Member Since: 19 Aug 2008
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 49
1700 miles to France, D3 is great!
Just had to say how pleased I am again for the 2nd year running taking the D3 to France for the family hols.
2 adults, 4 kids, roofbox and every other piece of space full (despite the promises from last year from SWMBO not to take as much stuff - yeah right!)
I got an indicated 30MPG - not worked out the true figure. More importantly the D3 was great at a constant 80mph, with plenty of power despite the load, and lots of comfort, even on the back row.
700 miles in one day was no bother, and all kids just went into DVD/DS world, just needing feeding every couple of hours. Limo tints worked a treat in keeping temp down, and reducing glare for DVD screens and reducing moan levels from kids.
D3 looked the business too.
Click image to enlarge
SWMBO wants to take a trailer next year to be able to take more stuff, and bikes. Not convinced myself, but I'm pretty sure who'll win the argument...
31st Aug 2010 3:27 pm
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1359
You might as well start looking at caravans now! New models just launched!
Did France myself , 2,000 miles long way back from south of France , through mountains of Switzerland , and camping in the Ardennes , what a brilliant vehicle ,not calling it a car , the kids and swmbo all happy and I had roof box , bike, towbar bike rack 4 bikes and we took our neighbour . I can't praise it enough . 2008 ,hse, it does what it says .
31st Aug 2010 4:01 pm
BrianT
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 2069
Also done 3k miles down through France and into Spain then back.
Managed to get everything into the boot so no need for roofbox and plenty of room in the cab.
Could have gone on forever on the French toll roads
Just glad i didn't try it last year in the Golf GT but will def be considering it again next year.
BrianT MY 16 Landmark Santorini Black
MY 05 SE Adriatic Blue (Gone but not forgotten)
31st Aug 2010 4:42 pm
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Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Did 1700 mile trip to france & back a few weeks ago, took the Sankey Trailer & all was well, no problems at all.
Followed the 2000 mile trip the year before & 2700 mile the year before that. All with no drama at all, 3 kid, roof rack on first trip & Sankey trailer with many interesting looks the last two
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31st Aug 2010 6:51 pm
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
Agree D3 is the best long distance cruiser, gone to Porto and back 4000 miles(14days). No problems accept boot not opening manage after reading this forum. Big load in boot, nothing on the roof and not towing. Pump to pump consumption 28mpg. 2 days of 8 hour jouneys did cause back pains, but all sorted now with fitting of RRS eletric seats, can't wait for next road trip
31st Aug 2010 8:42 pm
jeflew
Member Since: 01 Jan 2010
Location: Bristol
Posts: 13
My Discovery 3
I bought my D3 TDV6(06 plate) on December 6th 2009. 92k on clock, AT tyres. Had a strange whine from LH side which tended to disappear when wife was not in car. Day later I allowed wife to drive D3 and whine has changed to a gentle purr! She approves!
On December 22 packed the kids in the back with blankets and set off for Berlin. Managed to get thru the Channel Tunnel after ir reopened following the snow which closed it for a period. First stop was France near Dunkirk. Snow in village with sheet ice.......switched driver to "Smug Mode".
Drove next day to Essen in Germany.....absolute heaven. Next day onto Berlin where day time temperatures were -10c. Three days in Berlin. Saw Blue Man Group on Christmas day and drank copius amounts of Gluwein. Visted car in underground car park several times to make sure it was well. Left for Amsterdam on the 28th Dec. Cold, cold cold. Even the coffee machine in the services was frozen. Get this!..1 litre of engine oil in services...37euros.
Arrived Amsterdam late evening (in bigger smug mode), kids dreadfully peed off with driver saying "what a brill car I have bought".
After several days in Dam kids now insisted on being put on Easyjet plane to Bristol so they could spend new year with friends. After driving them to Schipol and dutifully waving goodbye then drove straight to Brugge and filled now empty back seats with Belgium trappist beer. Ensuring load was suitable secure .......elf and safety etc
Got to Boulogne on New Year eve morning where we filled car with more beer, cheese and garlic. Then onto Sangatte and the Channel Tunnel where eventually we arrived at our pub in Bristol at 8pm.
2300 miles in TDV6 in 11 days, snow, ice, fog, rain and Autobahn driving.......mega smug mode.
"So, was it a good buy?" I hear you asking. "Yes, sure was. The beer was gorgeous and of seriously good quality".
And the TDV6 was bloody good as well!!!!
PS Gonna do it again this year....without kids.
Last edited by jeflew on 20th Sep 2010 8:19 am. Edited 3 times in total
Ditto here...Nimes last year & Bordeaux this year. Have driven many cars in france over years but D3 is best cruiser I have had by far . As Brian T syas they can go forever on those lovely smooooth French motorways. Only problem I have too is SWMBO thinks it will carry everything she can think of taking!!Cheers Ian
___________________________________________
MY13 FL2 HSE lux - just gone
MY10 D4 XS
MY07 D3 SE
Massey Ferguson 400 FIS AGTV - Arctic Cat by any other name...
Citroen C3 Picasso for SWMBO so we can remember what fuel economy is!!
Member of the Narpy torch club
19th Sep 2010 9:32 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6415
my SWMBO thinks we can pull the planet wherever we need it lol
19th Sep 2010 10:28 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
In 2 weeks time will be on the ferry not far off docking in Tunis. Gonna be 1500 miles from home to Marseille via Cardiff and Luxembourg. Hope everything works as should (last year caliper started binding 60 miles out of Calais) and my Peage tag works. Not to self: remember to buy beer in Lux!
37e for a ltr of oil!! Will make sure pack a 5ltr container, could be an opportunity for a bit of profit!
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New models just launched! 
Did France myself , 2,000 miles long way back from south of France , through mountains of Switzerland , and camping in the Ardennes , what a brilliant vehicle ,not calling it a car , the kids and swmbo all happy and I had roof box , bike, towbar bike rack 4 bikes and we took our neighbour . I can't praise it enough . 
