Is my TDI estate ruining my driving?
Discussion
I find myself having to drive my 2.0 TDI audi a6 estate increasingly often in the terrible weather we get - my hayabusa locost rarely gets a breather, but so rarely can i get back into banzai mode, be it on track or a great driving road. I'm beginning to become afraid of what the TDI estate is doing to me as a driver, let me explain;
In my TDI estate, more and more i find myself maintaining a constant speed to save fuel, and reducing my cornering speeds to reduce tyre wear, which is all fine. But i caught myself doing this on one of the south's best driving roads on the way home tonight. A morgan and a focus RS out for a blat caught up behind me, and it felt like i was waking up from a deep zombie motorist sleep as I quickened the pace and began to remember what driving was about, relishing the feeling of not holding their progress up, and wasting a great road.
Some minutes later when I arrived home i thought back to what had gone on and realised that I had become my worst enemy, one of those hated zombie drivers who ruins epic sunday morning drives on our very best roads with needlessly pedestrian driving. What however genuinely worries me is that this happened on such a good road which should awaken the driving spirit in even the most uninspiring car, and especially with me driving.
Whilst driving slowly has its place - apart from being of course safer, I see little point in making progress where a slow speed limit is approaching in thirty seconds time, or if i can't overtake the car 20 metres in front anyway with my measly diesel, which often ends with my being tailgated by a short-sighted young driver or white van man who clearly is missing the point. So am I? Am I loosing touch with what driving is all about? Am i turning into an old man? I wonder what the best solution is....
In my TDI estate, more and more i find myself maintaining a constant speed to save fuel, and reducing my cornering speeds to reduce tyre wear, which is all fine. But i caught myself doing this on one of the south's best driving roads on the way home tonight. A morgan and a focus RS out for a blat caught up behind me, and it felt like i was waking up from a deep zombie motorist sleep as I quickened the pace and began to remember what driving was about, relishing the feeling of not holding their progress up, and wasting a great road.
Some minutes later when I arrived home i thought back to what had gone on and realised that I had become my worst enemy, one of those hated zombie drivers who ruins epic sunday morning drives on our very best roads with needlessly pedestrian driving. What however genuinely worries me is that this happened on such a good road which should awaken the driving spirit in even the most uninspiring car, and especially with me driving.
Whilst driving slowly has its place - apart from being of course safer, I see little point in making progress where a slow speed limit is approaching in thirty seconds time, or if i can't overtake the car 20 metres in front anyway with my measly diesel, which often ends with my being tailgated by a short-sighted young driver or white van man who clearly is missing the point. So am I? Am I loosing touch with what driving is all about? Am i turning into an old man? I wonder what the best solution is....
Edited by BusaMK on Tuesday 6th March 22:01
See what mpg you get when pressing on and compare it to careful / normal driving, then turn that saving into a cash figure. Then ask yourself how much having a bit of fun while driving is worth to you. Unless you're doing mega miles I bet you're only saving yourself a few quid a week by driving for economy.
BusaMK said:
In my TDI estate, more and more i find myself maintaining a constant speed to save fuel, and reducing my cornering speeds to reduce tyre wear, which is all fine. But i caught myself doing this on one of the south's best driving roads on the way home tonight.
Are you sure it is the car?Are these familiar to you:
Personally, I just drive as normal in my TDCI estate. I give fuel economy a bit of thought (mainly just keeping the revs down, but not labouring, unless on a 'driving road' where I might hold lower gears), but I don't worry about tyre wear at all -and I'm not doing rolling burn-outs from every traffic light.
High 40s mpg average in winter is fine. 50+mpg on a long run at an indicated 70mph ,(less at higher speeds) is fine with me.
Just drive and don't worry about a few quid here and there.
Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 7th March 11:21
Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 7th March 20:21
'Whilst driving slowly has its place - apart from being of course safer'
For me, I'm a much safer driver at 'speed' as opposed to going 'slowly' - simply because find myself bored out of my mind at slower speeds. Concentration levels are that much higher when pushing on (for me) - no question - especially on faster roads and motorways.
For me, I'm a much safer driver at 'speed' as opposed to going 'slowly' - simply because find myself bored out of my mind at slower speeds. Concentration levels are that much higher when pushing on (for me) - no question - especially on faster roads and motorways.
robbyd said:
'Whilst driving slowly has its place - apart from being of course safer'
For me, I'm a much safer driver at 'speed' as opposed to going 'slowly' - simply because find myself bored out of my mind at slower speeds. Concentration levels are that much higher when pushing on (for me) - no question - especially on faster roads and motorways.
Agreed.For me, I'm a much safer driver at 'speed' as opposed to going 'slowly' - simply because find myself bored out of my mind at slower speeds. Concentration levels are that much higher when pushing on (for me) - no question - especially on faster roads and motorways.
I can't be the only one that actually enjoys coming up behind a slower driver on a good road, as it means I get to perfect the long lost art of overtaking. I like to make progress when the mood takes, but a well planned and executed overtake adds to the enjoyment. For me anyway.
OP - pootle if you want, you don't have to give it the beans everywhere you know!
OP - pootle if you want, you don't have to give it the beans everywhere you know!
I sympathise with you OP.
The 1800 petrol mondeo is slow and smooth, so I drive it the same. Coasting, cruising, and making the speed/MPG balance.
Wednesday I realised that I'd been left hand lane pootling at not much more than HGV speed pretty much from NEC in Birmingham, to Sheffield.
And couldn't help but think: "What the hell happened to me?"
what happened to the days of 11mpg 200SX high-revving loveliness?
I have 3 cars. The fastest of which is a 2006 SAAB 9-3 VS TID. What the hell does this say about me?
The 1800 petrol mondeo is slow and smooth, so I drive it the same. Coasting, cruising, and making the speed/MPG balance.
Wednesday I realised that I'd been left hand lane pootling at not much more than HGV speed pretty much from NEC in Birmingham, to Sheffield.
And couldn't help but think: "What the hell happened to me?"
what happened to the days of 11mpg 200SX high-revving loveliness?
I have 3 cars. The fastest of which is a 2006 SAAB 9-3 VS TID. What the hell does this say about me?
LeoSayer said:
Fun can be had on a great, empty road regardless of the vehicle.
Shame on you
Shame on you
living in Lincolnshire, and working shifts, and suffering insomnia, can have advantages.
Nothing like a woefully underpowered car that has a good chassis, and a empty stretch of A/B road
at 3am in summer 
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