Driving back from Aberdeen to Birmingham.. shatting it..

agrinnall

chicoe wrote: »

I am just concerned about me being handle the motorway, slip roads a little worried but I know with that I need to build up speed and follow the speed of other motorists and not slip on the motorway at like a slow tourtise.

You won't really have much choice, you'll be on the A90 as soon as you leave Aberdeen and it's not far off being a motorway (apart from tractors pulling out in front of you and one section of 50 mph limit with a speed camera in it). By the time you get to the M9, which is effectively just a continuation of the A90, you'll have got used to the driving conditions.

I'd say absolute minimum 7 hours. I once did Edinburgh to Cheltenham in 4 3/4 hours, but that was leaving at 5 am on Christmas morning, traffic was very light, all the services were closed except for toilets, and that was an average speed of 72 mph. I've never got anywhere near that time since then.

I regularly travel from Perth to beyond Birmingham and I stop at least twice and often three times (although bladder is part of the reason for that :beer:), I usually try to ensure one of the stops is at Tebay because it's just about the best services on the entire motorway network - although I'm waiting to see reports of their new venture at Gloucester services on the M5.

My regular petrol stops are either at Tesco on the outskirts of Carlisle (M6 J43) or the Shell petrol station just off the motorway at Haydock Island (M6 J23).

AdrianC

OP - reading between the lines, am I guessing right that you've never really been on a motorway or done anything other than local pootling? If you're thinking Brum-Cov is prep for Aberdeen-Brum, you've got a rude awakening coming...

At least in Brum you're handy for m'ways to get a quick bit of practice on. Do a lap of M42/M5. Head up/down the M40/M5/M6 a bit.

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to hoon it. Just sit peacefully and enjoy the run. Take a break when you feel like one - even if it's diving off at a junction and sitting in a layby or supermarket car park. Remember... Keep LEFT unless overtaking, and the services are extortionate! Don't sweat slips, but do keep an eye out for anybody who thinks they're more important than you...

burlington6

Sounds like you might be a danger to others as well as yourself

matttye

I did Lincoln -> Hertfordshire -> short break -> Sidmouth (Devon) -> short break -> Port Isaac. Took about 9 hours with breaks included.

You don't necessarily need a break every 2 hours, depends on the person. I would say stop when you feel like you need a break rather than imposing a limit on yourself.

epninety

chicoe wrote: »

I am not concerned about reliability

...

Good thing about the car is that it's a DSG box.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

cootuk

Just remember it's a new car to you..the acceleration and braking will be different to what you are used to. Also different blind spots in the mirrors.

chicoe

AdrianC wrote: »

OP - reading between the lines, am I guessing right that you've never really been on a motorway or done anything other than local pootling? If you're thinking Brum-Cov is prep for Aberdeen-Brum, you've got a rude awakening coming...

At least in Brum you're handy for m'ways to get a quick bit of practice on. Do a lap of M42/M5. Head up/down the M40/M5/M6 a bit.

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to hoon it. Just sit peacefully and enjoy the run. Take a break when you feel like one - even if it's diving off at a junction and sitting in a layby or supermarket car park. Remember... Keep LEFT unless overtaking, and the services are extortionate! Don't sweat slips, but do keep an eye out for anybody who thinks they're more important than you...

Many thanks for this, very useful indeed.

epninety wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Yeah I know.. Mechtronics unit was replaced under warranty, hopefully all is erm, good.

cootuk wrote: »

Just remember it's a new car to you..the acceleration and braking will be different to what you are used to. Also different blind spots in the mirrors.

Yeah, before I set off, I will have a look at all the controls, make sure everything is in order, adjust mirrors if need be, check oil, tyre pressure, coolant levels and so on.

torbrex

I just realised, where you are picking the car up?
If its at the north end of Aberdeen then you can add another half hour to your journey, it is a nightmare of a place to get through at times
If its the south end then you need to allow plenty of time to get there from the airport.

chicoe

agrinnall wrote: »

You won't really have much choice, you'll be on the A90 as soon as you leave Aberdeen and it's not far off being a motorway (apart from tractors pulling out in front of you and one section of 50 mph limit with a speed camera in it). By the time you get to the M9, which is effectively just a continuation of the A90, you'll have got used to the driving conditions.

I'd say absolute minimum 7 hours. I once did Edinburgh to Cheltenham in 4 3/4 hours, but that was leaving at 5 am on Christmas morning, traffic was very light, all the services were closed except for toilets, and that was an average speed of 72 mph. I've never got anywhere near that time since then.

I regularly travel from Perth to beyond Birmingham and I stop at least twice and often three times (although bladder is part of the reason for that :beer:), I usually try to ensure one of the stops is at Tebay because it's just about the best services on the entire motorway network - although I'm waiting to see reports of their new venture at Gloucester services on the M5.

My regular petrol stops are either at Tesco on the outskirts of Carlisle (M6 J43) or the Shell petrol station just off the motorway at Haydock Island (M6 J23).

Thanks for this, I'm guessing I will pass those petrol stations, planning on filling up full tank in aberdeen tbh, which should be enough to get me back into Birmingham, with some left over hopefully.

Will keep to the limits at all times, hopefully SATNAV will aid in this but I know you can't depend on technology all the time so won't be complacent,

DUTR wrote: »

It's too late to change the flight now, I would have been going up on the night before and kipping over before taking that trip. I have a friend in Torphins, and a none stop drive would be 7hrs without any breaks and hindering traffic conditions , add an hour for the breaks every 2hrs. Just hope the car is as you expect when you get there :eek:

You mention DSG, I take it it's a German car?

It sure is, V6, 3.2 :D

Yeah ideally I wanted to go up there night before, but so busy with work and they wouldn't give me the night off so have to go wenesday morning, grrr!

AdrianC wrote: »

OP - reading between the lines, am I guessing right that you've never really been on a motorway or done anything other than local pootling? If you're thinking Brum-Cov is prep for Aberdeen-Brum, you've got a rude awakening coming...

At least in Brum you're handy for m'ways to get a quick bit of practice on. Do a lap of M42/M5. Head up/down the M40/M5/M6 a bit.

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to hoon it. Just sit peacefully and enjoy the run. Take a break when you feel like one - even if it's diving off at a junction and sitting in a layby or supermarket car park. Remember... Keep LEFT unless overtaking, and the services are extortionate! Don't sweat slips, but do keep an eye out for anybody who thinks they're more important than you...

chicoe

torbrex wrote: »

I just realised, where you are picking the car up?
If its at the north end of Aberdeen then you can add another half hour to your journey, it is a nightmare of a place to get through at times
If its the south end then you need to allow plenty of time to get there from the airport.

Ohhh don't say that!!

Chap is picking me up from the airport. Most likely going to sort everything out there and there at the airport and set off home from there.