Not Enjoying Driving Anymore
Discussion
Ninja59 said:
I may live in the South (Kent), but definitely still a Northern boy at heart! I know the country does not end at Watford.
Having moved from up North the driving down here is truly eye opening for stupidity, and people being "on the edge" of just boiling over.
Yep which is why I can understand the frustration many PHers down south must feel - but to suggest you need to go to North West Scotland to find any enjoyable roads, and write off the whole country as being lousy for petrolheads is exaggeration at its finest, I don't need to convince you of that I'm sure Having moved from up North the driving down here is truly eye opening for stupidity, and people being "on the edge" of just boiling over.
AB57 said:
Sweet thanks for the feedback. I'm really looking forward to it now. I saw that offer on the Bristol site and while I live in BS15 I'm unfortunately, although fortunate from an insurance perspective though, 25 this month.
Would you say it's tough to get a First? I'm confident with commentary but I I'm concerned that some things may be too dogmatic for my liking; well from what I've read elsewhere about IAM.
The examiner said that if I'd just done more commentary I would have got one, and I'm nothing special. Make it clear to your observer that you want one and they should teach accordingly. Use as much information about what's going on as you can, for example if you can see a busy main road in the distance, mention that you've seen it and that you'll be prepared to stop for it. Andy Paulton in particular is very hot on that kind of thing (as well as using all the available road space when safe to avoid sWould you say it's tough to get a First? I'm confident with commentary but I I'm concerned that some things may be too dogmatic for my liking; well from what I've read elsewhere about IAM.
tty surfaces near the curb, maybe his back hurts from driving his Megane Cup!).ETA: your observer will prob mention this but make sure your car is welcoming for the examiner. Turn the radio off when you get there, make sure the Aircon isn't going to blast him in the face, and CLEAN YOUR CAR INSIDE AND OUT. This'll put the examiner in a better mood which is always handy.
Edited by Jbeale96 on Friday 1st September 11:57
TameRacingDriver said:
Yep which is why I can understand the frustration many PHers down south must feel - but to suggest you need to go to North West Scotland to find any enjoyable roads, and write off the whole country as being lousy for petrolheads is exaggeration at its finest, I don't need to convince you of that I'm sure
+1. I live in London Zone 1 and have no problem finding times and places to satisfy my love of driving.I had a similar realisation a few years ago, I took my porsche out for a mid week blast, country lanes with the roof down.
Trucks, vans and dawdlers everywhere, any where you could over take or get past, some arse would pull out to try to stop you.
I got back home and put the car up for sale (here on pistonheads) and it sold within the week, I bought an automatic diesel and pretty much gave up on fun driving, that was almost ten years ago and the amount of people who actively try to get in the way has increased, far more cars on the roads and many more terrible drivers.
I'm thinking of getting rid of my sporty car again, don't think I'll bother trying again after this, it's an SUV or hybrid from now on.
Can't beat em, join em.
Trucks, vans and dawdlers everywhere, any where you could over take or get past, some arse would pull out to try to stop you.
I got back home and put the car up for sale (here on pistonheads) and it sold within the week, I bought an automatic diesel and pretty much gave up on fun driving, that was almost ten years ago and the amount of people who actively try to get in the way has increased, far more cars on the roads and many more terrible drivers.
I'm thinking of getting rid of my sporty car again, don't think I'll bother trying again after this, it's an SUV or hybrid from now on.
Can't beat em, join em.
Timbergiant said:
I had a similar realisation a few years ago, I took my porsche out for a mid week blast, country lanes with the roof down.
Trucks, vans and dawdlers everywhere, any where you could over take or get past, some arse would pull out to try to stop you.
I got back home and put the car up for sale (here on pistonheads) and it sold within the week, I bought an automatic diesel and pretty much gave up on fun driving, that was almost ten years ago and the amount of people who actively try to get in the way has increased, far more cars on the roads and many more terrible drivers.
I'm thinking of getting rid of my sporty car again, don't think I'll bother trying again after this, it's an SUV or hybrid from now on.
Can't beat em, join em.
I couldn't have put it better myself, when I take the Westfield out I tend to do so at 5am on a weekend or after 8pm any day, this is purely because of the type of drivers described here.Trucks, vans and dawdlers everywhere, any where you could over take or get past, some arse would pull out to try to stop you.
I got back home and put the car up for sale (here on pistonheads) and it sold within the week, I bought an automatic diesel and pretty much gave up on fun driving, that was almost ten years ago and the amount of people who actively try to get in the way has increased, far more cars on the roads and many more terrible drivers.
I'm thinking of getting rid of my sporty car again, don't think I'll bother trying again after this, it's an SUV or hybrid from now on.
Can't beat em, join em.
I think if your not aware of it, you don't notice, but after all these years observing driving behaviour, i'm acutely aware of when a driver is being obstructive and it's usually for no good reason OR they're trying to bait you into doing something daft and filling whatever stereotype they have already formed in their head.
I call it passive-aggressive driving, not breaking any rules, but driving in such a way as to cause maximum irritation to other drivers.
If you dare to drive something a bit different, most drivers see you as someone who is breaking the unwritten rules and refusing to conform to the social norm.Hence my boring daily barge..........
You need the right car, my 106cc was good fun but the MX5 Z-Sport is brill. The roads around me are really busy but with the roof down it's still fun and it gives you freedom, which a bus or the tube doesn't.
You do need to keep doing your hair though if your job involves meeting people, like mine does, it's no good me turning up for viewings with my hair all over the place, so gel helps.
Many of my clients have big flash cars but I bet none of them have as much fun as me and the women in the office like a chap with a powerful sports, like the -Z-Sport, so it's a win-win.
You do need to keep doing your hair though if your job involves meeting people, like mine does, it's no good me turning up for viewings with my hair all over the place, so gel helps.
Many of my clients have big flash cars but I bet none of them have as much fun as me and the women in the office like a chap with a powerful sports, like the -Z-Sport, so it's a win-win.
TameRacingDriver said:
Yep which is why I can understand the frustration many PHers down south must feel - but to suggest you need to go to North West Scotland to find any enjoyable roads, and write off the whole country as being lousy for petrolheads is exaggeration at its finest, I don't need to convince you of that I'm sure
We do have nice roads, it is just the driving standards I think make you go "why bother"...TarquinMX5 said:
You need the right car, my 106cc was good fun but the MX5 Z-Sport is brill. The roads around me are really busy but with the roof down it's still fun and it gives you freedom, which a bus or the tube doesn't.
You do need to keep doing your hair though if your job involves meeting people, like mine does, it's no good me turning up for viewings with my hair all over the place, so gel helps.
Many of my clients have big flash cars but I bet none of them have as much fun as me and the women in the office like a chap with a powerful sports, like the -Z-Sport, so it's a win-win.
Having had my NC for just over 4.5 years, sadly I think even having "fun" in that is becoming difficult around here as I alluded to in my first post (or maybe having lowered, ARB's done and wearing AD08R's make it a "bit" too focused now). But people just ignore the NC on the road, tailgate and are unnecessarily aggressive (bringing us back to the small cars being bullied thread), drive it in a more sporty manner for thrills and you get some of the idiocy mentioned in here.You do need to keep doing your hair though if your job involves meeting people, like mine does, it's no good me turning up for viewings with my hair all over the place, so gel helps.
Many of my clients have big flash cars but I bet none of them have as much fun as me and the women in the office like a chap with a powerful sports, like the -Z-Sport, so it's a win-win.
Note: Do not let the Z Sport badges disappear as Mazda no longer hold stock...also the BBS wheels are silly expensive!
Update: went for drive earlier. Had fun! Yay!
Fortunately there were only 2 of us in the office today so I had some time to muck about on Google My Maps planning a route. Ended up on some nice roads near Tomarton and Iron Acton if anyone knows them. They don't really lead anywhere significant so they're dead quiet, perfect!
Fortunately there were only 2 of us in the office today so I had some time to muck about on Google My Maps planning a route. Ended up on some nice roads near Tomarton and Iron Acton if anyone knows them. They don't really lead anywhere significant so they're dead quiet, perfect!
jb-upgrade a little to a 1.4TDi Furby. Fit wider tyres on it ( I can't remember what mine are, but they are standard 14" on a Laguna) ,and remember that this makes speedo very accurate ( mine is exact up +/-5 to 70 vs Sat nav) . But this makes road holding that much better . i'm a geriatric boy racer and love taking the P out of a lot of things. Up to 25 /30 in low gears , it gives the take off brigade brown pants on merge sections , and if I get a chance to go through in third- no way, unless it's something like big brother Vrs.
horsemeatscandal said:
In a couple of hours I'll be driving right down the middle of the Lake District. In theory, it should be great. In reality, awful.
For the record, the drive was almost unbearable. Made so by a series of roadworks, horses, caravans and buses. As well as your general dawdling idiots who cant drive round a corner at more than 15mph. Was made momentarily interesting by an FN2 Type-R which was either a misbadged 1.4, a lot slower than I had thought, or not really trying. I'd say the last one. Ahbefive said:
Night time drives are so much more fun, of course you will struggle to enjoy a drive at 2am on a weekday, especially in a horrid little car.
Get a niice car and do fun driving in evenings or in tracks.
On my commute to school you could have some fun in a Citigo. One particular corner I slowly ramped up my approach speed until I heard the tyres squeal Get a niice car and do fun driving in evenings or in tracks.
. 35 mph, this corner is so tight. They do corner surprisingly well for what they are. And boy, if you pull off an overtake, is it a good feeling. Planning is the key...Solocle said:
On my commute to school you could have some fun in a Citigo. One particular corner I slowly ramped up my approach speed until I heard the tyres squeal . 35 mph, this corner is so tight. They do corner surprisingly well for what they are. And boy, if you pull off an overtake, is it a good feeling. Planning is the key...
You managed to get the tyres to squeal?!?! Clearly I'm not trying hard enough then!! . 35 mph, this corner is so tight. They do corner surprisingly well for what they are. And boy, if you pull off an overtake, is it a good feeling. Planning is the key...I recently swapped my fun car. I went from a hard top to a soft top. Has turned even commuting into a more fun drive. Not sure why but open top motoring is quite refreshing. I'm more chilled when stuck, I'm more aware of the car and the surroundings. I seem to overtake more (perhaps the noise?).
culpz said:
Christ, how many more posts are we going to have like this? I understand it to a degree but it depends on where you live and your daily commute. My particular route to work and the majority of driving is very stop/start i.e. not the most enjoyable. However, it's still not hindered my love for driving/being able to drive. It may have added to me falling out of love with a manual gearbox but i still enjoy it, for the most part.
If your idea of enjoyment is pure hooning then, yes, i can see your point. However, see above where i said it depends on your commute and where you live. It's easy to take driving for granted. I'd suggest not driving for a while and using public transport or another way of getting around and see how you cope. Then you'll really know if the enjoyment has gone or not. It's the incompetence of others that gets me the most!
I don't have a particularly bad commute (25 km / 30 mins), but come Saturday morning the last thing I want to do is drive anywhere. If your idea of enjoyment is pure hooning then, yes, i can see your point. However, see above where i said it depends on your commute and where you live. It's easy to take driving for granted. I'd suggest not driving for a while and using public transport or another way of getting around and see how you cope. Then you'll really know if the enjoyment has gone or not. It's the incompetence of others that gets me the most!
Sunday I may feel different
.Time to do your bike test I think.
A little city car isn't that much fun, and never really has been. To be honest, I'd wager very few cars match up to a well set up good handling mid capacity motorcycle (such as my Street Triple R). I can't recall ever laughing out loud in a car in the way that I regularly do on the bike. It's just hilarious and immense fun. It's not so powerful as to get you into loads of trouble (a little maybe...) but it's powerful enough to get past anything on four wheels.
Dare I say it, but most small capacity hatchbacks are dull as hell, and even a 'quick' car is like riding a bike with the volume and the colour and the contrast turned right down. Driving a car is like watching an old black and white TV. Riding a bike is like a giant 4k movie with full Dolby.
A little city car isn't that much fun, and never really has been. To be honest, I'd wager very few cars match up to a well set up good handling mid capacity motorcycle (such as my Street Triple R). I can't recall ever laughing out loud in a car in the way that I regularly do on the bike. It's just hilarious and immense fun. It's not so powerful as to get you into loads of trouble (a little maybe...) but it's powerful enough to get past anything on four wheels.
Dare I say it, but most small capacity hatchbacks are dull as hell, and even a 'quick' car is like riding a bike with the volume and the colour and the contrast turned right down. Driving a car is like watching an old black and white TV. Riding a bike is like a giant 4k movie with full Dolby.
Solocle said:
Live about an hour away from Bristol, Citigo driver. Bristol is a crock of st. Get out, try the A350 south. There are some nice stretches on that road, and some good corners between Shaftesbury and Blandford. Nearby, you have zigzag hill, bendiest in Britain. If you can avoid slower vehicles , there's some fun to be had.
Second this. A350 Warminster to Shaftesbury has some nice sweepers, Shaftesbury to Blandford has some nice tight technical bends. Higher road from Shaftesbury to Blandford is even better when it's quieter...t. Get out, try the A350 south. There are some nice stretches on that road, and some good corners between Shaftesbury and Blandford. Nearby, you have zigzag hill, bendiest in Britain. If you can avoid slower vehicles , there's some fun to be had.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff