Wafting: Do modern, comfortable superminis exist?

[PumpkinSteve]

I've been thinking about making this thread for a good while now, brought about by my frustration at the lack of comfortable, small hatchbacks.

I buy and drive superminis exclusively, I do not carry passengers at all, ever, therefore it makes no sense for me to buy anything larger. I've owned a fair number of new, mainstream superminis now and have noticed that ride quality is becoming increasingly hard on newer cars. Another massive annoyance is that buying the top spec model (not necessarily any faster than base spec in a lot of cases) of a car often forces you to accept stupidly large wheels as part of the package, which then leads to interior rattles on a brand new car.

I may be coming across as a boring fker, don't get me wrong, I generally do like driving, but the few times I do fancy a spirited drive pale in comparison to the amount of times I'm doing the A-B work run. Doesn't it make more sense to have a car more suitable for the purpose it is being used for the majority of the time? In the case of massive wheels, manufacturers will most likely say that the specifications are dictated by the customers' wishes, how do they know that I want 32" alloys if I'm not given a choice??

So, my rant has taken me a little off-topic from what I originally intended Are there any superminis available that are comfortable to drive and well built these days?

[PumpkinSteve]

Codswallop said:

It's difficult to get a wafty supermini because of short wheelbases and the fact that superminis are expected to be 'nippy' and 'agile' for nipping into gaps in traffic and other tat like that.

Out of curiosity, why do you buy lots of new superminis? Your post read as though you change between new small cars often. Surely it would be cheaper to get a bigger older car which will inherently be more comfy.

Apart from not carrying passengers, parking where I live is beyond ridiculous. It's not uncommon for people to have three cars, all parked on the street. I can't even park outside my own house so I have to get a space where I can. I currently have a new Fiesta, which, at almost four metres, is pushing it as far as length goes.

I did buy a MKV Golf a couple of years ago, parts fell off it faster than I could keep up with, the ride quality was dire. I've seen that VW advert on TV that goes "...like a Golf"

Yes. ste, like a Golf.

[PumpkinSteve]

roscozs said:

My vote would be a Fiesta Titanium. Second hand bargain if you ask me, get a well kitted one and you get Sony DAB digital radio, heated full leather, climate control, voice controls, bluetooth, USB, automatic lights and wipers, heated front windscreen and tarty ambient lighting.

That is exactly what I have! They aren't comfortable to drive and only come with 16" alloys with elastic bands for tyres.

Lots of people seem to be misinterpreting the question, I'm only asking for something that is comfortable, I'm not asking which car I can add the most options too

Edited by PumpkinSteve on Sunday 4th December 10:30

[PumpkinSteve]

deviant said:

Can you not get on a Fiesta owners forum and swap the 16in rims with someone that has a lower model and is looking for bigger rims?

Or I am sure if you look on forums and ebay you would find some teenager that has put big wheels on their Fiesta and is looking trying to sell the standard smaller wheels.

I did exactly this a few weeks ago, swapped someone from the owners forum, my 16" for their 15" alloys, it has made a little difference but not much. TBH I think most of the difference has come from tyres, the 16" had some plastic Hankooks on and the new 15" have Michelin and Bridgestones on.


I do remember someone on this forum saying that they had a MINI One with the small wheels on and it was a really nice drive.