What car to take on a tour of the Scottish Highlands?
Discussion
Heading for the highlands for 10 days in October (self-catering). We have a choice of the following vehicles -
1. Alfa Spider S4 - our normal "holiday" car. Top-down fun, great for sightseeing, reasonable economy, but a bit cramped and low ground clearance. We'd need to pack very carefully, and buy food when we get there (not many shops close by!)
2. LR Discovery - obviously better off-road, but a bit slow and less of a driving experience. Higher up gives better visibility.
3. Alfa 155 Q4 - new (to us). Fast and fun. Comfortable long-distance cruiser, with enough space to carry everything we need, but I fear we'd miss the open top motoring once we're in the highlands (the Spider would be top-up on the motorways). The better ground clearance of the 155, combined with 4x4, would give us a bit more flexibility to explore, although we're not looking to go seriousy off-roading.
4. Audi A5 diesel - comfortable, plenty of space, but a bit bland. Main advantage is free fuel (wife's company car with fuel card).
What would you take?
1. Alfa Spider S4 - our normal "holiday" car. Top-down fun, great for sightseeing, reasonable economy, but a bit cramped and low ground clearance. We'd need to pack very carefully, and buy food when we get there (not many shops close by!)
2. LR Discovery - obviously better off-road, but a bit slow and less of a driving experience. Higher up gives better visibility.
3. Alfa 155 Q4 - new (to us). Fast and fun. Comfortable long-distance cruiser, with enough space to carry everything we need, but I fear we'd miss the open top motoring once we're in the highlands (the Spider would be top-up on the motorways). The better ground clearance of the 155, combined with 4x4, would give us a bit more flexibility to explore, although we're not looking to go seriousy off-roading.
4. Audi A5 diesel - comfortable, plenty of space, but a bit bland. Main advantage is free fuel (wife's company car with fuel card).
What would you take?
I flew up and hired this http://www.highlandcaterhamhire.co.uk/
Amazing, even if you just hire it for one day, it's a must!!
Amazing, even if you just hire it for one day, it's a must!!
sunbeam alpine said:
1. Alfa Spider S4 - our normal "holiday" car. Top-down fun, great for sightseeing, reasonable economy, but a bit cramped and low ground clearance. We'd need to pack very carefully, and buy food when we get there (not many shops close by!)
For Scotland in October? That's an extremely optimistic choice. The wipers and heater will be of far more concern than the roof. sunbeam alpine said:
2. LR Discovery - obviously better off-road, but a bit slow and less of a driving experience. Higher up gives better visibility.
Mehhh. The roads up north are in good condition. Unless you're planning some serious off-roading this seems like overkill.sunbeam alpine said:
3. Alfa 155 Q4 - new (to us). Fast and fun. Comfortable long-distance cruiser, with enough space to carry everything we need, but I fear we'd miss the open top motoring once we're in the highlands (the Spider would be top-up on the motorways). The better ground clearance of the 155, combined with 4x4, would give us a bit more flexibility to explore, although we're not looking to go seriousy off-roading.
Seems like the best choice so far. As I mentioned, you'll be lucky to get any open-top motoring, so you won't miss the Spider.sunbeam alpine said:
4. Audi A5 diesel - comfortable, plenty of space, but a bit bland. Main advantage is free fuel (wife's company car with fuel card).
To be honest, the roads are fantastic to drive in almost any vehicle. I think it all depends on how highly you'd prioritize saving the pennies. Compared to the Audi's free diesel, driving from Belgium to Scotland and back in the 155 Q4 might cost an extra €700+ in fuel (I'm assuming 2500km there and back + driving around once you're there, at 25mpg and £1.40/litre).Also, how reliable is the Alfa? In the event you break down, phone reception can be patchy in rural areas, and you're likely to be miles from a garage, or a parts supplier for such an esoteric car.
I'd order them 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 myself.
Edit to add: I was thinking about hiring something funky once you arrive. Take the Audi, keep the cash, and if the weather looks good enough you can spend what you saved on a Caterham or similar, as suggested by zed4?
Edited by gdelargy on Wednesday 18th September 23:40
Tonto said:
3. The weather in October in the highlands can get nasty.
or
4. Free fuel? Unless you are rich, this should trump all else!
Hand your membership card in on the way out!or
4. Free fuel? Unless you are rich, this should trump all else!
Why not save even more money and stay at home?!
The highlands is a fantastic place to drive an old car - the best roads in the UK. Why own interesting cars if you don't take them on such a trip - get rid otherwise!
I love the Highlands (the further you go, the better it gets) and have spent many holidays up there. Been up there in all sorts of cars as well. I'd go with the comfiest to be honest - the distances are a lot bigger than they look in a map & when you get really far up a lot of the roads are single track with passing places so you'll want somewhere nice to sit! The scenery is what you've gone for so as you can't take the convertible (May & June are the good months) I'd go with the A5 - I would have said the Disco but free fuel wins
Whereabouts are you going - the Highlands cover a pretty large area?
Whereabouts are you going - the Highlands cover a pretty large area?
Wow. Thanks for all the replies!
To answer some of the points/questions -
The Spider is reasonably watertight, the heater and wipers also work fine. We've also got flying jackets/helmets etc. (although they actually are better suited to my Sunbeam Alpine than the Spider). Sunbeam is currently a bit dismantled.
We'll be staying at Ardverikie, looking to explore as much as possible.
To answer some of the points/questions -
The Spider is reasonably watertight, the heater and wipers also work fine. We've also got flying jackets/helmets etc. (although they actually are better suited to my Sunbeam Alpine than the Spider). Sunbeam is currently a bit dismantled.
We'll be staying at Ardverikie, looking to explore as much as possible.
sunbeam alpine said:
We'll be staying at Ardverikie, looking to explore as much as possible.
Some nice roads near you & shouldn't be too busy that time of year - the last time me & the OH were up there at that time of year we had great weather as wellIf you can get up to Ullapool and above you'll love it. It does start going dark a lot earlier though the further north you get so that's worth bearing in mind. Travelling 70 miles (Durness to Polbain), in the dark, in heavy snow down mostly single track roads just isn't fun & your OH will not appreciate it (I speak from experience). On the plus side, it shouldn't be snowing
We were up near where you're going at New Year and had a fantastic time (we were near Kinloch Rannoch).
jamieduff1981 said:
1 or 3
Disco will be a crap drive on outstanding roads.
Utter nonsense!Disco will be a crap drive on outstanding roads.
Had many an enjoyable drive behind the wheel of a Landy, one of the best being the A93 in a Disco1.
That said one of the scariest moments I’ve ever had was brake fade at the aptly named Bridge of Brown.
Uncle Gueber said:
jamieduff1981 said:
1 or 3
Disco will be a crap drive on outstanding roads.
Utter nonsense!Disco will be a crap drive on outstanding roads.
Had many an enjoyable drive behind the wheel of a Landy, one of the best being the A93 in a Disco1.
That said one of the scariest moments I’ve ever had was brake fade at the aptly named Bridge of Brown.
I'll go further than that. Our mountain roads are amongst the few places left in the UK where it's possible to actually enjoy a sports car.
Take the convertible. So long as it's not pissing down get the roof off, heater on, wrap up nicely and enjoy the cool wind.
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