16 Apr 07
I'd been wondering about the Roomster's long-distance capability ever since it arrived. It has one of those trip computers that, among other things, tells you how far it reckons you can go before you need to fill up again. It regularly changes its estimate depending on how you're driving. It often gives a projection north of 600 miles when I've just filled up the 55-litre tank - although it generally has a cold shower pretty soon after that and realises that it actually meant just over 500 miles.
That trip computer kept me entertained on my journey at least as much as my rather curious selection of CDs. It soon became clear what types of driving it was happiest with: smooth and not too fast, you'll be unamazed to learn.
I tried keeping the 1.9-litre engine's revs down to 1,800rpm, on the basis that that's where the maximum torque of 177lb-ft is produced, but in fact it didn't feel very comfortable there. With the revs in the mid-2000s I found it much easier to be in the right gear at the right speed in the right lane, so I could drive smoothly and, therefore, frugally.
The total round trip (between Northampton and just west of Glasgow) was 700 miles, so there wasn't any serious prospect of doing the whole journey on one tank. At one stage it looked like I'd struggle to get there on one tank, let alone back as well. But that turned out to be the trip computer taking exception to a burst of frustration-clearing acceleration on the M6.
