your friend Alan. You are certainly doing a great job for your advancing years getting out and about :Shocked:
That average speed for your latest mercy dash was quite amazing considering it was tempered by a fear of speed cameras and highway patrols :sweating:
You must be thrilled with your overall economy figure which I am guessing would be a good 5MPG better than your previous i30 would have achieved in the same circumstances. :goodjob:
Thanks again for your holiday updates (most entertaining) :mrgreen:
-
A rough comparison with my previous i30 is as follows
Previous car New car
Average overall economy 49.01 mpg (5.76 l/100k) 55.3 mpg (5.11 l/100k)
Highest mpg on a tank 53.1 mpg (5.32 l/100k) 58.79 mpg (4.81 l/100k)
Worst mpg on a tank 42.25 mpg (6.9 mpg) 51.64 mpg (5.47 l/100k)
Max range on a tank 621 miles (999 km) 744 miles (1198 km)
Your guess of 5 mpg is near the mark - but I expect to do better as the car loosens up and I stop speeding.
-
Thanks again Alan :thanks: Very interesting and thorough (as usual) :goodjob:
Gains in Australia may not be of the order of 10% plus considering our slightly shorter gearing.
It appears there will still be some gains to be had though :happydance:
-
I'm very sorry to hear about your friend Alan. :(
It is very true what you say:
It make you think about your own mortality and further evidence that you must cram as much into life as you can, while you can.
That is an amazing average speed :undecided: It was obviously a quick trip but I am very impressed with your overall fuel economy. :goodjob:
-
Sad to hear about your friend's health. What a good friend you are to make a hasty journey like that.
Amazing fuel figures considering your average speed. I think 80kph / 50 mph is considered the most efficient speed before wind resistance becomes significant. Imagine what mpg you'd get if you drove like me :mrgreen:
-
Amazing fuel figures considering your average speed. I think 80kph / 50 mph is considered the most efficient speed before wind resistance becomes significant. Imagine what mpg you'd get if you drove like me :mrgreen:
You have prompted me to take another look at the fuel figures and I am further convinced that the average fuel trip is very inaccurate.
You will see that for the last tank - which included the fast trip home - the overall average was 52.84 mpg (5.35 l/100k). It is therefore inconceivable that the final journey of 142 miles (out of 497) could have been 53.6 mpg (5.3 l/100 km) because the previous 345 miles were gentle journeys where I was not pushing the car.
I am now inclined to the view that the first 345 miles on the tank were at a similar economy to the previous two tanks (56 to 58 mpg) and the last mad dash was more like 48 mpg (5.9 l/100k) which dragged the average down
Having said that - even 48 mpg would be a lot better than a similar trip in my previous car.
-
Alan, given that you have stated that the new car needs to be used through it's gears more than the old model, do you think it would be a fair statement to say that HY are trying to make the car feel more like a petrol car, but with great economy that petrol can't deliver :question:
-
Alan, given that you have stated that the new car needs to be used through it's gears more than the old model, do you think it would be a fair statement to say that HY are trying to make the car feel more like a petrol car, but with great economy that petrol can't deliver :question:
I'm not sure about that - many of the recent Hyundai decisions have left me slightly bewildered. For sure the car felt more lively on this trip but third and fourth gears were in use much more than on my old car.
The new breed of turbo 3 cylinder petrol engines being developed by all the major manufacturers are going to surprise us all with their economy and torque at low revs. The New Ford engine fitted to the focus is outstanding and feels more like a diesel regarding low down grunt. Try one - you just might be surprised. I did seriously consider buying one - but the engine is new and it is a very highly stressed unit and it might suffer teething problems.
I think that petrol is going to get a resurgence. Hyundai are almost certain to tread the same path with petrol technology - supercharge plus turbo boost with direct petrol injection.
-
No thanks Alan, I'll pass on trying one, we've done all the vehicle purchasing for a while I think. Like you, I think the petrol engines may be great when new, but their longevity may be suspect. One thing I like about the diesel is that the fuel, until it is combusted, is an oil which is much kinder for an engine than a solvent, which is then supercharged or turbocharged. :neutral:
-
The police on the M6 use unmarked cars of various makes and colours to catch speedsters. I saw them in a bronze coloured VW passat CC and a silver Volvo Estate at two separate locations on the hard shoulder having stopped cars.
One journey on the M6 the Police had a car between 2 large vans with a look out following some distance behind.
The vans were close together so you coudn't see the car in the middle until you were level with them.
As a speeding car grew closer to the "convoy" the first van speeded up and the Police car shot out and went after the speeding car.
Few miles down the road all parked up with the speeding car driver scratching his head wondering where he had appeared from....
-
I learned last evening that a very dear 92 year old friend had been taken into hospital with a serious cardiac condition (she already has a heart pacemaker fitted)
Hope she is making good progress
-
Our lodge at Achmony on bank of Loch Ness. A nice parking spot for the car.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/OurCabinOverlookingLochNess.jpg)
We could see Loch Ness from the veranda on our lodge
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/LochNessfromtheCabin.jpg)
Loch Ness at 5.30 am as the sun rises over the Loch
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/SunriseoverLochness.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/SunriseoverLochNess2.jpg)
A vintage coach we saw on a car park. The company specialise in “old fashioned” tours in Europe. The coach had a luxury interior and only 22 plush seats with a kitchen, bar etc. The 10 day tour of the Highlands was costing its customers more than £2000 per head.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/VintageCoach.jpg)
Glen Affric scenes
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/GlenAffric.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/GlenAffric2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/DunnoWhere.jpg)
Cawdor castle and gardens
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/CastelCawdor.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/CastleCawdorGardens.jpg)
Various Photos as we approach Glen Coe
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/NearGlenCoe.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/GlenCoe.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/ApproachtoGlenCoe1.jpg)
Abriachan Garden
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/AbriachanGarden.jpg)
Ardlui Hotel – Loch Lomond
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/ArdluiHotelLochLomond.jpg)
-
Some great photos there, Alan... :goodjob:
-
The lodge is magnificent Alan... The bus, I drove one just like that when I was 21, those were the days :rofl: :goodjob:
The views, well, all I can say is I am jealous...
Thanks for sharing
-
Brilliant photos Alan (loved them) Thanks a lot :goodjob:
The Castle and the Hotel both took my fancy.. Trish and I would have really enjoyed a trip like that :mrgreen:
-
Great photos Alan :goodjob2:
-
Enjoyed reading text and the pictures are also great.
As for this view (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/GlenCoe.jpg) ... mmmmm
-
Very pretty scenery, not unlike Tassie :exclaim: & a lot closer too. :lol:
-
Very pretty scenery, not unlike Tassie
Yes Phil you are quite right :goodjob: :happydance:
-
One journey on the M6 the Police had a car between 2 large vans with a look out following some distance behind.
The vans were close together so you coudn't see the car in the middle until you were level with them.
As a speeding car grew closer to the "convoy" the first van speeded up and the Police car shot out and went after the speeding car.
Few miles down the road all parked up with the speeding car driver scratching his head wondering where he had appeared from....
Very doubtful the vans were police vehicles but more likely part of the target.
An unmarked police car is not obvious and would do a speeding stop independently.
-
Just been fiddling. Whilst in Scotland I tried to take a short video (1 minute 18 seconds) whilst my wife was driving the new i30. I used my little Panasonic Lumix point and shoot camera hand held with my elbows on the dash. It produced a .mov file sized 237 MB which I converted to avi using Pazera Free MOV to AVI Converter which Dazz recommended some time ago. This produced a file of 80 MB which I uploaded to Photobucket.
I have never posted video before - so this is a test to see what it is like on the forum.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/P1020278-1.mp4[/URL)
-
That's not a bad effort, Alan... :goodjob:
-
I also used Pazera to convert the MOV file to MPEG which produced a file sized 58MB to compare the quality which I also uploaded to Photobucket
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/AlanHo1937/i30%20Forum/P10202782.mp4[/URL)
-
That's not a bad effort, Alan... :goodjob:
:whsaid:
You can buy (as I'm sure you're aware) little gadgets that can grip your Lumix and sucker it against your windscreen or dash.
Helps to avoid R.E.S. (rubbed elbow syndrome) ;)
-
You can buy (as I'm sure you're aware) little gadgets that can grip your Lumix and sucker it
Sounds like it could be painful :undecided:
-
Whilst in Scotland I tried to take a short video (1 minute 18 seconds)
A9?
-
The wide screen aspect of the AVI worked better Alan .. but both quite watchable thanks :goodjob:
-
Whilst in Scotland I tried to take a short video (1 minute 18 seconds)
A9?
My best guess is we were driving south on the A82 after leaving Glen Coe bound for Ardlui on Loch Lomond. Cannot be certain though - we drove through so much fabulous scenery it has all blended together in my mind
-
Whilst in Scotland I tried to take a short video (1 minute 18 seconds)
A9?
My best guess is we were driving south on the A82 after leaving Glen Coe bound for Ardlui on Loch Lomond. Cannot be certain though - we drove through so much fabulous scenery it has all blended together in my mind
With so much beautiful countryside It all blends into 1.
Great views. Glen Coe I remember that being more hilly on either side of the road but hey that was when I was only 2 foot nothing so everthing looked big.
Most northerly I've been was Ullapool then a few miles up and around back to Inverness. Would love to go back and do the trip right up to John O'Groats...
-
Alan, thank you for a great report.
I'm sorry to hear about Inverness as my wife and I were there in 2000 and staye dovernight. At that time we came away with very pleasant memories and it reamins high on our list of discussion points when we are reminiscing about that trip.
We also did that drive down the Great Glen and love the scenery.
°
½
÷
Just tried out that little trick listed above. Works for me but only on the numeric key pad, not with the shared ones along the top of the QWERTY pad.
-
°
½
÷
Just tried out that little trick listed above. Works for me but only on the numeric key pad, not with the shared ones along the top of the QWERTY pad.
That's correct... different key codes. :goodjob2:
-
°
½
÷
Just tried out that little trick listed above. Works for me but only on the numeric key pad, not with the shared ones along the top of the QWERTY pad.
Here's some more http://www.tedmontgomery.com/tutorial/altchrc.html (http://www.tedmontgomery.com/tutorial/altchrc.html)