Most miles driven/ridden in one go?
Discussion
Total journey around 890 miles from Midlands to South of France but only 650 miles in one go from Calais to Fouzilhon, only stopping for fuel and leaks - coffee and snacks on the run. Been doing this trip at least three or four times a year since the 80’s but only in one leg since the amazing Millau Viaduct on the A75 was built in 2004. Google reckons the trip through France can be done in around 10 hours, which it can - but only at well over 130kph at every opportunity. I’ve done it in a Vauxhall Omega, 2.3 V5 Passat, 2.4 V-Tec Accord, Alfa Romeo Brera, Jag XF-S and TVR Chimaera (that was the toughest). Just over 9hrs is the best time in the Jag. Eleven and half hours is the worst in the Passat but that did include being given a hard time by the Gendarmes and being escorted 20kms back up the Autoroute to a Cashpoint to get cash and then back to their mobile office on a slip road to pay a fine after being clocked at 176kph - I’m just glad I saw them in time to scrub off about 60kph.
I’m doing it again in a couple of weeks and I actually look forward to it because although I’m now 70, it’s gets easier every time. The secret is to avoid stopping for meals which not only take time to eat but usually make me drowsy about an hour later and then self preservation demands a power nap.
I used to rely on a Tom-Tom for navigation and camera spotting but since a change in French legislation, speed camera warning devices are now illegal in France and if you get caught with one they throw the book at you. However - you can get an app for your iPhone which does the same job and they are not allowed to access your phone as that would breach data privacy. Just saying…
I’m doing it again in a couple of weeks and I actually look forward to it because although I’m now 70, it’s gets easier every time. The secret is to avoid stopping for meals which not only take time to eat but usually make me drowsy about an hour later and then self preservation demands a power nap.
I used to rely on a Tom-Tom for navigation and camera spotting but since a change in French legislation, speed camera warning devices are now illegal in France and if you get caught with one they throw the book at you. However - you can get an app for your iPhone which does the same job and they are not allowed to access your phone as that would breach data privacy. Just saying…
760 miles, Glasgow to just north of London and back in one day. Stopped for only 45 mins to look at a vehicle I was buying. What I was impressed with was I still had 100+ miles range in the tank!!
Amazing old jalopy, 2007 Volvo V70 D5 215bhp, big comfy seats, excellent hifi and 52mpg sitting on cruise at 77mph pretty much the whole way....
Several times a year I drive the length of California from Eureka to San Diego and back to see the grandchildren, 750 to 800 miles (depending on route) in one day in either my BMW 3 series or Porsche 996 with 104,000 fault free miles. Best time was in the 996 with an average of 89mph, as radar detectors are legal here.
theboss said:
Indeed, 180mph was very much a quick blast on a quiet autobahn after 500 miles of generally very heavy traffic. Its by no means flat out, with the 155mph limit removed (with a remap) the car would reach the transmission's limiter at 204mph in theory, however my balls aren't that big.
Range on the F10 is good for what it is - I can still get 250-300 miles from a tank at fast 3-figure sustained cruising speeds - at which point you're ready for a break anyway. I'm sure a diesel barge would keep up, provide equivalent or higher comfort level and offer a better range - but I think the M5 works perfectly because it inspires such confidence in every respect when travelling at high speed and also gets there very quickly and effortlessly in the first place.
My experience of driving in Germany is similar to yours - there are times when its been very very fast - but they also love their roadworks and traffic levels on the key routes can make the M6 seem like a walk in the park.
Over long distances I think its reasonable to average 100mph or so, the best sustained runs I have had have been sticking at 140-150mph for maybe 100-150 miles, however just when you think you're making amazing progress you can quite often come up to the scene of an accident or major road works and sit in a jam for an hour. When that happens the Germans quite bizarrely tend to get out of their cars on the carriageway and stand around. It was quite surreal stood having a piss in the central reservation of an autobahn earlier this year, looking up the road and seeing at least half a dozen others doing the same.
My EVO X SST is incredibly thirsty on the autobahn, I did 55 litres in around 1 hour.Range on the F10 is good for what it is - I can still get 250-300 miles from a tank at fast 3-figure sustained cruising speeds - at which point you're ready for a break anyway. I'm sure a diesel barge would keep up, provide equivalent or higher comfort level and offer a better range - but I think the M5 works perfectly because it inspires such confidence in every respect when travelling at high speed and also gets there very quickly and effortlessly in the first place.
My experience of driving in Germany is similar to yours - there are times when its been very very fast - but they also love their roadworks and traffic levels on the key routes can make the M6 seem like a walk in the park.
Over long distances I think its reasonable to average 100mph or so, the best sustained runs I have had have been sticking at 140-150mph for maybe 100-150 miles, however just when you think you're making amazing progress you can quite often come up to the scene of an accident or major road works and sit in a jam for an hour. When that happens the Germans quite bizarrely tend to get out of their cars on the carriageway and stand around. It was quite surreal stood having a piss in the central reservation of an autobahn earlier this year, looking up the road and seeing at least half a dozen others doing the same.
TonyRPH said:
East London (South Africa) to Johannesburg on several occasions (usually with at least 2 fuel stops).
962km (~600 miles)
Once I did it in an Escort MK II - the rear silencer fell off 100 miles into the journey and I continued the rest of the way without it.
Deafening!
Sympathise on that one. As a kid we had a disastrous family holiday in the south of France. Everything from bee stings in the foot to car being broken in to. On the way home, the guys loading the car on the autorail kicked the wheel chocks in to place right as my dad's Citroen BX's suspension sat down after being parked on the train, taking half the exhaust off (that's was their story anyway. SNCF issued my dad a cheque for the damages when we unloaded, so from Dover to Glasgow we had no exhaust. Even as an 8 year old, the novelty of a car that sounded like a tank wore off after an hour or so 962km (~600 miles)
Once I did it in an Escort MK II - the rear silencer fell off 100 miles into the journey and I continued the rest of the way without it.
Deafening!
Quite regularly drive 345 miles Braunschweig to Hook van Holland which is normally a 5 hour drive.
Unfortunately, a couple of years ago, I arrived at the HvH ferry terminal and realised I had left my passport in Germany. :/
So the 345 turned into 690.
Also done Crewe to Orange, France so ca. 750 miles including channel tunnel rest.
Unfortunately, a couple of years ago, I arrived at the HvH ferry terminal and realised I had left my passport in Germany. :/
So the 345 turned into 690.
Also done Crewe to Orange, France so ca. 750 miles including channel tunnel rest.
just checked AA route planner.
385 miles from Dunfermline to Bedford Autodrome, then back again after a track day!
Left at midnight, got back home just after midnight next day.
Not something I would do in a hurry again or recommend anyone does, I was getting quite delerious by the end.
385 miles from Dunfermline to Bedford Autodrome, then back again after a track day!
Left at midnight, got back home just after midnight next day.
Not something I would do in a hurry again or recommend anyone does, I was getting quite delerious by the end.
(Düsseldorf-Dunkirk-)Dover-Lands End-Lowestoft-Dover(-Dunkirk-Düsseldorf) on the "Race against god" in 2014.
Dover-Lands End = 364 miles
Lands End-Lowestoft = 433 miles
Lowestoft-Dover = 174 miles
We did it in one go in 2014. The miles driven in GB in one go account to 971. The overall mileage was much higher. We did it in 36 hours from Düsseldorf to Düsseldorf.
Dover-Lands End = 364 miles
Lands End-Lowestoft = 433 miles
Lowestoft-Dover = 174 miles
We did it in one go in 2014. The miles driven in GB in one go account to 971. The overall mileage was much higher. We did it in 36 hours from Düsseldorf to Düsseldorf.
Oh we did :laugh but at least the weather was good !Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff