Our cars: Hyundai i10 Blue
21 October 2011: Windy and wobbly
The Details
| Current mileage | 9767 |
|---|---|
| Average economy | 57.2mpg |
I’ve been driving the i10 for about six months now and in that time it’s rained a few times, been cloudy a few more, and otherwise been quite sunny. It hasn’t frosted and it hasn’t been very windy – at least, until this week.
On a two hour journey to the midlands it was blowing a fairly strong wind across the motorway, which is always a bit uncomfortable, but it didn’t seem to be causing many other drivers much hassle.
The i10, on the other hand, was being buffeted and blown from side to side and needed constant steering adjustments to keep it on a straight path. It’s a lightweight car and is narrow, tall and slab-sided, and this was obviously at odds with the weather conditions.
It meant slowing down, which is of course a sensible thing to do in such conditions, but even at lower speeds it was quite a disconcerting experience. Most cars will be knocked off course by a good gust of wind, but the i10 felt quite precarious.
It’s a bit cruel to discredit it on those grounds, though, because it’s not really meant for long motorway trips and is much more at home in the sheltered streets of towns and cities. In six months of ownership it’s been windy once and all I needed to do was slow down by 10mph.
As my time with the i10 draw nearer to its end I’ve realised just how good it has been. It’s comfortable, reliable, frugal and feels light and nimble to drive, and it’s coped with any challenge I’ve thrown at it.
« Earlier: Practicality in finer detail Later: Farewell, i10! »
