Home time!
Huge slog heading from Orange (via) Calais to London. For those interested, Jamiroquai were excellent, nearly three hours of magic in the amphitheatre.
Started the day at the hotel having woken everyone up with a (non lumpy!) cold start. There is always a pretty noticeable lag on the screen when turning the car on, especially when it’s been left overnight. Opening the driver’s door doesn’t always fire it into life as promptly as you’d expect. Straight onto the Autoroute from our overnight stop and a reminder how helpful the Bip&Go is for the French toll roads - I would argue a must have if you’re heading to France.
The Emira has really impressed me in the Tour setting. I love the noise as much as the next person but nine hours at 130kph is not well suited to Sport. It’s a great touring car and it feels like there is much less drone from the tyres and the engine/exhaust versus the Cayman. Fuel economy is still slightly disappointing even on the long trip back.
The seats have predictably softened up over the course of the last few thousand miles and whilst not quite as good as Stuttgart’s offering, there are no complaints on comfort. They do, however, get warm. There’s no escaping the heat of the engine behind you and consistently I’ve been getting out on this trip (especially after the spirited drives) with a slightly wet back. Granted, it’s been warm outside but it often feels like you have your heated seat on.
Whilst we are on engine heat, let’s talk about the boot. I’ve mentioned it before, but it gets hot. Feel like it’s worth noting again, as when you’re packing up and moving between hotels, you’re consistently, on a daily basis, having to remind yourself to leave liquids/creams/food out of your ‘big bag’, and putting them in the cabin. Unpacking your clothes after a long day driving genuinely gives them the aura of ‘tumble dryer’ warm. In fact, at our Italian stop off the hotel concierge actually commented how hot the bags were as they assisted with the unpacking!
The KEF system is excellent - like really good. Following the bedding in process unquestionably will have helped, but I am really impressed at the quality of sound. Music files have been via CarPlay/Apple Music and there is a really rich tone to the music. It is leagues ahead of the Bose speakers in the Porsche.
The car has been faultless for the trip. I was genuinely slightly nervous about taking it straight on a Euro tour from Hethel but after day two the excitement of driving it usurps any worries about niggles/issues that may or may not appear. It looks so much more exotic than the price tag and feels like a new, but old school, sports car. It’s such a pretty design, sentiments clearly echoed by the other passers by encountered, that even the many petrol station stops were met with excitement as I could stare at the car whilst buying my coffee.
After a long pretty long day, and a very busy Eurotunnel, I pulled into a London car park with 2258 miles on the clock and unloaded the car from two week’s of debris and (warm) luggage. The irony was not lost on me when I then started the car to park it, and I was greeted by the ‘faulty parking brake’ warning light (hence the red triangle in the attached). I couldn’t help but chuckle (and frantically revert to the forum to see if others have had the same issue). Haven’t been out in the car since but it has been started and the warning was nowhere to be seen.
In summary, it’s a joyous machine and I feel extremely lucky to have one and be able to use it. My move out of the Cayman is not one I regret in the slightest and I expect to keep the pocket rocket from Hethel for some time to come. Already scoping out the next big trip and will endeavour to continue posting updates on here from notable drives!
