Small cars that drive like luxobarges

[Lester H]

WaferThinHam said:

NNH said:

Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.

What you mean is you've ridden in a selection of minicabs.

Octavia just like driving a mid range VW. Understandably!

[akirk]

NNH said:

Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.

I would hesitate over the Skodas...
I am currently asking a very similar question (though not limited by size) as I want to return to a more wafty car once my Octavia goes back... The Octavia is a fantastic car, great to drive, handles well, 4x4 giving great grip, like an Audi inside, but a) boring and b) noisy and tiring to drive... So for me the Skoda is not the answer... I have a trend of range rovers and jags, and they are wafty cars... Key things I think would be:
- size of car (long wheelbase esp.)
- size of engine (big engine = not stressy)
- good NVH and sound dreading / proofing
- double-glazing
-wheel profile
- air suspension

I keep looking around, and LR products / jags / mercs (though personally not keen on them) etc...
If those attributes are wanted, then perhaps he answer is not to worry about size... If too many empty seats is an issue get an XK8 and in essence it is a two seater!

[TazLondon]

One of the things that makes a luxobarge is the automatic transmission. Sadly, in smaller cars this is harder to find or not even an option at all.

[Jimbo.]

TazLondon said:

One of the things that makes a luxobarge is the automatic transmission. Sadly, in smaller cars this is harder to find or not even an option at all.

I wouldn't necessarily agree: automatic gearboxes are available for many small cars these days. Quite often it'll be something DSG-ish.

[HKP]

BMW i3 or a Nissan Leaf?

[Lester H]

Jimbo. said:

TazLondon said:

One of the things that makes a luxobarge is the automatic transmission. Sadly, in smaller cars this is harder to find or not even an option at all.

I wouldn't necessarily agree: automatic gearboxes are available for many small cars these days. Quite often it'll be something DSG-ish.

Well,yes, auto is becoming more common but for luxo you need softish suspension which the likes of Audi and BM will not do as it's considered unmanly!

[CedricN]

Volvo v40 with small wheels and the higher spec interior is a pretty nice car. Much more comfy than my e90, the f30 though is much more boat like when it comes to driving, but it isn't particularly small. 16 inch wheels is the way do go to get decent comfort on Swedish coarse asphalt

[lee_erm]

MK1 Focuses in none Zetec trim (LX, Ghia etc) wafted along pretty damn well for a small car.

[Deisel Weisel]

I've heard Honest John heaping praise on the ride quality of the Mk1 Yaris.

[wiliferus]

lee_erm said:

MK1 Focuses in none Zetec trim (LX, Ghia etc) wafted along pretty damn well for a small car.

Really? I had a '99 2.0 Ghia. Don't get me wrong, it was a great car in most respects, but wafty it was not! Noisy on the motorway, a bit crashy on lumpy B roads, and generally quite unrefined. Def not a miniature luxo barge.

[cptsideways]

Lupo, rides like a much bigger car weight has little to do with it, is the spring spring rating that counts

[MajorMantra]

lee_erm said:

MK1 Focuses in none Zetec trim (LX, Ghia etc) wafted along pretty damn well for a small car.

My Mk1 estate (Zetec actually) has great ride quality on potholed lanes, but NVH levels are so much higher than in a modern car that I'd never call it "wafty". Are the higher trim levels really much better? I doubt it.

[Funkycoldribena]

Deisel Weisel said:

I've heard Honest John heaping praise on the ride quality of the Mk1 Yaris.

Not sure if serious.
Bloody awful on the motorway.

[Funkycoldribena]

MajorMantra said:

lee_erm said:

MK1 Focuses in none Zetec trim (LX, Ghia etc) wafted along pretty damn well for a small car.

My Mk1 estate (Zetec actually) has great ride quality on potholed lanes, but NVH levels are so much higher than in a modern car that I'd never call it "wafty". Are the higher trim levels really much better? I doubt it.

Quite a bit of wind noise at higher speeds in the focus.
Mk1 Fabia is quietish,but certainly not wafty.

[CABC]

Deisel Weisel said:

I've heard Honest John heaping praise on the ride quality of the Mk1 Yaris.

i have a s***box 999cc 02 model. i can go along with that praise. so "drives like a luxo" maybe reasonable, but the noise and low gearing puts it firmly in the round town category.

[ging84]

CX53 said:

ging84 said:

Isn't that exactly what the 6 series the A7 and the CLS or what ever merc are calling thier big coupe this week are meant to be.

They all take thier biggest luxury car, and squish the panels in a bit to make it a bit less lonely inside and a bit easier to do a 3 point turn.

They're all still massive though, I park next to my colleagues A7 every day at work and it's huge

Your right the Mercedes and the audi are probably a bit too big, the 6 series is a more sensible size, as it's not based on thier biggest luxury car, but thier still fairly whafty 2nd biggest, so probably more comparable with the E coupe and the A5, i don't think any are bigger than a current mondeo.

[KM666]

akirk said:

NNH said:

Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.

I would hesitate over the Skodas...
I am currently asking a very similar question (though not limited by size) as I want to return to a more wafty car once my Octavia goes back... The Octavia is a fantastic car, great to drive, handles well, 4x4 giving great grip, like an Audi inside, but a) boring and b) noisy and tiring to drive... So for me the Skoda is not the answer... I have a trend of range rovers and jags, and they are wafty cars... Key things I think would be:
- size of car (long wheelbase esp.)
- size of engine (big engine = not stressy)
- good NVH and sound dreading / proofing
- double-glazing
-wheel profile
- air suspension

I keep looking around, and LR products / jags / mercs (though personally not keen on them) etc...
If those attributes are wanted, then perhaps he answer is not to worry about size... If too many empty seats is an issue get an XK8 and in essence it is a two seater!

Agree with much of that, mine even has heated leathers and fake woodgrain, it's a turbo petrol so has a nice spread of torque but it's a mk1 so older French stuff has comfort in bags over firm seats and lower profile sidewalls.

I always found Renault's very comfortable mainly due to the big soft seats and long travel suspension, noisy mind but I think the best ride is with old Frenches.

[lee_erm]

MajorMantra said:

My Mk1 estate (Zetec actually) has great ride quality on potholed lanes, but NVH levels are so much higher than in a modern car that I'd never call it "wafty". Are the higher trim levels really much better? I doubt it.

Ghias and LX's have softer springs than Zetecs. My definition of wafty must be quite different to others

[twoblacklines]

My passat b5.5 was excellent when I bought and fitted £500 of sound deadening to it!

[daveofedinburgh]

Jimbo. said:

I suspect small wheels and tall tyres would go a long way to help, so whatever is suggested, perhaps (bizzarely) the lower-spec models are a better bet? They'd be less likely to have any silly "sports" suspension too.

I only say this as my company car is a base-spec Kia Ceed. Not the most PH of cars by any stretch of the imagination, but with 15" wheels and (I think) xxx/65/15 wheels, it rides reasonably well for a hatchback.

Another + for this point.

As someone who fitted big wheels/ lower profile tyres to perfectly good cars in the tartiness of my youth, I can testify just how much 'waft' is lost as you give in to the desire for a certain look. It makes a noticeable, detrimental difference in ride quality, even being detectable to distinctly non-car people.

It is counter-intuitive in a way, but lower spec cars will often be waftier on this basis. 'Sports' suspension is equally detrimental- I found my uncles' Z4 shockingly 'crashy', and I used to DD knackered old track toys regularly.

I think the wheelbase thing may be the biggest issue though- how do you replicate that LWB smoothness in a smaller car? Some small cars will do it better than others, but it will always be a compromise.

Interesting thread though!