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

[Hilldodger]

I have an old car I am pretty enamoured of and if somone decided to crash into it on a bicycle I would probably go postal. On the other hand I don't really care about my other cars as they are just cheap mass produced pieces of metal. However It is not my place to judge what another person feels passionate about. If you love your ten year old ford mondeo then its up to you as I have no idea what personally it means to you.
Its strange to me that people always want their own view of life and way of living to apply to others. If you don't care about cars then fine but what kind of arrogance and superiority complex does someone have to have to assume their own morals and values in life are so much better than someone elses. For some a car might represent alot more than it just being a car.

+1

 

[2PedalsTez]

I went through a spell of desiring and owning fast cars. I would be fiercely protective of them and was borderline obsessed with keeping them waxed etc.
For lots of reasons (running costs, but mostly having a more relaxed outlook), I decided to change to a car that is dirt cheap to run. Granted it is a little dull to drive at times, but it still gets me from A to B in comfort and I get far less stressed driving as I find myself 'going with the flow' rather than trying to find the quickest route. I still keep it clean, but only when it needs it.
I see it as a mode of transport and that is about it.

Ironically, if a stone flies up and hits my bike, I get ratty as f**k and spend the next few minutes muttering to myself about the terrible state of the roads!

* I must add that given half a chance to own an Aerial Atom would surely make me smile!

 

[Matthew_T]

* I must add that given half a chance to own an Aerial Atom would surely make me smile!

With regards to fast cars, ones like the Aerial Atom and Cateram, are relatively cheap in comparison to Ferrari's and Lambourghini's, which can go the same speed.

 

[Matthew_T]

If I accidently bump into someones car and cause a considerable amount of damage, I will happily pay for it.

But what annoys me is how people get so agressive about the matter. I dont mind someone approaching me and calmly stating to me that I would have to pay for the damage.

If I went into a parked car, then I would probably leave a note in the window (only if there were CCTV cameras) stating my details and that I was sorry for the damage.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Its quite simple. For home-owners, you car is more likely than not the second most expensive thing you own. For non home owners, its probably the most expensive thing you own - hence the protectiveness!

 

[barongreenback]

What a very odd post. I'd rather nothing of mine got damaged whether it's my car, my bike or my phone. How is wanting your possessions to stay in good condition meant to be a sin? Weird.

 

[twobiker]

What a very odd post. I'd rather nothing of mine got damaged whether it's my car, my bike or my phone. How is wanting your possessions to stay in good condition meant to be a sin? Weird.

 

[Vikeonabike]

My Old VW wee extremely prescious too me,luckily none got damaged. My new RAV4 had a dent put in the door by anothers door getting caught in the wind. Wasn't at all bothered it, got fixed. Have friends that makes Cobra Replicas....Thier cars are very prescious too them...

If somebody deliberately damaged something of mine I'd deal with them, if something gets damaged accidently, well that's life and there isn't much you can or could have done about it! NO pont in getting upset.

 

[Bicycle]

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.

I've spent a lot of my adult life in France and detect very little difference in attitudes, although outside Paris and a few other cities there is less Badge Envy than we have in the UK. Wealthy farmers will knock around in an ageing 505 Break, which one sees less frequently in the UK (the attitude to vehicle age, not the car).

I don't get worked up over the odd scratch or dent, but I quite understand why people do if it's someone else's fault.

In my family we almost celebrate the first decent scratch or dent, because after that we stop being so precious about a car.... but it will wind people up if you ding their car.

I'd feel a little miffed if someone dinged or sratched my bicycle too.....

On the whole I find French drivers more bicycle-friendly, but I think you'd get into a slight ruck if you scratched a 75-plate C6.... An 81-plate R4 less so... Maybe.

On the whole, irate people don't get worked up about things... They are often irate because they're already worked up. I find yoga helps, as do regular exercise and reasonably frequent and competent sex.

 

[Kleban]

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.

I share the same opinion as Atomic_18 in that I take care of my car and other possessions, and that I would not purposely go out of my way to damage other peoples property.

 

[400bhp]

Why do people get attached to their cars?

Because you have paid your hard earned for it.

Because some people like to take care of the things they own.

My current car is a wonder to behold-it gets a £350 cleaning jobby once a year. Some lucky sod will get a good bargain for it once it is sold.

 

[Matthew_T]

I may have been a bit agressive in the original post. I am not saying that people shouldnt care for their cars, it just pee's me off when they feel that they need to shout when they could calmly but harshly point me towards my own wallet.

I understand that cars cost money, but public transport is a lot cheaper, and an awful lot quicker for long distances. For example, it takes about 45 mins to get to chester from rhyl (near where I live), but the same journey on a train takes about 20 mins. And saves about £2/£3 worth of fuel.

 

[barongreenback]

I don't see what this has to do with the merits of cycling vs. driving? So what if public transport is cheaper? Does that make damage to your own car any less or more irritating? There's a real disconnect of logic here.

 

[400bhp]

Wierd thread.

 

[Matthew_T]

To clarify this up, this thread is about how drivers could save themselves a load of hassle by using public transport, which is a lot cheaper and often quicker than using peronal vehicles. This would result in less confrontations when a cyclist accidently damages a drivers vehicle because the car was either parked in the wrong place, or it was a simple mistake by the cyclist.

Hopefully this has cleared up the topic.