110+ miles a day in polo = me feel burnt out

[pistonbrah1]

hey guys,

So i have a 2010 polo, I do a 120 mile round trip on a regular basis.

at the end of each 60 mile trip, i dont feel too bad but cumulatively it builds up.

I was wondering if its normal to have no leg power at the end of this type of drive?

If I were to buy for example a merc or volvo estate / suv (with cruise control gadgets etc) would this feel much different after 100+ miles?

Thanks!

[fastraxx]

pistonbrah1 said:

hey guys,
If I were to buy for example a merc or volvo estate / suv (with cruise control gadgets etc) would this feel much different after 100+ miles?

Thanks!

yes

[tattarrattat]

I find these driving aids very useful yes. They provide relief, not just physically but mentally. Radar cruise is worth looking out for.

Some will argue they reduce attention. I find the opposite to be the case. I am spending less energy, so am generally more alert .

[Saweep]

Perfectly normal.

Buy a bigger car.

[xjay1337]

Even a Golf with cruise control will feel a world away.

[Deerfoot]

I used to do a 100 mile round trip commute in a 2005 Polo TDI 130, 5 days a week for 18 months.

It was OK, in hindsight I`d have been better off in something quieter but I made do.

I put my tiredness down to the driving standards on the M27..

[Pan Pan Pan]

I believe a lot of factors combine to affect how a person feels after a long drive, with the oddity being, that it is not as if a driver has to physically pedal a car along the road to get to where they want to go. Nearly all cars these days have power brakes, and steering, as a minimum.
I have done a two hundred mile journey in an old, (and old technology) car, and felt totally knackered when reaching my destination. Yet I have also done exactly the same journey in a much more powerful, smooth, and quiet car, and got out at the other end, feeling totally fresh and fine, and like I have only done a journey of a few miles, instead of two hundred.
I think the word `cumulative' has a lot to do with it. Ok, you can get into a car that is not particularly powerful, but also not particularly noisy, or slow,, and with a not particularly rough ride, and do a few miles in it, and it feels fine , but use the exactly the same car for a long journey, and it feels like you have been put through the mangle.
So I believe it is the cumulative effects of having slightly less power than you want (with the smaller engine having to work harder) which creates a little more noise, and a little more vibration, with a slightly less smooth ride. and with the possibly of having slightly less comfortable seats, and slightly less room which have the greater effect on how a driver feels at the end of a long journey.

[valiant]

I regularly do a similar journey for work and I went from a focus ecoboost to a Volvo V60 and it’s a worlds difference in how it handles it.

Focus was fine, but as you say, cumulatively it becomes knackering after a few weeks so my criteria was good seats, auto, cruise, bigish diesel motor, good stereo, longer wheelbase, climate control and a simply nicer place to be. Mpg, whilst obviously a consideration, was not the be all and end all of my decision as gaining a few extra mpgs didn’t outweigh my comfort. As it is I get around 45mpg which is fine and a decent trade off for a comfortable and stress free drive.

Volvo D5 was built to this kind of work and it does it effortlessly. Focus nearly killed my back after a few weeks, hateful seats in an otherwise decent car.

[geeks]

It could be the car, also could be your driving position and style.

I do regular trips much longer than that in a car smaller and considerably more unsuitable and I am fine.

[james_TW]

I used to do 100 odd miles a day and in a bigger car, it can help as the ride can be smoother - Nowadays I do about an hour ish each way (37 miles) in a Kia Ceed which is perfectly fine

The two things that make a difference to me are cruise control (don't need to balance my foot on the accelerator) and a good driving position - The latter makes more difference than you realise. My seat is low, relatively far back (considering my 5ft8 height), a little upright and a position where I generally hold my arms at ten to 2 - This give my legs full support and stops back, thigh and calf ache. Even a slight adjustment can lead me to proper discomfort and pain which can be cumulative - Lumbar support was painful though.

Get your seating position right - and if you look at a new car, try to have more than 15 minutes in it to check the seat and steering wheel adjustment possibilities. I made sure that I could adjust the seat up and down as well as back and forth - steering adjustment helps, but the seat makes a big difference.

Don't be tempted to have a seat position where you're holding the steering wheel with one hand at the top which, in my experience, is uncomfortable, wearing and makes you look like a tool.

[C7 JFW]

Having played this game I'd recommend:

- Cruise, doesn't need to be radar-controlled, even basic cruise will help masses
- A decent, supportive seat makes the world of difference
- You'll be staggered how much a bit of soundproofing fitted to a car can improve your quality of life
- Pace of travel, consider looking at 60mph. The difference in arrival time won't be crazy, but you will have to deal with fewer people flying past as you will work with slower traffic. Reduce the pace, reduce your stress level and feel more at ease
- Get a longer-wheelbase car, it'll deal with the road surface much better

If I had to choose again, I'd go for a 5 series. Diesel if you do north of 20,000 miles, petrol if not. If you can't afford a 5 series, a 3 series diesel should be pretty inexpensive.

[ZX10R NIN]

Low NVH comfortable seats an adequate amount of power an auto box & just normal cruise control will all add up to a big difference in how you feel at the end of the week

Here are some cars that have great seats as well as what I listed above.

CLK220 Sport these come with Orthopedic seats as standard

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Saab 9-5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

9-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

S80

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

S60

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[CDP]

pistonbrah1 said:

hey guys,

So i have a 2010 polo, I do a 120 mile round trip on a regular basis.

at the end of each 60 mile trip, i dont feel too bad but cumulatively it builds up.

I was wondering if its normal to have no leg power at the end of this type of drive?

If I were to buy for example a merc or volvo estate / suv (with cruise control gadgets etc) would this feel much different after 100+ miles?

Thanks!

How many days a week are you doing this? I'm guessing work from home for a day or two is not an option?

[Deerfoot]

C7 JFW said:

- Pace of travel, consider looking at 60mph. The difference in arrival time won't be crazy, but you will have to deal with fewer people flying past as you will work with slower traffic. Reduce the pace, reduce your stress level and feel more at ease

The first month or so of my commute I used to 'make progress' and it was actually more stressful than just cruising.

Journey time wasn't increased hugely but I only needed to refuel once a week as opposed to once every 4 days when I slowed down. It became a bit of a challenge to get more and more miles out of a tank full.

[valiant]

Deerfoot said:

C7 JFW said:

- Pace of travel, consider looking at 60mph. The difference in arrival time won't be crazy, but you will have to deal with fewer people flying past as you will work with slower traffic. Reduce the pace, reduce your stress level and feel more at ease

The first month or so of my commute I used to 'make progress' and it was actually more stressful than just cruising.

Journey time wasn't increased hugely but I only needed to refuel once a week as opposed to once every 4 days when I slowed down. It became a bit of a challenge to get more and more miles out of a tank full.

So much this.

Just chill and learn to mix it up with the lorries. You don’t actually lose that much time but the reduced stress helps make the drive that bit easier.

Nothing more stressful as booting it at every opportunity, tailgating slower traffic, heaving on the brakes when a lorry decides to do an overtake, etc, etc - after a while this tires you more than anything.

[CDP]

valiant said:

Deerfoot said:

C7 JFW said:

- Pace of travel, consider looking at 60mph. The difference in arrival time won't be crazy, but you will have to deal with fewer people flying past as you will work with slower traffic. Reduce the pace, reduce your stress level and feel more at ease

The first month or so of my commute I used to 'make progress' and it was actually more stressful than just cruising.

Journey time wasn't increased hugely but I only needed to refuel once a week as opposed to once every 4 days when I slowed down. It became a bit of a challenge to get more and more miles out of a tank full.

So much this.

Just chill and learn to mix it up with the lorries. You don’t actually lose that much time but the reduced stress helps make the drive that bit easier.

Nothing more stressful as booting it at every opportunity, tailgating slower traffic, heaving on the brakes when a lorry decides to do an overtake, etc, etc - after a while this tires you more than anything.

Conversely when I was commuting 120 miles per day it was on very quiet Norfolk/Suffolk B roads in an MR2 and going through a pair of back tyres every 8 to 10 weeks - fronts lasted twice as long. It was still tiring but I normally arrived at work or home with a big grin...

[Don Roque]

Even just a car from the next class up will make a huge difference. A Focus, Astra or Golf with a decent spec will make a world of difference and can be had very cheaply.

[RSTurboPaul]

CDP said:

valiant said:

Deerfoot said:

C7 JFW said:

- Pace of travel, consider looking at 60mph. The difference in arrival time won't be crazy, but you will have to deal with fewer people flying past as you will work with slower traffic. Reduce the pace, reduce your stress level and feel more at ease

The first month or so of my commute I used to 'make progress' and it was actually more stressful than just cruising.

Journey time wasn't increased hugely but I only needed to refuel once a week as opposed to once every 4 days when I slowed down. It became a bit of a challenge to get more and more miles out of a tank full.

So much this.

Just chill and learn to mix it up with the lorries. You don’t actually lose that much time but the reduced stress helps make the drive that bit easier.

Nothing more stressful as booting it at every opportunity, tailgating slower traffic, heaving on the brakes when a lorry decides to do an overtake, etc, etc - after a while this tires you more than anything.

Conversely when I was commuting 120 miles per day it was on very quiet Norfolk/Suffolk B roads in an MR2 and going through a pair of back tyres every 8 to 10 weeks - fronts lasted twice as long. It was still tiring but I normally arrived at work or home with a big grin...

I did 100 miles a (week)day for a year in a Mk1 MX5, roof down for probably 98% of the time - I have the same view as this, because even if you'd dread the trip and just wanted to be at home, I was always grinning and very much awake by the time I got home.

Motorways are dulllll (and cold if you're basically sat in the same position for 20+ minutes and just rotating the steering wheel a few degrees left and right when it's raining/snowing) but if you're commuting in rush hour, just chill in lane 1 and arrive at the junction you're coming off at exactly the same time as the person you joined the motorway behind, who has spent the entire journey on and off the brakes and/or standing still in lane 2/3.

And if you have an alternative route that's fun, you can go that way and arrive a bit later but a lot more exercised and involved, which is even better when it's a balmy summer evening (or more 'exciting' when it's snowing... lol).

[Welshbeef]

You want an auto - commuting in big traffic in a stick shift means potentially hundreds of gear changes and not fun gear changes either.

Climate control
Heated seats
Big comfy seats not tight bolstered seats

[CDP]

RSTurboPaul said:

CDP said:

valiant said:

Deerfoot said:

C7 JFW said:

- Pace of travel, consider looking at 60mph. The difference in arrival time won't be crazy, but you will have to deal with fewer people flying past as you will work with slower traffic. Reduce the pace, reduce your stress level and feel more at ease

The first month or so of my commute I used to 'make progress' and it was actually more stressful than just cruising.

Journey time wasn't increased hugely but I only needed to refuel once a week as opposed to once every 4 days when I slowed down. It became a bit of a challenge to get more and more miles out of a tank full.

So much this.

Just chill and learn to mix it up with the lorries. You don’t actually lose that much time but the reduced stress helps make the drive that bit easier.

Nothing more stressful as booting it at every opportunity, tailgating slower traffic, heaving on the brakes when a lorry decides to do an overtake, etc, etc - after a while this tires you more than anything.

Conversely when I was commuting 120 miles per day it was on very quiet Norfolk/Suffolk B roads in an MR2 and going through a pair of back tyres every 8 to 10 weeks - fronts lasted twice as long. It was still tiring but I normally arrived at work or home with a big grin...

I did 100 miles a (week)day for a year in a Mk1 MX5, roof down for probably 98% of the time - I have the same view as this, because even if you'd dread the trip and just wanted to be at home, I was always grinning and very much awake by the time I got home.

Motorways are dulllll (and cold if you're basically sat in the same position for 20+ minutes and just rotating the steering wheel a few degrees left and right when it's raining/snowing) but if you're commuting in rush hour, just chill in lane 1 and arrive at the junction you're coming off at exactly the same time as the person you joined the motorway behind, who has spent the entire journey on and off the brakes and/or standing still in lane 2/3.

And if you have an alternative route that's fun, you can go that way and arrive a bit later but a lot more exercised and involved, which is even better when it's a balmy summer evening (or more 'exciting' when it's snowing... lol).

I'm just pleased I lived...