I'm based in the UK and have been driving VW Group cars since my first one in 1994, writing about interesting examples since 1997, buying, selling and fixing them since 2002 and making videos about them since around 2016. I can be doing a cambelt on a Mk5 Golf GTI one week and test driving an R8 in Spain the next. I am always looking to buy good examples of interesting VW Audi Seat Skoda and travel around the UK.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this video. The MPG is incredible. Thank you so much and I thoroughly enjoyed the D-Day bit I could not agree more Thank you Fanatic Video!
Andrew - love this style of video. Really shows the capability and surprising efficiency of the car, whilst showing a different part of the world to boot. Keep up the good work 👍
Love these car / travel vlog uploads Andrew. Keep them coming. Given me a few ideas for a few summer excursions to the continent with the family in our 23 A4 Avant 40tfsi Black Edition. Don't think we will achieve anything near the S4's mpg though. 😃
Hey Richie, thanks for your support. I’m sure a steady cruise in Europe will get your petrol A4 pretty close, especially as someone got 39.8 mpg out of an RS4 (in another comment) !
Another great trip Andrew. Can I make a plea for you to be a bit less ‘whippy’ with the camera phone - makes me feel queasy but that could be just me. Look forward to more trips.
Great to hear Andy! These videos do have a limited but enthusiastic audience which means I will keep on making them. I live for road trips and save all year to fund them. Big one coming up soon, destination at present unknown...
Nice trip but £75 just for parking! Think id rather have filled up with £75 worth of fuel and just had a good out n back blat somewhere nice in the UK........
You have to look at the bigger picture, the hotel was cheap and the car park was very secure (you couldn't walk in off the street). A good UK trip is to have a blat in Scotland but I did that last year, I will return but just knocking off all the easy destinations in Europe first. A big difference is that it's generally a lot less frustrating to drive around Europe than anywhere in the UK as anyone who has returned to the UK and driven up the M20 will attest.
I have a 2023 S6 Avant and just this week achieved a best commute (just over 40 miles) of 58.5mpg. I’ve seen over 50mpg regularly and long term average is about 45. I know there was some sort of update to the engine in around 2022 but don’t know if that’s what made the difference. It’s incredible for a 2-tonne estate car with this performance. My usual cruising speed is 75mph on the motorway, rather than trying to be madly frugal. But I do use the predictive cruise control most of the time.
My only criticism is that the new centre screen looks like they just stuck a tablet on the dash rather than the one on the Golf 8 which looked like it was an extension of the dashboard resulting in a more stylish look.
Thanks Andy, it's OK from a distance. Did wax it with Collinite just before leaving, nothing to do with the shiny paint reducing drag and improving mpg 😉
Not bad and good for me to know. I have a B9 2.0 tdi Avant Quattro as my daily and it's long term average is 44.5mpg. A trip like this would probably see 58-60mpg in the Netherlands at 60mph. UK to the tunnel/ferry would see 52-55mpg. Most of my driving is rural A and B roads and probably to a similar style to you - mostly stick to the limits with a little bit of occasional fun thrown in. Considering the S4 has an extra 140hp and 300NM of torque your figures are very impressive indeed. I look at the S4 as an upgrade from time to time, though as the type of owner who keeps the car for 5-8+ years I worry about the inherent mechancial issues (cam gears) with both the 3rd gen 3.0 V6 TDI and the 3.0 TFSI (cam followers) both require engine out to fix.
....as simple as this is, I argue this design is insanely complicated for what it is intended to do. To give perspective, the Civic type R Differential fluid is the same as the Transmission. Meaning when you change the Manual Transmission fluid in the car, the differential is also serviced. No temperature checks needed. Talk about overengineering something with minimal gains compared to other ways of doing the same thing. Lets not even talk about the Golf R differential versus Torque vectoring of Lancer Evo or SHAWD services.
Love it. Owned one now for a year (well, my wife has) and I'm continuously amazed at how gutsy that engine is, the general refinement and how much space there is inside. It's like Dr Who's phone booth. Can confirm also that car V-max's at a very respectable 209km/hr indicated and, as you managed to discover, gets around a bend quite nicely. We have five cars in our family and it's a fight as to who is going to grab the keys to this little thing. As for Rubber Ducky Yellow? Yes, Yes and Yes. MUST! Cheers
Are you sure it's the filler plug that is recommended to be replaced? Just looking through diagrams and looks like drain and filler plug is same part number, so room for confusion in the guidance.
I used LeShuttle Folkestone Calais 02.42 Tuesday 14 May. Not pre booked. £183 one way. Booked a return eleven days prior for 21st June 22.50hrs £78.00.
