[Closed] Who actually 'really' uses their car?

Yes! Love driving my car. The drive to work is a pleasure - only a shame it has to stop. Work is mostly good, though.

Sometimes go out for the sheer joy of driving - lucky enough to live in some great countryside. Roof down, great views - what's not to love?

And it will do 145mph...

Nope. It's very rare we use our cars for anything other than being lazy buggers. Could do it all by bike.

I think moving house required a number of vehicles but general day to day, meh. People lie to themselves so much.

There's certainly plenty of people who really do need a car to cart stuff about or go long distances but I'm not one of them any more and yet there are two cars outside my house. I admit it's wrong. My only excuse is that mine really just does sit in front of the house most of the time. And it sits there more and more nowadays. I cycle to work, I cycle to the shops, no need for the thing.

My ageing pug estate is a proper tool. It rattles, carries bikes, carries camping kit, carries shit, I sleep in it and it takes me to work when the weather is bad.

Holidays, that is all. Wife and I both walk to work. Drive to the rocks/trails if needed. We enjoy getting away, otherwise I'd happily be a no car family. Don't do silly short journeys, if we get in the car is for a few hours.

4x3 metres of truss, two Flightcases and some cables are a typical mission.
Currently delivering pizza! as "between jobs"

(The Boat and Bike are for sale if anyone is interested)

[img] [/img]

Mine gets used a little for work, usually just hauling boxes around the campus. And also for trailbuilding- it's not a 4x4 but it's otherwise an ideal site vehicle- it's got pretty knobbly tyres, it's massive, and it's already full of mud and covered in scratches. A ruined mondeo can go places a nice 4x4 won't 😆

Yup,

no photos in action but tow one of these with our Freelander:

[img] [/img]

As a the baby land rover I wasnt expecting much but it has certainly impressed. A couple of times I've thought it was going to get stuck but it's coped with everything so far with just M&S road tyres as it's also used for commuting.

FL replaced my long suffering 306 estate for towing duties which was used to a tow a smaller trailer as well as lugging around surprisingly heavy chunks of carbon fibre wing sections that I cut up and test.

Looking at Defenders and D3's now so i can get a 3500kg trailer.

My car. At work...
[img] [/img]

and at play..
[img] [/img]

Nope. Where I live, only an idiot drives to work.
I cycle.

My van everyday just about, our car 50% of the year tops!

Welshfarmer - where is that "play" track?

My little Ford Puma gets well used. Not just for work but for play as well.
I do around 20k a year in it, it's modified with a vinyl wrap and does lots of car shows.
carries my bike in the back, also dogs, household items and Xmas trees.
As its a 'sporty' coupe it gets driven hard over the tops as well

It's not white 😛
[img][url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8564/16641970596_5d224039d8.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8564/16641970596_5d224039d8.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/86995884@N00/16641970596/ ]Loaded[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/86995884@N00/ ]woldspinner[/url], on Flickr[/img]

It took me through three other countries at Christmas and everywhere in the snow (including closed roads)

Yep enjoy driving mine every day. I have a nice scenic journey to work with some fantastic roads. Often have ESP/traction switched off and oversteer fun 🙂

Yes. Lots.

In fact I'm driving now.

EDIT - I misunderstood the question. It's very early 🙂

Yes, on occasion.

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8671/16667680371_794f0dfa9a_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8671/16667680371_794f0dfa9a_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/roSdFv ]

weekly shop........end of.

In the last 9 months my focus has done about 20k miles with the boot stuffed full of work equipment. There's no other way of doing what needs to be done.

It is white though. Personally, I'd rather have a van but it's not an option in my role. In fact, something like that thing up top would make more sense.

Me last weekend:

[img] [/img]

Unless you do stuff like this you're not really 'using' your car IMO.

FuncyDunc, I take it you drive on a private road.
Or at least one where there is [list]never[/list]any other traffic.

Otherwise, on a public road, what sort of person would deliberately drive so fast that the car loses grip, and then turn off the mechanism designed to cope with it?

APF

I went for.a Pootle last night in mine.

Travelling to and from London also Harrogate is much easier by car when carrying bikes and kit.

grum, you don't have a scooby

Have fun funkydunk!

I've got a golf gti mk7, drove down to the south of France on some proper roads this summer and was able to use all its performance through the alpine roads and get my heel and toe sorted 🙂

Love driving, the sound, g forces

Yep, every day.

On most of my journeys there is no way other than to use my car - living in the country plus kids to ferry around.

FuncyDunc, I take it you drive on a private road.
Or at least one where there is
never
any other traffic.
Otherwise, on a public road, what sort of person would deliberately drive so fast that the car loses grip, and then turn off the mechanism designed to cope with it?
APF

Yup, but again no pics on site..
Must rectify this...

[IMG] [/IMG]

Had a VW T4 for 10 years.. It earns me money, it takes me to work, camping.. It's ace.

@cbike How much for the HASE?!

I used to. [URL= http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o42/Citroenxsara/B1C2C893-0AD8-4EF8-A7A3-29AA3FF8CD2D.jp g" target="_blank">http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o42/Citroenxsara/B1C2C893-0AD8-4EF8-A7A3-29AA3FF8CD2D.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

😥 might have to get rid this year, done 50 miles in 4 months.

My X-reg Octavia will never be sold on. It's battered, broken and bruised from the abuse. I regularly sleep in it whilst on mini road trips with my bike. It's been fully loaded with small bale straw, bags of cattle feed, dogs, beer kegs, mates, bikes, all my worldy goods. There's more oil on the ceiling than on my bike and there's a big deep scratch down the wing caused by the bike falling against it. My heart has been broken, I've cried, I've been broken and in total need in it. I've had amazing times in it, seen the sun rise and fall in some beautiful places, laughed like a loon, got my oats in (on) it.
And still she rattles on at a good pace.

Yep, it carts me around the UK for work, and with bike. In fact I shall be packing it later for both in Norfolk tomorrow and Monday.

Looking at the pics above, it's only me that agonises about the impact on mpg with stuff on the roof then?

Yup I do, love driving. It's due to be replaced soon though which means I'm getting kicked out of the STW niche club.

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8085663368_7965a4ea89_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8085663368_7965a4ea89_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/djv927 ]A3 Black Edition[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/90632750@N00/ ]-Drac-[/url], on Flickr

Nope not any more.
'Needed' a Landrover before for work, then didn't. Then didn't even need a car. So sold up.
So no car.

Funnily enough this Sunday I'm stuck for the first time ever.

I sit on the car cash instead.

I have had sunburn in my convertible, speeding tickets in my sports car and muddy in my 4x4 so I guess that is a YES

'Working' hard:

[Img] [/img]

Mine has moved once in the last 2 weeks - to go to Morrisons. Usually used for carrying the bike for night rides... It is a rather useful thing to have though!

Page 2 and there isn't one of these yet?

[img] [/img]

Currently used for commuting to work but that will change soon. After that it'll only get used at weekends for going shopping/cgucking bikes in/going to the tip etc. Gets used for a long trip at least once a month to see parents and then a couple of european jaunts a year as well.

Not a patch on this though. This got used for it's intended purpose which was making me grin like an idiot everytime I got in it. So much fun, I do miss it and wish I could get another but prices have gone up a lot since then.

[img] [/img]

Look a Pat Wagon

I don't drive, but the family car gets used a bit more than I'd like. My wife says she needs to because she often has to zig zag across the town for kids/work stuff; I say she does that *because* she has the car.

It's definitely a to to be used and abused though. It's a 55 Verso with 116k on the clock that we bought for £2k a couple of years ago, and is often filled with dogs, chickens, straw, kids' bikes; it's almost never washed and is covered in scrapes and dents, inside and out.

Noticed a rubber bumper Midget for sale Thursday so might go and have a look. Used to restore MG's and Triumphs.

I have been known to deliver letters in it Drac, I haven't got a cat though, they play havoc with my lass' asthma 😀

What does 'really uses their car' mean? I've put 231k miles on my car since I bought it in 2006. So it has been really used, but most of that hasn't been driving through muddy fields of pointing sideways around alpine passes.
It does fully loaded up camping trips, weekends away with bikes in the back, trips to the dump, trips to the DIY shop and 400 miles a week of commuting.
I've definitely had my money's worth...

I'd love to have a weekend car, something to drive for a bit of fun. But can't justify it at the moment.
Not sure how much fun it would be either, to be honest. The roads are so clogged and people are so aggressive that I don't actually enjoy driving anymore. Plus, the roads round my way are generally straight and bumpy, so not exactly the recipe for an exciting drive...

I have been known to deliver letters in it Drac, I haven't got a cat though, they play havoc with my lass' asthma

Poor Jess.

I "really used" my car for a few seconds last week 😯

Arguably, some of us exceed our cars design parameters and purpose...

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8060587555_47461ef713_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8060587555_47461ef713_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dhhBRv ]Canoe in a Yaris....[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/88555557@N00/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr

[URL= http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/10306761_10152364744305071_8176959929812146998_n_zpsn5lh8zl7.jp g" target="_blank">http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/10306761_10152364744305071_8176959929812146998_n_zpsn5lh8zl7.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

it gets used alright!

Yup my car works for a living, towing fully loaded trailers driving across fields and generally getting used and abused, I don't change them until they are totally unrepairable, I like to get my monies worth from them.

This morning I am mostly getting 2 tonnes of wood out of my local forest for me to split ready for next season.

and my bus:

[URL= http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/10959843_10153001693030071_8256775900718318968_n_zps838f8e25.jp g" target="_blank">http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/10959843_10153001693030071_8256775900718318968_n_zps838f8e25.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Yes. If anything, I would have a bigger (van) thing should I suddenly find £10k.
Workday:
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8575/16482737708_bf7d70bb46_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8575/16482737708_bf7d70bb46_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r7wkEU ]image[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/88555557@N00/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
Weekend, five of us plus some kit (there is a fifth bike in the last picture, in the boot):
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15556514535_4456c3d5a4_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15556514535_4456c3d5a4_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pGFcMR ]IMAG1395[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/88555557@N00/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4119/4888499961_64532516bc_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4119/4888499961_64532516bc_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/8rYQJ6 ]Etive[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/88555557@N00/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8677/16669286492_bfe0d215fb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8677/16669286492_bfe0d215fb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rp1s8f ]image[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/88555557@N00/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr

If it wasn't for having no riding from the door trails I could probably get by with hiring a car for the small amount of time I need it for work or weekends.

I commute by car so yes I do really use it. I could bike but 38 miles each way and early starts would get old very quick especially in the winter. And biking that distance is boring. I could avoid using the car as much by living near work, but really who in their right mind wants to live in/around Milton Keynes?! I use the car to get to fun places to ride as well since there are no good local trails from my door.

I only drive if there's no alternative. It's a waste of good cycling time.

[quote=matt_outandabout ]Arguably, some of us exceed our cars design parameters and purpose...
Canoe in a Yaris.... by matt_outandabout, on Flickr

Amateur

[img] [/img]

Can't find a pic of my car loaded up, but I often carry around a >6m long kayak which would be tricky without a car.

My little Fiat Qubo was my works 'van' for the first six months after I started working for myself. It was amazing just what I could fit in it but the fuel economy was awful. Now I've bought a cheap van at auction the Fiat can enjoy a quieter life as a runabout and occasional long distance bike carrier. Running two vehicles can be expensive but its nice not having to fit the weekly shopping in around buckets of rat bait and a ladder.

[URL= http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a177/midlifecrashes/IMG_20140704_140746_590_zpsobrinew4.jp g" target="_blank">http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a177/midlifecrashes/IMG_20140704_140746_590_zpsobrinew4.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

XL Fargo in an MX5?

Ah, but I found this pic of a mates car. We now own one of these each - this was the delivery trip, he did ~60 miles driving very slowly before transfer to my rather larger estate car with roofrails (and now owns a bigger car himself)

[img] [/img]

To answer the OP (which not many have):

do you actually use your motor for anything other than a convenient mode of transport

I have used mine as a mounting for a poncho that was used to make a porch on the front of the tent when camping.

Other than that I can't think of many times I've used it other than as a convenient mode of transport.

If by the question you men do we go in adventures in it, then yes we do.

I just slid my 29er into the boot with the luggage cover still on in a vehicle with an alledgely awkward opening, with ease. I'm very happy I used it today.

Weird question.
On a Sunday morning I stick a load of rugby balls, bibs and cones in the boot. Couple of kids in the passenger seats... I can't imagine getting them to training any other way, so yes, of course I use my bloody car!

Yep. We've got a 1993 Toyota Lucida that we've taken the rear seats out of so we can get a motorcycle and track day stuff in there, then sleep in it once we're at at the circuit if it's a distance away. We can easily sling two MTBs in, wheels on, and get changed in the back as well. The stove and gas bottle live in it too. It only cost us £800 a few years ago but costs about £500 per year to tax/insure 😕 We try to do most day-to-day stuff on foot or bicycle though, the car only gets wheeled out for longer/heavier journeys.

We also use it as a mini-camper for weekends away without bikes, it's surprisingly cosy! 😀

Popped out to get milk in mine

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8603/16671684161_1c4f2f4db1_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8603/16671684161_1c4f2f4db1_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rpdJSn ] [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/7899143@N03/ ]ianpindir[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8615/16053118633_2c9e7ec480_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8615/16053118633_2c9e7ec480_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qsyqTt ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/7899143@N03/ ]ianpindir[/url], on Flickr

Going for bike rides

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8583/16673122535_9fc7cf7c27_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8583/16673122535_9fc7cf7c27_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rpm7rV ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/7899143@N03/ ]ianpindir[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8681/16486958379_f243beba46_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8681/16486958379_f243beba46_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/r7TYk6 ] [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/7899143@N03/ ]ianpindir[/url], on Flickr

And general commuting

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8623/16327013188_b766943d0b_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8623/16327013188_b766943d0b_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qSLdco ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/7899143@N03/ ]ianpindir[/url], on Flickr

The 'vanilla' family cars do get used as just that, cars, white goods if you like, to get from A to B.

Anything bought for a more specific requirement does tend to get used, at least occasionally, to it's fullest potential. Be that a 4x4 play thing, camper van, something with a 'bit of go'.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[b]DezB - Member[/b]
Weird question.
On a Sunday morning I stick a load of rugby balls, bibs and cones in the boot. Couple of kids in the passenger seats... I can't imagine getting them to training any other way, so yes, of course I use my bloody car!

Not that weird is it really?

My 'car' is also a tool for my job. I don't view it merely as a tool though and bought a nice motor (yeah, my onions) for family use that also doubles as a work vehicle.

The question was quite simple. Is your car simply a mode of transport, or does it serve another purpose and get some real use other than driving from a-b? I didn't ask if you 'use your bloody car' did I?

Is that right, only 12.3 mpg in that Caumen???

Otherwise, on a public road, what sort of person would deliberately drive so fast that the car loses grip, and then turn off the mechanism designed to cope with it?

Do you call 30mph fast? People can and do enjoy driving cars, and have the skills to drive them properly. And do you think that people who can make a car slide do it in situations when they could endanger other road users?

Honesty, mine is generally used as a convenient mode of transport. Yes I could ride the 25 miles to work on the road bike or struggle the 15 miles to Cannock Chase on my mtb. But its just not practical, my rides at Cannock would turn into a 4+ hour affair and I would always be late to work and late to pick the kids up after work. Day trips to CyB or any other riding venue couldn't happen without it.

It is however quite fun to drive and a bit powerful for what it is. I try to make most journeys enjoyable while keeping relatively sensible.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Blimey I Ache that's nice what is it - focus estate ST?

I_Ache's motor would be a lot more suitable to me than that Porsche. Don't think I could get all my fishing gear in the Porsche & it would be shit for going to the tip.
Also It looks daft with a bike on the roof, can't you afford something else to haul the bike? 😆

I_Ache

It is however quite fun to drive and a bit powerful for what it is.[img] [/img]

Very nice. I'd love one. Nothing beats a fast wagon.

[img] [/img]

Race ya!

Do like that. Quick, practical, looks ace and I assume is powered by krill

[quote=FunkyDunc ]And do you think that people who can make a car slide do it in situations when they could endanger other road users?

Yep.

Are we arguing about people messing about in cars?

Biggest risk would seem to be that the driver THINKS it's clear to play games, but there's something he hasn't seen or thought of. I think that's generally how it plays out.

molgrips - Member

Are we arguing about people messing about in cars?

No. Never again.

I think that means I win 🙂

Oh I'll gladly let you win if we never have to debate overtaking again [img] [/img]

Oh I'll gladly let you win if we never have to debate [i]making progress[/i] again

FTFY

Not a pickup fan particularly, I've found many more negatives than positives, but they are very good for towing and launching boats, until a wheel nearly falls off the trailer.
[IMG] [/IMG]
Also good for getting wood (this load went to Mr Trout of this Shire)
[IMG] [/IMG]