Driving E89 through Wales in February

[wanderer]

Any experience of driving your E89 through Wales in February?

I am heading to Bournemouth and since there aren't any direct flights from Dublin to to Bournmouth or Southampton, my options are:
- to fly to Gatwick & rent a car
- or take the ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard & drive my own car

At the prices Hertz is quoting online for a Corsa it's about €100 of a difference to take my car on the ferry.
It's a matter of whether i take the 320D or the Z4.

Obviously there is the fuel cost as well to consider.

Just wondering about whether it's too icy the 1st - 15th Feb to be driving the E89 through that part of the country and back.
Route would be Fishguard, Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Bristol, Swindon, Southampton.

 

[brillomaster]

from Swansea onwards, its all motorway, so probably about the best maintained bits of road in the country. and Swansea to Fishguard is a major through route, would be surprised if there were any problems.

but yes, there will certainly be salt and grit on the road, if that sort of thing bothers you.

I'd avoid going on small, ungritted roads high up in the brecon beacons in february, but the M4 will be fine.

 

[clarker63]

but the M4 will be fine.

yup although the M4 is pretty boring for a Z4 driver... you're a little more "cross country" from Swindon to Southampton. It will really depend on the weather, which is increasingly unpredictable! it might be sunny and warm, or it might be snowy and cold.... I'd choose to fly personally.

 

[wanderer]

[/quote]

but yes, there will certainly be salt and grit on the road, if that sort of thing bothers you.

I'd avoid going on small, ungritted roads high up in the brecon beacons in february, but the M4 will be fine.

I had forgotten about the salt problem. Thanks for reminding me.
Also, zero chance of me going the other route through the Brecon Beacons this time of year.

but the M4 will be fine.

yup although the M4 is pretty boring for a Z4 driver... you're a little more "cross country" from Swindon to Southampton. It will really depend on the weather, which is increasingly unpredictable! it might be sunny and warm, or it might be snowy and cold.... I'd choose to fly personally.

I would prefer the spring or summer for a better sprint to be quite honest.
It's just the thoughts of driving a Corsa for a few weeks if i fly in.
I did rent one in November from LCY and it was the most aweful things ever.
AND i got hit with one of those video parking camera things at a hotel parking lot.

Don't get me wrong, i've rented small cars before and liked them, but whatever it is about that particular type...

 

[mcbutler]

You cannot answer this unless you have a crystal ball my friend .....

 

[Ole gits rule]

Living in South Wales, being totally honest take the 320D, you are not really going to have the benefit of a Z4 in Feb, its cold and typically wet so will be a waste of time.

If you are going to do that run in a Zed then April to Sept is the best bet - it may be dry

 

[wanderer]

Living in South Wales, being totally honest take the 320D, you are not really going to have the benefit of a Z4 in Feb, its cold and typically wet so will be a waste of time.

If you are going to do that run in a Zed then April to Sept is the best bet - it may be dry

Thanks. Much appreciated.

 

[Ole gits rule]

Living in South Wales, being totally honest take the 320D, you are not really going to have the benefit of a Z4 in Feb, its cold and typically wet so will be a waste of time.

If you are going to do that run in a Zed then April to Sept is the best bet - it may be dry

Thanks. Much appreciated.

No probs - been raining now for two weeks, some days torrential, there on and off but still not able to put the rood down on a zed

 

[colb]

Hit and miss with the weather in February who can forcast, not the Met Office. From Fishguard to Carmarthen its A roads some of which are dual carriageways, once past Carmarthen all dual and then the M4 motorway. I would get off that at the Bath Spa turn and go across country via Salisbury to Southampton weather permitting. Certainly beats staying on the M4 all the way to Jnc 13 at Chieveley and the A34 to Southampton. All main routes so they get cleared first ifit snows and gritted and salted during the night.