▷ Traveling by car: offers to have fun and choose the right vehicle

By choosing the right vehicle, you can avoid various problems during a long trip and not try to reach your destination as quickly as possible, but enjoy the entire driving process and vacation from the first moment.

Size doesn’t just matter for capacity

Vitoldas Milius, traveler and editor of Auto Bild Lietuva magazine, says that when looking for a car suitable for traveling, you need to start with the dimensions of the model, but this aspect is important not only for the engine capacity. When choosing, for example, between a Volkswagen Golf, a BMW 3 series or a Kia Sorento with a trunk capacity of 813 liters, additional nuances may emerge during long journeys.

“It is understandable that the size of the car is important, especially when you think about how many people plan to travel. If there are four people with children, the size will be one of the main things. However, it should also be borne in mind that a larger car is more comfortable in terms of driving comfort on a subsequent trip. Good noise insulation alone can mean a lot. And the comfort and level of equipment often depend on the size of the model,” emphasizes the specialist.

According to him there are many nuances related to additional equipment, from comfort to safety. They may seem like a small thing when choosing a car, but on longer journeys modern technology really helps and the lack of them can cause irritation.

“I personally like the fact that adaptive cruise control can be used when traveling, especially if it works accurately. This system brakes the car and returns it to the required flow speed on its own. Even simple cruise control is already a good help, because it eliminates the need to keep your foot on the accelerator for a long time. And then there is a lane keeping system, etc. in order of importance – all the helpers that allow you to move at cruising speed provide driving comfort on a long journey,” – notes more than a traveler record holder.

Manufacturers offer various cruise control systems: both simple ones that help the driver maintain speed, and more sophisticated ones that work complexly with other functions. For example, the cruise control system installed in Kia or Audi models together with the lane keeping function controls acceleration and braking to a complete stop, keeping the car at a safe distance not only from other vehicles, but also in the center of the lane.

Olympian Eglė Balčiūnaitė, who sits behind the wheel every day and often takes longer trips, says she also constantly uses the adaptive cruise control system installed in the Kia XCeed she drives. According to the Lithuanian record holder, what she likes most is that this technology allows maintaining distance between vehicles.

“On longer journeys I also like the possibility of controlling some functions by voice without touching the multimedia screen or the phone. The parking assistance system is also useful,” says the runner.

Safety and comfort together

V. Milius notes that when looking for a car suitable for travel, it is important to choose the engine responsibly, since it will be directly related to future costs. According to the expert, diesel engines remain the best choice for those who travel long distances more often.

“The suspension is also important: Here we return again to the size of the car, because the larger it is and the better the suspension, the more comfortable it is to move. Less reaction to road challenges over long kilometers will not disturb the driver as much. Noise insulation is equally important, because during long journeys various noises begin to disturb the driver and tire him. The quality of the audio system in the car is also important for me personally,” says V. Milius.

According to the expert, attention should also be paid to the lights. LED headlights, automatically switching high beams and similar technologies are found in both Volvo and BMW cars, as well as Kia and Volkswagen cars. When traveling in the dark, the benefits of modern street lighting technologies literally become apparent.

“It is related to both comfort and safety, so it should be a priority for those who love to travel,” emphasizes V. Milius.

E. Balčiūnaitė, who is constantly traveling from home for training, competitions or camps and health checks in different cities, says that safety is also at the top of his priorities.

“For me, safety unequivocally comes first. Driving should not be a challenge, but a pleasure and a strong sense of security is ensured. And then all the other things are important: economy, comfort, reliability,” observes the athlete.

E. Balčiūnaitė, who recently started driving a Kia XCeed, says that this choice was thoughtful and that the car from the South Korean manufacturer met his priorities.

“I tested several models and, in my opinion, spaciousness, economy, handling, appearance, excellent visibility of the environment while driving, good noise insulation, soft suspension – in all these aspects the model exceeded my expectations,” says the athlete.

Recommended for having fun

V. Milius notes that drivers in our country begin to take holidays only after reaching the final destination. If the goal is, for example, in Croatia or Italy, you may need to travel several thousand kilometers to reach it. The specialist advises not to try to overcome this distance as quickly as possible.

“My advice is to discover Poland or other countries that are on the travel route and not try to do the whole route in one go. It is better to enjoy the holiday and the journey itself from the first kilometre, stopping from time to time.”

There is a lot of information on the Internet, where it’s nice to stop and do something interesting, so you can easily plan trips where you will be successful and have fun. It is especially important that the driver does not empathize and does not torture passengers: whether adults or children. I know that the possible distance to travel is very individual, but it is better not to create additional worries and enjoy the holiday”, suggests an experienced traveler.

Furthermore, V. Milius advises those planning a vacation itinerary to plan their time in such a way that they can drive as long as possible during daylight hours.

“Regardless of the car lights, due to physiological characteristics we usually sleep at night and do something during the day. Therefore it is better to try to plan the trip according to this cycle”, wishes the specialist.