Should i give up driving (on the road).
Discussion
I've recently had a very minor bump in my car my fault at about 5mph, anyway the third party is being an arse by lying, cheating and being a hypocrite and abusing the system with regards to PI so i'm as much a victim of the system as he is of me. I will do whatever i can to contest it but that's another story.
Then i look at the standard of driving as clearly 85% of motorists cant be arsed with the task. Whether or not i'm actually a shining example is anyone's guess but at least i take pride in driving and my car. Driving is a financial money pit and unless you have a 250 gto or HF integrale tucked away in the garage it's a waste of money to get from A-B i may as well use a taxi for the weekly shop.
I use my bike for my daily commute partly because i cannot stand driving in rush hours and i'd rather risk it on two wheels instead.
So should i just buy a banger and say if you cant beat them join them. Whats the point of having a nice car with all the morons on the road. Or should i buy a road legal track day weapon and give up on driving on the road altogether. Or join some small rally team and learn what car control is really all about.
Moot point i suppose and not an option for many i know. But i now cannot decide whether i should buy a nicer newer car worth more dosh and better VFM from the insurance or buy an modern classic 80's/90's and try and keep some value in it. Or accept i'm a minority and take my driving enjoyment somewhere i know everyone else feels the same way.
Then i look at the standard of driving as clearly 85% of motorists cant be arsed with the task. Whether or not i'm actually a shining example is anyone's guess but at least i take pride in driving and my car. Driving is a financial money pit and unless you have a 250 gto or HF integrale tucked away in the garage it's a waste of money to get from A-B i may as well use a taxi for the weekly shop.
I use my bike for my daily commute partly because i cannot stand driving in rush hours and i'd rather risk it on two wheels instead.
So should i just buy a banger and say if you cant beat them join them. Whats the point of having a nice car with all the morons on the road. Or should i buy a road legal track day weapon and give up on driving on the road altogether. Or join some small rally team and learn what car control is really all about.
Moot point i suppose and not an option for many i know. But i now cannot decide whether i should buy a nicer newer car worth more dosh and better VFM from the insurance or buy an modern classic 80's/90's and try and keep some value in it. Or accept i'm a minority and take my driving enjoyment somewhere i know everyone else feels the same way.
I think all of us can feel your frustration but letting a couple of goons ruin something you clearly have a passion for isn't going to make you any happier.
Perhaps shed motoring is a good option while you save up for that HF for the weekends, perhaps?
Don't let them get you down, chap.
Perhaps shed motoring is a good option while you save up for that HF for the weekends, perhaps?
Don't let them get you down, chap.
I feel your pain, I really do. There seem to be so many idiots on the road, it does sometimes seem as if we should all give up and do it differently!
In my case, I keep my car for fun trips when the pressure of time is off, and commute by bike or public transport otherwise.
My dream though, is to give up the commute completely and work from home or close to home so that driving can go back to being a hobby.
In my case, I keep my car for fun trips when the pressure of time is off, and commute by bike or public transport otherwise.
My dream though, is to give up the commute completely and work from home or close to home so that driving can go back to being a hobby.
You can't beat them, but you don't have to join them either. (If by join them, you mean drive like a tit.)
To me a nice compromise is to run something older, with bodywork that has seen better days but wears its age well in a slightly ratty sort of way.
Eg Mk2 MR2, E39 5 series, mondeo ST 200/220.
The odd carpark door mark needn't bother you, you can literally throw things in to the boot and you aren't driving around playing bumper cars with a £15,000 liability all the time.
Buy one, service it, suspension refresh and you're away.
To me a nice compromise is to run something older, with bodywork that has seen better days but wears its age well in a slightly ratty sort of way.
Eg Mk2 MR2, E39 5 series, mondeo ST 200/220.
The odd carpark door mark needn't bother you, you can literally throw things in to the boot and you aren't driving around playing bumper cars with a £15,000 liability all the time.
Buy one, service it, suspension refresh and you're away.
Edited by Bennet on Thursday 30th January 10:02
madkat i was in the same situation as you last year. i had a minor bump and got took to the cleaners over it, a bumper scratch turned into a £5227.92 claim that has left me with 0 NCB (im 21) i really wanted to chuck the towel after this because it has ruined any chance of me having a nice car until im atleast 25.
i realised that in my situation i couldnt be without a car as work was 22miles each way (nearest public transport meant 2 swaps) so i got a little shed, ive had an up and down relationship with it. it starts everyday its good on fuel its comfortable but something is missing from it.
i think if i had my own way id rather not drive on the road as a daily thing and have a bike for trackday.
such a shame that insurance is the main factor in wether you can enjoy motoring or not.
i realised that in my situation i couldnt be without a car as work was 22miles each way (nearest public transport meant 2 swaps) so i got a little shed, ive had an up and down relationship with it. it starts everyday its good on fuel its comfortable but something is missing from it.
i think if i had my own way id rather not drive on the road as a daily thing and have a bike for trackday.
such a shame that insurance is the main factor in wether you can enjoy motoring or not.
Bennet said:
You can't beat them, but you don't have to join them either. (If by join them, you mean drive like a tit.)
To me a nice compromise is to run something older, with bodywork that has seen better days but wears its age well in a slightly ratty sort of way.
Eg Mk2 MR2, E39 5 series, mondeo ST 220.
The odd carpark door mark needn't bother you, you can literally throw things in to the boot and you aren't driving around playing bumper cars with a £15,000 liability all the time.
Buy one, service it, suspension refresh and you're away.
Just get a Volvo 850 T5 and remap it To me a nice compromise is to run something older, with bodywork that has seen better days but wears its age well in a slightly ratty sort of way.
Eg Mk2 MR2, E39 5 series, mondeo ST 220.
The odd carpark door mark needn't bother you, you can literally throw things in to the boot and you aren't driving around playing bumper cars with a £15,000 liability all the time.
Buy one, service it, suspension refresh and you're away.
Depends on the banger...
I drive my Land Rover most of the time which is probably the perfect vehicle for today's roads.
It has heavy duty steel bumpers front and rear for those pesky fender benders.
Heavy duty rock and tree sliders which protect the sills and doors from those wandering supermarket trolleys and swinging car doors.
It has large, all terrain tyres for coping with our pothole strewn, washboard roads.
It has long suspension travel and soft springs which aid in ride comfort.
It has a big boot you can throw your bike into
Ladies and gentleman I give you the land rover defender, the perfect vehicle for British roads. On sale since 1948.
I drive my Land Rover most of the time which is probably the perfect vehicle for today's roads.
It has heavy duty steel bumpers front and rear for those pesky fender benders.
Heavy duty rock and tree sliders which protect the sills and doors from those wandering supermarket trolleys and swinging car doors.
It has large, all terrain tyres for coping with our pothole strewn, washboard roads.
It has long suspension travel and soft springs which aid in ride comfort.
It has a big boot you can throw your bike into
Ladies and gentleman I give you the land rover defender, the perfect vehicle for British roads. On sale since 1948.
Bennet said:
You can't beat them, but you don't have to join them either. (If by join them, you mean drive like a tit.)
To me a nice compromise is to run something older, with bodywork that has seen better days but wears its age well in a slightly ratty sort of way.
Eg Mk2 MR2, E39 5 series, mondeo ST 220.
The odd carpark door mark needn't bother you, you can literally throw things in to the boot and you aren't driving around playing bumper cars with a £15,000 liability all the time.
Buy one, service it, suspension refresh and you're away.
Some Would argue that's what i already have (an 03 Octavia) but every time i leave the house i find myself judging driving standards and i must be wired wrong because i find most of it too hard to ignore and it annoys me such. I find myself asking how do people get the simplest of things wrong when driving. To me a nice compromise is to run something older, with bodywork that has seen better days but wears its age well in a slightly ratty sort of way.
Eg Mk2 MR2, E39 5 series, mondeo ST 220.
The odd carpark door mark needn't bother you, you can literally throw things in to the boot and you aren't driving around playing bumper cars with a £15,000 liability all the time.
Buy one, service it, suspension refresh and you're away.
I'm glad i'm not the only one who feels their against the sheep of this world. My case is stick with the Octy which as a everyday car is very good, or go older and by a mk2 golf or Corrado but worry about keeping it in good nick or go newer and buy a mk5 Ibiza Cupra/Bocanegra and worry about the risk of these idiots causing me grief on something more expensive and something insurance will more than likely have to make a large payout on repairs should it come to that.
I really only need a weekend car but do occasionally need rear seats for in-laws and for bunging bikes and walking gear in for our weekend excursions.
Maybe it's just my demographic? Cheshire and Merseyside seem to have some god awful drivers but at least people in the west midlands seem to want to get places and i prefer that.
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