Commuting car

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Tue 17 Feb 2015 19:42
Commuting car - Ed V

SWMBO has a new job involving a 30 minute 7 a.m. commute mostly along the A4 in Wiltshire, but including a few 'white roads' too.

The Jazz (great for carrying everything and an incredibly creative design) is a little lightweight (a personal view) in any wind over 10 mph, so we're wondering about something built with rather more quality and less focus on 'light-weight'.

Any thoughts - budget about £6-7,000.

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Wed 18 Feb 2015 09:30
Commuting car - craig-pd130

For that type of commute I think I'd just stick with the Jazz, your partner isn't travelling too far on m/ways or major roads. I tend to favour the 'better the devil you know' argument.

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Wed 18 Feb 2015 09:46
Commuting car - skidpan

The Jazz (great for carrying everything and an incredibly creative design) is a little lightweight (a personal view) in any wind over 10 mph,

My father had a Jazz for 5 years. Good car but in my view not a great one due to a few issues which were seat design, noise and ride.

But as for being "lightweight in any wind over 10 mph" why do you feel that. I drove the Jazz many times on motorways etc and it felt perfectly stable to me. Perhaps there is an issue with your car.

including a few 'white roads'

What do you mean by the above. If it means unsurfaced roads the Jazz will be unsuitable with its poor ride but most conventional cars would be unsuitable in those conditions.

Suggest she finds a different route.

Edited by skidpan on 18/02/2015 at 09:48

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Wed 18 Feb 2015 10:36
Commuting car - RobJP

A few weeks ago, I went with a friend to go and collect a new car for his wife, we went over the M62 to Leeds. It was quite a windy day, and the stretch from Rochdale to Huddersfield is very exposed to the wind.

In the way up, as a passenger in a Honda Jazz, I coud certainly feel the wind buffetting the car, I felt it was no worse than in any other car that I've done a trip in. On the way back, driving the Jazz, there was nothing to make me particularly concerned.

Like skidpan, I'd be inclined to look at the condition of the car first : tyre tread depth, pressures, possibly worn suspension components.

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Wed 18 Feb 2015 16:06
Commuting car - Avant

I wonder if the feeling of 'light weight' comes from the lightenss of the controls in the Jazz. I can remember that from SWMBO had one of the first Jazzes in 2002, but I'd agree with others that it wasn't any more susceptible to high winds than other small cars.

If Mrs V wants a feeling of solidity maybe she should look at a VW Polo or Golf, or maybe a Volvo S40/V50. But personally I'd stick with the Jazz if it's still going well.

Edited by Avant on 19/02/2015 at 00:14

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Wed 18 Feb 2015 16:39
Commuting car - Ed V

Thanks guys; my mentioning the wind may have mislead you a little. I think tinny and not quiet describes better my summary of the downside to driving a Jazz.

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Wed 18 Feb 2015 17:17
Commuting car - slkfanboy

Small cars are great around town, but on longer trips not so good. I recently wend to glasgow from mk in a 1.6 focus and it used more petrol than my 3.0 jag!!

Maybe consider a bigger car/engine for a more relaxing ride.

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