Driving is awful these days, isn't it?
Discussion
Day to day driving is a bind these days isn't it?
Traffic, roadworks, "safety" cameras, congestion zones, traffic calming, civil enforcement, lowered speed limits and general day-to-day numptyism combine to make my daily commute, and most of my other driving pretty bloody awful these days.
Most of you probably feel the same. A quick scan of the PH forums certainly suggests that - even on a motoring forum - people aren't enjoying driving much these days. There are literally thousands of posts complaining about poor driving standards, poor road conditions, overzealous enforcement, restrictive legislation and a whole range of other general embuggerances.
However...
Occasionally - just occasionally - its different. The traffic thins out, you're on an attractive and well maintained road, one which makes you work, but doesn't hold too many nasty surprises. Plenty of nice, easy to assess corners, well sighted, good extended views, helpful cambers and a nice overall rythm.
The speed of your mental processes seem to increase, your observations switch to full scanning mode and, for the time being, all you're thinking about is driving - scanning, planning, reacting, concentrating. The car becomes an extension of your own body - you can feel the road surface through the wheel and the grip levels through the seat.
The physical interaction with the car brings its own little satisfactions too. Accelerating through a bend, timing your gearchanges and rev matching to perfection, controlling the car, but also allowing it to flow with the road. You can feel and judge the grip levels on each corner, small inputs with throttle or wheel allow you to tighten the cars line and adjust its attitude. Precise management of the weight transfer, in both pitch and roll allow you to keep the car perfectly balanced.
Your body reacts in involuntary ways, which add to the moment. Your heart rate rises slightly, you feel a heightened sensitivity with the controls - particularly the steering - your pupils dilate and your consciousness instinctively focuses on the most important senses, so that you tend to feel like you're hearing less and seeing more.
Believe it or not, speed isn't that important when it comes to enjoying driving. Its far more about the feelings and emotions, the physical and mechanical connection with the car and the road. I've had some very enjoyable drives in relatively slow cars, and some pretty poor drives in considerably faster cars. Its far more about the time, the place, the road and your attitude than anything else.
You need to make more of an effort to experience driving enjoyment these days. An early start in a Sunday and a run out to more enjoyable roads, but believe me, its still worth it every now and again.
I've been driving for 28 years so far and despite the day to day hassles, I still enjoy driving and I still occasionally make time to just go for a drive for pleasure. My Dad is 71, and he said something very similar to me the other day. He doesn't drive anything spectacular, but to this day, he still enjoys driving and still occsaionally goes for a drive just for the sake of it.
So if you're fed up with the daily grind, sick to the back teeth with your daily commute and just generally disillusioned with driving, try setting you alarm clock for 7.00am on Sunday and head out for an hour or two on your own. It might just reignite your love of driving.
Traffic, roadworks, "safety" cameras, congestion zones, traffic calming, civil enforcement, lowered speed limits and general day-to-day numptyism combine to make my daily commute, and most of my other driving pretty bloody awful these days.
Most of you probably feel the same. A quick scan of the PH forums certainly suggests that - even on a motoring forum - people aren't enjoying driving much these days. There are literally thousands of posts complaining about poor driving standards, poor road conditions, overzealous enforcement, restrictive legislation and a whole range of other general embuggerances.
However...
Occasionally - just occasionally - its different. The traffic thins out, you're on an attractive and well maintained road, one which makes you work, but doesn't hold too many nasty surprises. Plenty of nice, easy to assess corners, well sighted, good extended views, helpful cambers and a nice overall rythm.
The speed of your mental processes seem to increase, your observations switch to full scanning mode and, for the time being, all you're thinking about is driving - scanning, planning, reacting, concentrating. The car becomes an extension of your own body - you can feel the road surface through the wheel and the grip levels through the seat.
The physical interaction with the car brings its own little satisfactions too. Accelerating through a bend, timing your gearchanges and rev matching to perfection, controlling the car, but also allowing it to flow with the road. You can feel and judge the grip levels on each corner, small inputs with throttle or wheel allow you to tighten the cars line and adjust its attitude. Precise management of the weight transfer, in both pitch and roll allow you to keep the car perfectly balanced.
Your body reacts in involuntary ways, which add to the moment. Your heart rate rises slightly, you feel a heightened sensitivity with the controls - particularly the steering - your pupils dilate and your consciousness instinctively focuses on the most important senses, so that you tend to feel like you're hearing less and seeing more.
Believe it or not, speed isn't that important when it comes to enjoying driving. Its far more about the feelings and emotions, the physical and mechanical connection with the car and the road. I've had some very enjoyable drives in relatively slow cars, and some pretty poor drives in considerably faster cars. Its far more about the time, the place, the road and your attitude than anything else.
You need to make more of an effort to experience driving enjoyment these days. An early start in a Sunday and a run out to more enjoyable roads, but believe me, its still worth it every now and again.
I've been driving for 28 years so far and despite the day to day hassles, I still enjoy driving and I still occasionally make time to just go for a drive for pleasure. My Dad is 71, and he said something very similar to me the other day. He doesn't drive anything spectacular, but to this day, he still enjoys driving and still occsaionally goes for a drive just for the sake of it.
So if you're fed up with the daily grind, sick to the back teeth with your daily commute and just generally disillusioned with driving, try setting you alarm clock for 7.00am on Sunday and head out for an hour or two on your own. It might just reignite your love of driving.
Right tools for the job... For a commute, a quiet automatic car with electric everything. Good seat, smooth suspension, cruise control, nothing sporting really. Then for empty roads a sporty car. I can't see sports cars ever being nice in heavy traffic but given an empty road...
Well I've not got a sports car, but I do have a wafty barge and a bike, so part way there. Got to be said that I am so happy being in an automatic car these days.
Well I've not got a sports car, but I do have a wafty barge and a bike, so part way there. Got to be said that I am so happy being in an automatic car these days.
HertsBiker said:
Right tools for the job... For a commute, a quiet automatic car with electric everything. Good seat, smooth suspension, cruise control, nothing sporting really. Then for empty roads a sporty car. I can't see sports cars ever being nice in heavy traffic but given an empty road...
Well I've not got a sports car, but I do have a wafty barge and a bike, so part way there. Got to be said that I am so happy being in an automatic car these days.
4 years ago you couldn't have paid me to drive an automatic, now I can't stand commuting without one! Takes so much stress out of the daily grind it is unreal, however having 3 litres of diesel thrust coupled to it help! If I could afford to run my 911 turbo every day I think I would, just because overtaking is so easy, but sadly I can't cope with 18mpg!Well I've not got a sports car, but I do have a wafty barge and a bike, so part way there. Got to be said that I am so happy being in an automatic car these days.
I borrowed the mrs Ford Focus diesel yesterday to go to work (138 mile round trip) , my god it's hard work stirring a 115bhp manual car along these days, no wonder most drivers are angry wrecks by the time they get to work!
Back into E39 wafting today
, sad as it sounds between my M3, 911 & 232k 3.0 diesel E39, I think it is my favorite car :getmycoat:4:00am Sunday morning in June. Roof down. That's when the sports cars come out to play.
The rest of the time my Nissan Leaf (pure electric) does the job.
I'll tell you what, though: there is no car with a smoother power delivery than an electric. Fantastic in corners.
I want Nissan to ditch the rear seats and fill the space with more battery and a swanky folding metal convertible roof. That'll do...
The rest of the time my Nissan Leaf (pure electric) does the job.
I'll tell you what, though: there is no car with a smoother power delivery than an electric. Fantastic in corners.
I want Nissan to ditch the rear seats and fill the space with more battery and a swanky folding metal convertible roof. That'll do...
R_U_LOCAL said:
So if you're fed up with the daily grind, sick to the back teeth with your daily commute and just generally disillusioned with driving, try setting you alarm clock for 7.00am on Sunday and head out for an hour or two on your own. It might just reignite your love of driving.
My start time is usually at sunrise. T-top off, heater on if needed. Finish around 08.30 in time for breakfast.I have a list of suitable eateries as end points. Always nicer when someone else does the cooking and washing up.
Sometimes I just go for a drive without any kind of plan. One time I ended up over 250 miles away.
Now when in that kind of mood I pack a quick change of kit and a toothbrush just in case!
I always manage to find overnight accommodation if necessary.
Red Devil said:
My start time is usually at sunrise. T-top off, heater on if needed. Finish around 08.30 in time for breakfast.I have a list of suitable eateries as end points. Always nicer when someone else does the cooking and washing up.
Sometimes I just go for a drive without any kind of plan. One time I ended up over 250 miles away.
Now when in that kind of mood I pack a quick change of kit and a toothbrush just in case!
I always manage to find overnight accommodation if necessary.
R_U_LOCAL said:
Day to day driving is a bind these days isn't it
Mine's not too bad, thanks. Although I live on the outskirts of Manchester, I commute away from the city, down some good roads, with some overtaking opportunities, and have the option of completely avoiding the motorway, which I often do.R_U_LOCAL said:
Occasionally - just occasionally - its different. The traffic thins out, you're on an attractive and well maintained road, one which makes you work, but doesn't hold too many nasty surprises. Plenty of nice, easy to assess corners, well sighted, good extended views, helpful cambers and a nice overall rhythm....
...The physical interaction with the car brings its own little satisfactions too. Accelerating through a bend, timing your gearchanges and rev matching to perfection, controlling the car, but also allowing it to flow with the road. You can feel and judge the grip levels on each corner, small inputs with throttle or wheel allow you to tighten the cars
I had the pleasure of a drive like this the other day, due to a later than normal start and much quieter roads. Minimal inputs and great "flow"....The physical interaction with the car brings its own little satisfactions too. Accelerating through a bend, timing your gearchanges and rev matching to perfection, controlling the car, but also allowing it to flow with the road. You can feel and judge the grip levels on each corner, small inputs with throttle or wheel allow you to tighten the cars
Superb, even in a big, diesel estate. The same route can also be great fun in a 1.2 shopping car whilst trying to maintain momentum and anticipate the response of the car and on a motorbike, which gives plenty more overtaking opportunities.
I don't often have the opportunity to go out for drives and rides these days, but do often seek out the scenic route to a destination.
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 11th December 19:44
On the subject of generally awful driving, I headed out this morning and caught the tail-end of Cheshire village school-run time.
Most People just do not appear to anticipate anything that might happen in front of them.
They drive around narrow (and very narrow) bends in the middle of the road with no apparent consideration that somebody may be driving the opposite way.
When negotiating parked cars, many people blindly follow closely the vehicle in front, with no thought for whether they will end up blocking the road and causing a log jam, and the idea of hanging back and letting oncoming cars through doesn't seem to occur to many people either.
Many people also accelerate up to hazards and drive far too quickly in congested, built-up areas -although the same people are often hopeless (constant comfort braking, all over the road and appallingly close to cyclists) when the road opens out
Mild Rant over.
Most People just do not appear to anticipate anything that might happen in front of them.
They drive around narrow (and very narrow) bends in the middle of the road with no apparent consideration that somebody may be driving the opposite way.
When negotiating parked cars, many people blindly follow closely the vehicle in front, with no thought for whether they will end up blocking the road and causing a log jam, and the idea of hanging back and letting oncoming cars through doesn't seem to occur to many people either.
Many people also accelerate up to hazards and drive far too quickly in congested, built-up areas -although the same people are often hopeless (constant comfort braking, all over the road and appallingly close to cyclists) when the road opens out
Mild Rant over.
Oh dear - I think the purpose of this thread may have been misunderstood!
My point was that, although day-to-day driving is pretty awful these days, driving can be, and is still a very enjoyable activity and instead of moaning so much, we should make the effort to just drive for pleasure every now and again.
Should have made the title "driving is still brilliant, isn't it?"
Brilliant!
My point was that, although day-to-day driving is pretty awful these days, driving can be, and is still a very enjoyable activity and instead of moaning so much, we should make the effort to just drive for pleasure every now and again.
Should have made the title "driving is still brilliant, isn't it?"
Brilliant!
R_U_LOCAL said:
Oh dear - I think the purpose of this thread may have been misunderstood!
My point was that, although day-to-day driving is pretty awful these days, driving can be, and is still a very enjoyable activity and instead of moaning so much, we should make the effort to just drive for pleasure every now and again.
Should have made the title "driving is still brilliant, isn't it?"
Brilliant!
I've already responded in the positive. I was just balancing it up a little. My point was that, although day-to-day driving is pretty awful these days, driving can be, and is still a very enjoyable activity and instead of moaning so much, we should make the effort to just drive for pleasure every now and again.
Should have made the title "driving is still brilliant, isn't it?"
Brilliant!
My drive home was great, even in the hail.
I think if you come on here your the type that takes some care and pleasure in your driving.
Everyone else bimbles around lights out, no lane discipline not understanding what an overtaking lane is or able to use the bloody mirrors!
Oh and tailgate like mad and then when its moves to 2 lane carriageway make sod all progress!!!!!
Everyone else bimbles around lights out, no lane discipline not understanding what an overtaking lane is or able to use the bloody mirrors!
Oh and tailgate like mad and then when its moves to 2 lane carriageway make sod all progress!!!!!
You get out of it what you put in to a large extent. If you're riled up and heading out with the attitude that going for a drive is wading into war you won't enjoy it. Plus it can lead to you having a bad tempered, confrontational attitude that makes things worse. A lot of people round here are cynical. Chill out, practice the art of Christian motoring which helps pass on the good will and you'll be a lot happier whether you're on a crowded M60 with a 50mph limit and average speed cameras or a nice empty country road.
R_U_LOCAL said:
Oh dear - I think the purpose of this thread may have been misunderstood!
My point was that, although day-to-day driving is pretty awful these days .....
Why do so many of you think everyday driving is pretty awful? I enjoy driving on challenging rural roads as much as the best of you. But I also enjoy most of my everyday driving. I live in the home counties and often drive into London. I get great pleasure from trying to make reasonable progress through traffic smoothly, sympathetically to other drivers, and of course safely.Challenges include anticipating where the gaps are going to open up, predicting which lane will offer the least resistance, keeping good space around me, being precise and accurate in my positioning, keeping my speed in speed limited situations as close to my chosen speed and so on. And if I happen to be driving a manual car through traffic of course there are all those opportunities to make perfect gear changes - or not!My point was that, although day-to-day driving is pretty awful these days .....
(Actually, all that is true, but I do have a terrible weakness is that even a relatively short time at a constant speed on a motorway makes my eyelids start to droop - there is no solution other than allowing them to close completely for a few minutes).
I take my driving pill early on a Sunday morning, I set the clock in Summer for about 5:15, I put a down jacket on and my driving boots, I stick a beanie on and then reverse my Wife's car off the drive. Then I open the garage and my gleaming VX220 is there waiting, with the roof off and ready to go. I start her up and gently back out with as little noise as possible, so I don't wake the neighbors. Then I head off along the A5 towards Wales. I usually veer off down through Curch Stretton, out to Knighton and literally overtake no one. The sun is coming up behind me and the Welsh hills are beautiful the road is dry and wiggly and I'm smelling a mixture of car and Countryside. I'm now heel and toeing and double de clutching my way for the next 100 miles until I stop for coffee. .....I usually get home for about 9:30 and after putting the car away, and having a shower I'm good to spend quality time with the Family....that is the essence of driving for me
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