Do "special" cars become less exciting if driven daily?

[littlelewis6]

I’ve had my Toyota GT86 for a little over a half a year now, and she is still as fabulous as day one, however there is a certain sense of familiarity that accompanies driving a car on a daily basis. A lot of people have bought the Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ / Scion FRS (RIP Scion) as a second, third or even fourth car, to be used on weekends and special occasions, I however, have not, I have bought mine as my sole car. This has meant that the “special-ness” that comes with a weekend car is quite lost on me as I don’t really get that feeling, it’s just my car. That is until recently…

I have recently embarked on what I would call and unusual undertaking, one which has an unexpected side effect. I have been working in car procurement for a national company which involves travelling up and down the country to cars so as to appraise and hopefully buy them. This has involved a lot of driving of a company vehicle as well as a lot of driving of other vehicles, usually quite ordinary ones. The unusual side effect of this is that I have come to re-appreciate the “special-ness” of my car again; its low seating position, connected steering, hugging seats, engaging gearbox, and the wonderment that had originally driven my decision to buy it in the first place.

This recent revelation has meant I can fall in love with my car all over again and really appreciate the values and wonder I originally lusted after, as well as a slight sense of smugness as I pass people in their euro boxes with the full knowledge that I am probably enjoying my driving experience much more than they are theirs. It would be interesting to see if people who use even more special cars than mine regularly also lose that excitement over time?

[AdamIndy]

Although my car is not special, I whole heartedly agree. I too drive a lot of very normal cars and it's nice to get back into my own car with it's fantastic chassis that feels alive rather than many of the beigemobiles I have to drive.

If was driving it all the time I feel I would just get too used to my own car and wouldn't appreciate it as much. Driving as many cars as I do, it confirms how good my old nail really is.

I don't think it matter how special the car is, one would get used to it and lose its specialness.

[danllama]

It's an interesting point for discussion. I've had SW20 MR2's for daily driving for the last 4 years. My current one is a turbo with close to 300hp. None of them have been the most comfortable thing to drive on UK town roads (motorways are a different story, great GT cars), but it doesn't matter because they are great drivers cars. That said, some things do grate on you at times.

Then recently I added an E36 323i to my stable. Ok, it's still just another old car, but it really has brought the pleasure back to driving the MR2 again, because I split my driving between them, and they are completely different cars in every aspect. I think they compliment each other VERY well.

Its arguable whether an MR2 is a special car, but I think they are, and they aren't an ideal only car. They're a pretty committed compromise. I never stopped enjoying driving them, but now I look forward to it even more when I do!

This also reminds me of the pure joy of getting back from a holiday where I've been driving around in a numb VW or Opel, to be greeted by my MR2 in the car park. Its like driving one for the first time again. All the smells hit you, the sounds, and ridiculous driving position and eager clutch. The realisation of how effortless 0-60 is. Fantastic.

Edited by danllama on Monday 20th February 23:34

[vikingaero]

Of course. I commute now in the 1.0 litre Daihatsu Shed. It's rattly, it falls over in corners, but it's fun. When I jump back in the Clubman or the 520 it's "Oooooooohhhhhh!" - The handling, the power, the solidity, the refinement etc...

[Snails]

I think a lot will come down to just how much you enjoy that car.

I had a Clio V6 and I used it every day and every day it felt like something special, every journey felt like an event. I loved it, my enthusiasm for it wasn't dampened by using it all the time. Then, winter came and it went in the garage for 4 or 5 months. I genuinely missed driving it as I used in winter was a Clio 172, which whilst being another Clio is a completely different driving experience. I couldn't wait for spring to come. When it came back out in Spring, the first drive was fantastic, but it wasn't that much more special or exciting than when I'd used it every day. I think part of that came down to just how much I enjoyed the car regardless of if it was everyday or once in 4 months.

[Aston Traveller]

I drive my car whenever I can. To work when the weather is nice ( preferably not raining). Friends with the same make only drive at the weekends or special occasions and say they don't understand me. They say it would not feel special using it daily. It always feels special to me every time.
I aim to put as many miles on it as possible

[kambites]

I've used my Elise as a daily driver for ten years and I still enjoy it.

[HappyMidget]

31k miles in my VXR8 in 2 years and every time I drive it I love it. I also love driving my wife's Adam S. I love driving. I enjoy driving. All cars can be fun if you accept the parameters.

[Escort3500]

I think mine probably would if I drove it every day. I only use it very occasionally during the winter (if the roads are dry and reasonably salt-free etc) and about once a week or fortnight during the rest of the year. It's still hugely enjoyable when I do though; if it was a daily the novelty would quickly wear off I think.

[21TonyK]

I drove an E46 M3 for a couple of years and after a week or so the novelty wore off. Then went to a Lotus Exige with a few track tweaks. Ran that on track and road for 6-7 years, funny rubber and harnesses at -2 on Cornish back roads was "exciting" in the sense it resulted in a lot of new fibreglass and paint!

[OddCat]

In 2010 I bought a 7 year old, 85,000 mile Jaguar XKR for £12k and used it every day for 4 years. Rain, sun, snow (really). 30,000 miles in total and every trip was an event. Had a sports exhaust too which meant that i was performing a public service every time i went out !!

Best of all it was near faultless throughout !!!

[lj04]

Had 2 Elise but needed a car the wife would drive so I could use hers to drive my father to hospital. Bought a Cayman S, straight away I found it a boring drive at legal limits. Even the wife's golf felt more fun. Lesson learnt, like many went back to an Elise.

[AClownsPocket]

I saved my Monaro for weekend and summer use and every drive was an event.

Had a Mondeo for the commute which was also a hoot to drive so worked out quite well.

Any car I bought with my heart rather than my head I limited the driving experience with to ensure I never lost that 'feeling'.

[loose cannon]

I ran my tvr Griffith for just over a year as my only car when I first purchased it
It was great but the novelty wears off when you have to leave it were you don't want to and having to drive it in terrible weather conditions in heavy traffic was a real chore

[V8 TEJ]

Yes this is the case for many. Luckily our GT86 was bought for the Mrs who only does a couple of thousand miles per year. It still feels 'special' to me every time I get in it. The same applies to my Merc E55 AMG. This is no doubt helped by the fact I do 300 miles a week in a Peugeot 205! But saying that, when the Pug has been off the road for a short period (due to repairs) getting back in that also made it feel like the fun, tiny go kart it is.

[Alex_225]

Yes I totally agree that even if you have a car that is awesome, it becomes the norm and loses it's edge.

My CLS is a fair weather/weekend car yet to many it's not a typical weekend motor but every time I do drive it, it feels like a bit special. Yet it's essentially a four door coupé so is practical in all ways but fuel costs but it's nice to, keep it for best so to speak.

[MrJingles705]

Just don't understand the logic of having a car you "want" to drive and then driving something else. I mean, I get the financial aspects of not putting miles on something, depreciation yadda yadda but then those sort of people don't buy TVR's, Porsches, Lotus etc do they?

Me? Bought a 996, looked after it but drove it everywhere. Didn't regret a second of it and it could do the sedate or the manic depending on my mood and the scenario.

[loose cannon]

I don't think a 996 is going to try to kill you to death constantly like my tvr would in pap weather in heavy poor driving commuter situations but I didn't buy it to drive to work in, it's not a commuter car and not a jack of all trades like a 911
2 tanks of fuel just to get to work a week was a bit st also especially when the weekend came around and a Saturday drive would consume another tank of fuel, I just wasn't that flush

[MrJingles705]

loose cannon said:

I don't think a 996 is going to try to kill you to death constantly like my tvr would in pap weather in heavy poor driving commuter situations but I didn't buy it to drive to work in, it's not a commuter car and not a jack of all trades like a 911
2 tanks of fuel just to get to work a week was a bit st also especially when the weekend came around and a Saturday drive would consume another tank of fuel, I just wasn't that flush

Fair play Loved my friends Chim but it was a bit lairy-buttclench in the wet! 996 is a good compromise.

[MrJingles705]

(Although secretly I'd love an Exige..... no back seats, need em for occasional kidlet use)