Back from the big drive!

[Deleted member 2227]

We took the C Class on a tour from Kent to Skye via the entire highlands. In total we travelled 2000 miles and it was wonderful. From a car point of view, it was excellent as usual. Fuel consumption averaged 31.5mpg!!!! (A miracle!) with a new personal best of 34.86mpg - which is the best I have ever recorded in either of my Mercedes. I dont know if it is significant but I had Tesco 99 Ron fuel in for that run ?!

We had a great holiday and the car endeared itself yet further. That brings me up to 86000 miles in this one plus 32000 in the C180, so I think I'm getting used to W202s by now!

BTW. I got over 400 miles range twice (just!)

 

[pammy]

Hey- welcome back . Glad you had a good holiday. Lovely part of the world you've been to - very envious

 

[fuzzer]

We took the C Class on a tour from Kent to Skye via the entire highlands. In total we travelled 2000 miles and it was wonderful. From a car point of view, it was excellent as usual. Fuel consumption averaged 31.5mpg!!!! (A miracle!) with a new personal best of 34.86mpg - which is the best I have ever recorded in either of my Mercedes. I dont know if it is significant but I had Tesco 99 Ron fuel in for that run ?!

We had a great holiday and the car endeared itself yet further. That brings me up to 86000 miles in this one plus 32000 in the C180, so I think I'm getting used to W202s by now!

BTW. I got over 400 miles range twice (just!)

hehe , nice one

 

[Flyer]

Hey Greg, we might have passed you! Just returned from Nairn, near Inverness, where we toured all around the Highlands. Drove on absolutely fabulous roads, the peach of which was the A836 to the Kyle of Tongue and then onto John O'Groats (which, unlike Lands End, doesn't charge you).

Came back yesterday via the A9 to Perth, then onto Edinburgh (mad, mad busy!), then the A1 to Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and picked up the M62 to home.

No idea about MPG, but looked pretty good. Covered about 1500 miles and the car was brilliant.

Fantastic driving roads in the Highlands aren't they?

 

[Dieselman]

Sounds like a good holiday.

We did this a couple of years ago and it was great, and a heatwave to boot.

I managed 40 mpg for the whole trip, I blame it on the roads, they make you put your foot down!!

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Gregs obviously like the highlands!! We were at Inverness and also came down the A9. We went to North Berwick rather than Berwick on Tweed and kyle of Lochalsh rather than Tongue but the roads were amazing. Fast like on some of the A9 (watch for cameras!) and tricky technical roads through the mountains and around the Lochs.

You kind of need to trust our car wont breakdown in some of these places dont you!

Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did. I think that fortnight may have been one of our most enjoyable holidays ever.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Fantastic driving roads in the Highlands aren't they?

They're even good to drive on in a diesel ML - had fun - especially late at night when the wife and daughter were asleep, enabling me to press on that little bit more!!

This year was the first time I've been to Scotland since I was a lad. The roads were incredibley smooth compared to England. No wonder though. Did you see the signs with a telephone number to call if you spot a problem that required maintenance?? Think some had a lion on called Clarence??!!

If only England did the same. Round our neck of the wood, rather than re-surface, they throw down chippings which:

>> For the first month, throw stones up at your paintwork.

>> For months two and three, create high levels of tyre roar.

>> From months four onwards, look an absoulte eyesore and are much worse than they were before!!

Grrrr. Rant over.

Mental note. Must move to Scotland.

 

[Deleted member 2227]

We noticed the roads and call clarence as well! The standard of road design seemed better as well even on the twisty stuff. The Highlands seem to have been the place to be this summer and we had mostly good weather.

I photographed the car at Pass of Glencoe which is just an amazing place. I cant post it as I seem to have no space left to add further attachments.

 

[Robby]

I did that run about a month ago in the smart roadster.

Skye is fantastic, the total lack of speed camera or traffic police very welcome. I went with a couple of friends and walkie talkie so we could do the Quirang properly - with a spotter at the top telling me when it was clear to drive up the steep bit as fast as smartie would go.

Not a lot of filling stations up in the highlands either. I found one in the middle of the highlands, somewhere in the middle of Skye and Perth. Good fun up there, but no radio or mobile phone signal. Very good roads.

 

[fuzzer]

You kind of need to trust our car wont breakdown in some of these places dont you!

Or carry a sim card from every operator on the off chance


Did you guys get past the border ok ? Ive heard they are clamping down recently.

 

[Dieselman]

Did you guys get past the border ok ? Ive heard they are clamping down recently.

LOL....

 

[glojo]

Glad you had a lovely holiday. The views are stunning and it is also a very beautiful part of Great Britain.

I was looking for a volunteer to nip across to the Orkney Islands and fill their car up with a few cardboard boxes.

Regards,
John

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Not only did we have a great driving holiday, but we went karting on the new karts at knockhill. They've just spent £120k on new karts and facilities. Highly recomended!

Also did the Anstruther chip shop!, and a friend got me on a driving range for the first time. We also went to RAF Leakars(sp) to see the Tornados flying and to East Fortune to see the Concorde Exhibition which was excellent but with a tinge of sadness if you know what I mean.

 

[del320]

Skye is fantastic... do the Quiraing properly... Good fun up there, but no radio or mobile phone signal. Very good roads.

You will all know that one of the adverts for the B Class features the first hairpin going down the Quiraing... (See the Journey - Video 19 - 2 August)

The first time I travelled this road was aged 10 in 1960 in father's Standard Vanguard. Dodgy brakes, unsurfaced road and no crash barriers and fewer bridges - fords instead (You boys don't know the half of it - and the graveyard at the foot wasn't there at that time )

Highland roads are generally so good because most have only been built in the last 35 or so years. I remember when ALL roads north and west of the Great Glen were single track.

No reversing sensors in those days - fair sorted out the men from the boys especially if you were towing a 14' 'van!

BTW, R2D2, where did you eat/stay in Skye?

We had the most wonderful five days back in June staying with God & Claire at Kinloch - ahhhhh Heaven!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 2227]

We stayed on the mainland at Badicaul at a lovely B and B. We'd booked for The Lochalsh Hotel but lets just say when we got their we changed our mind!

 

[Deleted member 2227]

You will all know that one of the adverts for the B Class features the first hairpin going down the Quiraing... (See the Journey - Video 19 - 2 August)

Great video clip, the mist and the colours are so Skye arent they. Guys if you haven't done a highlands drive you really must!

 

[del320]

Not surprised!!!

For visitors to the highlands - do your homework.

Some of the very best (and I mean world-class) hotels and guest houses around, along with some of the most gawdawful dumps serving tomato soup, gammon & pineapple chunks and rhubarb & custard!

...I know 'em all!

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Glencoe in August! Beautiful

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Lochs

 

[Deleted member 2227]

A fife sky!