Johannesburg to Cape Town in a city car

[Rouxenator]

This weekend I did the trip in a 2011 Spark LS and was pleasantly surprised at how well such a small car, considered a city car, handles longer journeys.

I left Brakenhurst at 6am and was back home in Stellenbosch at 7pm. Best consumption was achieved after I filled up with 95 unleaded (did not even know 93 existed) and drove from Kroonstad to Colesberg on 32l (450km). This was all at highway speeds +/- 10km.

Only thing I would change is cars this size is the speakers. The standard ones (4 of them) were not as good as the standard ones in my Corsa and Astra. On longer trips you really could do with top of the range 3-way speakers, even if they are 5.25".

So if you ever wondered if a city far can go far, yes it can.

 

[Oreomitch]

I'm not surprised that a car be driven more than 10Km a day.

Bare in mind that long distance driving exerts less stress, on the car, than the stop-go of city driving. Also...JHB to CPT is downhill

 

[Cool E]

This weekend I did the trip in a 2011 Spark LS and was pleasantly surprised at how well such a small car, considered a city car, handles longer journeys.

I left Brakenhurst at 6am and was back home in Stellenbosch at 7pm. Best consumption was achieved after I filled up with 95 unleaded (did not even know 93 existed) and drove from Kroonstad to Colesberg on 32l (450km). This was all at highway speeds +/- 10km.

Only thing I would change is cars this size is the speakers. The standard ones (4 of them) were not as good as the standard ones in my Corsa and Astra. On longer trips you really could do with top of the range 3-way speakers, even if they are 5.25".

So if you ever wondered if a city far can go far, yes it can.

does it mean it was less than 13hours drive?

 

[Rouxenator]

does it mean it was less than 13hours drive?

Took me 13 hours, last time in 2007 I did it in 12 hours driving my Astra. A month later I got a few speed fines. Hoping the same thing does not happen this time. The Spark has a max speed of 163km and the speedo is about 8km/h over calibrated.

Still I did once on a long open stretch that was fairly downhill managed to do...

 

[Brawler]

That must of been a painfull trip...

 

[geezer]

does it mean it was less than 13hours drive?

Sound about right. The Distance is about 1370 km, and by doing it in 13 hours means your average speed was 105km/h.

 

[Cool E]

Took me 13 hours, last time in 2007 I did it in 12 hours driving my Astra. A month later I got a few speed fines. Hoping the same thing does not happen this time. The Spark has a max speed of 163km and the speedo is about 8km/h over calibrated.

Still I did once on a long open stretch that was fairly downhill managed to do...
View attachment 48688

nice hey. How many stops?

I am planning to visit CT in Jan next year with my beemer.

 

[Spyk3r]

That must of been a painfull trip...

uhm...

He was just saying how good it is...

BTW - Love the avatar Cool E

 

[Rouxenator]

I was worried that it would be a crappy trip but it really was very relaxing and enjoyable. Perhaps I should add that two weeks ago I did the TransKaroo 240km MTB ride that also took me 13 hours to complete

Seriously though, the car was very comfortable and the only thing I would change is more powerful speakers. I would easily do such a trip again in a car of this size provided it has 60kw or more.

For my JHB <-> CPT trips I only make three stops: Kroonstad, Colesburg and Beaufort West. If you are coming down from JHB make sure your car is filled up on 95. I had no idea that 93 unleaded even existed but when I filled up with 95 in Kroonstad I could feel the car was a little more responsive and nippy.

 

[Cool E]

I was worried that it would be a crappy trip but it really was very relaxing and enjoyable. Perhaps I should add that two weeks ago I did the TransKaroo 240km MTB ride that also took me 13 hours to complete

Seriously though, the car was very comfortable and the only thing I would change is more powerful speakers. I would easily do such a trip again in a car of this size provided it has 60kw or more.

For my JHB <-> CPT trips I only make three stops: Kroonstad, Colesburg and Beaufort West. If you are coming down from JHB make sure your car is filled up on 95. I had no idea that 93 unleaded even existed but when I filled up with 95 in Kroonstad I could feel the car was a little more responsive and nippy.

Thanks hey.

Which road is better ?

N1 via Bloem or Kimberly Road.

 

[Colin62]

Thread title is misleading - you actually went from Alberton to Stellenbosch. Everything you said is therefore invalid.

 

[Rouxenator]

Thread title is misleading - you actually went from Alberton to Stellenbosch. Everything you said is therefore invalid.

True, I confess...

As for the road, N1 all the way, your toll costs will be R29 (tunnel) + R41 (Bloemfontein) + R49 (Kroonvaal). Depending on which side of JHB you need to be at you can get off onto the R59 that comes in at Alberton.

 

[Cool E]

Thread title is misleading - you actually went from Alberton to Stellenbosch. Everything you said is therefore invalid.

Alberton, JHB correct?

According to google trip is 1 372 km, 12 hours 51 mins

 

[Rouxenator]

Alberton, JHB correct?

According to google trip is 1 372 km, 12 hours 51 mins

Yip :

 

[Joker]

160km/h in a Spark... can't say I'd be that brave

 

[Rouxenator]

160km/h in a Spark... can't say I'd be that brave

It's got very good brakes, and ABS+EBD which I never needed. In side winds it was fairly stable but with a head wind it did felt a little down on power.

 

[Naks]

This weekend I did the trip in a 2011 Spark LS and was pleasantly surprised at how well such a small car, considered a city car, handles longer journeys.

:wtf:


I got one as a courtesy car from Reeds N1 City and after the round trip from Goodwood to Stellenbosch I concluded that this was the most rubbish car I had ever driven. Even the Renault Sandero was better.

I cannot fathom how you drove this from Alberton to Stellenbosch and liked it.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Pffft. Youngsters.

I did the same trip, but with a 1984's Diahatsu Charade, fully loaded, three persons.

From Pretoria to Hermanus and back.

IIRC it was in 1988...

No power steering, no aircon And no safety features either... It went like the clappers all the way

But I won't do it again in a small car - you feel the road especially the bumps etc, when a larger car's bodywork will soak it up.

 

[Rouxenator]

:wtf:


I got one as a courtesy car from Reeds N1 City and after the round trip from Goodwood to Stellenbosch I concluded that this was the most rubbish car I had ever driven. Even the Renault Sandero was better.

I cannot fathom how you drove this from Alberton to Stellenbosch and liked it.

If it was a courtesy car then I doubt it was the LS spec. Maybe it was an L or Campus edition?

The LS has most of the bells and whistles that makes life a little easier, like electric windows and other creature comforts. What was rubbish about the car for you? The handling and power or ride comfort?

I recall driving one of these at the launch event back in 2010 and I was a bit worried before my trip cause from what I remembered the car did feel sluggish. My recent trip dispelled all doubt and I will easily do the trip again in a city car.

 

[Naks]

If it was a courtesy car then I doubt it was the LS spec. Maybe it was an L or Campus edition? The LS has most of the bells and whistles that makes life a little easier, like electric windows and other creature comforts. What was rubbish about the car for you? The handling and power or ride comfort?

IIRC it has electric everything.

What was rubbish about it? The correct question would be: what was NOT rubbish about it.

From the seating position to the rubbish aircon to the fiddly fuel filler cap... I would not wish this pile of crap on my worst enemy. Ok, maybe on my very worst enemy, but not the slightly worse enemies