FamilyMan wrote:

Finally made it back, 4 ferry trips and 1500 miles later. The car coped very well and didn't feel as sluggish as I was expecting. It pretty much felt like the best car on the road looking at all those cramped up families lining up for the ferries with luggage on their laps and car rear axle on it's knees.

I did have to raise the car to off-road when using the ferry ramps because the multiheight towbar is so flippin low in bike carrier mode. This was shortly followed by locking it down in access mode to clear the roof beams and then the same again when disembarking. I was waiting for the suspension to fail, particular with all the weight on board but no probs .

The rest went very well. I managed to use cruise control for long periods of time due to the lack of French traffic and saw 27.5mpg at 80-85mph (130kmph-ish) for the whole journey. The only problem I encountered were French drivers who do insist of driving constantly 3 inches from your tailend. With the luggage in the rear view mirror, these guys would just disappear from view and it was easy to forget they were there.

Cabin space, comfort and functionality of the car was first class. The navigator was as detailed in France as the UK and it really does transform a journey like this so everyone can relax.

Seriously thinking about planning a ski trip to the Alps next.

Nickhearne wrote:

FamilyMan wrote:

Finally made it back, 4 ferry trips and 1500 miles later. The car coped very well and didn't feel as sluggish as I was expecting. It pretty much felt like the best car on the road looking at all those cramped up families lining up for the ferries with luggage on their laps and car rear axle on it's knees.

I did have to raise the car to off-road when using the ferry ramps because the multiheight towbar is so flippin low in bike carrier mode. This was shortly followed by locking it down in access mode to clear the roof beams and then the same again when disembarking. I was waiting for the suspension to fail, particular with all the weight on board but no probs .

The rest went very well. I managed to use cruise control for long periods of time due to the lack of French traffic and saw 27.5mpg at 80-85mph (130kmph-ish) for the whole journey. The only problem I encountered were French drivers who do insist of driving constantly 3 inches from your tailend. With the luggage in the rear view mirror, these guys would just disappear from view and it was easy to forget they were there.

Cabin space, comfort and functionality of the car was first class. The navigator was as detailed in France as the UK and it really does transform a journey like this so everyone can relax.

Seriously thinking about planning a ski trip to the Alps next.

Welcome home, glad you had a good trip!
I have already booked up to go Loire Vally in 2 weeks time + skiing in the Alps in Feb next year all with the D3, so hope I do not have to call upon LR assistance while out there!

A bit of optimism please, Nick, where you off skiing, Ethan and I are back to austria for a week in January - its a father son thing

BN wrote:

Crumbs its going to be quiet in January. I'd better get away then to the Alps and Austria, D3 watching

It's a Alps trip coming together!

BN wrote:

And why not. Take a look at the pics of our off road fun day. The guys were fantastic. The vehicle awesome, like you found towing. 10's D2 and Martins 90 were the only ones to get a little stuck, just proved how fantastic the D3 is. Join us with the family on the 18th Sept for the next fun off road day. No damage by the way, apart from Slimer who got lost in the woods , think he caught a twig on the roof.

We didn't get lost, just took an alternative route as the D2 infront of us had disappeared so we had to guess the way Simon got caught by the twig, I stuck me hand out to guide it out of the way

Si