Took the Monte Carlo for a holiday.

And the family - me, Mrs PDIBK, Ratmandoo and Scratmandoo (the Junior PDIBKs), roof bars and THE biggest roof box.

Cruised at 120-130 kph, got 46mpg average, still fuel in the tank after the trip (we filled up in Calais and went 100km into Frogland).

I'm impressed that we had a 4 up family holiday, got good economy (if I drove like my Dad it would be better...) and now just need to wash of the kamikaze bugs and headlight sticker residue!

I'm very impressed. Took Mrs Goat and our two littl'uns to Cornwall recently and our Superb estate boot was practically full - and we used a roof box as well. How did you do it?!

On reflection, it might be better if you don't say, because my justification for the Superb was 'we need a bigger boot' !

ah, la belle France;moi aussi!.

2700 mile round trip., Me, better (looking) half and junior, 4 large cases. Averaged 49mpg. Autoglass replaced the windscreen yesterday!! It's not just the tolls that get you!

Ah oui, les autoroutes Françaises... pas de circulation, c'est magnifique!

Wonder if they'll have to sell them to the Germans?!

Edited 19 August, 201213 yr by Yearofthegoat

Well YOTG, we just traded the Superb in for the Monte...cries of derision from friends telling us that we would be royally screwed in the space department...

The secret it going "minimal". I had 5 holdalls in the roofbox (a Thule 4 bag set I picked up dirt cheap, plus 1 other) and a food box and other "bits" in the boot. The campsitre we stayed at, booked through Eurocamp (top firm) offered linen and towel packs, so that reduced bulk of duvets/sleeping bags and towels for the trip.

Also now that Scrat and Rat are officially "juniors" and not dependant toddlers, the requirements for them reduces massively. No stroller/buggy, no change bag, no emergency supplies. We basically packed a holdall each and the 5th contained family supplies.

Now of course, the Superb would have been luxurious and I wouldn't have received a hoof in the back every 15 minutes (they had to use an intercom to talk to us), but the Fabia coped really well. It wasn't an intercontinental schlep so much as a brief foray into enemy territory, but it bodes well for the future.

Then again, Mrs PDIBK gets her Golf Blumotion Tech thingy delivered tomorrrow...(no Skoda on the company car list).

Further, does anyone know how I get to use this site properly with my iPad? Can't upload phots (probably the Apple/Flash interface problem) and can't use the work computer to edit/upload/open pics.

Do I need tapatalk thingy?

It's official - I filled up yesterday (and I mean filled - 44.37 litres into a 45 litre tank - yes I was on 0 miles range and the fuel light had been on for a week...) and the tank (filled in Calais) returned 46mpg.

That included 300 miles of holiday miles at approx. 70-80mph (country speed law dependent) with family of 4, luggage and most importantly roof box (Halfords mega box - 400 litres odd, on Thule bars). Then 130 miles of general hacking around the local area.

It's not great, but 46mpg with all that caggage and not exactly hyper-mileing is not too shabby.

I shall now mostly be placing the Monte into semi-retirement, as Mrs PDI's Golf Bluemotion has arrived to become "family car" and the Monte will be occasional nursery/school runs and weekend stuff (including "fun drives").

It needs a rest though, as it's up to 4900 miles in 2 months!

Yeah, long driving is more knackering than you realise until you've finished. Took my old A4 to Steyr in Austria a couple of years ago in 35+ degrees heat most of the way. Thank God for aircon! Was interesting driving and it was fun, but was well shattered when we got back.

Those Thule holdalls - were they the ones which 'taper' as a set to fit into nose of the roofbox? I thought long and hard about those, as way to get better use of the roofbox, but decided against them in the end as we have several holdalls already. Might reconsider if they're worth it.

Good point re. the nippers. Ours are 1 1/2 and almost 3 so still schlepping two buggies, travel cot, change bag, potty and toy bag around when we go places. I'm hoping the Superb will last long enough for me to have to decide if we need all the space any more! ('Cos we probably will )

Yeah - a nose bag (tapered) and 3 others. A brilliant set and cheap too. Got them as I couldn't find enough holdalls and my North Face rubberised thing is almost as big as the roof box and a 2 man lift when full!

We went single buggy, double buggy and then back to single and finally stroller. now they WILL walk, but probably ask to be carried after 10 minutes...that takes planning.

Golf is yet to be truly tested, but returned from Bristol on Tuesday with 2 new bikes inside - Mrs PDIBK could work the bike rack...