Is your paranoia ruining your enjoyment of your car?

[fausTVR]

In short then, you need a shed for the shopping type errands.

My beloved TVR doesn't do supermarkets or pay-and-display duties of any kind. If I must park in town, my ding risk radar sends me down little residential side streets to find quiet parallel parking at least.

I'm becoming increasingly more paranoid about my old XK8 I use for general and winter work too. I choose quieter times to food shop and I use a side street instead of the carpark.

The vast majority of the driving public don't give a rats arse about their car and by extension anyone else's ("-get over yourself, it's only a car mate-").

[Oh Danno]

The other year I was really paranoid about leaving my car outside my house as the neighbouring kids used to belt a football around the car park and they didn't care that it used to repeatedly hammer against people's cars leaving dirty, muddy ball marks all over their cars.


When I heard the first bounce my heart sank but now a building company has blocked off the main area where they used to play and they haven't been seen since.

It's a bit sad but it's really put me off getting something nicer as I know the moment I do they'll start doing it again.

Supermarket car parks and the like I try and park next to something sporty on the reasoning that the owner might take a bit of care getting in and out of their car.

[pops and bangs]

Thanks for the replies.

I can see why possibly having a "shed" to do the mundane everyday driving makes sense. I just feel that it's a little sad that the way society is should have an effect on what we do, own etc. plus I actually really enjoy driving so like to make what would otherwise be mundane journeys more enjoyable, as opposed to only using a car on weekends etc

Sometimes I'm certain that if I didn't care I'd never have anything happen. A work colleague simply doesn't care where he parks his car and he's never suffered anything major.

It seems to be the same with washing the car too, the few times that I spend a long time washing, waxing etc a bird will take a great big st on my car after 2 minutes of me having finished

Edited by pops and bangs on Saturday 31st January 11:02

[Pan Pan Pan]

pops and bangs said:

Thanks for the replies.

I can see why possibly having a "shed" to do the mundane everyday driving makes sense. I just feel that it's a little sad that the way society is should have an effect on what we do, own etc. plus I actually really enjoy driving so like to make what would otherwise be mundane journeys more enjoyable, as opposed to only using a car on weekends etc

Sometimes I'm certain that if I didn't care I'd never have anything happen. A work colleague simply doesn't care where he parks his car and he's never suffered anything major.

It seems to be the same with washing the car too, the few times that I spend a long time washing, waxing etc a bird will take a great big st on my car after 2 minutes of me having finished

Edited by pops and bangs on Saturday 31st January 11:02

I think the advice from some here to get a low priced car for every day use, and save your P&J for high days and holidays, might be the best option. because a lot of ordinary, generally decent low priced used cars can be had for hundreds, rather than thousands of pounds. Also you could put the Elise on a limited mileage policy, and possibly even a part rather than whole year VED payment.
A low cost vehicle could also be low cost in terms of insurance premium, especially if based on a multi car policy.
This also has the advantage of making driving the P&J a pleasure virtually every time you get in it after a break in using it (Even the best of cars could start to feel a bit samey and ordinary when used as the daily driver) You would also have the advantage of having a `back up' car should one fail.
I guess having the space to keep two cars might be a limitation though.

[AlexHat]

I had paranoia of having the correct tyre pressures after I had a puncture last year. It got to the point of driving over a pothole I would think any funny/different noise was another puncture. Makes it a little hard to drive when your route to work is full of random potholes/dips/wrinkled tarmac.

[Spooge]

Im very much the same OP. As I live in a flat ive only got one space for a car. I get very OCD over parking and occasionally I will worry about it when Im out. Which is stupid really, but the general public dont seem to give a st about respecting someones property these days.

I just opt for defensive parking and try not to think about it too much.

[Hoofy]

The problem with owning a P&J and a shed is that say you go for a drive then want to pick up some food on the way home - do you drive home, get out the shed then do the shopping? Seems like a waste of time and petrol unless you live next to the supermarket. Also, if I buy a decent car, I want to use it for commuting, too!

[Pan Pan Pan]

Perhaps my P&J fun car (a Caterham 7) would be a case in point, they are generally well made, but are not in themselves a durable vehicle. They tend to last more as a result of how they are used, than how they are made.
Also there are no lockable spaces in them, and therefore keeping emergency tools etc, in them is not an option (I know of several owners who have such like stolen from their cars)
Even parking in a supermarket car park is not viable, I have returned to mine to find kids sitting in and on it (with their parents nearby doing doing nothing to stop them messing about with something that does not belong to them!) On one occasion returning to the car, I even had some Japanesse tourists sitting in it to have their photos taken by their colleagues from the coach they were on!
Also they are generally not much fun in the wet, or in poor weather. With the rears spinning up at motorway speeds following a light touch on the throttle, and the car spinning from end to end where too much right foot was used. Normal rain feels like gravel being chucked hard in your face when driving at speed.
The TG episode with Clarkson. May, and Hammond driving a Xbow, R500, and Morgan 3 wheeler give a reasonable idea of this.
Consequenty my P&J stays in the garage on days like these (but there a plenty of dry, sunny days, to more than make up for the crap days, and of course having a second cheapo car, means I am not racking up thousands of extra miles on the P&J, doing boring commuting, shopping runs etc. I don't see the 7 as mere transport, But purely used for driving fun. Using my P&J in this way, is perhaps the opposite of turning up a track day, and being given a Reliant 3 wheeler to use for the entire day, e.g a complete waste of time.

[Skylinecrazy]

How about paranoia that the car is going to break?...

I have a dirty old passat for daily duties, so when it comes to parking I don't really care if someone opens the door into it.

[Hoofy]

AlexHat said:

random potholes

Do you ever find potholes laid out in an orderly fashion?

[bqf]

Its all about the shed! I have an 11 year old audi allroad for main shopping/junk miles duty, and I couldn't give a toss where I park it. The car is at the end(ish) of its depreciation curve and if it dies, I'll bin it and get another shed.

We're very lucky to be able to do this in the UK - used values are laughably low for great used cars. My 'nice' stuff gets garaged over winter and taken out when the sun shines - meanwhile the shed keeps me mobile without caring about theft, scrapes, dings etc.

[Pan Pan Pan]

Skylinecrazy said:

How about paranoia that the car is going to break?...

I have a dirty old passat for daily duties, so when it comes to parking I don't really care if someone opens the door into it.

Some years back in a multi storey car park, I had big vertical dent put in the door of my daily driver, by the brainless moron who parked next to me, and didn't care about opening his door onto other peoples cars around him. Strangely when bending down to examine the dent, I accidently knocked his wing mirror, clean off the door of `his' car, Funny that!

[Skylinecrazy]

Pan Pan Pan said:

Skylinecrazy said:

How about paranoia that the car is going to break?...

I have a dirty old passat for daily duties, so when it comes to parking I don't really care if someone opens the door into it.

Some years back in a multi storey car park, I had big vertical dent put in the door of my daily driver, by the brainless moron who parked next to me, and didn't care about opening his door onto other peoples cars around him. Strangely when bending down to examine the dent, I accidently knocked his wing mirror, clean off the door of `his' car, Funny that!

It'd probably up the value of my old beast.

161k on the clock and it still gets me around the country every week!

I don't think the RX7 or a classic mini would be good at that

[skyrover]

Nope... I bought car's that I can leave anywhere have the "careworn" look

[pops and bangs]

AlexHat said:

I had paranoia of having the correct tyre pressures after I had a puncture last year. It got to the point of driving over a pothole I would think any funny/different noise was another puncture. Makes it a little hard to drive when your route to work is full of random potholes/dips/wrinkled tarmac.

I'm the exact same. When I hit a pothole if I hear any funny noises I assume I've caused some damage.

To be honest whenever I hear a noise that I've perhaps not noticed before, even with the engine idling I suddenly start thinking something is wrong.

Or when I scrape the underneath of my car on speed bumps again I start assuming I've done serious damage.

I know that ultimately I'm the one with the "issues". Unfortunately it's just the way I am, I obsess over the smallest things, and always assume the worst.

I am trying to change as it does ruin the enjoyment of anything I own.

Edited by pops and bangs on Saturday 31st January 13:55

[MondeoMan1981]

I have a similar issue in that I had to return my car and get it replaced so I'm kinda waiting for the fault to appear in the new one...

[swisstoni]

I even park my sheds out of trouble if I can - can't help myself. I'd much rather park on the street than in a public car park - far to many door bangers and spatially challenged around, especially as car park spaces have failed to expand with modern cars.

[SidewaysSi]

pops and bangs said:

AlexHat said:

I had paranoia of having the correct tyre pressures after I had a puncture last year. It got to the point of driving over a pothole I would think any funny/different noise was another puncture. Makes it a little hard to drive when your route to work is full of random potholes/dips/wrinkled tarmac.

I am the exact same. When I hit a pothole if I hear any funny noises I assume I've caused some damage.

To be honest whenever I hear a noise that I've perhaps not noticed before, even with the engine idling I suddenly start thinking something is wrong.

Or when I scrape the underneath of my car on speed bumps again I start assuming I've done serious damage.

I know that ultimately I'm the one with the "issues". Unfortunately it's just the way I am, I obsess over the smallest things, and always assume the worst.

I am trying to change as it does ruin the enjoyment of anything I own.

Edited by pops and bangs on Saturday 31st January 13:55

I am exactly the same - I have OCD, particularly anything car related. I too have an Elise and Caterham, neither of which are good for parking in public spaces, primarily being so low and not having bumpers. I seriously worry about clam damage to the Lotus and someone taking off a carbon cycle wing from the Caterham.

Like others have said, one option is the shed route (my choice is a W124 Merc), however I do think that you will inevitably use that car more than the Lotus as becomes a lot easier (I do roughly 6k in the Merc, 2k in the Elise and 3k in the Seven p.a). Seems like you love driving and no matter how you cut it, there is no way any shed will give you the same pleasure as an Elise.

If you can't bear to say "to hell with it" and use your Elise (be that not wanting to see a deterioration in its cosmetics or for financial reasons), another option is to sell your current car and get a "sheddier" Elise. A good used S1 for instance will probably give you as much of the driving pleasure with more useability, particularly if it is not pristine. I am not saying that the car need be completely battle worn, instead be mechanically brilliant but will some slight cosmetics e.g. stone chips.

Hopefully in your mind you can financially bank the cost of a respray in a few years but in the meantime be able to enjoy driving and using an Elise.

[Zed 44]

Yes, very sad. I used to have an Isuzu Trooper with a front mounted winch and two tow balls plus a rear mounted sliding hitch for my work car. That was pretty intimidating I guess.

I do and feel everything the OP does with my present pride and joy but I don't wait in it. However, I do think the Trooper would be good to have back as a daily.

[Pan Pan Pan]

SidewaysSi said:

pops and bangs said:

AlexHat said:

I had paranoia of having the correct tyre pressures after I had a puncture last year. It got to the point of driving over a pothole I would think any funny/different noise was another puncture. Makes it a little hard to drive when your route to work is full of random potholes/dips/wrinkled tarmac.

I am the exact same. When I hit a pothole if I hear any funny noises I assume I've caused some damage.

To be honest whenever I hear a noise that I've perhaps not noticed before, even with the engine idling I suddenly start thinking something is wrong.

Or when I scrape the underneath of my car on speed bumps again I start assuming I've done serious damage.

I know that ultimately I'm the one with the "issues". Unfortunately it's just the way I am, I obsess over the smallest things, and always assume the worst.

I am trying to change as it does ruin the enjoyment of anything I own.

Edited by pops and bangs on Saturday 31st January 13:55

I am exactly the same - I have OCD, particularly anything car related. I too have an Elise and Caterham, neither of which are good for parking in public spaces, primarily being so low and not having bumpers. I seriously worry about clam damage to the Lotus and someone taking off a carbon cycle wing from the Caterham.

Like others have said, one option is the shed route (my choice is a W124 Merc), however I do think that you will inevitably use that car more than the Lotus as becomes a lot easier (I do roughly 6k in the Merc, 2k in the Elise and 3k in the Seven p.a). Seems like you love driving and no matter how you cut it, there is no way any shed will give you the same pleasure as an Elise.

If you can't bear to say "to hell with it" and use your Elise (be that not wanting to see a deterioration in its cosmetics or for financial reasons), another option is to sell your current car and get a "sheddier" Elise. A good used S1 for instance will probably give you as much of the driving pleasure with more useability, particularly if it is not pristine. I am not saying that the car need be completely battle worn, instead be mechanically brilliant but will some slight cosmetics e.g. stone chips.

Hopefully in your mind you can financially bank the cost of a respray in a few years but in the meantime be able to enjoy driving and using an Elise.

I get some pleasure from driving the day to day car, just in the knowledge that the P&J car is tucked up safe in the garage, and I don't have to risk using it in snow, ice, salt, high winds which have blown dustbin lids, and tree branches into or onto it, or in car parks where morons lurk ready to open their doors into it, or let supermarket trollies bash into it, and as noted before, `every' mile spent in the P & J car is a fun mile, not a boring commute to work, trip to the supermarket/ landfill site, boring sh*tter of a mile.
Also the sense of enjoyment when getting into the P & J car after a longish interval is increased. `Almost' like getting into it for the first time! Chances are, if I had had to use the P & J car as a daily driver, I would have got fed up with it and had to sell it for this reason, long long ago.