What’s your ‘driving fit’?

We’ve seen many versions of this meme, but it really does apply here. There are two types of people: One thinks that 15 minutes in the car is ‘too far’ and the other thinks that 6 hours is a ‘casual drive’. And they end up living together and sharing a vehicle.

Everybody has their own ‘driving fit’, or the maximum amount of time they can spend in the car. This often depends on your current lifestyle, or even how you grew up. If you had some fantastic road trips when you were younger, the odds are you’ll enjoy a long chilled journey any time.

However, if your road trip memories consist of being stuck in a van with all of your fighting siblings and cousins, you might spend the rest of your life avoiding a similar experience.

Maybe you grew up without a car in the family and now you’re either making up for it by spending as much time driving around as possible, or you see it as a treat and only drive when absolutely necessary.

This is what we mean by ‘driving fit’—some people really enjoy long trips while others try to make their trips as quick as possible. Both are normal! All drivers have their preferences and if you know what kind of traveller you are, you can make sure you arrange everything in your vehicle to perfectly suit your needs

Everyone has a say

The great thing about social media is that we can do cool surveys and find out what types of drivers are out there and what they’re looking for in a car. We recently asked the Suzuki community if they prefer long road trips or prefer to just ‘pop to the shops’. The results were 60% in favour of road trips and 40% in favour of doing short and simple drives. 

We followed up by asking our ‘pop to the shops’ group what the maximum amount of time is that they want to spend on the road:

• 15 - 30 mins: 23 %
• 30 min - 1 hour: 38.5%
• 1 - 2 hours: 38.5%

This is fascinating because one to two hours really can be considered a short road trip. This means that even our ‘pop to the shops’ group really do enjoy driving and would probably enjoy a proper road trip much more than they expect. 

We had some brilliant answers to “What is your idea of a road trip?”

• Long trip with two friends. Random stops. Getting lost. Loud music and singing. All the snacks! The journey, not the destination. Embracing moments over outcomes.

• Almost anywhere! I love driving as long as I know I'm safe (GPS close at hand).

• Interesting and beautiful places. The wilder the better!

The soundtrack

Another interesting survey asked drivers what they look for in a car, no matter what their ‘driving fit’ is. Nearly all respondents listed ‘sound’ in their top three, which just shows that most of us want to enjoy our cars. We all have our favourite music and if we can play it while driving, it can ease the frustration of traffic or add to the vibe of the road trip.

The fact that so many people rate sound as important means South Africans really know how to enjoy their cars. Whether it’s a cross-country trip or a pop to the shops, we are singing all the way!

Safety conscious

It’s encouraging to see that safety is also always in the top three in these surveys. South Africans may be a wild bunch, but we’re realistic and know where our priorities are.

Buyers place a lot of emphasis on safety features when looking for a new vehicle and many local drivers know the value of caring for their vehicles to ensure it stays safe and in good working order. This includes

• Regular service and maintenance—it’s the only way to ensure everything is working as it should.
• Regular tyre checks—this includes wheel alignment and balancing.
• Ensuring your spare wheel is in good working order.
• Making sure your wheel-changing kit is in good working order.
• Making sure you have an emergency triangle or even a reflective jacket should you get stuck next to the road.
• Taking regular breaks if you’re going on a long trip.

It doesn’t matter if you do short drives every day or a few long trips throughout the year, safety should always be at the top of your list. Visit our blog for many handy safety tips.

Comfort Counts

Yes, comfort regularly makes it into the top three things that people want in a car. And we have to agree: most of us spend a significant amount of time in our vehicles, so it’s only fair that we’re comfortable. Some of our survey participants said:

• Comfort, absolutely! I'm fairly short and enjoy having the ability to lift my seat and adjust the height of the steering wheel. I love having a vehicle that can leave others in the dust :) and have the power to move fast when needed. I have kids so space is something that I would look for in a vehicle.

• Comfort, fuel-efficiency, easy to drive.

• Performance and comfort. I feel a car should be able to go a certain speed and be comfortable, especially on those long trips.

Many comfort features are universal, such as the quality of the seat, how easy it is to adjust your driving position and mirrors. But everyone is different and comfort features tend to change depending on how you use your vehicle.

For some, it is vital to have different types of packing space: for your phone, water bottle, snacks etc. How your vehicle fits in with your lifestyle is part of the comfort we’re all referring to.

For others, it may be boot space, fold-flat rear seats or even additional load dividers to keep everything organised. The brilliant thing about modern vehicles such as the Suzuki range is that there is a vehicle (and accessories) that will ensure you’re always comfortable, no matter how far you’re driving.

Fit to drive

At the end of the day, no matter your ‘driving fit’, it’s clear that our cars are still very personal to us. You want your vehicle to add to your lifestyle, keep you safe and comfortable, and be ready for any kind of adventure.

Keep these ‘driving fit’ details in mind next time you’re looking for a car because knowing your driving style means you’ll be more conscious of what you’re looking for in a vehicle.

Want to know how your dream wheels feel on the road? Book a test drive now.