Do you still enjoy driving?
Poll: Do you still enjoy driving?
Total Members Polled: 389
Discussion
I was just reading the Aston Martin piece about EVs, and the comments. Lots of people aren't happy. It struck me, even on PH, the % of people who might buy say a new AM small. How many PHers upset by an EV AM who will be personally affected by not being able to buy an ICE version, not many.
So why are we upset? Because they're still grafting away every day so one day maybe? I think more likely, it's far more to do with 'Car Culture'. It's the same reason why PH bothers to write a buyers guide for F40s and Veyrons and I read them so happily.
Which made me think, has Car Culture and interest in cars over-taken actually using them? Who still enjoys driving?
For me, 99% of the time, it's a real chore. School runs, Supermarket runs, commuting and travelling for work, it's all urban driving in traffic of another characterless bit of motorway. The few times I find myself on a lovely road, I'm usually stuck behind some semi-conscious monospeeder and for some reason in 2023, over-taking is seen as verging on insanity, I still enjoy driving, but it’s becoming more and more frustrating.
So why are we upset? Because they're still grafting away every day so one day maybe? I think more likely, it's far more to do with 'Car Culture'. It's the same reason why PH bothers to write a buyers guide for F40s and Veyrons and I read them so happily.
Which made me think, has Car Culture and interest in cars over-taken actually using them? Who still enjoys driving?
For me, 99% of the time, it's a real chore. School runs, Supermarket runs, commuting and travelling for work, it's all urban driving in traffic of another characterless bit of motorway. The few times I find myself on a lovely road, I'm usually stuck behind some semi-conscious monospeeder and for some reason in 2023, over-taking is seen as verging on insanity, I still enjoy driving, but it’s becoming more and more frustrating.
2nd option for me. My definition of enjoyment has changed over time; it's never been about ragging it about, hitting every apex and driving and 10/10ths. My enjoyment now comes from relaxed, serene driving in something that has decent suspension and ride, but still have a turn of pace.
I love driving. Still very much do. However, I live very rural in the West Mids near the Welsh border. The roads are lovely around hear and the population lower density than a lot of the country. If I go out for a drive on a nice sunny summer evening, the roads are near empty and it's bliss.
I recently had to drive in to Wolverhampton and back home via Stourbridge on a busy weekday. I did not enjoy the driving at all. It was stop start virtually the whole time in a very drab area.
I thought if I had to do this sort of driving all the time I could fall out of love with it. Thank God I live in the countryside.
Part of it is having the appropriate car for the environment. If you're doing a lot of town driving, things like an automatic gearbox, nice comfortable seats, air conditioning, good radio etc. become more important.
I recently had to drive in to Wolverhampton and back home via Stourbridge on a busy weekday. I did not enjoy the driving at all. It was stop start virtually the whole time in a very drab area.
I thought if I had to do this sort of driving all the time I could fall out of love with it. Thank God I live in the countryside.
Part of it is having the appropriate car for the environment. If you're doing a lot of town driving, things like an automatic gearbox, nice comfortable seats, air conditioning, good radio etc. become more important.
Drew106 said:
I love driving. Still very much do. However, I live very rural in the West Mids near the Welsh border. The roads are lovely around hear and the population lower density than a lot of the country. If I go out for a drive on a nice sunny summer evening, the roads are near empty and it's bliss.
This! I live in a very similar area and love driving still.Along with cheaper house prices and a better quality of life, having access to clear, fun roads was one of the main reasons for moving this way from the south east.
That said, I even enjoy sitting on a motorway for a couple of hours! I find it oddly relaxing…
Still enjoy driving my old car, always end up chatting to people about it.
Do I still enjoy driving though? No.
Driving in London is horrible, speed-bumps, cameras, 20 mph limits and more and more aggression on the roads and far more totally s
t driving.
You need two extra pairs of eyes to see all the morons on scooters and pedestrians who have no fking idea how to cross a road.
Possibly a London thing.
Do I still enjoy driving though? No.
Driving in London is horrible, speed-bumps, cameras, 20 mph limits and more and more aggression on the roads and far more totally s
t driving. You need two extra pairs of eyes to see all the morons on scooters and pedestrians who have no f
king idea how to cross a road. Possibly a London thing.
Not really, the potholes and the fact the council are not bothered about fixing them is the straw that broke the camels back. other annoyances that we didn't used to have is every other driver driving a German SUV and assuming it is always their right of way no matter what.
Also driving a manual is getting to be a chore, I think the manual gearbox and I might be done.
Worse than that, all of the above is starting to convince me that I should get an automatic SUV too. Stick it in drive and not worry about potholes or other drivers just pulling out in front of you anymore.
Also driving a manual is getting to be a chore, I think the manual gearbox and I might be done.
Worse than that, all of the above is starting to convince me that I should get an automatic SUV too. Stick it in drive and not worry about potholes or other drivers just pulling out in front of you anymore.
Went out yesterday afternoon, perhaps it was the 30 degree heat but the roads were pretty empty, got a good fast run on my local B-road loop.
Also had a road trip to Germany last month, I love the derestricted autobahn and the ability to run hard when traffic allows.
So overall, yes there are lots of factors which make it tougher to enjoy driving, but I still get good drives from time to time, hence I voted (2).
Overall yes I do but I'm fortunate I don't have to drive at peak times very often at all, two Friday afternoons a month.
When I used to commute by car back in 2005, it took all the joy out of driving and at the weekends I didn't want to get back in the car.
We're moving from a greater London borough (albeit Surrey), 120 miles to Gloucestershire and I'm looking forward to some of the roads round there.
When I used to commute by car back in 2005, it took all the joy out of driving and at the weekends I didn't want to get back in the car.
We're moving from a greater London borough (albeit Surrey), 120 miles to Gloucestershire and I'm looking forward to some of the roads round there.
Still enjoying it most of the time
I used to work as HGV driver in my home country, the "worst type of motor" for many PH standard, diesel, slow, turn like a whale, but it was one of the time I enjoy the most.
On the road going to different places, just me and "the car"
it is the freedom that give me the joy, doesn't matter if it is a MT, AT, NA, FI or EV.
Give me a open road with no traffic and off me go
I used to work as HGV driver in my home country, the "worst type of motor" for many PH standard, diesel, slow, turn like a whale, but it was one of the time I enjoy the most.
On the road going to different places, just me and "the car"
it is the freedom that give me the joy, doesn't matter if it is a MT, AT, NA, FI or EV.
Give me a open road with no traffic and off me go
Yes, on the right road, at the right time.
and
Driving has become a chore, but I love cars.
Too many dogst drivers who just don't care. Sometimes if feels like Demolition Derby with less crashing ie people not bother to signal, changing lanes without care, pisspoor lane discipline!
But an empty twisty road is still good fun whatever the car I'm in.
and
Driving has become a chore, but I love cars.
Too many dogs
t drivers who just don't care. Sometimes if feels like Demolition Derby with less crashing ie people not bother to signal, changing lanes without care, pisspoor lane discipline!But an empty twisty road is still good fun whatever the car I'm in.
Beethree said:
Drew106 said:
I love driving. Still very much do. However, I live very rural in the West Mids near the Welsh border. The roads are lovely around hear and the population lower density than a lot of the country. If I go out for a drive on a nice sunny summer evening, the roads are near empty and it's bliss.
This! I live in a very similar area and love driving still.Along with cheaper house prices and a better quality of life, having access to clear, fun roads was one of the main reasons for moving this way from the south east.
That said, I even enjoy sitting on a motorway for a couple of hours! I find it oddly relaxing…
Back to enjoying it. As a (recent current gen) Aston owner, I am going to say I drive mine as an every day car.
As much as financially it is somewhere between painful and suicide and the odd bill has a sting (and having to contact Gaydon currently regarding a paint issue). I love the car.
I don't do many commuting miles anymore so having something special to jump in never looses the sense of occassion, the fun bit being opening the garage and realising it was not a dream. In just over a year I have fundamentally doubled the odometer from 10k to 20k.
I have had the odd moment that makes me not enjoy driving, but in recent time I have learnt just to let it go. Equally, driving what I drive it far outweighs the joy on many people's faces seeing mine doing the (ironically) mundane stuff.
The only trip mine has yet to take is a good tip run. But it has been shopping, out on long journeys (as you would expect), out on a few AM owners drives with dealerships etc. and generally is making memories for my wife, Frenchie and I.
As much as financially it is somewhere between painful and suicide and the odd bill has a sting (and having to contact Gaydon currently regarding a paint issue). I love the car.
I don't do many commuting miles anymore so having something special to jump in never looses the sense of occassion, the fun bit being opening the garage and realising it was not a dream. In just over a year I have fundamentally doubled the odometer from 10k to 20k.
I have had the odd moment that makes me not enjoy driving, but in recent time I have learnt just to let it go. Equally, driving what I drive it far outweighs the joy on many people's faces seeing mine doing the (ironically) mundane stuff.
The only trip mine has yet to take is a good tip run. But it has been shopping, out on long journeys (as you would expect), out on a few AM owners drives with dealerships etc. and generally is making memories for my wife, Frenchie and I.
Driving in France a couple of weeks ago was a real joy. Brittany, Loire Atlantique then Sarthe. Superb empty roads, not a poithole in sight.
The UK, less so, but had a very pleasant run on lovely roads from Beckford to Eastnor and back, virtually no traffic, sadly too many potholes
Had a hateful drive yesterday from Beckford to and from Reading, roads closed, idiotic sunday drivers, potholes, traffic jams.
The UK, less so, but had a very pleasant run on lovely roads from Beckford to Eastnor and back, virtually no traffic, sadly too many potholes
Had a hateful drive yesterday from Beckford to and from Reading, roads closed, idiotic sunday drivers, potholes, traffic jams.
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