Yaris 1.4 diesel did a great touring job over 4,000 miles

[brutus-1965]

Just thought I would post how satisfied I am with my 2014 Yaris diesel.  I gave it a decent service and checkover before leaving and bought a spacesaver, jack and packed all my spare bits around the new wheel freeing up the boot for luggage..

Three up with a boot full of luggage and 4,127 miles over 2 weeks at an average speed of 65mph (ranges from city traffic to 130kph 'ish) and she still returned a little over 60mpg.

From Northampton down through Dover/Calais and across to Bordeaux, then Madrid and south to Gibraltar, then east to Malaga area and then up to Barcelona and finally north to Paris and back across the channel to home.

Just one casualty in the whole 4,000+ miles and that was a headlight bulb blown on night two but it was a quick change the next morning for the spare.

[Cyker]

Woo now that's putting that D4D engine to good use!!

That 1.4D4D combined with the Yaris has always been a very good combination - Strong high-revving turbo diesel with a short-ratio gearbox in a small lightweight car, really nice to drive and high mpg.

The DPF did hurt it for urban use, but for a road trip like that it's a great engine; I did think the Fensport guys would have had a better time of it if they'd picked a Mk1 D4D instead of a T-Sport for their Chatteris to Tokyo sponsored drive, but part of their reasoning was the uncertainty of suitable diesel in some parts of the world (I forget ULSD isn't guaranteed available in some parts of the world!)

That's a mega journey tho' - Were you swapping drivers or just having a lot of rest stops?? Any good photos of the trip you'd like to post?  

[brutus-1965]

3 minutes ago, Cyker said:

That's a mega journey tho' - Were you swapping drivers or just having a lot of rest stops?? Any good photos of the trip you'd like to post?  

My wife did about 4 hours which was a relief while I got some shut eye.  The longest drives where from Northampton to Bordeaux through the night about 12 hours and then also the Barcelona to Paris through the night about 10 hours.  Other drives of 4 - 6 hours are not a problem.

[Mojo1010]

Whoooaa what a road trip, sounds amazing but tiresome driving. Both you and Mrs done a fab job. Only ever drove on an island in Corfu Greece once, that was easy but I wouldn't want to drive in Europe having to work my brain all the time driving on the right side of the road and give way to left at roundabouts. 

[TonyHSD]

Lol, what a nice trip and the car seems like have done it brilliantly 👌

Great, I always love travelling long journeys, it is really good and adventurous. I had done similar trip to the end of Europe and I had really enjoyed. 

[brutus-1965]

4 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

but I wouldn't want to drive in Europe having to work my brain all the time driving on the right side of the road and give way to left at roundabouts. 

It's not that hard to remember which side to drive on especially when you have your own car.  The best bits were driving around Barcelona and Paris.  The Arc de Triomphe was busier than when I last drove around Paris.  It is lterally evey man for himself with one finger on the horn to remind the locals you can't be pushed about 🙂

Driving back in the UK you soon relaise how slow our roads are and how many pot holes there are !

[Cyker]

Hah we had another person tackle the Arc de Triomphe for the first time last year I think - I'd be too scared to go near it in the car I have now; I think the anti-collision sensors would have me trapped on it forever!  

I'm always blown away by how some people can drive for so long - I think my longest single-stint was 4 hours and I needed half a day to recover!

I must admit the Mk4 takes a lot of effort out of the motorway parts for me now, since I can let it do most of the driving and let bits of my brain rest, but I don't think I could be in it for 6+ hours straight!  

 

 

[brutus-1965]