Another trip to mid-Spain. I just wanted to praise the old-skool 1.6 petrol, as we did 3,057 miles (significant chunks on some amazing back-roads in France and Spain) and it used no oil.

I highly recommend that engine to anyone looking, and although the 5-speed gearbox gets bad press, and it's our only car without six-gears, cruising on the motorway at 110kph is fine, and we managed 51.9 mpg for the whole trip (yes really).

Hardly any photos, as I did all of the driving.

Halfway along Platja del Trabucador, Ebro Delta - there were many flamingos at this time of year....

.....and if you drive along a stunning narrow mountain road, know that the Spanish use the word 'cortada' and NOT 'cerrada' to signify that the road is 'closed' 🤣

but at least it meant I got to drive back knowing there was probably no oncoming traffic 😁

Well Done You!
Rather than jetting in and out, a road trip really gives you a sense of really "being there" and the travelling is at least half the fun!
You'll laugh about the closed road for ever!
We are planning for a Grand Caravan Tour of Europe including Luxembourg (nr Ettelbruck), Munich, Eagles Nest, Ljubjlana and Lake Bled, Salzburg, Nuremburg, Frankfurt, Remscheid and Eindhoven using Hull-Rotterdam. We won't be getting anything like that mileage (more like 27ish)
Any guesses on the overall "theme"?

Overall theme? Well there's some WW2 in there for sure.

We've been to Ljubljana by train - lovely place.

That's brilliant - thanks for sharing.

Years ago, when mk7s were fairly new, I hired a Titanium with the 1.6 petrol and recall that it was more frugal than expected (think i took it to Salisbury and back and if memory serves it indicated circa 54mpg).

I can't compete for road trips although in May 2025 I took my mk8 to Scotland for most of a week. I did about 1600miles including the Bealach na Ba (aka Applecross pass). Car did 67mpg overall for the trip. I'd add a piccy or 2 if I could work out how🙄

On 2/26/2026 at 12:06 PM, orangecurry said:

Overall theme? Well there's some WW2 in there for sure.

We've been to Ljubljana by train - lovely place.

It just turned out that way after we'd decided to do Eagles Nest.
Thanks for the Ljubljana heads up, a day trip from Bled, we hope!

...the river runs through the centre, so head for that area of old-town, bridges and squares - it's all lovely; the castle is right there and is worth a visit.

I can't believe I forgot to include the flamingos!

Amazing road trip Jon well done, thanks for sharing 😁