You know that you love driving....
Discussion
When it doesnt matter what car you have, but you have some great open roads. I was on holiday visiting family in Ireland. Done the usual family visits, sight seeing, eating and drinking loads etc.
One night the family all seemed to just stay in and I was in a mood to go out. I decided to go for a drive. Meant to be an hour. I returned three hours later.
All I had to drive? A brand new ECOnetic Mondeo. Seemed a nice mode of transport when I picked it up from the airport. Not the last word in exciting drives I hear you say? I thought the same when I picked it up from the airport.
Did not matter one trot though. With some empty rural roads and a half tank of diesel I just went exploring. I found some great roads and just enjoyed driving. I met about twenty cars the whole time and no one to impede progress. I was quite surprised. No drag racer, but a fairly capable rep mobile. Not that economical with my driving that night. :-)
Anyone else enjoyed a hire car/new location whilst on holiday? I think the escape from work, day to day life and some great roads help get you in the mood.
Obviously a quicker car with a great engine note would add to the experience, but I really found my love for driving again on holiday.
Then the M25 called and the moment was lost.
One night the family all seemed to just stay in and I was in a mood to go out. I decided to go for a drive. Meant to be an hour. I returned three hours later.
All I had to drive? A brand new ECOnetic Mondeo. Seemed a nice mode of transport when I picked it up from the airport. Not the last word in exciting drives I hear you say? I thought the same when I picked it up from the airport.
Did not matter one trot though. With some empty rural roads and a half tank of diesel I just went exploring. I found some great roads and just enjoyed driving. I met about twenty cars the whole time and no one to impede progress. I was quite surprised. No drag racer, but a fairly capable rep mobile. Not that economical with my driving that night. :-)
Anyone else enjoyed a hire car/new location whilst on holiday? I think the escape from work, day to day life and some great roads help get you in the mood.
Obviously a quicker car with a great engine note would add to the experience, but I really found my love for driving again on holiday.
Then the M25 called and the moment was lost.
Edited by Birdster on Sunday 5th August 22:48
Last summer we had a Micra 1.3 (I think) with about 90,000km on it (cheap car rental deal the OH found 
). We had a great drive out to Ronda from near Marbella on the most fantastic twisty road (A397) with hardly any traffic on it. Sure it would have been even better in my mate's VX220 but we were almost fighting for the keys when we drove back that evening. 
I used to cover Ireland in my previous job and found some fantastic roads when travelling from Cork/Dublin over to WestPort and Limerick areas. First few times I had a Focus diesel estate and had fun, but the final time I went in a Seat Toledo 2.3 V5 and I was in heaven...in something more PH worthy I think I'd still be there now.
). We had a great drive out to Ronda from near Marbella on the most fantastic twisty road (A397) with hardly any traffic on it. Sure it would have been even better in my mate's VX220 but we were almost fighting for the keys when we drove back that evening. I used to cover Ireland in my previous job and found some fantastic roads when travelling from Cork/Dublin over to WestPort and Limerick areas. First few times I had a Focus diesel estate and had fun, but the final time I went in a Seat Toledo 2.3 V5 and I was in heaven...in something more PH worthy I think I'd still be there now.
I think this is the sort of thing that makes you a pistonhead. Just to go out and drive is great.
Whilst in LA I rented a Dodge Challenger for a couple of days to just drive to the main attractions. Me and the gf did not plan to drive too much. I ended up however, driving it for six hours each day. We went allover the place in it and way beyond what we originally planned to see. It was great to be out there and driving, even if it was an auto v6.
I also went to Gran Canaria a little while ago and ended up renting a car for a day due to some crap weather. We decided to go for a little drive, but ended up doing a lap of the island and a few of the inroads. This time it was just a VW Polo, but the open roads and twisty bends were able to make it much more exciting.
Whilst in LA I rented a Dodge Challenger for a couple of days to just drive to the main attractions. Me and the gf did not plan to drive too much. I ended up however, driving it for six hours each day. We went allover the place in it and way beyond what we originally planned to see. It was great to be out there and driving, even if it was an auto v6.
I also went to Gran Canaria a little while ago and ended up renting a car for a day due to some crap weather. We decided to go for a little drive, but ended up doing a lap of the island and a few of the inroads. This time it was just a VW Polo, but the open roads and twisty bends were able to make it much more exciting.
ked when we handed it back 2 weeks and 5000km later. I still have fond memories and given the state of the roads it would have had me wincing in anything nicer. Dispatched a good few Dacias up the Transfagarasan too.Not a rental, but I've just been enjoying my 'new' S60 so much. I love driving it. The more miles the better. And since it's a 'shed'. I love it ! It's driven people from/to airport. Towed rowing boat/canoes. Gone to the beach/lake. Done shopping runs. Been up to the drag strip (to watch). Been to the classic car show in Rättvik. Done everything really. Done loads of miles whilst on holiday the last couple of weeks. And another 600 kms on the cards for tomorrow
But then it's back to work
Oh and I managed to get hold of an AC refill kit, so now the ACC blows nice and cold !
But then it's back to work
Oh and I managed to get hold of an AC refill kit, so now the ACC blows nice and cold !
Edited by Fartgalen on Monday 6th August 00:21
Drove left hand drive for the first time last year whilst doing some work in France. The car hired was a 1.5 DCi Clio. I have to say there's some brilliant, quiet and open country roads out in Brittany.
The way of life out there was so much more relaxed, try finding somewhere open on a Sunday for a start! I did eventually after driving a further twenty miles from the village into a town. One or two shops and one cafe out of the whole high street. Had a great hoon getting there and back, empty roads all the way.
The way of life out there was so much more relaxed, try finding somewhere open on a Sunday for a start! I did eventually after driving a further twenty miles from the village into a town. One or two shops and one cafe out of the whole high street. Had a great hoon getting there and back, empty roads all the way.
Went for a drive (in my own car - a 28 year old beaten up BMW 323i) yesterday. Just to see a bit of the local Malaysian countryside.
4 1/2 hours and 280Km later...
Found some really nice driving roads, some great little villages and slightly different 'road kill' to the UK (lizards and monkeys). Some of the roads were just gloriously flowing with a mix of quick and slow bends - was hustling the car along without going silly and felt like I was really *driving* (as opposed to just operating a car) for the first time in ages !
Also found one of the worst 'roads' (I think they just painted the ground grey and put some white lines on it...) I have ever encountered anywhere, and some typically loopy local driving. Also found a nice new stretch of quiet dual carriageway which was great to whizz down and enjoy the staight six noise from the old girl
4 1/2 hours and 280Km later...
Found some really nice driving roads, some great little villages and slightly different 'road kill' to the UK (lizards and monkeys). Some of the roads were just gloriously flowing with a mix of quick and slow bends - was hustling the car along without going silly and felt like I was really *driving* (as opposed to just operating a car) for the first time in ages !
Also found one of the worst 'roads' (I think they just painted the ground grey and put some white lines on it...) I have ever encountered anywhere, and some typically loopy local driving. Also found a nice new stretch of quiet dual carriageway which was great to whizz down and enjoy the staight six noise from the old girl
Just like the OP, I had a Mondeo in Ireland. Picked it up from Knock and chucked it around on the long way back to Clifden. Had some fun with a local in a battered Laguna as well!
Extra proof that I love driving - I found myself taking the long way home from work in the wife's Citroen C1 (and having a good time) even though my car is a 330Ci. It does help working nights and, therefore, not seeing another car for miles at 6am on a Sunday morning
Extra proof that I love driving - I found myself taking the long way home from work in the wife's Citroen C1 (and having a good time) even though my car is a 330Ci. It does help working nights and, therefore, not seeing another car for miles at 6am on a Sunday morning
Birdster said:
JayTee94 said:
We have had this since Wednesday night, and it came to us with 680 miles on the clock. By Thursday it was past 1,000 miles after an drive to the seaside. (Whitby)
It is not a bad car actually and quite well specc'd.
Most shameless new car plug ever. It is not a bad car actually and quite well specc'd.
JayTee94 said:
O/T - The Citroen C3 we have at the monent has a similar light arrangement at the moment. 
Sorry!
Sorry!
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