My brother was after seeing Elgin City play Peterhead in the Scottish Third division. Don't ask why. So, with my new Citigo in need of a run out and wanting to get my 250 miles up to over 1000 and fully run in as soon as possible I volunteered to drive him up there. 400 miles there, 400 miles back. 2 folk and 2 days worth of luggage.

Friday 21st - Stockport to Perth. Completed in one straight run, motorways almost all the way at a steady 70mph. Mainly dry roads but very windy.

Saturday 22nd - Perth to Elgin, taking the scenic route via Braemar and through the Cairngorm mountains. 2 peaks at over 2,500 feet, several 1:5 ascents and some pretty hairy blind brows, hairpin corners. Lot of braking and accelerating, up and down the gears. I was forced down into second gear on some of the very (very) long climbs, but it made it fine.

No real problems with my back or legs (I've had several knee operations) but a bit of a sore backside by the time I reached Elgin.

Sunday 23rd: Left Elgin at 7, home by 2 in driving wind and rain most of the way, motorways like porridge which killed any chance of decent fuel economy. Speed limit maintained up to Carlisle, then down to 60mph through to Bolton due to the very poor weather. But with the mileometer hitting 1,000 miles just short of Manchester I put my foot down - nice !

No problems with soreness or with my backside at all on the return, I felt surprisingly fresh.

The whole journey was completed on two tanks of petrol (98 RON on the journey there, 95 RON for the return) - less than 5 miles range left by the time I got home.

And the results:

Average Speed: 56mph

Average MPG: 56.9

Distance: 809 miles

Time: 14 hours 26 minutes.

Football: Elgin City 2, Peterhead 0.

This was all quite an experience as I previously had a chipped Octavia VRS which went like a rocket. I've got to say that whilst the Citigo is clearly designed for around town driving, it can hold its own on longer journeys and is more than capable. I drive to Germany at last once a year and was worried that the Citigo may not be up to this, I now have no fears.

Hope this is of interest.

How did you find having no rest for you clutch foot?

This is one of the few things I don't like, although it's only an issue when on the open road.

Clutch foot ? Not a problem at all, there's a huge empty space where the rest would have been in the Octavia so there's actually more space to stretch. And being 6ft 4 I need all the leg space I can get.

The only real problem I have due to my size is that I need to have the seat a fair way back and set as low as it goes, so I have to have the back very upright in order not to have to stretch too much to reach the steering wheel. Oh, for reach adjustment to the wheel ! Get that sorted and it would be perfect.

Out of interest, what made you move from the vrs to the citigo? Seems like a radical change

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Very radical, but I generally just drive around town, less than 5,000 miles a year including the odd long journey such as to Scotland or to Germany. Having a car capable of doing 0-60 in 5 seconds and 140 on the autobahn is all well and good, but not that much use when you're doing 20 stuck behind a bus.

The VRS insurance was costing me £800 a year for insurance plus £360ish for road tax. I'm now paying £230 for the insurance, zero road tax and getting an average around town of 50mpg as opposed to 25mpg. A no-brainer really.

Interesting. Similar thought process led me from a 2 litre octavia estate to a 1.2 yeti. Glad your trip went well

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So my Derbyshire to Wiltshire trip on Saturday in our new Elegance will be a doddle.

Thanks for the info, nice to know they are capable on those long journeys.

Mick

Might be stealing the thread a bit, but I moved from a Land Rover Freelander GS 2.2 Diesel returning about 24 to the gallon, to a 75 Elegance, which I picked up today!! Yeehah!! Now done 47 miles, with over 63 per gallon indicated. Looking forward to tomorrows driving experience.

White Flag,

incase you did not come back the same way, here are the views coming back south.

Just off by the A93 in an hours time. Love it.

http://www.forum.dif...pic.php?t=68860

george

& The some of the missing ones from the Lecht.

Bit of a highjack, but does the Up! have a clutch foot rest?

Just did a trip from my house (Walderslade, Chatham) to CostCo in Thurrock, went A2/M2 and got 75mpg by the dartford crossing (was jam packed with a 40 limit), didnt check what it was when i finally parked up at CostCo. Coming home, 66mpg at the dartford crossing then it kept rising, got home catching the tail end of the school traffic, parked on the road outside my house with 70.3 mpg indicated

Must say the longish trip we have just done, Derbyshire to Wiltshire and return was an absolute joy. The Citigo was in everyway as smooth and comfortable as the last car it replaced a Vx Signum. A joy to drive long distance, not just a city car. It kept up with traffic easily on the motorway and I wasn't pushing it at all as I'm being gentle with the engine. The Signum's (diesel) BC use to record an average 54-56mpg on that trip, the Citigo 66mpg and the return journey 62mpg. I've still got over half a tank left, so happy with those figures. Obviously on the steeper inclines with the 1ltr size engine it lacks the power but overall copes well with your average journey very well, a winner in my book.

Mick