i just get in and drive. fuck it.

Agreed. It's 3 hours, hardly a big journey. I don't check anything specifically before going on a longer than normal journey, purely as I perform routine maintenance and check things on a regular basis so there should be nothing wrong with my car.

Check all the above, and your windscreen washer fluid, I ran out on the motorway once when it was all sludgy and it wasn't fun

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by Polo Will

I'm going up to Scotland with my mates at the weekend, its about 3/4 hours and my list is..

1) Check oil, water and screen wash

2) Have a litre bottle of water in boot just in case

3) Make sure Ipod is fully charged and do some good playlists

4) Check tyre pressure

You took the words right out of my mouth!!! (alright the letters off my keyboard even!!

i just get in and drive. fuck it.

Agreed. It's 3 hours, hardly a big journey. I don't check anything specifically before going on a longer than normal journey, purely as I perform routine maintenance and check things on a regular basis so there should be nothing wrong with my car.

I had never taken my car on such a long journey before I did mine a few weeks back so I was double checking and triple checking everything! Wish I was more like I was a few years ago and just used to jump right in.

also, is it worth getting breakdown cover, I'm only there a few days...

I have breakdown cover but I took it easy with my car, didnt go above 65-70 the whole way and my car loved the journey!

65-70? Do them speeds still exist on the motorway? other than heavy goods vehicles and bus's lol

Its only three hours, I wouldn't worry about it.

I drive to the fuel pump and that's about it.

Everything else I would need is already in the car.

First big journey is always the best haha nerves and adrenaline on the motorway! Only stuff I can advise on is fluid levels, tyre conditions, pressure, if you've had wheels off I always check! (bit anal but the day I don't will be the day I get over taken by a wheel and look at it thinking wow some poor buggers lost a wheel same as mine, crash, dead! Haha) snacks/drinks, Music, satnav preprogrammed with postcodes! Give goolge maps a check and look at other big roads try and get your bearings of where u will be and heading to!

Also if I'm going somewhere more than an hour/decent motorway jaunt I usually do all them checks and wash the car before hand, amazing how much more you can see out of a clean mirror/window!

First big journey is always the best haha nerves and adrenaline on the motorway! Only stuff I can advise on is fluid levels, tyre conditions, pressure, if you've had wheels off I always check! (bit anal but the day I don't will be the day I get over taken by a wheel and look at it thinking wow some poor buggers lost a wheel same as mine, crash, dead! Haha) snacks/drinks, Music, satnav preprogrammed with postcodes! Give goolge maps a check and look at other big roads try and get your bearings of where u will be and heading to!

Also if I'm going somewhere more than an hour/decent motorway jaunt I usually do all them checks and wash the car before hand, amazing how much more you can see out of a clean mirror/window!

Awesome Cheers for the tips and advice everyone :) I'm driving my fiesta up there (currently saving for a polo :p ) but its completely standard, apart from a headunit and sub and amp.

I went to Carlisle near Scotland and bought a 22yo Polo which was totally hanging. Gearbox had a death rattle in any gear but 4th,front suspension was missing a few bushes by the sound of it,seat was half collapsed,pissed steering only vaguely connected to the front wheels,no brakes,not entirely round tyres,it was a wreck i bought just for the shell.

Hammered it all the way down to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire foot to the floor,averaged near 70mph for a few hours,and the thing loved it,didn't miss a beat but for shedding some more laquer.

Cant beat a good road trip.

I drove to newquay on a spur of the moment thing a couple of months back (700 mile round trip) just filled the car up and went. I knew i had breakdown cover and the car was all serviced up so not much to worry about really.

I do wish I'd have taken more though, drinks, snacks, cigs etc, service stations are a proper rip off.

Edited 10 November, 201015 yr by deanopolo

Speaking of that mike i drove 50 miles with only 3rd and 4th gear when my gearbox was shagged. Pulling off at traffic lights was pretty fun. Overrevving to the max

A drink!

And chewing gum.

tbh i check all my fluid levels and tyres etc every week, but if I'm going on a particularly long journey il double check, and if I'm going abroad etc id probs service if it hadnt been done in ages.

but other than that, il brim the tank, incase you get stuck in snow or something stupid like that.

comfortable clothes, driving far in jeans is the most annoying thing, driving naked would be the best option but probably not the best idea :)

other than that, something to drink, something to nibble, some tunes, etc! i always keep a decent coat in my car this time of year if i have to treck to anywhere incase of breakdown etc.

sunglasses tooo, HATE a low sun in my eyes for a longish period :)

tbh, the last time i checked my car before a long journey was before i left for Germany...

As some others have said. I keep ontop of maintenance and shizz so i know whats going on with my car.

I think during winter though, its probably wise to check screenwash. If its been a while since you last looked anyways. Or atleast take some water or something with you.

just piss it in if you run out, 2 birds one stone & all that

i did a drive to birmingham and back a couple of months after i passed (during the snowy period) was great fun overtaking things screaming past them at 90+ in a mk2 bready then more recently when purchasing my 6n2 driving from cornwall back to brighton with 4th only and no clutch, why do i put myself through these things

Thanks to all the advice you guys gave me, the trip went okay, however....a lady in a fast response ambulance drove into the back of my car...dont worry, she didnt have the lights on, she shunted me at some lights in Leicester.