Long drive to Southern France

[jimalmighty]

Off to the south of France next month with Mrs Almighty and 2 kids.
Its an 8 hour (500 mile) drive and we had planned to take the wife's A4 (2.5 TDI V6) Estate but we'd have to get a roof box and thus would affect fuel economy... bringing it close to my LR.

So im toying with the idea of taking the Discovery 2, its bigger, higher, more comfortable and i'd prefer to drive it.

The question is... Should i be confident with it living up to the task?

Its in great condition, had major service last Aug and its under 90k miles but i have 4 year old and 3 month year old boys...

Am i making the right desicion here?

Thoughts appreciated.

Jim

 

[strange_days]

Makes you wonder why anyone bothers buying Landys

 

[Sirus]

Just get AA euro insurance and have fun

 

[jimalmighty]

"Makes you wonder why anyone bothers buying Landys"

...Good point.

 

[strange_days]

"Makes you wonder why anyone bothers buying Landys"

...Good point.

sad but true lol

 

[Paul D]

Only thing I do extra when we tow the caravan to South of France (4 adults) is make sure all fluids are full, all passports are current and any new French law designed to stop us going there is complied with or flagrantly flouted .. and I always fly an English flag when abroad ..

 

[blackvulcan100]

We will be going to France and Spain this summer towing our fully laden caravan,I expect to do at least 2,500 miles,my td5 shows 73.700 on the clock,it's fully serviced and then some and I expect it to do that journey no problem,we will of course be taking out breakdown insurance which I believe does work well if needed.
Guy on site last year his td5 (144,000 miles ) altinator went and although it took a couple of days to fix and cost him more that UK garage the breakdown service worked.

 

[dyte]

get in it and go it will be fine but far quicker in the audi the fuel will be better in the car even with a roof box

 

[chezvegas]

I took the 110 to the alps in January. We had 6 adults ,1 child and all the kit on the roof. Reliability was fine but I did have AA Europe recovery which cost £150 and included getting it repatriated if needed. Mileage on mine is 213,000 so I'd don't think it is the mileage but how well it has been looked after. Your Audi will probably be just as economical and definately quicker but we did enjoy taking ours for a long blast. I did see a number of uk cars broken down , as you do in the uk, but I wouldn't let that put me off taking mine again

 

[thebiglad]

Off to the south of France next month with Mrs Almighty and 2 kids.
Its an 8 hour (500 mile) drive and we had planned to take the wife's A4 (2.5 TDI V6) Estate but we'd have to get a roof box and thus would affect fuel economy... bringing it close to my LR.

So im toying with the idea of taking the Discovery 2, its bigger, higher, more comfortable and i'd prefer to drive it.

The question is... Should i be confident with it living up to the task?

Its in great condition, had major service last Aug and its under 90k miles but i have 4 year old and 3 month year old boys...

Am i making the right decision here?

Thoughts appreciated.

Jim

Hi Jim, there should be no problem at all if the car is properly looked after.

I regularly took my car (TD5 auto) between home and the UK, without any problems, ever!

Just change all the fluids and filters before you go.

Dave

 

[50 pence]

Off to the south of France next month with Mrs Almighty and 2 kids.
Its an 8 hour (500 mile) drive and we had planned to take the wife's A4 (2.5 TDI V6) Estate but we'd have to get a roof box and thus would affect fuel economy... bringing it close to my LR.

So im toying with the idea of taking the Discovery 2, its bigger, higher, more comfortable and i'd prefer to drive it.

The question is... Should i be confident with it living up to the task?

Its in great condition, had major service last Aug and its under 90k miles but i have 4 year old and 3 month year old boys...

Am i making the right desicion here?

Thoughts appreciated.

Jim

Ask yourself this question Jim.

Did you make any special consideration for the LAST 1000 miles you did in your D2 ?. I suspect not !.

ANY car can break down, even when they are new.

I know where you,re coming from though. Its almost like we dont quite trust our cars. ( the confidence of Landrover reliability eh !! ).

Del.

 

[rodneydavies]

Have done one trip to Austria during the very cold weather in Feb and just returned from French Alps. No issues what so ever and never bother paying £150 to AA for euro cover. Think if car serviced when it should waste of money.
Have fun

 

[darrenm]

We have done France twice towing a twin wheel caravan without problems done 2500 first time and 3000 last time Just do it

 

[engineer]

As your original question aluded to a 500 mile trip all be it abroad i have just got back from surfing in woolacombe just another drive loaded up of we went,so just go and enjoy the td5 is no more prone to breakdown than anything else thers just a lot more of them than the competition and we like to talk and share experiences so some might see it as an unreliable motor but it is not so.




Engineer

 

[Ltwt Hybrid 300tdi]

Get breakdown insurance and just enjoy! Drove to Finland last year in an old 1996 Golf estate thats done 230000 miles!Toured round on the way there and back and spent a month having fun. Don't let worry of mechanical failure spoil your plans! Otherwise we'd never do anything! Did over 4000 miles.

 

[GreenHornet]

I have done many trips abroad. Cars, motorbikes the lot. It makes no difference if you are going to Montecarlo or Melton Mowbray.

Always have breakdown insurance that covers your return should you have a problem you can't fix. Always have accident cover too. Apart from that your car should be well maintained anyhow.

I would have no problems jumping in mine right now and shooting off to Spain. In fact give me my petrol money and I will record the trip on the forum.

Hang on a minute,mMy seat is broken and I have it on the garage floor.........I will leave on Friday

 

[discool]

I have done many trips abroad. Cars, motorbikes the lot. It makes no difference if you are going to Montecarlo or Melton Mowbray.

Always have breakdown insurance that covers your return should you have a problem you can't fix. Always have accident cover too. Apart from that your car should be well maintained anyhow.

I would have no problems jumping in mine right now and shooting off to Spain. In fact give me my petrol money and I will record the trip on the forum.

Hang on a minute,mMy seat is broken and I have it on the garage floor.........I will leave on Friday

Petrol money? so you won't be driving the tdl then