Real roadtrip, imaginary car - Riddle me this, Oppo

"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500) 08/10/2015 at 09:05 • Filed to: None

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My holiday this summer consisted of a 3800km round trip in 6 days. I drove all of it, with my wife on board all the way, and my sister with us on the way out. We took my mothers’ Hyundai i30, seen here on this bridge of disrepair in Albania. This grey DD got the job done, but i thought, there should be a better car for the task. Your quest, Oppo, if you fancy it, is to find this better car.

The point was to drive my sister from Budapest, Hungary, to Athens, Greece, but we decided to travel on a longer route to see some sights along the way. First POI was Croatia, and we got off the motorway to see some lakes in the mountains, so right on the first day i got a proper switchback mountain road to drive. Next day we visited Mostar, and then went on the mountain route towards Kotor in Montenegro. Lots of switchbacks on our way, some one-lane, some wider, all lovely, all marvelous. Then came Albania, with it’s special kind of driving environment - roads disappearing then reappearing, farming equipment going the wrong way on the highway, goats and stray dogs, and a road that should have been a nice highway according to the map, but turned out to be a frighteningly rocky dirt road through the drained oil field of the American-Albanian Oil Company. Scary scenery filled with lovely people. Greece and our way back was straightforward compared to this, though there was a 6-hour stretch that I had to really push, because we had to get to the Athens airport at noon sharp, to pick up my brother-in-law...

But anyway. The point is, that the car we are looking for:

- has a good aircon, that’ll work flawlessly even in 38°C, but will not freeze occupants

- has a powerful motor, enabling safe overtaking and uninterrupted drive up mountains with the aircon blasting and a some load on board.

- seats four and their luggage

- does not average significantly worse mileage than what the Hundai did: 6,8l / 100km (34,6 mpg US).

- is comfortable enough to drive 700-900 km a day

- is fun on curvy and switchback roads, but can also settle well on the motorway blast

- is able to take a rocky dirt road without puncture or bottoming out.

- and finally, has to be something that an everyday human being can afford to buy and upkeep

Trickier that I would have presumed at first. I’ve gone for a manual BMW 330i Touring at first, but the mileage would be worse, and I would have sure as hell broke something on it on the dirt road. At least some plastic skirt or sorts. My Peugeot 505 would also work well in quite few respects, but has no air-con, so we would have straight melted to a puddle in the scorching heat (the reason we didn’t take that in the first place).

So what can you come up with oppo? I’m picky and particular to driving fun in the mountains so don’t even bother with Land Cruisers or sorts...

atrombs > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:11

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The pricier Option

And the cheaper option.

Obviously either can be had for less if they’re a couple years old. I think they would both check off all of your requirements.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:11

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I think Hammond had the correct choice in Africa. A WRX Hatchback.

If not that, maybe a Nissan Juke?

atrombs > atrombs 08/10/2015 at 09:11

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Audi Allroad Wagon, and Volvo XC Wagon, just in case Kinja ate the pics, which it looks like it might have.

CalzoneGolem > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:15

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That mileage is a hard hurdle for my American brain to overcome, but I’d probably go with a Jaguar XJ6 diesel like Jeremy drove from Basel to Blackpool.

pip bip - choose Corrour > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:15

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used Insignia diesel?

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:37

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Jaguar X-type station wagon AWD.

- Shares some things with a Ford Mondeo, so upkeep shouldn’t be too bad.

- AWD for those dirt roads

- Wagon for stuff

- comfortable

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:42

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Used Astra or Insignia.

duurtlang > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 09:47

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Lots of cars capable of doing what you ask for, so I’ll pick someone that meets all requirements but isn’t an obvious choice.

E30 324td (diesel) Touring. Will do all the things you asked for, and will blow the minds of your average American. Finding one with AC will be tricky, but can be done.

505 - morphine not found > duurtlang 08/10/2015 at 10:06

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Yeah, I like where this is going, and you know me, i would love to chose something from the ‘80s. Ride heights weren’t as low back then, so they would work on the dirt road, and would give ample driving fun everywhere else. Other options include a good Ford Sierra, and of course my trusty 505, that is just as fun on switchbacks as on dirt roads.

However, my problem is that i just don’t trust ‘80s aircon. Even the best systems are sapping power like mad, and would they really be cold enough? Maybe an’80s car with a completely rebuilt aircon, using modern elements....

Then this gets me to my other niggle. A diesel has enough grunt not to be too bothered about the load i’m giving it here, but it just lacks the powerband and sportiness to really make the mountain roads fun. Going for the 325i Touring, or the Peugeot 505 Turbo would remedy that, while still keeping up with my power needs, but would also up the consumption considerably.

I’m not saying the Hundai was perfect, because it was lacking in three of my points. But even with a good air-con an ‘80s RWD wagon would still miss at least one, or two of those... That’s my problem. Maybe there isn’t a perfect car for this mission just better or worse compromises :-D

pjhusa > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:08

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A modern 328d, or E91 325d? Because diesel.

505 - morphine not found > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 08/10/2015 at 10:08

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Actually that’s not half bad. The Mondeo this’s based upon is renown for it’s handling, so I might give it a pass for not being RWD, and it ticks a lot of other boxes. However, with the 2.5 V6 that was the engine of choice in these (IIRC), it will sure do worse mileage....

Maybe there’s no such thing as a perfect car for this.

505 - morphine not found > CalzoneGolem 08/10/2015 at 10:10

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That’s a very good suggestion, especially as I love me some Jaaag. However, try and imagine that low-slung, long beast on it’s low-profile tires on a rocky dirt road. No, me neither....

505 - morphine not found > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 08/10/2015 at 10:12

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I have a good friend with a Forrester XT, and that would have been even better, but the Imprezza’s fine too. If only it was possible to get them under ~10 l / 100km (over ~23,5 mpg), which is, if you add up 3800km, a serious hike in spending.

duurtlang > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:16

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Well, I used my Peugeot 406 coupe for my holiday to Italy 2 weeks ago. 4 adults plus luggage. The automatic AC kept up easily, mileage is irrelevant because LPG conversion (diesel is available too). Rear seats aren’t great, legroom is plenty but headroom isn’t for the taller among us. Spacious trunk. Not an 80s vehicle though, and at 1400 kg empty it’s on the heavy side.

I’ve got a ‘90 BX diesel for you to borrow though (and a ‘89 E30 320iT, and a ‘88 205 GTI). The BX will meet some of your requirements. No AC, but you’d be cool riding that thing around and as a bonus all four power windows open. Also: cruise control! No engine power to speak of and the ZF slushbox is a bit indecisive, but who cares? And think of the ride hight when you put the suspension in the off-road modus!

505 - morphine not found > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/10/2015 at 10:16

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I’m sorry but I wouldn’t be seen dead in an Opel. And they are dead on the mountain roads, even the Astra GTC - I tried......

505 - morphine not found > atrombs 08/10/2015 at 10:19

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Yes, this I like, especially the Volvo, as there are of course no better driving seats out there, which matters a lot when you drive this far in such a short time. If only they were at least resembling ‘fun’ on the mountain roads we did lots of.

BTW, if we leave out the fun part, I would say the even better sprung XC90 would probably be my choice. And with the diesel motor, they aren’t that bad on the milage front either. But I’m sorry, my point would be something I wouldn’t wish to trade for a small sportscar, once on the switchbacks...

505 - morphine not found > duurtlang 08/10/2015 at 10:23

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Yes, I once in Albania, I too was wondering about a good hydro Citroen. Maybe a diesel XM with cold AC...? I just hit ‘raise’ and laugh at the road conditions.

LPG isn’t an option, as it’s much harder to find filling stations when you only have vague idea on your whereabouts but have somewhere to be urgently.

Anyway. I was thinking more RWD, so I should probably stick with the 505 or a E30 BMW, and just spend more on gas.

duurtlang > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:30

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Well there you go. Come on over and trade your 505 (if nice) for my e30 320iT. I’m going to make an ad for that car this month I guess, it’s basically done. Now that I think about it, I should create an “American, come on over to Europe and have a road trip in this awesome piece of 26 year old German engineering and take it with you to the US when you’re done!” article.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:36

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Sounds like a job for the Wagon Queen Family Truckster.

505 - morphine not found > duurtlang 08/10/2015 at 10:36

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Don’t steal my ideas from my head :-D Do that road-trip in the Alps, or maybe around the Nürburg area (I hear there are nice toll roads around there) and you can scratch the AC from my list.

On the trade thing, i don’t know if you would find my peugeot nice enough, maybe because that’s not the first word coming up when you see it. No, the word i’m looking for here is ‘rat’... but I you would have a nice, or at least “would be nice with some work” 504 Coupé (another excellent candidate to my quest here, bar the AC), we could talk...

505 - morphine not found > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 08/10/2015 at 10:37

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gee, absolutely. I should have though about that myself!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:46

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I’m doing a similar trip next week leaving this sunday. 3200km across western Canada in 7 days. About 400km-500km per day. We’ll be taking my trusty 2013 Ford Fusion 1.6L ecoboost

Amoore100 > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:46

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Maybe a smaller Volvo of the same segment as your Hyundai would do the job...comfy seats, relatively good handling, powerful AC, not sure about mileage although I’m sure the diesel would do pretty well, and some ground clearance, especially in XC spec...

505 - morphine not found > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 08/10/2015 at 10:48

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That’s an excellent choice, and would be a big upgrade on the Hyundai we had. Have an enjoyable trip!

505 - morphine not found > Amoore100 08/10/2015 at 10:50

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I like Volvos, I really do, but I have driven the V40 in Italian mountains and the XC40 in the Swedish winter, and I’m not sure they are the machines i’m looking for here - especially as they have less space, but bigger turning radius than the Hyundai we had. Yes, really.

Amoore100 > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 10:55

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Interesting, would not have expected that...what about something like an older diesel Citroen with the hydropneumatic suspension in order to float over all the unpaved roads? Just hope it doesn’t break in the middle of nowhere...

505 - morphine not found > Amoore100 08/10/2015 at 11:04

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Absolutely. A manual diesel XM in good nick and with a cold AC would fit every single criteria bar one: being fun in the mountains. But it seems so far, that there isn’t a car that can honestly fulfill every single criteria, so only missing one is pretty good.

There’s another option, the Citroën Xantia Activa. Look it up you’ll be amazed. Shame that particular model is gasoline only...

My citroen won't start > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 11:18

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I’ve traversed Europe (Started in Switzerland and drove all the way to Finland) in a Subaru Impreza WRX once, plenty power, AWD was useful in snow, the hatch was practical for luggage and it did Ok MPG.

505 - morphine not found > My citroen won't start 08/10/2015 at 11:24

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Yes, i think that’s a good choice. A Forester would have been even better for this particular trip, because ride height, but otherwise yes. Still, it would be worse on gas than the Hyundai was, and if I scratch that point out, I suddenly have was amount of choices.

Amoore100 > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 11:25

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That is quite amazing...now I want one! Stupid 25 year import rule...

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 13:13

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Skoda Octavia Combi. Take one of the 2l TDIs and you’ll get everything you asked for. Depending on your right foot the milage can be even better.

My citroen won't start > 505 - morphine not found 08/10/2015 at 14:24

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This is a pointless advice because it doesn’t fit any of your criteria and probably isn’t anywhere near your programmed travels, but this was the best car rental experience I’ve ever had.

http://www.rentaclassiccar.com

pip bip - choose Corrour > 505 - morphine not found 08/11/2015 at 04:25

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oh.