Do you actually enjoy your car on a daily basis?

[300bhp/ton]

As I'm mere days away from owning my Roadster for 3 years and having covered approx 42,000 miles in it in that time.

I got to wondering with the masses of regular hatchbacks and diesel Audi's & BMW's I see on the roads each and every day and hear about on PH. How many people actually enjoy their cars on a daily basis?

I'm not sure how many hours I've spent in the Roadster over the past 3 years, but apart from a slightly frustrating break down and a few too many pot holed roads I can honestly say I've enjoyed and smiled for pretty much every minute I've been in it, rain or shine.

If I'm not driving the Roadster then it's been in something else I genuinely enjoy driving and being in.

Al in all I enjoy my motoring pretty much all of the time and I'm very happy with my choices of vehicles.


Is this the norm for most PH'ers? Do you all genuinely enjoy your daily driver or the majority of your annual driving miles?

[8Ace]

My Jag: Yes, love it. Love the quietness, smoothness and sense of occasion.

Lady Ace's diesel Sharan: No.

Happily I spend much more time in wafted luxury than clattery nursery mobile so all is well.

[C.A.R.]

I love my shed.

When I first passed my test and had 'money' of my own (OK, I was stupid and got a little loan) I bought a 306 XS. I wanted a GTi6, but that was virtually impossible to insure, so it had to wait. The 306 handled in such a way that whilst I hadn't driven many cars by that age, it was a mental benchmark for every car I've owned since.

I went on to own a GTi6 (wrote it off...) and then a 306 Cabriolet (nope, didn't start hairdressing) and as far as FWD hatchbacks go these really are fun to chuck down a B-road, even in heavy, understeer-y cabriolet form.

So when I got the news that our daughter was on her way and wanted to clear a credit card debt before she arrived I made the decision (with the help of PH) to flog my stupid diesel Focus which I didn't enjoy and got a diesel 306 which I love to bits!

Sometimes I want a newer car but until it makes sense to get rid of the 306 it's staying...

[aizvara]

300bhp/ton said:

Is this the norm for most PH'ers? Do you all genuinely enjoy your daily driver or the majority of your annual driving miles?

Yes, I enjoy most of the time I go out driving. I don't commute far/daily in it, and only use it to transport my son during the week so its mostly for trips places. Each journey, even the short commute, is entertaining.

I think I'd enjoy it almost regardless of car, as the activity itself is appealing. However, I find my car is actively fun to drive (though many on here seem to say it isn't) and seems to encourage me to push it on. I would prefer to find some more interesting roads, though.

[57Ford]

No, but the wife prioritizes my future XF 3.0d S waay down the list so it's likely to remain 'future'

[kambites]

Yes, I enjoy my commute.

[Fleckers]

i am almost 4 years in to my Jag, and yes

but I am now getting itchy feet so may be departing company soon, BUT i dont know what to get instead

[otolith]

Yes - but I don't commute, I work from home.

[anthonysjb]

Yes, even though classic Minis are stiff, loud and tiny, it's brilliant to drive every day.

[Robb F]

Very much. My commute is currently 8 miles of NSL B roads

[djt100]

As a rule i would say I don't really enjoy driving at all anymore, I still have a passion for cars, but i live in a built up area, and commute 2 days a week to the office and car share the other 3,other than that my car is used only when needed. No going out for a blast, etc.

With traffic and poor driving standards it's just no fun anymore.

[Chris71]

Nope. Short of finding the funds to afford some gorgeous piece of automotive art that still provides pleasure stuck in a traffic jam I fail to see how any petrolhead could enjoy my commute. Dare I say, that's why I cycle ... averaging 15 mph is actually quite a challenge if you're in a hilly area on a push bike.

Back when I used to live in a rural area I loved it, though. Hoon to work in the morning, then hoon back in the evening with the roof down.

[Hoofy]

Oddly, I do enjoy driving it. It's not a driver's car. It's about getting the gear changes spot on so it feels like no change was made. It's about judging distances to minimise braking. Getting the lines right to carry myself round a corner without having to brake or accelerate back up to speed. And second-guessing what other drivers are going to do.

[christofmccracke]

I enjoy driving my diesel BMW it handles well could do with more grunt though. Hated driving my fiesta and corsa diesel.

[ar 145]

my 147 GTA can be a bit frustrating on short journeys with lots of traffic.

Its loud, and thirsty in town/slow driving. on longer journeys with quick roads its great fun and comes alive when driven hard.

[superlightr]

Drive my E63 AMG estate most days for 30 mins or more - love it. A very complete and all round car.

[1OS]

The 330d not so much, it's my commuter mini barge but it does what it does well. It's just more a well maintained convenience to me than something I smile when I grab the keys. The CLK is great, I was whinging to a mate the other day about how much I can't wait for summer to come round so I can lower the roof and hear the ball tingling noise it makes!

[Andurron]

My daily commute is never any fun for me, the country roads into Cranfield are a bit too potholed and a 1.3 Colt doesn't exactly thrill one when it's a set, boring route. However over the weekend, I took the little 0.9 Seicento out for a spin - I drove to Silverstone to see how long it'd take to get to the Sunday Service on Saturday, but instead of turning around, I just went down a country road I didn't know and spent about two hours driving around the back roads on Northamptonshire, mostly on my own, enjoying the little Fiat.

I think it's all a matter of mindset of the individual. If you're going to your office, to do a job you hate, of course the journey's going to be terrible. If you're taking time out to enjoy cars with no real concerns (save perhaps Plod) then of course driving's still a pleasure.

[JREwing]

I don't really drive that much now to be honest, which is why my own car is a fairly boring tool for going to the supermarket primarily. So I'd have to say no. I have had cars I enjoyed just for the sake of it though.

[crxdave]

I daily drive the M3, and can honestly say I enjoy it every day. My working hours do mean that I miss all the traffic, and my commute is mostly NSL B roads. I can imagine its not as fun crawling everywhere at 15mph.