Been out for a nice drive recently?
Been out for a nice drive recently?
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TheStoat

Original Poster:

1,498 posts

238 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Thought I'd post up a sort of antidote to all the tailgating, 18 stone goatee-wearing heroes and other tales of near death and ranting that seems to have cropped up recently...

Finished work today and was feeling a bit below par, stressy and generally a little jaded. Waited until about 10 pm when the traffic had died away and went out for a trundle in the car to unwind. Granted I may have trundled quite vigorously at some points but that's bound to happen with an eight litre engine (officer)

Wasn't all bonkers near-death driving god stuff. A good deal of it was just surfing around on a tsunami of torque, revelling in the feel of the car through the corners. It's quite soothing to watch the car effortlessly eat up the miles, exhausts humming away (ok humming quite loudly), garnished with pops and crackles on deceleration and gear changes to raise a smile. You really do become part of the machine when you're not on some hideous schedule, fighting the traffic and generally wading through a sea of bellends. What a difference a few hours make to the whole driving experience eh?

To sum it up I saw hardly any traffic, met no motorised window lickers, played on a good mixture of roads and I'm now thoroughly relaxed. Worth the petrol and the cost of the car and no mistake...

Anyone else manage to carve out a niche of nirvana today and care to remind us how epic it is to own a car?

blearyeyedboy

6,673 posts

196 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Yes.

Sunday night, driving from near Watford back to the West Country. Turned the Sat Nav to "avoid motorways".

Still grinning. smile

Acheron

643 posts

181 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Not in the last 6 years, no.

What car btw OP?

Blue Meanie

73,668 posts

272 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Went out today with my mum and drover her off what she perceived to be a precipice. She screamed a bit! hehe Went over a slope that was about 45 degrees, but from her position she couldn't see anything as the car went over. Very funny indeed.

TheStoat

Original Poster:

1,498 posts

238 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Acheron said:
Not in the last 6 years, no.

What car btw OP?
Convertible Dodge Viper

EDLT

15,421 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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I've given up on going for a blast on a Sunday morning, there is just too much traffic.

I got out at night instead now. driving

Stu R

21,410 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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No, so I took the bike out instead. There's a reason it's got a huge smiley face on the front biggrin


Baryonyx

18,146 posts

176 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Went out at about 2200 tonight in my MX5, had a drive about somewhat aimlessly, just enjoying the roads. They're a little bit slippy, which brings the back end of the car to life as you feel it shuffle through corners and over different road surfaces. Excellent stuff, very enjoyable.

TheStoat

Original Poster:

1,498 posts

238 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Stu R said:
No, so I took the bike out instead. There's a reason it's got a huge smiley face on the front biggrin

Ah biking! And none of that peddling nonsense either... I miss my biking days. If I ever manage to scrape some cash together again I'll have a bike once more. Some spiffy memories of riding in the UK and France smile

Steve in Stoke

6,388 posts

201 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Last few days running in the Chim after 4 months of refurb. No balls out hooning, no sideway roundabouts, no laying 11's everywhere, no road rage, no near misses. Just wafting about getting used to the car again and loosening it up after being dormant for so long.

And feeding lots of yummy fresh CO2 to the trees. Doing my bit for the environment you see.

Stu R

21,410 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
TheStoat said:
Ah biking! And none of that peddling nonsense either... I miss my biking days. If I ever manage to scrape some cash together again I'll have a bike once more. Some spiffy memories of riding in the UK and France smile
I'll gladly trade you for a few hours, I've been wondering what the newer Vipers are like to drive hehe

EDLT

15,421 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Stu R said:
No, so I took the bike out instead. There's a reason it's got a huge smiley face on the front biggrin

Just needs a moustache:


TheStoat

Original Poster:

1,498 posts

238 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
EDLT said:
Just needs a moustache:

Could be worse - my R1150GS earned the nickname The Monocled Mutineer biggrin

Think that was RiDE magazine the gits...

TheStoat

Original Poster:

1,498 posts

238 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Stu R said:
I'll gladly trade you for a few hours, I've been wondering what the newer Vipers are like to drive hehe
Make it rush hour though so I can giggle my arse off at being able to filter again biggrin

NiceCupOfTea

25,444 posts

268 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
No.

The MX-5 needs things doing to it and is very rattly at the moment.

The Saab needs a lot of welding, a service, and today has gained an expensive sounding whine to join the vibration at 2k RPM.

Both are utterly depressing to drive at the moment because they remind me of how much time I spend driving them just to get somewhere and not for fun, and how much I neglect them. Neither has been washed for months as I don't have the time.

Quite tempted just to sell both and get some st white goods transport that I don't care about. Just seem to spend so much money on it and all I do is worry about the new rattle or the rust.

In all honesty the last decent drive I had was last August in Yorkshire.

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Wednesday 2nd March 01:35

WestYorkie

1,811 posts

212 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Yup! smile I went with my brother to pick up his new (to him) Volvo from Sheffield. Went in his Impreza wagon and decided to have a pootle over the Peak district on the way back.

No great speeds or silly manouvers but an enjoyable drive through some gorgeous countryside on some very nice roads.
The only mistake we made was turning right at Ladybower reservoir instead of Left onto Glossop and the A6024 frown


Adam205

820 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Bath over to Cheddar gorge. Excellent little run!

Edited by Adam205 on Wednesday 2nd March 01:34

WestYorkie

1,811 posts

212 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Stu R said:
No, so I took the Patrick out instead. There's a reason it's got a huge smiley face on the front biggrin

EFA.

Stu R

21,410 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
hehe I never said it was pretty!

BDR529

3,560 posts

191 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
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Last went a couple of weeks back, a good hoon down the A4069.

Road was pretty wet in places, but the car still gripped well through the tight corners.

Then when I slowed down to 40 is when the back end tried to volt off in a different direction. I guess it's always when you least expect it.. hehe