The love of driving.
Discussion
...And Volvos I would like to think most people on this forum feel at least something like the OP, that's why I joined recently anyway. I passed my test in 2008 and I am still driving the car I learned to drive in; a 2005 1.6 Fiesta that was originally bought new for mother. It's obviously not a shed, at least when I was at college it was one of the newest things around among the students, but its obviously not a Ferrari either. Nonetheless I love driving it; being a student the price of petrol means going out just for a drive is an expensive option but I look for excuses when I can. Now its done 50k miles but still rarely missed a beat (well apart from when it dropped all its water at the side of the road 50 miles from home, when the clutch master cylinder went or when the fr spring snapped last week, but its a machine things will go wrong and for 5 years plus that's not bad).
I thing your family is important; my Dad has always taken an interest in cars, he has photos of his Capri, Fiesta XR2, Astra GTE then the stuff I can remember: a Prelude, a 2.5 Omega, 3 litre Jag S Type, a Honda S2000, interspersed with company car or leased Mondeo/ 2x C Class 2.2 diesels. Now he's just bought a C63 AMG, so I was always certain of being at least a bit interested I reckon, just waiting for this snow to clear up for a go in the C63, on a private road of course.
I thing your family is important; my Dad has always taken an interest in cars, he has photos of his Capri, Fiesta XR2, Astra GTE then the stuff I can remember: a Prelude, a 2.5 Omega, 3 litre Jag S Type, a Honda S2000, interspersed with company car or leased Mondeo/ 2x C Class 2.2 diesels. Now he's just bought a C63 AMG, so I was always certain of being at least a bit interested I reckon, just waiting for this snow to clear up for a go in the C63, on a private road of course.
Rawwr said:
I disagree. I think there's an ever-growing trend of people more concerned with how they look in their car, paper statistics and just badge snobbery in general.
I never see that. I see nobody admitting to being concerned how their car looks, or it's supposed image, instead accusing everybody with, normally German, brands of being image concious badge snobs. It's tiresome. 
2thumbs said:
I never see that. I see nobody admitting to being concerned how their car looks, or it's supposed image, instead accusing everybody with, normally German, brands of being image concious badge snobs. It's tiresome.
Heh, well there is a bit of that going on but more often than not you'll see a lot of "Won't buy!" based on the superficial subjective than the definitive objective, i.e. actually driving something.2thumbs said:
I never see that. I see nobody admitting to being concerned how their car looks, or it's supposed image, instead accusing everybody with, normally German, brands of being image concious badge snobs. It's tiresome.
Agreed. There's almost an anti snob snobbery going on here with entire marques being written off just because they have a few safety features and sound deadening. TBH I think that's what is spoiling PH. I very rarely see genuine badge snobbery and when it does rear it's ugly head, it's rightly shot down in flames.Just because we don't all want to drive in a climbing frame with an engine, doesn't mean we don't all love cars.
Someone mentioned parents being influencers - too right.
Aged 8 I was passengered around Goodwood in a 308 GTS and was captivated by Dad's string of fast cars - a new E21 323i, the 7th mk1 GTi Golf in the UK, a 928S, two 924 turbos, three uR Quattros (one a Treser), a nr 400bhp V8 powered Ford P100 (Cortina shape) pickup, a BBR Shogun, etc, etc, etc. Always loved cars, always bored to tears of Russell the IT support guy who has recently taken an interest in cars just bought an old Eunos/TVR and thinks he is now Walter Rohrl.
wackojacko said:
NotDave said:
I whole-heartedly reccommend you find a 998cc (IIRC) N reg nissan micra on nangkang ditchfinders, no PAS, and shagged brakes. EPIC fun.
Daewoo Matiz 3 cylinder on 150 section tyres is my greatest s
t car experience......My first car when I passed my test was a Fiat Panda, that I got in exchange for putting a garden shed together. The previous owner had hand painted it, and it smelled of old people and biscuits. But what a great car.
It took me all over the country, quite often on two wheels. I learned how to handle understeer, how to do handbrake turns, J turns, and how to crash with dignity.
AJS- said:
Worthy of a thread on it's own this.
My first car when I passed my test was a Fiat Panda, that I got in exchange for putting a garden shed together. The previous owner had hand painted it, and it smelled of old people and biscuits. But what a great car.
It took me all over the country, quite often on two wheels. I learned how to handle understeer, how to do handbrake turns, J turns, and how to crash with dignity.
My first was a beige 1973 1.3 Marina. The owner had REALLY looked after it so it was near showroom condition but other than that, it was appalling in every way. Second engine after 6 months (maybe because I revved above 2k rpm?!), sold it after a year and it was written of a month later partly due to it's random diving under braking. Tyres were £14!!My first car when I passed my test was a Fiat Panda, that I got in exchange for putting a garden shed together. The previous owner had hand painted it, and it smelled of old people and biscuits. But what a great car.
It took me all over the country, quite often on two wheels. I learned how to handle understeer, how to do handbrake turns, J turns, and how to crash with dignity.
AJS- said:
wackojacko said:
NotDave said:
I whole-heartedly reccommend you find a 998cc (IIRC) N reg nissan micra on nangkang ditchfinders, no PAS, and shagged brakes. EPIC fun.
Daewoo Matiz 3 cylinder on 150 section tyres is my greatest st car experience......My first car when I passed my test was a Fiat Panda, that I got in exchange for putting a garden shed together. The previous owner had hand painted it, and it smelled of old people and biscuits. But what a great car.
It took me all over the country, quite often on two wheels. I learned how to handle understeer, how to do handbrake turns, J turns, and how to crash with dignity.
T0nup said:
For me it's not just the driving... I enjoy working on my cars too. Be it full on engine out stuff or just tinkering with stuff or experimenting with kit... It's the smell, it's the feel of dirty oil and grease. It's figuring stuff out that I have never tackled before.
And then driving it.
I used to be like you. I really enjoyed tinkering & have built a few motors over the years, but now my love of tinkering has gone I don't mind simple little jobs but I've lost all interest in building money swallowing project cars.And then driving it.
I absolutely love cleaning & polishing my car though, & I always enjoy a drive even if it's just to the supermarket or visiting family etc.
Rawwr said:
Heh, well there is a bit of that going on but more often than not you'll see a lot of "Won't buy!" based on the superficial subjective than the definitive objective, i.e. actually driving something.
Some car enthusiasts aren't into the dynamics of a car though, they like them for the design, how they look. It is my first consideration when I buy a car. I have to like looking at it first & foremost.I do enjoy a spirited drive around the peaks from time to time though so how I find the drive of a car is my second priority. I have enjoyed one or two track days in my road cars over the years but I can take them or leave them.
Vladimir said:
Aged 8 I was passengered around Goodwood in a 308 GTS and was captivated by Dad's string of fast cars - a new E21 323i, the 7th mk1 GTi Golf in the UK, a 928S, two 924 turbos, three uR Quattros (one a Treser), a nr 400bhp V8 powered Ford P100 (Cortina shape) pickup, a BBR Shogun, etc, etc, etc. Always loved cars, always bored to tears of Russell the IT support guy who has recently taken an interest in cars just bought an old Eunos/TVR and thinks he is now Walter Rohrl.
Is there any wonder people are 'Anti-Snobs' when you express views like that? Means do not dictate passion: Russell the IT support guy is as much of a petrolhead as your dad, and to many people an MX-5 or TVR is the height of excitement and the realisation of a dream! These are cars full of passion and soul and the very reason to love driving is that for once you are alone with your machine, free to create your destiny and go where you please (So long as you get to the office no later than five to...)Like most I work hard and could do with more pay. I buy the most fun cars I can within my means. Very sorry you had done it all by age 8, but The rest of us have to make do and try our best to pursue our passion in adult life.
One of the biggest petrolheads I know has a Renault Megane Scenic due to kids - I've got a picture of it somewhere going into the bus-stop at Llandow on 3 wheels.
2thumbs said:
Some car enthusiasts aren't into the dynamics of a car though, they like them for the design, how they look. It is my first consideration when I buy a car. I have to like looking at it first & foremost.
I do enjoy a spirited drive around the peaks from time to time though so how I find the drive of a car is my second priority. I have enjoyed one or two track days in my road cars over the years but I can take them or leave them.
I guess I'm the polar opposite. I really don't care how my cars are perceived by others and don't care what they look like or their on-paper specifications. I don't have anything against people who buy on looks, per se, so long as their happy to admit that looks are a priority and that they don't immediately dismiss other peoples' opinions based on that.I do enjoy a spirited drive around the peaks from time to time though so how I find the drive of a car is my second priority. I have enjoyed one or two track days in my road cars over the years but I can take them or leave them.
I can happily stare at a 365GTC, Type 57 or 8C for hours with very little interest in actually driving them.
I was contemplating this very subject last summer, sitting in a rented new 3 series diesel at the top of Col de Turini on a hot summer afternoon, looking at the two well-worn mid 80's 6 series cars parked at the side of the road nearby. I would oh-so-gladly have swapped places with them, nevermind the rust, fuel economy or the risk of being stranded by the roadside.
I think I need to stop worrying about practicality and enjoy something old, thirsty and rusty while I still can, before it's legislated / insured / rusted off the road (especially as I'm lucky to commute on foot).
So what if it breaks down often, requires regular fettling and isn't looking like a cherished example? Would you rather go on a road-trip with Dirty Harry or Harry Potter?
I think I need to stop worrying about practicality and enjoy something old, thirsty and rusty while I still can, before it's legislated / insured / rusted off the road (especially as I'm lucky to commute on foot).
So what if it breaks down often, requires regular fettling and isn't looking like a cherished example? Would you rather go on a road-trip with Dirty Harry or Harry Potter?
Rawwr said:
2thumbs said:
Some car enthusiasts aren't into the dynamics of a car though, they like them for the design, how they look. It is my first consideration when I buy a car. I have to like looking at it first & foremost.
I do enjoy a spirited drive around the peaks from time to time though so how I find the drive of a car is my second priority. I have enjoyed one or two track days in my road cars over the years but I can take them or leave them.
I guess I'm the polar opposite. I really don't care how my cars are perceived by others and don't care what they look like or their on-paper specifications. I don't have anything against people who buy on looks, per se, so long as their happy to admit that looks are a priority and that they don't immediately dismiss other peoples' opinions based on that.I do enjoy a spirited drive around the peaks from time to time though so how I find the drive of a car is my second priority. I have enjoyed one or two track days in my road cars over the years but I can take them or leave them.
I can happily stare at a 365GTC, Type 57 or 8C for hours with very little interest in actually driving them.
I'm not fussed if others like my car choice or not, it's all about me
I get a huge amount of pleasure polishing every inch of a car that I really love the shape of. Then standing back & admiring it! If my car is all polished up I can't walk past the garage door without having a peek 
2thumbs said:
I'm not fussed if others like my car choice or not, it's all about me I get a huge amount of pleasure polishing every inch of a car that I really love the shape of. Then standing back & admiring it! If my car is all polished up I can't walk past the garage door without having a peek
I'm the same. I get a huge amount of pleasure polishing every inch of a car that I really love the shape of. Then standing back & admiring it! If my car is all polished up I can't walk past the garage door without having a peek I honestly don't care what other people think of my cars (or bikes).
I like what I have, and to me that is all that matters.
Believe it or not, I too sit and look at them when they are clean and polished (although living in a very rural location makes it impossible to clean and polish all winter...they are always shiny in the summer)
I'll not get my coat though...because I don't care
2thumbs said:
I never see that. I see nobody admitting to being concerned how their car looks, or it's supposed image, instead accusing everybody with, normally German, brands of being image concious badge snobs. It's tiresome.
That's because it is mostly owners of German brands who immediately dismiss anything which doesn't conform to the values of those brands as worthless.Great thread OP.
I'd like to share a twist on this - having fun without driving near the limit.
Tues night, on way back from pub with pregnant wife, in the ITR. So VTEC was out of the question, as were sharp inputs. Driving on cold damp roads back home I had a really good drive trying to keep the car as tidy as possible, read the road and the traffic, minimise my inputs, HnT to keep it smooth...and Becs just sat quietly and let me focus...really zoned-into my driving without thrashing it.
Now the car DID help - great feedback meant I could pick up on what was happening under-tyre, and the pedals are well matched...but so would most of the older and more 'ordinary' cars I've driven. IMHO it's only the modern over-servo'd stuff that wouldn't have co-operated as much.
I'd like to share a twist on this - having fun without driving near the limit.
Tues night, on way back from pub with pregnant wife, in the ITR. So VTEC was out of the question, as were sharp inputs. Driving on cold damp roads back home I had a really good drive trying to keep the car as tidy as possible, read the road and the traffic, minimise my inputs, HnT to keep it smooth...and Becs just sat quietly and let me focus...really zoned-into my driving without thrashing it.
Now the car DID help - great feedback meant I could pick up on what was happening under-tyre, and the pedals are well matched...but so would most of the older and more 'ordinary' cars I've driven. IMHO it's only the modern over-servo'd stuff that wouldn't have co-operated as much.
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