  We show that Whitham type equations u_t + u u_x -L u_x = 0, where L is a
general Fourier multiplier operator of order \alpha \in [-1,1], \alpha\neq 0,
allow for small solutions to be extended beyond their expected existence time.
The result is valid for a range of quadratic dispersive equations with
inhomogeneous symbols in the dispersive range given by \alpha, and should be
extendable to other equations of the same relative dispersive strength.
