[AlanHo]

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.

[Doggie 1]

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 

[bumpkin]

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

PS Alan, Fort Augusta was in Pennsylvania, you visited Fort Augustus

[rustynutz]

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....

I'll get the good crockery out. 

[kittikat]

Probably a good idea to put some clothes on too Rusty, you never know who else will come along.    Sure to be a photographer or two when the big day arrives.

[rustynutz]

I've got my birthday suit on....what more do I need? 

Perhaps I could make an effort and get the iron out.... 

[AlanHo]

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)



 

[asathorny]

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

[Dazzler]

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   

That average speed for your latest mercy dash was quite amazing considering it was tempered by a fear of speed cameras and highway patrols 

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. 

Thanks again for your holiday updates (most entertaining) 

[AlanHo]

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.

[Dazzler]

Thanks again Alan    Very interesting and thorough (as usual) 

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 

[Doggie 1]

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  It was obviously a quick trip but I am very impressed with your overall fuel economy. 

[Phil №❶]

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 

[AlanHo]

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 

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.

[Phil №❶]

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 

[AlanHo]

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 

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.

[Phil №❶]

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. 

[eye30]

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....

[eye30]

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

[AlanHo]

Our lodge at Achmony on bank of Loch Ness. A nice parking spot for the car.



We could see Loch Ness from the veranda on our lodge




Loch Ness at 5.30 am as the sun rises over the Loch





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.




Glen Affric scenes







Cawdor castle and gardens





Various Photos as we approach Glen Coe







Abriachan Garden



Ardlui Hotel – Loch Lomond

[rustynutz]

Some great photos there, Alan...

[asathorny]

The lodge is magnificent Alan...   The bus, I drove one just like that when I was 21, those were the days 

The views, well, all I can say is I am jealous...

Thanks for sharing

[Dazzler]

Brilliant photos Alan (loved them) Thanks a lot 

The Castle and the Hotel both took my fancy.. Trish and I would have really enjoyed a trip like that 

[Doggie 1]

Great photos Alan 

[accim]

Enjoyed reading text and the pictures are also great.

As for this view ... mmmmm

[Phil №❶]

Very pretty scenery, not unlike Tassie  & a lot closer too. 

[Dazzler]

Very pretty scenery, not unlike Tassie 

Yes Phil you are quite right 

[baroudeur]

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.

[AlanHo]

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.

[rustynutz]

That's not a bad effort, Alan...