Ilxors & Cars

No, I don't. I don't have a license either. There's no point to own one: the shop (I run) is across the street and public transport is cheap 'n' easy.

Do you ever feel a pang for one, perhaps to take a road trip, visit friends by yourself or transport heavy shopping?

I convince myself that I can live without ever driving (my partner has a car anyway) but then I see girls with their windows down, singing and laughing and driving their girlfriends about like Thelma and bleeding Louise and I get sorta envious.

Besides my mum lives 30 miles away and I wonder what will change when I have her only grandkids.

Yes, I do to be honest. If I had an excessive amount of money and the willpower to get my license, then, yes, it would be lovely to have a car. I would like to go shopping to a big supermarket - yes, I'm a freak who likes going to supermarkets - or go out... outside this shitty city. At times it feels suffocating to live here, especially not having a car. But having a car would be ridiculous (at the moment) as I don't need it at all: I have a lot of my shopping delivered at home and I don't one for work.

Oh yes, my husband doesn't have a license either (as he has a visual handicap). In a sense it's fun: we feel connected because we're in the minority. So few people here don't have a car. Then again a lot of (older) women I know don't know how to drive or never do (despite having a license).

Even if my parents would live 30 miles away (as opposed to thousands of miles, har!), I think I would still find a way to get there by train/bus. It's just not worth it. I'm extremely absentminded so when I did take a few lessons, I quickly realized driving and absentmindedness is a no-no.

I guess driving is just another responsibility, I've been a passenger for so long that I'm prone to gazing out of the window.

I worry enough about my mum and my partner driving every day, I think they would worry a million times more about me - especially if I had a child in the car.

Don't own a car, don't have a licence, never have - can't drive.

Sometimes it is a monumental pain in the ass. I never get to go on nice short holidays for example :( I also have to walk everywhere which makes things like shopping a pain. But I wont ever be learning how to drive so I just have to deal with it.

I cycle for some of my shopping. Or I take the buggie which is extremely handy. Maybe I'll continue having children just so I can have that buggie? ;-)

I just discovered that I can do online shopping (at a supermarket) from home, behind a computer and have it delivered for FREE (if I order enough). So we've been doing that. It saves us a lot of time and energy. :-)

Even long trips can be a problem: I know going to Australia and Canada will be a "problem" as it seems having a car trip is much better. BUt hey, we'll have to deal with it.

We're a two-car family as my husband and I both need our cars for work. I tend not to use the car outwith the working day though, using public transport in the evenings and weekends (mostly because social life revolves around drinking), though it is nice to have the car to go out in the countryside or away for short trips.

This is my brand new and very cute car.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1198/525374442_9452052b29_m.jpg
Parked in the lovely little village of Buckminster.

Unfortunately, I have no choice but to drive to work. Taking the journey by public transport would take twice as long and cost twice as much. As it goes, I enjoy driving - I stick on some music and listen to it properly, unlike at home where I'm almost always doing something else while I'm listening.

At weekends I cycle or take public transport, and hardly ever drive.

I live in the middle of nowhere, and we don't have any public transport in (or anywhere near) our village whatsoever. I have two children to ferry around to and from school (miles away) and all their various activities, plus I have work and shoppin' to do.

I have a BMW which is mine, a Land Rover Discovery which is the general family vehicle, a very old Series 3 stage one V8 long wheelbase Land Rover Safari which has been a restoration project (and we're probably about to sell), plus Mr C J has a Honda Fireblade motorbike to blat around on when it's not raining.

I hate cars

We Love Cars

I don't hate cars but I have to say I drive too much. My new car is such a little joy to drive that any excuse I get I'm off in it. It's like driving a bumper car. I'm sure this initial thrill will wear off. Maybe.

I'm also sure people don't really work out the true cost of their car. I've had conversations with people and they've not included the tax or the insurance or even the amount they pay on their loan for the car in the first place. They just think of the petrol. In the last year my old car cost me another 2 grand+ in repairs as well as having an MOT and another MOT when it failed the first one and it was only 4 years old. I'm sure it would have been cheaper on public transport (it probably would have been cheaper using taxis).

I love driving. Over the years I've probably driven close to 650K miles on various continents.

Having said that, I take the subway/bus to work a couple times a week.

I really enjoy driving. Does that make me a bad person?

I yearn for a car, in much teh same way as rumpie upthread, having the impression that everyone seems that much free-er with a car, but in practice I can't really justify owning one. Also, parking would be a huge pain in the area where I live.

And yes, when you add insurance, parking spot/garage if needed, the costs are ridiculously huge.

I don't have a car. I have never learnt to drive and don't intend to. Neither of my parents drove and they instilled a very strong pro public transport and anti-car bias in me when I was growing up.

We have a car but try our best to use it as little as possible. Sitting behind the wheel and listening to music and all that stuff is nice but on reflection, I sincerely hate the bastard things and all the problems they create.

I really enjoy driving. Does that make me a bad person?

-- C J, Wednesday, July 4, 2007 8:10 AM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

No! I don't even think loving cars makes someone a bad person. In fact I think it's better to be honest and say that rather than trying to justify it with some spurious "I've got a lot of shopping to do".

This is not aimed at you CJ! I know a lot of people who live in the countryside and they really do need their cars - public transport in the countryside is a joke in a lot of places.

I can get my whole weekly shop and my 2 kids in my tiny car no problem.

think it's better to be honest and say that rather than trying to justify it with some spurious "I have no control over where I live"

I'm very much pro-public transport. My PIL live around the corner from the station but prefer to sit in their car and drive to work even though it takes'em a lot longer. I don't get it, honestly, I really don't. You can sit on your phat arse and read (or knit or whatever) instead of getting all worked up over the daily traffic jam. I mean, REALLY!

I'm not anti public transport at all - I get really excited going on trains and buses! But I also enjoy driving - more so when it's all power and speed and handling and control with the top down on a sunny day with a clear open road, me-and-machine-tuned-into-each-other-as-one and all that crap. Town driving's a bit of a pain.

this thread is like 6 years old, you should all feel ashamed for wasting the energy

Yeah, the commuting bit seems pretty pointless in urban areas. I also don't get why some people (the same people who prefer driving to work than taking the metro) insist on taking their cars on friday or saturday night and then say "man, I'd love to drink some more with you guys, but I'm driving"... What's the point???

the point is they don't want to drink with you

seriously, delete ilx

i have a car because you can't really do starsky & hutch rolls over the bonnet (HOOD w/e) of a bus/train.

xp p00r w33 hstencil :(

i'm posting this from my windmill, g-kit

six years ago is the year 2001

WTF are you grumpypants about Jorel?

Nath otm about public transport! I love to sit and write in my notebook on the way to work. And sometimes I'll take the 16 tram which takes a bit longer but meanders along the esplanade at st kilda beach, at sunset it is a really beautiful view and gives me peace after work shit.

i imagine hstencil irl going all "oh maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, we talked about this on 23th of september 2002. not agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!"

Haha I wish I could pull that one on my mum sometimes!

Oh god, I've tried it. All you get is a very haughty "well, just because you're finished with the subject..."

I don't have a car or a licence - so far I have always lived centrally in places with good public transport and have never needed or wanted to drive. I do sometimes wonder whether I'll start feeling the pressure to have transport when Alice gets older and starts wanting to be dropped/collected at activities etc. But then I think, ah sod it she can take the bus/walk like I do.

I have a car that I don't really need. I had hoped the gf would drive it too but so far she's resisted my nagging the urge. I probably only do 3,000 miles a year in it. It IS really handy, though.

I do also take a lot of public transport, and cycle, so I'm not quite the incarnation of pure evil, honest.

I don't own a car, but I do drive. I share a car with my step-mum which gets so little use we are about to sell it. For work I hire cars when necessary, when we need to lug equipment around. It's pretty good driving across the belgian countryside with the stereo on full, singing at the top of one's lungs with the sunroof open, but you know what, I'd rather be on the train drinking a beer.

x-post to Archel. Hmm - I think you'll find it difficult without a car when she's old enough to be doing lots of stuff, but not old enough to going back and forth on her own. That's my experience anyway.

Even living in London I wouldn't/couldn't be without a car. I suppose most of my driving is city/urban driving, but I do a fair amount of motorway trips to do gigs or visit relatives.

I do enjoy driving most of the time and find it pretty relaxing as long as I'm making progress and not caught up in jams.

I have a 6 year-old Toyota Avensis which has to be the most characterless and dull vehicle of all time, but it's also totally reliable, large enough for family trips and also useful for accomodating tons of band equipment for gigs and rehearsals. Mrs. Dr. C has a VW Golf, which I like a lot. It doesn't do that many miles and we could probably do without it, I suppose.

I guess I really miss driving fun and sporty cars, but I don't miss having to fix them all the time. That said, I'd like to get an MGB or similar again one day, or maybe an old Beetle, but we can't really justify the idea of having 3 motors. One of the others would have to go.

I have a car (Ford Focus) but don't use it every day, because I work at home and Mister M cycles to and from the train morning and evening, and I get my supermarket shopping delivered once a week. Also we have a much better bus service than we used to have. I still need it, though, especially to visit my parents and Mister M's parents, who don't live on the bus route from where we are.

I can't drive. If I could drive I'd still take the bus to work. Mrs V has to do all the driving so I need to learn this year. I hate people's bullshit excuses for driving to work - they should ban cars from city centres and get a park and drive on.

I'm lucky in the fact that I can walk to and from work so I wouldn't need my own car for that purpose.

I suppose the car we have is OUR car as I expect to be driven here and there more often than not, but if I ever got a license I'd prefer to get my own car, purely due to paranoia about scraping/denting/bashing the current one.

We do a lot of miles, our car boot is packed with camping equipment and we take off at every available opportunity. Going for 'runs' is our thing, we'd be lost without a vehicle.

No car, can't drive. But I live in a city, have no money and no children, so there's very little point.

I must say I am very much comforted to see so many other people here who can't drive :) I thought I was an anachronism!

get awai, i has anachrophobia!

I created this thread to salve my own non-driving self consciousness!

Dr C, I am shamelessly hoping to cadge lifts for Alice before she can be let loose alone from my parents who a) live round the corner and b) will be retired soon...

But truthfully I probably WILL learn to drive in the next few years, if only so we can share family cars/driving duties when we really need to.

I can't drive although I did try about 10 years ago - failed 6 times and gave up!

But don't really have much need for a car living in London, and couldn't afford one anyway. We barely have any money as it is!

We've got a car, and yes, it's a complete and utter luxury. We did take the chance to re-evaluate whether we needed one or not when our previous car got nicked and then written off in january. I thought long and hard about whether or not we should replace it or not, I think we made the right decision to buy a new one.

Life without a car would be rather difficult for me right now, 36 weeks pregnant with a pelvis that means a short walk can trigger bad pain. A trip to the hospital takes 45 minutes on public transport, as opposed to 15-20 minutes in the car. I think that having the car when the baby comes too will be so helpful. Trips to grandparents would be a nightmare on public transport with baby + accoutrements. I guess we could always hire a car for long trips, but I do over 6000 miles a year so the cost wouldn't be that great an incentive, and I'm afraid that I do really like the convenience.

Also, without a car Chris wouldn't be able to go fishing - not many public transport options to get out to a fishing lake at 6am on a saturday/sunday morning, even if he could carry all his gear with him on foot.

When we bought our new (to us, it's 6 years old) car I felt more grown up than when we bought the house, there's something ridiculously grown up and boring about owning a ford focus....

But truthfully I probably WILL learn to drive in the next few years, if only so we can share family cars/driving duties when we really need to.

i think I resigned myself to the idea that Mister M would never learn to drive when we were in Galway once for a weekend and I had pulled my back. I had to be more or less strapped into the car for the journey back to Dublin, and every time I had to change gear, moving my foot onto the clutch brought tears to my eyes. It was awful. If guilt from that drive didn't motivate him, I expect nothing will.

I feel your pain. I've had the learning to drive conversations with Chris far too many times. I thought we were finally getting somewhere in november, when he agreed that when I got pregnant he really did need to learn to drive and would book lessons straight away. The very next week I got my +ve test and he still hasn't booked a single driving lesson.... He even managed to take his theory test at one point, but that was over 2 years ago now, and so has lapsed so he'd have to do that again.

I would very much like to drive and now feel I could do it. I remember when I was 18 years old and taking driving lessons... Oh golly, was that a disaster! WIth one teacher I would be able to drive to Paris, but when I was confronted with another teacher (I disliked), I just panicked and wasn't even able to shift gears! I think I realized I wasn't fit to drive when my teacher asked, after I had turned a corner:"Did you check for cyclists." err, no, but I did notice that cute shop!

I have been thinking about getting a Vespa or something, especially in the future when I want to take Ophelia (and/or the other baby) somewhere. Then again now I cycle which is at least some sort of exercise, right? Also, I did notice those extremely weirdo/cute things you can attack to a bike.
You can see it here:

http://www.r-en-d.demon.nl/pictures/HURSAMEN.jpg

They are extremely popular here. You can even detach'em and use'em as a buggie!

Oh BTW, CJ, I wasn't hating on people who like driving. But I do feel a bit of hatred towards people who have two 'unnecessary" cars. We do need to change the way we think and pollute less. So when I think of my PIL who have two cars, I just think: bleeding hell, aren't you willing to sacrifice a little for the environment? Look at traffic jams: full of cars with only one person sitting inside those cars.

I do become a bit of a car-hater when I'm stuck in a traffic jam on a bus, I'm all where the fuck are you people going that you can't just get a bus instead, this is all your fault.

Yes! I know! Me too. Also LESS ROAD RAGE. My father in law nearly has a heart attack everytime he climbs into his car and drives somewhere.

Dr C, I am shamelessly hoping to cadge lifts for Alice before she can be let loose alone from my parents who a) live round the corner and b) will be retired soon...

But truthfully I probably WILL learn to drive in the next few years, if only so we can share family cars/driving duties when we really need to.

Parents around the corner is v.handy. I wish I had that...no wait, maybe not!

Actually the 'driving kids around' situation probably only stops when they leave home or learn to drive themselves. My kids (14 and 12) are well used to using public transport, and probably more self-sufficient than most, yet a typical weekend will involve several short trips back and forth to pick them up from sporting activities or friends houses. They are pretty good about not asking unless absolutely necessary, but there are some situations where they just couldn't do without a lift.

Vicky, remind Chris that he accepted my offer to teach him to drive. I'm available from 14th July :)

having a car and saying "but I don't use it much" is not good

we have two cars, we usually only drive one of them. occasionally i drive the other to the parking lot in the morning (i take the train to work). we have a kid so not having a car here is not really an option.

having a car and saying "but I don't use it much" is not good

Why?

the energy and materials and associated stuff that goes into make a car

i have a car and i don't use it much.

if i didn't have this car it would have gone to the scrapyard

although when i use the car i just go to the sainsburys carpark to do donuts.

whereas i go there just to buy donuts

depends how far you want to take it

seems fairer to have a car that would otherwise be on the scrapheap than buying a brand new one. not that all cars aren't bad ;)

you are not, so much, creating a demand for new cars to be made (although, it's all connected, of course). if it's old and on its last legs then it might be less efficient/more polluting than a new/newer car but running it for a couple more years is probably less damaging, over all, than having a brand new one manufactured

this car is very efficient

...when there's enough petrol in it, eh Ken?

Just kidding, 'Wimbledon' is a lovely car.

Weeks of trips to various out-of-the-way hospitals to see one family member or another (they all seem to be going in at the same) have made me rethink my carlessness. But going on past form, I'll probably end up buying something utterly ridiculous, like this ancient Jag I've seen crumbling away round the car.

My wife and I own a single car between us. She drives to work, because taking public transport would require an unreasonable number of connections for the distance and too much time; she drops me off at an RTA station and I take the train into Cleveland for work. Owning one car is a conscious choice for us; two would seem excessive, expensive and un-environmental.

If I still lived in a city with Flexcar or Zipcar -- and lived sufficiently close to the city center -- I would consider dumping our car. But I don't.

PS a year or two of sitting in Washington, DC traffic on I-66 will put you off any enjoyment of driving pretty much forever. OTOH, a year or two of riding the %$&*@ Washington, DC Metro Orange Line will put you off enjoying public transport forever.

i was considering finally getting my license just so i could subscribe to flexcar, but their website says you need a minimum of 5 yrs driving experience. which i can totally understand from their end, but it sucks for me! there are times when a car would come in handy for a road trip or transporting heavy shit.

i take cabs sometimes but they can be kinda pricey if i'm going long distances. usually if i know it's going to cost more than $20 including tip i don't bother.

all your cabs probably don't add up to the cost of a car

But yeah, I have a car. I have no way of getting to where I work (carpooling, public transportation, etc.) without a car. Ok, technically I could take public transportation to some places, but it would triple to quadruple the time. I use the car very little outside work and always walk or take the train when I shop or go out.

i admire angelenos who could have a car but somehow get by w/o one (of course, i know there isn't a choice involved 95% of the time). but i don't envy you, tough town to get around in w/o wheels, esp. if you want to cover all of it. i have known people who do/did it.

tough town to get around in w/o wheels, esp. if you want to cover all of it.

luckily i don't need to cover all of it 99 percent of the time. most of my trips are just a few miles.

granted, but i'm thinking of taking full advantage of la, which is great but so sprawling - like the echo park resident who loves the beach, or a culver city dude who loves korean food, that sort of thing. shit be far-flung.

I recently acquired a vehicle for my travels in the Pacific Northwest.

Somebody take my '93 Saturn off my hands. I'll sell it to you for $300, but you have to get it running.

I'm about to make the final payment on our Prius, so it will undoubtedly die an unglorious death before the end of the year.

I backed my Corolla into a curb and knocked the exhaust and muffler crooked. Into the shop tomorrow. Argh. Wotta moron.

I love my car. But it has cost an absolute fortune. Still, no reason why it couldn't last another 30 years.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/407355351_3c5909b1e1.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/381414233_69fb41b7a8.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/381414236_54518b30d4.jpg

That is one sweet, SWEET ride!

OK, I love that car.

S, dude, that is one cool ride!

Can't Drive, Won't Drive

Yah Sash's car is teh awesome. I love well looked after old classics like Chargers. And I'm not even a car person.

I love my car. But it has cost an absolute fortune. Still, no reason why it couldn't last another 30 years.

People who love their cars in general worry me though...There's such a personal investment in the spotless condition of their vehicle that I can imagine them killing someone in road rage in the event of any collision.

Beautiful S-!

OMG, I need a car soooo bad. It's been over a year since I've had one. Seeing a new doctor yesterday was a three hour bus ride, round trip, with lots and lots of hot walking btw transfers.

Also I'm tired of scary dudes harassing me at bus stops.

we bought a car this weekend. my first ever car and im 35. id say i held out for environmental reasons but i just mooched other peoples cars for 20 years. also its an SUV.

We have a smallish SUV (Toyota 4-Runner) Which is just really neccesary with two bigs dogs.

What did you get Sunny? (I assume beeps encouraged this purchase as well?)

Yes I'm also tired of mooching off my boyfriend's car and getting rides from people to social events. LAME. I am grown woman and being carless makes me feel less so. :(

honda crv. yeah, beeps got me checking crash test ratings. also, it has a moonroof. i drove to work today looking at electric wires backdropped by the sky. yay?

I don't drive, and I do get a bit of residual guilt about Mrs Coastaltown being the only driver in our house. Mind you, she's not a fan of driving in the slightest, only uses her car for work. So as I'm hardly ever in her car I very rarely cop the "I have to do all the driving" thing. I loathe cars, absolutely hate them. Not sure why, I just always have.

I'm totally obsessing over an SUV. Talk me out of it. Please. But damn watching those Volvo XC60s on youtube makes me want to hump my laptop into oblivion. But the Audi Q5 (?) is apparently the top of tops. Still the Volvo seems so much neater, designwise and the feeling of safety. Also GEARTRONIC MAN. Give it to me baby uhuh. Maybe I could convince'em that buying a used one (from the garage, do they do that in the US/UK? only has about 5000 km or more and costs a ton less) would be uh... an incentive to buy? Also, maybe I should wait till Ihave my license. hah. I haven't gotten it and I'm already talking about replacing my Mazda Demio. God damn that car is one boring car. Snooze fest alart. Also try loading a week's worth of groceries in that dump trunk. Urgh. Is the SUV high? It seems like sitting on a throne (compared to a Mazda, which feels like you're one of the flinstones or sth).

http://www.carchannel.be/files/imagecache/formaat_views_list_sticky/files/news/821/Volvo_XC_60_2008_1.jpg

Wouldn't I look totally hot with that car? LIke a total yummy mummy? (Yeah, I know, no, I wouldn't but still...)

I mean used as in "driven by the garage for a while and now it has a 10.000 euro reduction. Not used like some dude drove around with it and you don't know if he drove it well.)

I think I'm gonna photoshop my smug face on the driver in that pic.

Steve Shasta had a bad experience with his Volvo XC90 but I love my Volvo S40.

My wife loves her XC60, BTW.

I kinda dig that color, too. But we have "metallic black" (it was that or "wine" color).

How big is it anyway? I've seen the XC90 and no way could I convince my family to get it. Much too bulky and I don't think I'd be able to get it through the parking lot passage way (have I not told you guys a million times it's VERY narrow -> I'm exaggerating btw). The XC60 seems something I'd love though. I'd ask my dad (cause it'd be the "company car" ahaha so maybe I should start bombarding him with youtube clips? Also my father in law has a Volvo, probably the S80, and he's disappointed with how wide it is. And boy is it a crap car: not much space in the trunk. Which is okay for them, until they gotta pick up our two kids and put the gazillion bags in the trunk. SIGH. I want.

Steve, dude, what did you not like about the car?

Maybe it looks a shitty colour but I'm warming up to that car int he pic above. Like big time.

Oh yeah anyone in this bitch have an Audi Q5?

No, I don't. I don't have a license either. There's no point to own one: the shop (I run) is across the street and public transport is cheap 'n' easy.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 06:43 (2 years ago) Bookmark

What happened?

The XC60 is much smaller than the XC90 (which has a third row of seats). They both have the same powerful engine as the S80, but because the XC60 is smaller and lighter then the XC90, it feels like a much faster ride.

Ned, I think part of me - I'm terribly insecure - feels that I am not capable of driving. I still don't feel as though I'm a driver (-> won't change after having my license). That said, I think I was pretty naive at the time. It'snot that bothersome being without a car when your kids are tiny. But now they are growing up and want to go places (or we take them places). Going for a walk to the sea or forrest? Isn't really possible. Well, it is, but it's a drag with public transportation. Dance and swimming class means travelling an hour to and also the same amount of time back. It's doable but damn with autumn here and winter approaching, waiting at the busstop is no fun. (Imagine how crap it was when I didn't take the buggy! It took me even longer because O was so tired after swimming class.) What if someone i sick? I still remember the trek to the pediatrician (1,5 hour!). We changed docs cause of it, but honestly it'd be (and will be) fun (well comparatively speaking) when we have a car. And driving to my parents in law will also be much easier. Now they basically come 9/10 cause it's too much trouble without a car. (Well, I have a car but am not allowed to take my husband and children).

im kind of in love with this XC60 too. no $$$ for it though :(

daniel, how does the automatic braking work? is it something you turn on? does the car stop by itself all the time?

Stops by itself, but only if the car's computer determines that you're no longer able to stop by yourself (it's a little like HAL from 2001, in that regard). We haven't experienced the automatic breaking, yet. Hopefully, we won't have to.

Money is not really the issue - we could easily afford a car - but it's convincing that me, not an experienced driver who still hasn't got her license - should be allowed in a Volvo XC60. LOL. I have a pathetic Mazda Demio which gets me places, but I think in the future I definitely need soemthing bigger. Driving on the highway with my Mazda seems silly. Like you're driving with a souped up tricycle. lol
The adaptive cruise control seems so sweeeeeeet!!!! I actually would prefer a manual. I kinda love shifting gears tbh. At first it seemed bothersome and difficult, but once you're accustomed you feel as though you have more control over the car/engine somehow.

2 cars, an 04 camry and an 05 sentra. Giddy up.

Although that XC60 doesn't look that bad, overall I think SUV's are ugly - the proportions look all wrong to me. They're too high, looking top heavy and I think there's no need for that - no one uses them for off road purposes, do they? I'd think they'd handle much better when the chassis is closer to the road.

Apparently not. Well, according to reviews anyway.

They are v bad for rear visibility tho - some tv show over here managed to line up about 20 small kids behind one before the driver noticed anything there. Also being large and high up might give you a great feeling of control & power, but suxx for anyone in a smaller car behind you. Same with being safe by virtue of being large and heavy - you come off well in a collision, pity the person you hit though.

An insecure driver who wants to feel more powerful and protected is kind of the worst person to put in an SUV, though? Sorry, nath, but you said it yourself: you feel nervous and insecure as a driver. Getting a bigger vehicle that's dangerous to OTHERS is probably a really poor way to shore up emotional issues with driving.

Yeah, xp

Oh yes, I know what you mean, Laurel. I honestly do feel that driving with my small car for a while would be better. I am thinking more in the long run: in a year I'll probably switch to this (or another bigger car).

How is your city for driving, Nath, do you it a lot? I'm in a smallish city, and I'm finding that for going anywhere within a few miles, it takes at least as long to drive as to bike or take the bus thanks to traffic and lights (really frustrating, I grew up driving in the middle of nowhere so when you got in your car you got there FASTER!). So I only end up using my car once or twice a week maybe, to go somewhere out of town or not on a bus route. Is this normal for city drivers?

My city is pretty small and extremely car unfriendly. But I do most of the driving for places outside Bruges. Swimming pool, dance class, tennis, supermarket, Antwerp (for business), parents in law. Inside the city is ridiculous: on foot is quicker anyway. We don't even have traffic lights inside the city, pointless really.

can a truck-driving ILXor recommend a pickup that doesn't feel like it has a suspension made of cinderblocks

Nath, you can knit, that is much more difficult than driving in my experience.

Hah. Doubtful. :-)

07 VW GTI and 07 VW Touareg. People's Car for the People.

I still really like the Volkswagen CC. I suspect there will be some great low-mileage lease turn-ins next year.

We have a 07 Honda C-RV, '97 Dodge Caravan and '02 VW Bug. We both hate the nazi car with a passion and the brakes only sort of work on the dodge. They were both gifts. We're hoping to the sell the VW, trade in the dodge and get a slightly used volvo XC90 in the nearish future.

I still really like the Volkswagen CC.

Yeah, yeah. The CC is a nice looking car.

Heaven help me, I'm probably going to be buying a car in the near future. I have a lead on a 2004 Prius. I also have a mechanic whose advice I trust, but does anyone else have any advice on what to do?

Assuming you've done yr homework on the make/model suiting yr priorities, the mechanic givin it the once over is the biggest thing ime

^^^

Carl and I haven't had a car for about 8 years now. We had a car each when we lived in NC, but when we moved to Chicago, we sold one of them. Then over the next year we probably only drove it a dozen times, maybe less. Add in parking tickets and that it kept getting hit (street parking), it just wasn't worth it any more. Haven't really missed it. We use iGo when we need to (maybe once every couple of months?), or rent a car in very rare circumstances. Trains, buses, cabs for us.

I have a car, its p sweet

Otm where do you drive i drive to the sea and the mountains

I cosign the mechanic checkup

signed, the dude who has only bought new cars

same, its p cool to drive where I am cause there arent too many other cars around, mostly just the sea and mountains xp

I got a sick ass deal on my car off Craigslist and yeah I took it to a mechanic before finalizing

I drive from my city to other cities, mostly

it's totally a convenience thing, although even in a car that takes premium gas it's cheaper to drive to DC or Cincinnati than it is to fly there, plus I get to leave when I want to as opposed to when my transportation is leaving

the downside is that getting tired while driving totally blows and once I almost drove off the side of the road because I was so exhausted, which was a very good lesson in what one should or shouldn't do before a long car trip (for example, one should not play a show with a band and stay out until 1, then embark on a 6-hour car ride where you are expected to be a primary driver)

yeah drowsy driving is maybe even worse than drunk driving they say, pull over and take a power nap, get out and walk around yr car three times, be safe out there folks

I remember a particularly exhausted/hungover drive back from Tanglewood where I pulled into a rest stop and slept for three hours before continuing home, which I am convinced saved my life

yeah good move

one time years ago I fell asleep driving and drifted into the next lane, nothing happened but I was like holy shit that was very bad, none of the passengers noticed, also on the other side of that lane was a rather dramatic drop off

Fell asleep twice driving down the deserted 2am motorway listening to mccain obama debate on radio which was a bad selection in retrospect

Waking up at 120km/h idk

we just bought this car. first car we have ever had from this century.

http://www.mojomotors.com/used-cars/dodge/grand-caravan/2D4GP44L57R228889?p=search

we needed something with room to haul records to shows and flea markets. dvd player up top for the kids godhelpus. totes suburban but whattyagonna do? rides nice. our ford escort was on the way out. had it for 8 years and it was old when we got it.

i kinda hate the power everything though. feel like i can't even open a door without pushing a button.

sweet ride minivans are underrated

Underrated airy, swift, boot, legroom; i have loved

yeah drowsy driving is maybe even worse than drunk driving they say, pull over and take a power nap, get out and walk around yr car three times, be safe out there folks

― lag∞n, Thursday, January 24, 2013 11:23 AM (27 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I almost ploughed into a wall at 70 mph last year. Totally sober, just got sleepy. Only woke up because of those vibrating strips on the shoulder. After that, I don't do highway driving after dark without an energy drink or something.

sooooooo much room with the seats down. can definitely haul a lot of vinyl.

x-post

yeah they're not much in the looks dept but sweet ride minivans are key for broods and haulin'

went to car-o-phobe to "yeah this is sometimes convenient" to complete addict can't go anywhere without it in teh space of 4 years.
The main draw for me these days is that it is pretty much the only place left where I can listen to music

I empathize. In the abstract I believe in public transportation and minimum-car living. In practice, after taking public transportation I get really irritated at the extra time it takes, and the behavior of certain of my fellow passengers.

haha yeah I have a rehearsal in town tomorrow at 10 AM that I could easily use public transportation to get to but fuck me if that's happening

my car has 211,000 miles on it. have had it for 10 years, before that it was my dad's. I <3 you little CoCo ChugChug

ha we had our last car for 10 years and barely cracked 94K miles

Oh, I've probably only put about 50k miles on it myself.

Heaven help me, I just bought a Prius. I suppose now I shall have to become the most irritating cliche of a New Urbanist...unless I put a gun rack in the thing?

Seriously, my mechanic gave very high ratings to the car (apart from a damaged headlight, and the dealership promptly agreed to replace that). Still, AAAAAAgh.

Grats u pious wanker

my dad has a prius. he is mad jeal of my car

so is this a bootleg Dodge or somethin

http://i67.tinypic.com/nnwuah.jpg

uhh ok try #2

http://i67.tinypic.com/2cqfnut.jpg

https://preview.ibb.co/bJqXjk/20431692_10155066927612981_1516950002868708103_n.jpg
where to host photos

imgur

any way the truck says "Doged 4x4" now that I ruined the reveal

much 4x4

Don't have a license. Not in a hurry to get one. Current employer is slightly out of town but the parking situation is so bad that I'd have to leave at almost the same time just to get a parking space. Also without the several miles of walking a day I'd have to get a gym membership to make up for the lack of physical activity. All things considered I spend as much time on the bus/walking as I would in a car/at the gym.

only place left where I can listen to music

^^^ poster upthread is talking about their car, but for me the bus is about the only place left that I can listen to music/podcasts or read without being interrupted every two minutes. It's two half hour periods per weekday that I'd sorely miss and would be near impossible to make up for.

Maybe I will get a Dodge and make it say DOGE and cover it with stickers like "much car" and "very drive" and "many traffic."

On second thought, no I won't.

I do like it when someone has a small Toyota truck and takes off letters so that it says TOY.

or "YO"

Yes! I've seen that too.

Maybe I will get a Dodge and make it say DOGE

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/doge-wow-such-automobile.jpg

Thanks, my life is completet now.

I feel some self loathing for it, but i love, love love your DOGE idea. I would applaud if i saw somebody do that to their truck.

Or a Charger. With the "red key" bullshit.

I drive; mr kinder doesn't; he has announced he wants to learn soon which will make life easier but I now have a sweet ride and don't want to let him and his obliviousness into the driving seat

lol

Thinking about buying a car / truck thing next year. What do ilxors think is cool?

I just got my driver's license back last year after not driving for 30 years and in March we bought (well, started making payments on) a Subaru Crosstrek. It rides higher than a car, which will be good if we get a fuckton of snow this winter as I hear we might; gas mileage is pretty good (I figure I can drive about 300 miles on a full tank); it's got about a half dozen cameras and a bunch of ways to let me know if I'm drifting into the next lane or if there's someone/something close behind me when I'm backing up; and it was the cheapest option we looked at by far (under $35K). Would recommend.

Nice