Do you prefer driving or owning cars?

[TeaVR]

I love driving. I love finding new roads. I love going on adventures - Wales, Scotland, Isle Of Man, Europe, etc. The Top Gear style touring, driving with my mates is something I really enjoy.

However, I'm pretty sure I'm out numbered by those that have other priorities. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I wonder if the larger majority of people get more kicks from owning a car, washing it, polishing it, modifying it, staring at it, being seen in it and attending Caffeine & Machine!

So, which are you, a driver or.... the other type?

And before I get PH assassinated, I'm not looking down on anyone!

[Arnold Cunningham]

I actually favour fixing, working on and building them. Nothing gives me more satisfaction, car wise, than standing back and looking at a job well done.

[grumbledoak]

Just the driving bit. I don't modify them, or service, polish, or even wash them myself.

[Chubbyross]

Both. I’ve just spent the last four months giving my new Caterham 420R a full paint correction, fitting various carbon fibre goodies, new harnesses and generally detailing it to hell and back. But now the spring is approaching I can’t wait to get it out on the road and drive it hard. Next winter I’ll probably do it all again. I’ve always done it with all my fun cars. I’m a polisher AND driver.

[bigmowley]

It’s an interesting question. I am lucky enough to have quite a few cars and a big garage with a decent workshop. I would have scoffed at the looking not driving people a few years ago however as I have got older I am finding there is real pleasure to be had in just enjoying some of the fleet for what they are rather than thrashing 6 bells out of them every weekend. I do drive them all and everything is road ready however some are treasured for driving pleasure and some for more aesthetic reasons. At one end of the scale my 1986 Honda Accord Aerodeck EXi is a minter and I love titivating it, whereas the R8 RWS is there to be thrashed soundly everywhere.
It’s horses for courses I guess and one group should not criticize the other. Mechanophilia is a broad church

[anonymous-user]

90% of my driving is rather not do, I’d be happier walking or cycling.

I’m lucky though as Scotland has some amazing roads for when i do want a drive.

The rest of the time i prefer working on my cars as projects.

[300bhp/ton]

TeaVR said:

I love driving. I love finding new roads. I love going on adventures - Wales, Scotland, Isle Of Man, Europe, etc. The Top Gear style touring, driving with my mates is something I really enjoy.

However, I'm pretty sure I'm out numbered by those that have other priorities. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I wonder if the larger majority of people get more kicks from owning a car, washing it, polishing it, modifying it, staring at it, being seen in it and attending Caffeine & Machine!

So, which are you, a driver or.... the other type?

And before I get PH assassinated, I'm not looking down on anyone!

Driving is great. But doing the things you describe require money, time, availability and maybe lack of certain commitments. To have a group of you all in the same boat I’d have thought was more of a rarity than the norm.

[plenty]

All of the above.

That's the joy of cars - there are so many ways to enjoy them and they are mutually reinforcing.

Other than driving, spannering, washing, car meets and convoys I *really* enjoy the process of researching a new purchase online and knowing all there is to know about the model. Unfortunately Facebook and Instagram have more or less killed off the traditional online forum which was infinitely better for that purpose.

[Klippie]

I am not fussy I'll drive anything anything as its got an engine, but I own two nice cars to play with on sunny days.

And a van as daily...which I also love driving.

[Haltamer]

plenty said:

Other than driving, spannering, washing, car meets and convoys I *really* enjoy the process of researching a new purchase online and knowing all there is to know about the model.

That's a fun one! My secret stashes of manufacturer service manuals and semi-confidential press briefings dug from the anals of the internet will attest to that.

I think of cars as a subset of hobbies, all of which I enjoy at different times:-
Drive to explore, for fun, performance / track driving & limit handling
Washing, waxing & Detailing
Maintainence and modification

All manner of things of varying costs and time expense, keeps you entertained with some variety.

[InitialDave]

Arnold Cunningham said:

I actually favour fixing, working on and building them. Nothing gives me more satisfaction, car wise, than standing back and looking at a job well done.

Yeah, I just like fiddling with stuff, really.

[plenty]

Haltamer said:

dug from the anals of the internet

I've been known to be retentive as well

[Chubbyross]

plenty said:

All of the above.

That's the joy of cars - there are so many ways to enjoy them and they are mutually reinforcing.

Other than driving, spannering, washing, car meets and convoys I *really* enjoy the process of researching a new purchase online and knowing all there is to know about the model. Unfortunately Facebook and Instagram have more or less killed off the traditional online forum which was infinitely better for that purpose.

Yes, good point about researching. I love the process, long before a purchase, of reading up on all the various models, watching and reading road tests and generally making sure I can buy the very best car I can afford. Once purchased I also love the process of getting the car to look as near-perfect as possible, as well as getting it as mechanically perfect as I can - usually getting someone with spanners to do that for me.

[Riley Blue]

TeaVR said:

I love driving. I love finding new roads. I love going on adventures - Wales, Scotland, Isle Of Man, Europe, etc. The Top Gear style touring, driving with my mates is something I really enjoy.

We prefer to tour alone, at our own pace; stopping, eating, sleeping, sightseeing wherever we want to but I get the same vibes for the same reason.

Coincidentally we were talking last night about our next big driving adventure, to commemorate my 75th birthday next year. We drove LeJOG for my 70th so it'll have to top that and stay on mainland UK for medical reasons (can't get travel insurance).

I used to do my own spannering but can't these days 'cos of arthritis. Washing and polishing I've always left to others, I don't understand how any other aspect of car ownership could appeal more than driving.

[ARHarh]

I love driving and exploring always have. I lived on the Hampshire Surrey border most of my life and 10 years ago before I moved it was getting difficult to enjoy driving as it was so busy. Now living up on the North Wales border, and being retired I love driving again. But then being able to get to Snowdonia in 1/2 an hour, when its deserted during the week who wouldn't.

I also like owning and maintaining my cars, nothing new but its all part of the fun.

[vikingaero]

Both. It's the freedom of driving and enabling that freedom through ownership.

Driving
I love driving. It doesn't matter whether it's the family car or something more PH. I used to buy Car Magazine and the first column I would read would be George Bishops. He taught me that the journey is often more exciting than the destination. For instance, I took Vikingette2 back to University in Manchester after Christmas via the M25/M1/M6. I stayed overnight in a cheap Travelodge (£24.99) and the next day, rather than return home via the M6, I drove through the Peak District, over to Shorpe/Grimsby (offered a range of cheap tablets/laptops in a Lidl ar park) to see the Industrial coast, down through Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe (via the slower coast road), Ingoldmells, Skeggy (where I ate in the best fish & chip shop as reviewed by Walk With Me Tim) and back home via Boston and PeatBogHorror. I added about 100 more miles to the normal 250 by going the long and slow way home.

Owning
Because I spend so much time in my cars, I like them to be clean and I enjoy the ownership aspect. I find cleaning and basic maintenance of the car very relaxing and therapeutic (I think it's because I work on large projects and rarely get to see an instant result). Wash/ceramic spray sealant near weekly. Fluids and tyre pressured checked weekly. Vacuumed twice weekly. Each car has a stash of equipment to get me or others out of trouble. I carry a mini-stove, water, coffee and ready to heat camping meals, so I can stop at a deserted beach and have everything to hand.

[UTH]

Judging by how relatively few miles my Corvette, and to an extent, my 'everyday' Evo have had put on them in the last 3 years, I guess I'd have to say I fall into the owning bracket.

The Evo isn't much of a pleasure to drive these days, mainly due to worrying something is going to break any time I floor it, but it does get me to my hockey matches and any other journeys I need to do.

The Corvette sadly doesn't get the miles it deserves, tragically a big part of that is probably due to a bit too much drinking/partying on a Friday and Saturday night, often ruling out any nice Spring/Summer weekend drives in it.

We are doing a boy's driving trip to the Loire Valley in July though....

[TeaVR]

vikingaero said:

Both. It's the freedom of driving and enabling that freedom through ownership.

Driving
I love driving. It doesn't matter whether it's the family car or something more PH. I used to buy Car Magazine and the first column I would read would be George Bishops. He taught me that the journey is often more exciting than the destination. For instance, I took Vikingette2 back to University in Manchester after Christmas via the M25/M1/M6. I stayed overnight in a cheap Travelodge (£24.99) and the next day, rather than return home via the M6, I drove through the Peak District, over to Shorpe/Grimsby (offered a range of cheap tablets/laptops in a Lidl ar park) to see the Industrial coast, down through Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe (via the slower coast road), Ingoldmells, Skeggy (where I ate in the best fish & chip shop as reviewed by Walk With Me Tim) and back home via Boston and PeatBogHorror. I added about 100 more miles to the normal 250 by going the long and slow way home.

Owning
Because I spend so much time in my cars, I like them to be clean and I enjoy the ownership aspect. I find cleaning and basic maintenance of the car very relaxing and therapeutic (I think it's because I work on large projects and rarely get to see an instant result). Wash/ceramic spray sealant near weekly. Fluids and tyre pressured checked weekly. Vacuumed twice weekly. Each car has a stash of equipment to get me or others out of trouble. I carry a mini-stove, water, coffee and ready to heat camping meals, so I can stop at a deserted beach and have everything to hand.

Love the idea of carrying a stove and having the ability to stop and enjoy the scenery whilst making a coffee / food. Great stuff.

[DaveTheRave87]

Driving. Can barely be bothered with the ownership but just like taking the car for a spin.

[AmosMoses]

Bit of both for me. There is nothing I love more than a good drive long some beautiful roads, but i also love giving the car a good wash or doing some maintenance.