I changed the Honda CRV I'd had from new for twenty years in March, for a two year-old Honda Jazz Crosstar. The CRV had a spare wheel on the back and I've had to change a wheel due to puncture on three occasions in that time. The last was a year ago, when I was 100 yards from home. At 84, I didn't find it a problem. The job was done and dusted in less than fifteen minutes and I was home, probably at least an hour before the RAC would have arrived. A lot of modern cars don't come with a spare wheel, there isn't any space in the boot for one. The penny-pinching manufacturers give you a can of "gunk" and a Micky Mouse air pump to put it in. When I bought the Jazz I checked it out in its compartment in the boot, at least it hadn't been used. I visit a Honda Jazz message board and the problem of, "no spare wheel," comes up regularly and many owners buy one. What convinced me was the post by one owner who said he'd had a puncture and used the gunk which just oozed out of the hole in the tyre. He called the AA and all they could do was whistle up a transporter to collect the car. It took hours. Even if you manage to get the gunk to work. The tyre is effectively ruined, as most tyre places say they can't be repaired once it's had the gunk in it. Also you have to buy another tin of gunk. So I've ordered a space saving spare wheel and a bag to put it in. It comes with a jack and wheel brace, but I'll use the tommy bar and socket from my old socket set. I also have a big ring spanner that I can fit on the end of the tommy bar, which will give me more leverage, if the wheel nuts have been overtightened by an enthusiastic service engineer with an air spanner. It can go in the boot, or in the foot well behind the driver's seat if I need the boot for something else, the proximity of the back of the driver's seat will stop it rolling about. The boot is very small. But I bought a boot tray and a roll up rubber mat. To protect the backs of the rear seats when I've got my golf gear in the car. There'd still be room for it back there. I'm hopeful I will always have possibly wasted my near £150 and never have a puncture, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
All cars have a spare but it's an itty biity "can't drive over 25 miles on" tire. Looks like a big wheelbarrow tire. When I had my Ram truck I kept a spare underneath that was a normal tire but never had to use it.
Riley you have some interesting stories. My spare is awkwardly located outside and underneath the boot.
The one on the back of my CRV had a solid plastic cover, which could unzipped. The spare wheel was easy enough to take off, but you had to lift the other one up and align the holes with the studs to get that one on. Not as easy as it sounds, due to the weight. Mine was the same as this, but different reg of course.
My spare wheel and bag have arrived and it fits nicely in the centre of the boot and won't move about. "What were the chances of that happening?" You'd think it was made to take a spare wheel. There's plenty of room for shopping too. If I need the boot for a lot of "stuff" it can go in the foot well of a rear passenger seat. My only concern was for when I fold the back seats forward to get in my golf bag and electric trolley, what to do with it. But I needn't have worried, when I put it all in ready for tomorrow, there's room for it. The jack and tools easily went into the small box below the boot mat.
