The psychology of driving

[Deleted member 1258]

I'm exactly the same. I don't use the car very often, but it's handy having it there. Taking a family of four 30 miles up the A1 to visit the in-laws is a doddle with a car, but would be a massive time-consuming hassle without.

Unfortunately, the 'hole in wallet' scenario is a major downside!

My car spends most of its time parked round the back of my house, but I still spend about £15 a week on fuel, my son has an old basic Corsa which is his only transport and he's spending double what I do on fuel every week.

 

[400bhp]

Cars are really handy, ultimately. That's why people own them, not because they want to show off.

The binary decision to buy or not, then I agree with you. However, they are a [perceived?] status symbol once the decision has been made to purchase.

I would say a Range Rover Sport or a Bentley Continental GT is a clear example of status. A 5 series bimmer less so, but still sets status.

 

[Hip Priest]

The binary decision to buy or not, then I agree with you. However, they are a [perceived?] status symbol once the decision has been made to purchase.

I would say a Range Rover Sport or a Bentley Continental GT is a clear example of status. A 5 series bimmer less so, but still sets status.

It's the same with anything though, even bikes. There's just as much willy-waving on here as you'd find on a forum for motor enthusiasts.

 

[400bhp]

It's the same with anything though, even bikes. There's just as much willy-waving on here as you'd find on a forum for motor enthusiasts.

Yeah, aint that the truth.

I was having a chat with another forumite a few weeks ago on a ride and we got onto the subject of bike parts, in particular electronic shifting and how (in our modest opinion) it might be "Emperor's new Clothes". I mentioned something along the lines that the smart manufacturers (of both bikes and clothing) have cottoned on to the middle aged white middle class male, who have shifted spending income on cars onto bicycles, and how bikes have become the new "cars" to many.

I used to frequent a couple of car forums and the mantra for certain bicycle parts is akin to car parts.

 

[Hip Priest]

Cycle magazines are very aspirational nowadays. You'll see an article entitled '50 Essential Accessories' and non of the things are essential, just desirable and expensive.

 

[400bhp]

Cycle magazines are very aspirational nowadays. You'll see an article entitled '50 Essential Accessories' and non of the things are essential, just desirable and expensive.

Yeah, I got Cycling Plus subs for 12 months.

Some of their "tests" are just laughable. An autumn top for £200 FFS. Tests of lights with the cheapest being £35 IIRC (and wayy cheaper than any other on test). I could quote plenty more.

 

[Hip Priest]

Yeah, I got Cycling Plus subs for 12 months.

Some of their "tests" are just laughable. An autumn top for £200 FFS. Tests of lights with the cheapest being £35 IIRC (and wayy cheaper than any other on test). I could quote plenty more.

I like it when they review wheelsets that cost six times as much as my bike. I show them to my wife in an attempt to change her mind about what constitutes an 'expensive bike'.

 

[rliu]

I was car free for over 30 years, at the end of last summer I brought an old Ford KA, the two things I've most noticed about car ownership is the hole its making in my wallet and how convenient it is. I mostly use it when I'm out with the Mrs, for getting family members about and doing trips I can't do on the bike. It makes getting about very easy and opens up places we would not normally get too. After the last few months I can understand why the car is so entrenched in our society and why it would be difficult to drag people away from their cars and onto other forms of travelling.

Yes undeniably having a car does make long distance trips and particularly day trips to things like seaside resorts, historical gardens and buildings etc possible, as a fair few of them have arduous public transport links. However for so many people who are not simultaneously cyclists and drivers, things that cyclists would do on a bike - have a change of scenery to de-stress or combat boredom, make simple trips for a few items to the corner shop, visit friends who live close by etc., turn into car trips. To infer the concept of 'empty calories', using the car for unnecessary trips is just empty fuel usage.

Of course I completely agree that reading bicycle magazines and online sites like bikeradar turns into consumerist fetishism, just like reading any fashion or car magazine. I often spend many wasted hours gawping at reviews of £8000 pro team bikes and the worst excesses being things like £40 cycling gloves and £10 a pair team issue socks. The machinery of capitalist materialism always gets you in the end and I'm certainly no saint.

 

[J.Primus]

I've just bought my first car. Picking it up this week. The main reason is if I want to go to see my parents in Blackpool it's £150 for me and the Mrs. I probably won't get a seat unless I book 6 weeks in advance so I have to stand the whole way.
Anytime I want to leave central London I'm dependant on trains running on time and where I want to go having a station nearby. If it was a reasonable price I might tolerate the inconvenience but the daylight robbery prices the train companies charge has pretty much forced my hand.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Haven't got a problem with that if you are a responsible driver.You don't need to justify it.

but the daylight robbery prices the train companies charge has pretty much forced my hand.

Bit offended by this as I work for the railways (30+ years) and never wanted privatisation.

I've toured Thailand twice (in 2011 and 2012) without a car and am aiming to make the 2013 a 900 mile tour.

 

[theclaud]

Haven't got a problem with that if you are a responsible driver.You don't need to justify it.



Bit offended by this as I work for the railways (30+ years) and never wanted privatisation.

I've toured Thailand twice (in 2011 and 2012) without a car and am aiming to make the 2013 a 900 mile tour.

So why are you offended? The running down of the railways has been a crucial strategic tool for the interests that promote car ownership and travel from day one.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

So why are you offended? The running down of the railways has been a crucial strategic tool for the interests that promote car ownership and travel from day one.

Because I always give 110%+ to my job and I adore the railways and am saddened to see how it is being destroyed,is that so hard to see?

 

[J.Primus]

Because I always give 110%+ to my job and I adore the railways and am saddened to see how it is being destroyed,is that so hard to see?

I didnt say there aren't people who work hard for the railway companies. It's just not at the top of my list of things to worry about when the journeys so bad I am thrilled to find a free bit of parcel rack to sit on for the last 25m.

 

[theclaud]

Because I always give 110%+ to my job and I adore the railways and am saddened to see how it is being destroyed,is that so hard to see?

Yes I'm with you there, but I don't think anyone was holding railways staff responsible for it.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

So why are you offended? The running down of the railways has been a crucial strategic tool for the interests that promote car ownership and travel from day one.

I thought all the privatisations were a means of goverment finally getting rid of the power of the unions.
If there's a strike the government just says to the private company, "Oh dear, that's a million £ fine please for underperforming. By the way we can recommend an arbitrator", and walks away without responsibility.