Flat tyre - No spare

Car_54

400ixl said:

Was the C200 a diesel with adblue, as that is where they put the tank for that which I believe meant there was no space saver option.

I actually had two. One diesel (without adBlue), and one petrol.

kinger101

voluted said:

subjecttocontract said:

Every new car that I've ever bought that came without a spare wheel had a spare wheel as an optional extra. Cost £100-£200.

The reason car manufacturers don't provide a spare as standard is:
1. Cuts the price of the car.
2. Saves weight = improved fuel consumption = improved emissions = lower road tax/running costs.
3. Increases luggage space.

It's two and one in that order.

They are doing it because of increasingly ridiculous emissions targets and (1) happens to line their pockets so is a nice Brucey bonus.

(3) is not a consideration, the wheels are kept below the luggage area so nobody would consider it to be usable space.

The comments below points this out, but the only reason the is space for either a full size or space saver beneath the luggage compartment is because the car was designed that way.  It is is designed without one, it doesn't follow that there will be a wheel sized void there.  I will likely be occupied by something else.

subjecttocontract

Car_54 said:

subjecttocontract said:

Every new car that I've ever bought that came without a spare wheel had a spare wheel as an optional extra. Cost £100-£200.

You've been lucky. I've had two cars (Mercedes C200 estate & Honda CRV) where there was no such option, simply because there was no space to store the wheel.safely.

You can't just throw the wheel in the boot as you might if it's a "proper" boot. In an estate or SUV a flying wheel is best avoided.

Yes I agree, a flying wheel is best avoided but, how many people would tie their ordinary luggage or payload down anyway ? Virtually nobody i'd suggest.

We've had at least 3 new Fords and 2 Range Rovers where spare wheels have been optional extras. The spare nearly always fitted in a space designed to accommodate it under the boot floor and if the option wasn't taken it gave the owner extra luggage space.

It seems rather poor design on the part of Mercedes & Honda to design cars without this feature when very probably earlier models of the same car did accommodate spare wheel storage.

400ixl

Car_54 said:

400ixl said:

Was the C200 a diesel with adblue, as that is where they put the tank for that which I believe meant there was no space saver option.

I actually had two. One diesel (without adBlue), and one petrol.

Fitted a space saver to a friends C220 petrol last year that he bought second hand and used the part numbers from the options list, so they were available. It was the same part number as my old E class convertible.

Baldytyke88

subjecttocontract said:

It seems rather poor design on the part of Mercedes & Honda to design cars without this feature when very probably earlier models of the same car did accommodate spare wheel storage.

But what percentage of drivers would be capable, providing all the kit it there, of putting a spare wheel on.

Putting a spare on, on the motorway could be dangerous.

subjecttocontract

Baldytyke88 said:

subjecttocontract said:

It seems rather poor design on the part of Mercedes & Honda to design cars without this feature when very probably earlier models of the same car did accommodate spare wheel storage.

But what percentage of drivers would be capable, providing all the kit it there, of putting a spare wheel on.

Putting a spare on, on the motorway could be dangerous.

I have no idea of the percentage of drivers who are able to change a wheel but if you get a puncture and haven't got a spare there are plenty of owners who aren't very happy. 

Baldytyke88

subjecttocontract said:

I have no idea of the percentage of drivers who are able to change a wheel but if you get a puncture and haven't got a spare there are plenty of owners who aren't very happy. 

Some don't even have the key for their wheel locking nuts

Mildly_Miffed

Baldytyke88 said:

subjecttocontract said:

It seems rather poor design on the part of Mercedes & Honda to design cars without this feature when very probably earlier models of the same car did accommodate spare wheel storage.

But what percentage of drivers would be capable, providing all the kit it there, of putting a spare wheel on.

Putting a spare on, on the motorway could be dangerous.

Being able to describe how to has been part of the driving test for many years, part of the "Show Me, Tell Me" section.

Frankly, I'd rather change a tyre and be gone than wait on the shoulder for recovery.

Belenus

Our now over 9 year old BMW Series1 had factory fitted run flat tyres. (Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT 225/45R17 91W). We have stuck to that same tyre on replacement.

Some people find that run flats give a rough ride but we find our car very smooth.

Car_54

Mildly_Miffed said:

Baldytyke88 said:

subjecttocontract said:

It seems rather poor design on the part of Mercedes & Honda to design cars without this feature when very probably earlier models of the same car did accommodate spare wheel storage.

But what percentage of drivers would be capable, providing all the kit it there, of putting a spare wheel on.

Putting a spare on, on the motorway could be dangerous.

Being able to describe how to has been part of the driving test for many years, part of the "Show Me, Tell Me" section.

No, it hasn't. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions