Johannesburg to Cape Town in a city car

[The_Unbeliever]

Also did a long roadtrip in an Hyundai i10.

Wasn't nice. Car drove well, but what put me off was the lack of power, especially when trying to overtake.

On the other hand, fuel usage was minimal.

 

[Rouxenator]

I had the seat on its lowest position and found it adjusted quite well for a tall guy like me. The back of the seat I had fairly upright since that is the position I prefer driving in. I am 186cm high and about 85kg and the seat was supportive enough. Fuel filler cap I would not know about, I just pulled the open lever and the attendants filled up.

With regards to the i10, I would only take the 1.25 and not the 1.1 and there are two reasons for that. First is the power, the 1.25 has 64kw and after driving the 60kw Spark I would not settle for less. Second reason is the 1.1 i10 does not come with ABS so emergency stops could result in a more serious emergency.

The engine rev limit and gear ratios did make overtaking easy, you can reach 140km/h in 4th before it will cut the power. I felt more confident in this car than my previous long distance trip from Cape Town to Kleinzee (Springnbok) and back in a 6 speed 1.3 Corolla with 74kw on tap. I had to shift more frequently and the engine cut out a little too soon for my liking.

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Thanks hey.

Which road is better ?

N1 via Bloem or Kimberly Road.

Kimberley (N12) for sure.

Used it for the first time when I went down to Mosselbay in January. I've driven the N1 a few times in the past so I wanted to try something different and was advised to try the N12.

Much quieter and road conditions were pretty good all the way. Sure there's a bit of stop-go between Potch and Klerksdorp but after that it's a nice drive.

I took the N1 back which was a big mistake. There were a lot of roadworks going on at the time and the amount of trucks on the road was crazy.

 

[Captain Beer]

I took the N1 back which was a big mistake. There were a lot of roadworks going on at the time and the amount of trucks on the road was crazy.

It took me 12 hours to get from Bloem to Cape Town last month because of all the damn trucks

 

[Rouxenator]

Kimberley (N12) for sure.

Nope, the road betweem Kimberley and Johannesburg is really bad.

I only had three stop goes and they were all between Three Sisters and Beaufort West so you would get them any way if you go N12.

Go N1, its Number One

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Nope, the road betweem Kimberley and Johannesburg is really bad.

Which piece of road are you referring to?

The only bad section I came across was en-route to Potch. The rest was just fine.

 

[Brenden_E]

I felt more confident in this car than my previous long distance trip from Cape Town to Kleinzee (Springnbok) and back in a 6 speed 1.3 Corolla with 74kw on tap. I had to shift more frequently and the engine cut out a little too soon for my liking.

What did you do in Kleinzee? We used to go there back in the day to visit my aunt who has since moved to Australia. I heard the mine shut down.

They have so much of nothing in Kleinzee.

 

[Naks]

They have so much of nothing in Kleinzee.

until you get to Alexander Bay and realise Kleinzee is referred to as 'town'

 

[Grant]

Bugger that. I get cabin fever within 2 hours. It makes no difference to me what make of car. Get me to the airport !

 

[Cool E]

Nope, the road betweem Kimberley and Johannesburg is really bad.

I only had three stop goes and they were all between Three Sisters and Beaufort West so you would get them any way if you go N12.

Go N1, its Number One

I think by Dec/Jan construction will be complete.

Okay, When using N12- How many toll roads? Speed Cameras?

 

[SaiyanZ]

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

All whilst operating a cellphone camera. Now that is brave.

 

[Cool E]

All whilst operating a cellphone camera. Now that is brave.

Any professional driver can do that hey.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I would also like to see how accurate the speedo is on this car.

I've checked and every little dinky toy rental "city car" I've gotten has been way off when doing 120km/h.

Generally 120 on the speedo = 98km/h or so on the GPS.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The engine rev limit and gear ratios did make overtaking easy, you can reach 140km/h in 4th before it will cut the power. I felt more confident in this car than my previous long distance trip from Cape Town to Kleinzee (Springnbok) and back in a 6 speed 1.3 Corolla with 74kw on tap. I had to shift more frequently and the engine cut out a little too soon for my liking.

You needed to hit the rev limiter just to overtake?

In my mind that is a BAD thing, not a good one.

 

[Naks]

Any professional driver can do that hey.

Hmm, can they roll a spliff while driving a landy though?

 

[Colin62]

Hmm, can they roll a spliff while driving a landy though?

No need to. It'll break down soon enough, and there'll be plenty of time while waiting for a tow.

 

[crysis]

At the end of the day, its still a s**ty spark!

 

[ChocolateBadger]

I do not find that hard to believe. I had to test drive a spark. The 1.2 LE. I found it quite underpowered for its size. City driving was awful but I took it for a short stint on the highway and it went up to 140 quite easily but did get quite bullied by the wind. With that large face and skinny tyres.

I still prefer the long trips I took in my Polo from PE to Jozi. The Polo classic at about 140 just hankers down and cuts through the air comfortably. Only 3 stops too. Prob could make it in 2 if I was brave

But yeah. Spark. Good for students and business cars.

 

[kripstoe]

Im sure it's a lovely little car.

If the best consumption was 7.1l/100 it shows why its a city car. A bigger, more modern 2.0T (say from VW/Audi... because I know how much you love them) would equal or better that.

 

[ChocolateBadger]

Im sure it's a lovely little car.

If the best consumption was 7.1l/100 it shows why its a city car. A bigger, more modern 2.0T (say from VW/Audi... because I know how much you love them) would equal or better that.

I think there's a limit on how big the capacity is before you start wasting fuel. Like a 2.0 Golf may actually have better open road consumption than the 1.4 because I know from my 1.4 polo...140 puts you close to 5000rpm which is a little uneasy compared with the bigger ratios. But my Jeep Grand Cherokee which is a 4.7L V8. It would take me R500 to go to St Francis from PE and back. With is about 300km. That is just pure wasting. But no one can keep up with me from the lights