Do you “still” enjoy driving?

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

Mr Duffer,

that just about sums up all the pick up drivers here in Crete……

plus, often with a fag, a coffee and a phone on the go……

I dont drive much anymore…..which is nice….

Can't wait untill my Indians are finished….I'll never be at home….hahaha…

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

I always find it slightly amusing listening to people moan about driving standards, as I do frequently to be fair, driving standards generally are abysmal in my opinion but the thing that amuses me is that everybody agrees, has anyone ever come across someone that has said yes I'm one of those, my driving is terrible.

Bill D.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

For me it all depends where I am, why, and how much time I have. I can remember very unhappy journeys when much younger, driving to see an ill-natured and demanding software customer (my job was implementing sales/inventory/purchasing/manufacturing systems), but also perfectly relaxed trips where I drove a 400+ mile roundtrip and delivered 6 hours training or data-conversion work in one day.

It's true the roads are busier now and very many businesses are operating on tighter just-in-time schedules than they used to, but there are still times for an easy cruise down the motorways.

Being older, I find the country roads harder work now…

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

It’s confession time, Bill

Despite having my RoSPA Advanced Driver Certificate, I remember the embarrassment when …

“Making good progress” along the A449 in Staffordshire, I cursed the idiot coming the other way, who was overtaking on a blind bend with double white lines.

No harm done; but the embarrassment came when I looked at my Speedometer.

MichaelG.

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

Great thread.

I too remember when the speed limit was advisory and generally to be exceeded by 10mph on a matter of principle, even in a 1300, whilst others often stayed at 10mph or more under. This offered plenty of interesting situations and much to discuss.

Nowadays every car can easily exceed the limit and most people regard it as necessary to go at that limit irrespective of weather and light. Towns are regarded as special rally stages and woe betide anyone who can't see the arrows on the road under the cars in front. SATNAV is mandatory for preservation, not just for navigation.

So a lot of motoring is a pain, and in no way enjoyable other than arriving unscathed. Most journeys are discussed in terms of the delay.

However I still enjoy it when I can, like every commute which is along pretty country lanes, touring beautiful mountains and foolishly when I leave people at lights or between roundabouts. I like to feel the car balance around corners and the steering adjust as the turbo boost increases. Its always an extension of my body and as an unfit and decrepit ageing man I appreciate that even more than I did as a hooligan.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by Mick B1 on 30/12/2021 16:48:21:

It's true the roads are busier now and very many businesses are operating on tighter just-in-time schedules than they used to, but there are still times for an easy cruise down the motorways.

Usually between 23:00 and 04:00 on the way back from Scotland down the A1

Martin P

[Dave TParticipant @davet19446]

Have always hated driving – always loved my big bikes until a few years ago

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Many years back I had a left hand drive Triumph TR7. On odd occasions when it wasn't in the garage being fixed it was real fun to drive (compared to run of the mill cars of that era). Overtaking was a hoot – funnily enough always seemed to end up with a passenger looking ashen-faced for some odd reason.

All the best for the new year. Mike

[Ian McVickersParticipant @ianmcvickers56553]

I still enjoy driving most times but would enjoy it a lot more if the roads were in better condition. In Scotland it seems like they get worse every day. I bought mysef a Hyundai ioniq at the start of this year and the peace and quiet when its running on battery on a scarce section of good road is great.

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 30/12/2021 12:43:14:

Just bought myself a Lotus Exige Sport 420 Final Edition, so yes, very much still enjoy driving!

Good for you….enjoy it!

I still love driving but I do get frustrated driving in England as opposed to driving on the continent, which I've done a lot of pre-Covid. Too crowded here, and a generally poor infrastructure doesn't help!

My biggest gripe with driving in the UK is the ever expanding guessing game we have to play these days.Until thought transference is available to all, I wish use of direction indicators would become common practice. It would appear that vehicles have those little plastic amber things on each corner, maybe you have to pay extra for a switch??

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

I don't particularly enjoy my 100 miles a day commute 4 days a week (mainly on motorways) in the car, but do still enjoy "going places" on more minor roads by car, motorhome & (particularly) motorcycle.

With very few exceptions I have travelled independantly for holidays, going abroad for the first time in 1982 & I still look forward to doing so (when allowed, that is ! ). I have missed taking the bike around the Alps / Dolomites passes for the past two years – hopefully next year will see me return there. Advancing age & infirmity mean the long distance motorcycle tours have been replaced by towing the bikes behind a motorhome to the "interesting" bits – still fun, but in a different way.

When doing so ceases to be fun, I'll stop – but I don't expect that to happen any time soon. Conditions have changed considerably since I started on the roads in 1976 & rarely for the better, but I still have the feeling of freedom I first had on a single speed Honda 50 at 16 – no more being tied to other people's timetables.

Nigel B.

[David Davies 8Participant @daviddavies8]

Driving is still a necessity for me with a round trip of 52 miles a day to my place of work. As I travel against the prevailing flow of traffic I have reasonably empty roads and can make good (legal) progress. Yes it is enjoyable most of the time.

One thing that annoys me in the hours of darkness is the increasing numbers of cars that I pass with no rear lights on but lo and behold plenty of light at front. I assume that the drivers are using daytime running lights during night time. Am I right in my assumption?

Have others noticed this and what can/should be done about it?

Cheers

Dave

[Steve NeighbourParticipant @steveneighbour43428]

I'm pretty sure all cars nowadays have drl's . . They are on all the time regardless, most but not all have auto main lights (when ambient light is low) . . Those that drive when it's dark are either numbnuts and turn off the auto function, or their car is manual lights only !!

But . . You will still see older cars driving without any light, I told a chap once and he replied "I don't want to waste my battery" !!! . .

There's no hope when idiots like that are on our roads !!

[Oven ManParticipant @ovenman]

Posted by David Davies 8 on 31/12/2021 16:22:01:

One thing that annoys me in the hours of darkness is the increasing numbers of cars that I pass with no rear lights on but lo and behold plenty of light at front. I assume that the drivers are using daytime running lights during night time. Am I right in my assumption?

Have others noticed this and what can/should be done about it?

Cheers

Dave

One of the issues is that some cars, my own included, have the dasboard lights on all the time. In days gone by they were a good indicator that you had your lights switched on. I have to admit that I have been guilty of inadvertantly driving with no lights on because the daytime running lights seemed to provide enough illumination. There is a case for all cars having automatic headlights as standard rather than it just being an option on the top end specification of models. If you have had auto headlights and then move to a model without it, I am sure it takes time to adjust and remember to switch them on.

Peter

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

David Standing

I like the idea of the Exige 420. I changed my K series Caterham 7 for. Caterham 420R in April this year and gave done just over 6000 miles. Roll on this year with trips to top of Scotland and also the IoM. Can’t beat nice fast B roads up in Yorkshire Borders and Scotland. I do get frustrated by slow traffic and the inability of lots of drivers to “know how to overtake” so queues get longer as no one is prepared to pass the vehicle in front. As far as I am concerned The Police Driving Handbook phrase “Make Good Progress” is the way to go.
Colin

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Colin Heseltine on 01/01/2022 10:09:10:

… I do get frustrated by slow traffic and the inability of lots of drivers to “know how to overtake” so queues get longer as no one is prepared to pass the vehicle in front. …

Colin

If you want real motoring excitement, let's swap your Caterham for my trusty Corsa. It will change your ideas about overtaking. May be necessary to change your underwear as well!

Dave

[RobinParticipant @robin]

I am okay for short local trips but any distance and I dare not go alone. Without someone to keep my elderly brain occupied I just fall asleep. Twice those buzz strips down the side of the motorway woke me up before I realised I was no longer safe. Luckily I have my charming sister in law to take me shooting once a month, she likes driving I like shooting.,

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Robin on 01/01/2022 10:32:17:

I am okay for short local trips but any distance and I dare not go alone. Without someone to keep my elderly brain occupied I just fall asleep. Twice those buzz strips down the side of the motorway woke me up before I realised I was no longer safe. Luckily I have my charming sister in law to take me shooting once a month, she likes driving I like shooting.,

It can be a problem of fatigue. As a student burning candles at both ends and the middle, I woke up twice on the M4 heeled over on the banking.
These days the other chap in my head keeps me occupied but can get intrusive. Just this morning he started a stupid discussion about the problems of adapting a manual lathe for use during a space walk. Everything from running it on solar panels to lubrication, levelling the thing in zero gravity, dangers of operation with those gloves and where the swarf goes and whether fresh cut alloy components might self join..

pgk

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

It’s been quite interesting reading the responses to my OP, and I’m pleased that there are some people who still enjoy their driving. Or riding as the case may be. FWIW, I’ve never had what I would describe as a “flash” or “fancy” car/bike, and no disrespect intended, instead I have always preferred function over “fancy”, in that other than the VW Beetle, all my cars have been vans, estate or hatchback types, and always with what could be described as “bog-standard” engines. For example, the present car is a Toyota Avensis 1.8 petrol estate, estate because of the carrying capacity, 1.8 because that was the only petrol engine available otherwise I would have had a 2 ltr (for towing reasons), petrol because when I bought it in 2013, there were problems with diesels – DMF’s, exhaust problems, and we hadn’t properly started on the anti-diesel effect then. But interestingly, it is the most powerful I’ve ever had (theoretically it should be able to do 125mph) and at the same time it is the most economical petrol car I’ve ever had (38.8mpg since new). Ok, it isn’t exactly the best at the Traffic Light Start, but it’s ok for us.

I’ve had a few motorbikes, but here again, I’ve always gone for the smaller machines, the largest being a 500cc single, or “big thumper” from Yamaha. I’ve never had more than one cylinder either.

I’ve never driven/ridden at what I would describe as excessively fast. Ok, I have exceeded the speed limit on occasion, but on the odd times that I have driven really fast, I quickly discovered that mentally I wasn’t up to it, so whilst the vehicles concerned would have done more, I couldn’t. And so I slowed down.

I quite agree that there some poor/stupid drivers around, but at the same time, I shudder at my memories of some of the daft things I have done, both deliberately and accidently. These days then, I try to learn from my mistakes, and try to drive safely whilst at the same time trying , and not always succeeding, to make allowances for others.

Happy & safe driving/riding to you all.

Peter G. Shaw

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 01/01/2022 10:31:17:

Posted by Colin Heseltine on 01/01/2022 10:09:10:

… I do get frustrated by slow traffic and the inability of lots of drivers to “know how to overtake” so queues get longer as no one is prepared to pass the vehicle in front. …

Colin

If you want real motoring excitement, let's swap your Caterham for my trusty Corsa. It will change your ideas about overtaking. May be necessary to change your underwear as well!

Dave

It would be courteous to my mind that if you don’t fancy overtaking or your vehicle is not really up to the job just open up the gap so the person behind can make a safe overtake of one vehicle and then pick off the next one, trying to pass two cars is more difficult than one. Some of the most difficult vehicles to pass on a bike are enthusiastically driven fast cars, I particularly remember a Caterham on the Evesham to Broadway road, he was going for every gap that came up and cracking on between cars so very difficult to pass, a Porsche was also a problem to me and a mate on our VF750s, he went for everything but I think he got fed up of us in his mirrors and waved us past. The trouble with passing somebody who is making good progress is that they tend to sit out in the road to get the best view of the road so the bike trick of squeezing through the middle is not doable.

Mike

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Asked a Greek friend years ago if MOT was in operation in Greece due to number of cars on roads at night without rear lights. His answer was "Well, they're not driving backwards". Spent a fortnight with them in Kallathea, main drag between Athens and Pireaus. Now that was an education observing driving standards (or lack of).

Regards Ian.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[ reboot ]

I have recently been doing a trip of approximately 60miles each way; along the A555, M56, and A548 into North Wales, on a frequent basis.

Even in my little old short wheelbase ‘Grand Vitara’ this can be a mind-numbingly easy journey.

… It’s more like sitting on a conveyor-belt than anything I would call driving !

MichaelG.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

As someone said of Wagner's music, driving has its wonderful moments and its dreadful half-hours (though I understand a lot more than that for those trying to get to France right now).

When I was working several days a week on multiple customer sites I was racking up 36k miles some years, and I don't think I could've done that if I didn't like it.

Wife and I went to Orkneys recently and the drive to and from the ferry at Aberdeen was about 400 miles each way. We were lucky in that we hit no real holdups, and we quite enjoyed it – though we'd both admit it was quite hard work in our 70s.

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

Even though I haven't ridden a motorcycle for about twenty five years, I still look on myself as a motorcyclist, i.e. trying to survive with tailgaters, trying to work out what drivers are doing when they don't believe in signalling etc etc. I had an MGBGT for about 11 years and it was good fun, especially on a smooth bendy road, I looked on it as if it was a motorcycle with 4 wheels. Yes I thoroughly enjoyed that!! When I had a knee replacement the routine maintenance mean't that it had to go. Its replacement was a Subaru Impreza, normally aspirated with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Superb, great to drive, reliable, handled and steered beautifully. It was replaced after 11 years, it was chopped in for the latest version, subtlely different, had a 6 speed manual gearbox and the cam drive is a chain rather that the silly cam belts. I still enjoy driving it, even the boss likes it. Even though the next "Big One" at 75 is approaching shortly I still enjoy driving!!

cheers

Bill

[PatJParticipant @patj87806]

I have to climb up on a milk crate in order to get on my CR500.

I don't know what this world is coming to.

.

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