Do we really have to get so close to our cars?

[Matthew_T]

Why do people get attached to their cars? We need to look towards France for advice. When I went on holiday there, I saw a lot of scrap cars on the side of the road, gathering dust and weeds.

But they pay insurance and tax on their vehicles as well, so why do we have to be different?

The reason I am bringing this up is because irate people get worked up over any tiny prang and touch. If you accidently bump into someones car, they get out and start shouting at you.

Yes, vehicles cost a lot to have, but if you are that paranoid about damage to it, use public transport instead. In the end, cars are only objects, they are not necessities.

 

[biggs682]

i use to really get attached and enjoy driving cars then about 10 years ago it changed and i realised they are a mode of transport that always loose value , and i lost all pride in what i drove , i put it down to 2 reasons

1. owning and driving jap cars they dont go wrong and you end up just driving them and not getting involved .

2. using company cars , not your problem or cost so dont care within reason , they get washed when go in for service repairs .

ps i own a citroen

 

[HLaB]

Its a while back now, but once on a club run, on passing a stationary car my back wheel slipped a bit (ice or something) and I had a minor cheek plant to the car, the woman driver rolled down her window 'is my car all right ?' my slightly embarrassed reply 'its ok, it was only my face' It was only after that some of my mates said it was nice of her to ask about me, was I OK

 

[smokeysmoo]

I don't know if its an urban myth, but I heard that in France, (Paris specifically I think), they leave there handbrakes off on flat roads so cars can be nudged while parking. Can't imagine that in any UK city centre

 

[Hip Priest]

I've always been into cars and used to read a lot of car mags. It made me desire a load of cars I couldn't possibly afford and didn't need. Nowadays I drive an old Focus which is full of crap from the kids and I couldn't care less. I'll drive it 'til it dies then replace it with something of a similar vintage.

The French attitude to cars is one of many things to admire about the French way of life. They smoke more than us, get less exercise than us, eat more red meat than us, drink more alcohol than us and yet have much lower rates of heart disease. I think it's because we're more uptight, on the whole.

 

[roadrash]

i really really like my car ...... but i love my bike

 

[smokeysmoo]

I've always been into cars and used to read a lot of car mags. It made me desire a load of cars I couldn't possibly afford and didn't need.

Whereas nowadays you probably read a lot of bike mags that make you desire a load of bikes you couldn't possibly afford

 

[Matthew_T]

Whereas nowadays you probably read a lot of bike mags that make you desire a load of bikes you couldn't possibly afford

Too true

 

[Atomic_18]

I think this is totally the wrong attitude.

I recently gave up my car and just bought a road bike and have been commuting to work for 6 months now.

While I really enjoy the ride, I used to love my car. I liked to drive it and I really took pride in owning it, not because it was anything special, but because it was mine and I bought it and looked after it with my hard earned cash. I am the same way with my guitars, bike and other worldly possessions. I would have got angry with a cyclist who damaged my car through a mistake of theirs, but equally I'd be angry if my bike was damaged because a driver made a mistake. I daresay any of you would be the same.

It's not necessarily the car/bike/guitar/other material possession that people are attached to: more likely what the thing means to them. But ultimately, because I look after my things, I will always have nice things. To the same extent, if I look after something I am less likely to cut close past a cyclist in my car for fear of damage, for example.

I only speak for myself, just trying to offer up a different perspective.

 

[gaz]

I guess you don't own a car.
It costs a lot to buy one, to insure yourself, keep the car running and to pay for fuel.
The last thing you want is for it to get damaged.

Sometimes public transport doesn't go where you want to, or the route is so indirect that it makes it pointless.

 

[al78]

Why do people get attached to their cars? We need to look towards France for advice. When I went on holiday there, I saw a lot of scrap cars on the side of the road, gathering dust and weeds.

But they pay insurance and tax on their vehicles as well, so why do we have to be different?

The reason I am bringing this up is because irate people get worked up over any tiny prang and touch. If you accidently bump into someones car, they get out and start shouting at you.

Yes, vehicles cost a lot to have, but if you are that paranoid about damage to it, use public transport instead. In the end, cars are only objects, they are not necessities.

Some people change their cars regularly, and dings and scratches will reduce the resale value.

People may think that someone with dings and scratches on their car means that he/she is a bit of a crap driver.

Alternatively look at it this way; how would you feel if it someone dinged your best road bike?

 

[gbb]

I think this is totally the wrong attitude.

I recently gave up my car and just bought a road bike and have been commuting to work for 6 months now.

While I really enjoy the ride, I used to love my car. I liked to drive it and I really took pride in owning it, not because it was anything special, but because it was mine and I bought it and looked after it with my hard earned cash. I am the same way with my guitars, bike and other worldly possessions. I would have got angry with a cyclist who damaged my car through a mistake of theirs, but equally I'd be angry if my bike was damaged because a driver made a mistake. I daresay any of you would be the same.

It's not necessarily the car/bike/guitar/other material possession that people are attached to: more likely what the thing means to them. But ultimately, because I look after my things, I will always have nice things. To the same extent, if I look after something I am less likely to cut close past a cyclist in my car for fear of damage, for example.

I only speak for myself, just trying to offer up a different perspective.

Amen...i work hard, pay my dues and get the best i can afford (although in some peoples eyes its nothing special) and look after it...whatever it is.

 

[terry_gardener]

i think it is just the instant response/heat of the moment thing...

however i think i am different, when i passed my test i bought a new car and then on the way home from holiday a family member drove into the back of my car and i didn't lose it, but might have been because it was a family member. claimed on the insurance and got it fixed.

when i moved offices i traded it in for a deisel car as the office was about 35 miles away. one evening a bin lorry reversed right into my parked car and i didn't lose it again and just went out and got the drivers details and took some photos and again claimed on the insurance to get it fixed.

the way i was thinking it has happened and the situation is over what is the point of getting angry and shouting over it as it isn't going to solve anything. i think everything went so much smoother because i was calm. i also surprised people in the street when i didn't over react to the situation and they said how did you stay so calm.

so pose different people react in different ways.

 

[thehairycycler]

I would be more concered about everyone involved being ok than a piece of metal, the same goes if I have a fall on my bike involving another rider for example my main concern would be the human factor!

Granted if your car is smashed or bike flattened it will cause some inconvienence but insurance is there for a reason (although I hope I don't need to use it). Some people are to quick to lose it over trivial things but won't dare deal with a real problem.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I like cars. I have two at the moment, an ancient Daihatsu Fourtrak and an even more ancient Citroen Ami 6. The Ami is the daily driver, and while it's about the rarest car I've ever owned, I'm not precious about it. I've never been one for polishing (or even washing) my cars; as long as the oily bits are in good order, I'm happy. Dents are just scratches with a better story.
All that said, if someone were to damage it while riding past on a bike, I'd be cross. Especially if they then turned out to be exactly the sort of smug, oh-so-superior cyclist that no one likes, who didn't understand why I was a bit miffed that they'd just put a scratch on my car with their brake lever, or whatever.