Ask a silly question, get a silly answer?

heartbreak_star

Hi all,

I have a five-hour drive to do next week (well 10 in total - 5 there one day and 5 back the next), and I am in two minds.

My little car is a 2007 1.1l Hyundai Getz, with a bit of personality (squeaky serpentine belt for about 10 seconds on start up if weather is super wet). I drive like a granny and keep the car serviced.

Question is - will little car take the journey, or shall I hire something with a bit more oomph for a couple of days?

TIA!!

HBS x

batman2000

I'm a bit like you... drive like a granny and keep the car serviced, haha! So if I were to do a longish journey (which I generally avoid) then I'd prefer to drive the car I knew well, rather than adjust to a different car. Unless you can hire the same/similar car? Depends how confident you are at swapping cars (I'm not!).

Oh, and I'd give myself plenty of extra time for the journey ;-)

prosaver

take a break after 2 hours.
Check the oil and the waters ok and tyres pump up well.



i joined a breakdown company and it takes you home if it conks out.. so if you make it the first day and conks out on the way home at least you get safely home.
Should be ok ..where's the longest youve took it.
https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/six-tips-for-driving-long-distances

onomatopoeia99

Given what you say, it should be fine. I wouldn't be afraid to drive a car like that on the motorway (or elsewhere) for five hours.

BJV

I might be tempted to hire. 5 hours is a long way in a getz?

Depending on the journey it might actually be cheaper. ( mainly motorway? or Mainly A roads with lots of stop starting? ) Also If yours in petrol for example and the fuel costs x depending upon the type of journey it could be cheaper to hire something more economical?

Aylesbury_Duck

If the Getz has been serviced regularly, you should have no concerns. I guess it will probably be quite noisy at motorway speeds but I'd take it. After all, what's the point in owning and caring for a car if you're not going to use it?

custardy

Sure it would be fine,however a larger car with cruise would be my preference.

BeenThroughItAll

No problem. I've driven cars from the 1960s with less power, fewer creature comforts and poorer handling, brakes, noise insulation all over the UK and Europe. A modern hatchback will be fine - just do the proper checks on oil, tyres, etc beforehand and all will be well.

waamo

How comfortable do you find the car? I regularly drive long distances and find comfort more an issue than oomph.

The last thing you want is to step out the car and be so stiff you can hardly move.

heartbreak_star

Thanks everyone!

Car is fairly comfortable, as I'm only little, and it's mostly motorway driving - I'm not on any real time constraints so can stop when needed. It's been to Blackpool, Wigan and Macclesfield and back before (I'm in Newcastle)

I think I might have the local garage (they do my MOTs etc) have a quick squizz at it before I go.

HBS x

bugslet

I used to have a 1.1 Nissan Micra back in the mid 80s and drove it all over for longer than 10 hours at a stretch. You should be fine with it.