Going from Fife to the Cotswolds recently - 400 miles - with a loaded twin axle Buccaneer Caravelle (maximum plated weight 1900kg) and moving to hit the Cotswolds in time with as few stops as possible for the site closing, returned an average of 17.4mpg.

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thats a lovely caravan mate, but its massive ...just shows you what a great motor the ffrr is....nice pics...

From Preston north to Beattock it's mainly uphill too, which makes that even more impressive - going south you usually have the wind against you though -you just cannot win.
I'm bringing my Tdv8 up from London on Wednesday/Thursday with only me in it and nothing being towed.
I tend to sit right on the speed limit on the cruise for the entire journey so will post what mpg I get as this will be an almost all motorway run. I will be very happy if I achieve the 32mpg I get on the same run in my current TDv8 RRS which is has slightly different engine tune to the version in the FFRR 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

You are right Tim going from Preston North you are climbing steadily all the up to Tebay junction 38 on the M6 with a final climb as you pass Westmorland Services and hit the aforementioned Shap summit with the quarry and the massive dumper trucks crossing over the M6.
The railway used to have steam engines then laterally diesel locos sitting ready to bank the heavy trains pushing at the back to help over Shap and Beattock - its that big a climb and slog.

Worth noting that the Truck stop Tebay Junction 38 is a damn good place to stop for a meal, notice they have changed the signs to lorries only, which is utter crap, trying to get cars to use their higher priced proper motorway services I wonder?

I looked at the Bucaneer caravel last week. Lovely van. If only I had a spare £23k ! 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded

Spec, I regularly drive down to Southampton/New Forest during my leave, sometime with work related things others for a long weekend. I stop at Killington Lake and Stafford Service on the M6 for breaks and then I ALWAYS have lunch at the British Motor Heritage Centre at Gaydon - J12 off the M40 - lovely clean loos and a good cafe and much nicer than the Warwick services not far away.If you use the conference centre entrance from the upper carpark then you don't have to pay museum entry to have a comfort stop and a lunch - they have space for caravans too. I usually fuel up at the Gaydon Esso on the round about and play spot the test mules from the Land Rover Jaguar and Aston development centres just up the road - helps break the journey! Then it's all downhill to London or the New Forest. Sometimes you can still in the carpark and hear extremely powerful sounding vehicles speed testing on the test track behind the banking!
North bound I stop at Gaydon, Stafford and Teabay North, have never tried the truck stop, mainly because of the Trucks only sign. Always get my shopping for the next few days at the farm shop at Teebay too, although it's starting to get pricey! When my folks go south with their motorhome they stop over night at the Teabay south services caravan site - it 3 hours drive from home near Stirling for them and as my Dad is 82 that's enough driving for him in a day these days. 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

Tim if you a brew on ur way up around Preston drop me a PM, only 2 miles off M6.

That also goes for any one if they are passing.

Cheers mate will look you up sometime for a brew! 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

I'll have to try keeping mine to 1500 in a couple of weeks on our trip dome to Longleat.

Ah but aerodynamic spoilers to lift the caravan off the road is pure cheating!
Best of luck, try getting up to 58mph/1500rpm, in 6th, set cruise, then drive using the box in manual, of course if conditions allow it.


THanks Tim for the pit stop locations, always good to find out about new places to stop.
You must try the Jct 38 Truckstop if it fits in with your journey, damn good morning fry up for a reasonable price too.
Plus its owned by the same people who have the van site and other services nearby.

CAMPERS !  All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2020 Range Rover Velar

Quote:

I looked at the Bucaneer caravel last week. Lovely van. If only I had a spare £23k !

If I had 23k spare it'd be to trade in the Td6 for a new 2011 model.
At least I could use that every day. I've never been a caravan fan. 23k buys you a lot of B+B stops.
Obviously I don't get enough holiday time...

specman wrote:

[/b]I know Hoppy_70 was able to get his down to 23mpg SOLO so this is quite an achievement.
I saved almost £28.00 coming home at 1500rpm, not bad for an extra hour "moving time" on the return journey!

I was really trying to get 23! I can get it down to 17, if I drive like a tw*t

Do you need a class 1 licence to drive around with that thing on the back!  My Previous RR's!

2008 TDV8 Vogue
2006 TD6 Vogue
2007 TDV8 Vogue
2007 RRS (I know, it doesn't count!)
2005 4.4 Vogue on LPG
2005 TD6 Vogue
2003 4.4 Vogue
2001 4.6 HSE
2000 2.5 DHSE
1999 4.6 HSE
1997 4.6 HSE on LPG
1995 2.5 DSE
1989 3.9 EFI classic
1988 3.5 EFI classic

Nah Hoppy you just have to watch out for the tw@ts trying to cut you up, had a bit of that on the way down to be honest hence the 17.4mpg southbound.

For you to manage 17mpg solo you must be trying real hard wee fella. (There aint many who could describe Hoppy that way, but I think I just win by a few cm???

noddy wrote:

I looked at the Bucaneer caravel last week. Lovely van. If only I had a spare £23k !

LOL, well if you like that you might just like the 2010 Elddis Crusader Superstorm which I might be selling Nowhere near to 23k either.

Back on subject, we just came back from a week in Wales (New Quay) and the journey back to Tamworth gave me 23.4 MPG (Actual figure calculated from full to full). This engine is an absolute pearler with so much torque on tap it barely has to work.

When we did the Lakes which was mostly motorway I was getting 25 at a steady 60. France in a couple of weeks should produce similar results hopefully.

The real shame for us now is that the In-Laws no longer come with us as FIL is becoming a little unsteady. The little lad is always asking "where's Grandad" and this is the main reason we're going to change to a 4 berth van, (probably with an end bathroom) probably around October at the NEC if I can get a deal. It's not quite the same without the In-Laws though.