I think some pleasure can still be gained by driving, but it must be in a competent, pleasant and preferably unusual car.
The thought of owning one of the millions of euroclone boxes fills me with horror, i just do not want one.
I don't want an out and out sports car either, i want comfort and effortless performance, preferably with a torque converter super smooth box to make traffic crawls a chore of ease.
I wouldn't get enough use from a weekend car so prefer to run a useable daily driver.
I suppose care comes into the equation too, if the car is a neglected heap that sees a wash when it rains, and serviced when it breaks it will feel like it and give no joy, whereas a cared for unusual car that drives perfectly and looks and is in better condition than vehicles half its age will give pleasure in return.
Luckily we all like different things, but thats my choice for making driving as enjoyable as it can be now.
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>>I don't want an out and out sports car either, i want comfort and effortless performance, preferably with a torque converter super smooth box to make traffic crawls a chore of ease.
I wouldn't get enough use from a weekend car so prefer to run a useable daily driver.
I can't imagine which car you're describing GB!
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I can't imagine which car you're describing GB!
And it wasn't till i became serious about selling it that i came to realise it's virtues, though to be fair it would have been replaced with another broadly similar motor.
My judgement was clouded by the wiring loom issues, but thats not so bad now in the grand scheme of ownership over time.
And you know exactly what i'm talking about, and you'd love it if your 300d was turbocharged....thinking about it if my Diesel saloon had been turbo'd i'd have kept that indefinately too..;)
Biggest mistake of all time for MB not to have sorted out the plumbing to turbocharge the 124 Diesel in RHD form, they'd have been one of the most desirable MB cars of all time...well to those of a certain taste anyway.
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Sometimes putting around in a Corsa B 1.2 16V on a nice empty suburban straight road when the sun is out is enjoyable.
The most enjoyable thing about is driving is realising the alternative. Walking three miles in the rain or spending time on a slow bus full of bratts playing RnB on their phones.
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I think I got more enjoyment from my old Land Rover than any other vehicle I've owned, despite all my other vehicles being better handling, better built, more economical, more comfortable, quieter, faster, safer, more reliable and less corrosion-prone. Excellent brakes, though!
The Land Rover Defender has absolutely nothing going for it, on paper, unless you need to do serious off-road work or tow heavy trailers, but somehow it still appeals and I want another one.
I did do a bit of green laning and off-road trials. But on green lanes, once you've discovered that the Land Rover does what it says on the box, it's frankly more fun walking or mountain biking, which is what I do now.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 23/08/2009 at 23:32
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I suspect however, that many kit cars look far better than they drive. But I can dream.
I suspect you are right as most kit cars are based on running gear from 80's family cars.
>>The most enjoyable thing about is driving is realising the alternative. Walking three miles in the rain or spending time on a slow bus full of bratts playing RnB on their phones.
Couldn't agree more! Want to enjoy your regular driving more? Next time your car has to go to a garage, don't take the courtesy car but use public transport, you will realy apreciate driving after that!
Recent experience when my car had to go to a garage for some welding and new springs, daughter had an appointment 5 miles away. By car it takes less than 15 mins and costs next to nothing in fuel. By bus, and it's a single bus journey with about 300 yards of walking, 45 mins and £4.80.
Owning a car might be expensive, but using it is alot cheaper than public transport.
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To be the bus is far cheaper. £11 a week and that was all my needs. I could get the night bus home too with that.
However I was wasting far too much time at bus stops going for jobs and if I had to pick up a computer to remove a nasty virus or a load of time consuming diagnostics I would have to arrange a lift.
The car does cost me more but I would never swap it for the bus :).
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QUOTE:...""use public transport, you will realy apreciate driving after that!""
I disagree. When I used to drive to work, the occasional days when I needed to go by bus were a treat, apart from the extra time involved. But then I've always liked buses.
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Indeed if I am going into town then I won't dream of taking my car. Parking costs more than any return bus fare (£3.50 day saver). I tend to drive to my nearest metrolink stop though which is about 1.2miles away then get the tram into town as its cheaper and quicker.
I find the car much better for coss county journeys where I am going from one small suburb for another.
I will always be pro public transport but it has its limits and I am sick of making Stagecoach rich. I told once wrote a sarcastic email to Stagecoach telling them thank you for putting up the price of your weekly ticket, you have just convinced more than ever now is a good time to buy a car :p.
I also much prefer to go on train to different parts of the country (assuming the service is decent) as I just sit back and relax.
I do sometimes also just go for a drive locally just out of boredom. Something I am amazed is still legal!
Edit I like buses but they do also my raise my blood preasure so much, they really need to get rid of the pay the driver system. Here they are all Enviro 400s so its pretty boring anyway as each bus is identical.
Edited by Rattle on 23/08/2009 at 23:44
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I don't think you need a different car for weekends, just a different driving mentality.
When I had a Fabia vrS I used to use it for the daily work stop/start commute.
But then at weekends, I would give it a good wash and clean and have a good hoot in it, windows down, stereo up and blast round some country roads.
I miss that car :(
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For the great majority of people driving is a chore and the car is no more than a wheeled washing machine, a domestic appliance.
Almost right in my case. I do find driving a chore, but like previous posters say, it is better than using most public transport. My ideal car accessory is a chauffeur!
However, I do have tremendous enthusiasm for cars, and indeed engineering in general. I also think that some cars are practically works of art. e.g. Ferrari 288 GTO, Aston Martin DB9, Jaguar E-type, Lamborghini Countach.
Also, the Back Room is a good read!
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KIA Pride!
'Cos it only cost me fifty quid and I can hammer it around, off road, on club events.
It's road legal too, so I've got a second car. I've just taken the back seats out (two nuts and two bolts) to make enough space to take a load of junk to the tip tomorrow.
Edited by bathtub tom {p} on 24/08/2009 at 00:16
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Any car has its redeeming qualities.
Even one that doesn't handle, drones like a dishwasher, steers as if you're wearing boxing gloves and has a gearchange like stirring treacle.
Getting to learn a car's little quirks and being able to drive it spiritedly despite them all is an enjoyable pastime in itself.
Then when you get back into your usual, properly-sorted car it feels all the better for it.
Daewoo Nubira -- saving owners of second-cars millions in boredom fees....
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Good heavens, need you ask?
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Not much fun in driving now, except the occasions I can get out in the Jowett or on the bike. Much nicer in the 60s when the duchess and I were stepping out together.
We used to get the hood down on the Super Minx on a nice evening, drive out and pootle around the Cheshire lanes, do a bit of window shopping in Alderley Edge, Wilmslow or Knutsford and have a shandy somewhere.
Petrol too dear now, too many cars in a hurry and all the shop windows hidden behind steel........shame !
Must get these rose tinted specs cleaned.
Into my heart an air that kills from yon far country blows.
What are those blue remembered hills, what spires, what farms are those ?
That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain,
the happy highways where we went and cannot come again.
A.E.Houseman.
Ted
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I've owned many cars (ere he goes again!) and driven even more - Big cars, Little cars, Sports cars, some *VERY* fast cars - Stingrays, 911's, Lotus, Aston's, Jags, Bentleys, RR etc., etc.
To be quite honest, I'd much rather be on 2 wheels really, but its gotta be over 500cc mind.
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