Do you drive?

[swt class 450]

I have a driving licence and a PCV licence but i dont have a car at the moment. I mainly just use trains and buses to get around. I do currently own a preserved bus though.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I've got a car and full bike licence but the bike went 23 years a go when my wife became pregnant. The thought of me coming off it on a track day and leaving my wife by herself to bring up our children was enough for me to sell the bike.

We actually have three cars although I admit that living in Greater London that is understandably considered by many people to be excessive. Basically we have a large family car, a small car for my wife to get to work (my wife works shifts including nights) and a "one day we'll have one of those" cars. We're certainly not "petrol heads" but it was something we could afford once the mortgage was paid.

My three youngest children share a "pool car". My wife and I bought the car and pay for it to be serviced but the children are responsible for insuring it and paying the road tax.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am advised not to drive again since my stroke in July 2012 (I am 71 now) but my wife aged 75 still uses the remaining Range Rover as and when.

 

[Phil.]

Don't fish for bream. They really stink the nets out.

I've always found stillwater Roach to be a bit on the pongy side too.

 

[507021]

Been driving 22 years

Always had my own car apart from when borrowing parents.

I now have a company Merc, but I had to pay over 3k to get out of my old finance agreement.

I will never buy a new car ever again. My circumstances change too much in order to commit to 1 car for 3 - 4 years. I get bored with them pretty quickly, or they break, so I'm going back to buying nails for under a grand.

Old cars = fewer driver aids, manual gearboxes, amazing value for money if you get a good one.

I completely agree with this. Whilst I've never owned a new car, I certainly never have any intention of doing so either, even if I could afford to. Used cars are the way forward for me, there's far less depreciation and you can buy some really good cars with some great extras for a lot less money.

I paid £700 for my Laguna (2003 model) last year and the only money I've spent on it is general wear and tear. It had a new set of brakes and tyres at the start of this year and it's having the clutch replaced (it's not failed completely, but it won't last much longer) this week. Despite the car's age it has been extremely reliable, it's passed two MoT tests with no advisories and it's very good on fuel too. It's really nice to drive as well, which is a bonus. One thing is for sure, I won't be changing my car until it's not worth paying out to repair any more, I'd quite happily drive it for another five or ten years before I buy another car (almost certainly another Renault) if it lasts that long.

 

[MonsooN]

I can and I do.

I've been driving for 20 years and have a company car which is solely assigned to me. I rack up around 20,000 miles a year and tend to do a couple of long journeys every week.

I try to drive where I can unless it's just too far like Cardiff or London, in which case, I'll get the train.

I love having a company car. I get a brand new one with delivery miles every four years, all my insurance, maintenance, and road tax is paid for and I can claim back all fuel and toll costs I incur when on work business. My wife is also insured to drive the car and I can use it for personal things too. All that for around £80 per month (Which is how much extra I'd have in my pay if I didn't pay company car tax)

I'm due for a new car in December too - It will probably just be another Vauxhall Insignia, but you nener know - might get a Mondeo or even a Mazda 6 if I'm lucky!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I completely agree with this. Whilst I've never owned a new car, I certainly never have any intention of doing so either, even if I could afford to. Used cars are the way forward for me, there's far less depreciation and you can buy some really good cars with some great extras for a lot less money.

I paid £700 for my Laguna (2003 model) last year and the only money I've spent on it is general wear and tear. It had a new set of brakes and tyres at the start of this year and it's having the clutch replaced (it's not failed completely, but it won't last much longer) this week. Despite the car's age it has been extremely reliable, it's passed two MoT tests with no advisories and it's very good on fuel too. It's really nice to drive as well, which is a bonus. One thing is for sure, I won't be changing my car until it's not worth paying out to repair any more, I'd quite happily drive it for another five or ten years before I buy another car (almost certainly another Renault) if it lasts that long.

Before I had a company car, I'd go for ex-fleet cars that had higher mileage but were still relatively new. I had a Ford Mondeo. It was just under 3 years old when I bought it for £6k (back in 2004) and it had 55,000 miles on the clock. It was still virtually brand new. As all the miles were motorway miles, there was hardly any wear and tear on the brakes, suspension clutch, gearbox or shock absorbers. I don't think anyone had ever even sat in the back seats either. I had the car 6 years and it had 125,000 miles on the clock when i traded it in. Never even needed to replace a bulb on it!

I bought a Vectra that had a similar history after that and that was a good car too.

 

[507021]

Before I had a company car, I'd go for ex-fleet cars that had higher mileage but were still relatively new. I had a Ford Mondeo. It was just under 3 years old when I bought it for £6k (back in 2004) and it had 55,000 miles on the clock. It was still virtually brand new. As all the miles were motorway miles, there was hardly any wear and tear on the brakes, suspension clutch, gearbox or shock absorbers. I don't think anyone had ever even sat in the back seats either. I had the car 6 years and it had 125,000 miles on the clock when i traded it in. Never even needed to replace a bulb on it!

I bought a Vectra that had a similar history after that and that was a good car too.

My car was a fleet car when it was brand new, and last time I checked the mileage reading it had done just over 107,000 miles (on one clutch!). I think I may well go for another ex fleet car (albeit a much newer one) next time, especially based on what you've said. Sounds like excellent value for money!

 

[richw]

Fleet cars are normally well maintained, so can be good buys if operated by a reputable firm.

 

[MonsooN]

My car was a fleet car when it was brand new, and last time I checked the mileage reading it had done just over 107,000 miles (on one clutch!). I think I may well go for another ex fleet car (albeit a much newer one) next time, especially based on what you've said. Sounds like excellent value for money!

They always have been in my experience. They're always well looked after too - usually at the main dealer, so come with a full service history. Mine gets a full service every year, plus a complementary "health check" which involves topping up fluids etc every time I take it in for something. As I on't have to pay for any of the maintenance on it, I just book it in, so some things that some people might ignore, I always get fixed immediately. If other fleet drivers are the same, most ex fleet cars should be solid and reliable.

Good luck with your next purchase - let me know what you get

 

[Cambus731]

I have owned quite a few cars, but I haven't had a car for 11 years now.
I am fortunate enough to be safeguarded staff on the railway and I make full use of my 16 boxes plus unlimited free travel on Greater Anglia, C2C and Scotrail.
I personally believe that the boxes should be reinstated for all TOC staff, ie 10 boxes after 6 months and 16 boxes after 10 years, although that is probably a debate for another thread.
I found the sheer cost and effort of keeping a car on the road was too much for me and I'm better off without one.

 

[E_Reeves]

Two more years to go for me...

 

[CarlSilva]

There is. It's "I cannot drive".

No it isn't. There are plenty of people who own cars who don't have licences. There was a lad down the road from me back in the day who got an old escort when he was 15, did it up in his back garden and then learnt to drive in it when he hit 17.

There's also the people who for many different reasons have cars but get other people to drive them about.

w:roll:

 

[61653 HTAFC]

No it isn't. There are plenty of people who own cars who don't have licences. There was a lad down the road from me back in the day who got an old escort when he was 15, did it up in his back garden and then learnt to drive in it when he hit 17.

There's also the people who for many different reasons have cars but get other people to drive them about.

w:roll:

There are situations not covered by the options in the poll though. I have passed my test and am not disqualified, either medically or otherwise. However I don't currently have a licence which is valid as I would be on a medically restricted licence (renewal every 3 years instead of 10) and as I wasn't likely to use it there was no point in renewing. Hence I chose the "can drive but don't have a car" option as it was the closest to my real situation.

 

[cjmillsnun]

I'm a regular driver for two reasons. With where the office is, I'd have to rely on GTR to get to work and I also have to attend meetings and visit works away from the office.

I'll also chuck in a third. Because I tend to take country roads rather than the A3, M25 and M23 I enjoy driving. Were I solely clocking up the miles on motorways I'd be bored stiff, but roads with nice scenery and a few bends can be quite fun (within the speed limit and the road conditions)

 

[507 001]

Well I am and always have been a massive petrol head, so for me a car was a no brainier and I learnt to drive as soon as I could.

These days I have quite a long commute, and actually require a license to do my job.

I drive quite a high performance car, a focus ST, and can think of few things better than finding a decent A or B road and absolutely wringing the cars neck down it. As such, I quite like to learn and master the more technical driving skills, like heel and toe braking etc, and like to think I'm a very observant driver too.

 

[carriageline]

Like 507 001, I'm bit of a petrol head. I have a 520bhp Audi (people will say its excessive ) and a car i drive daily to work and back.

I do about 30k miles a year in my daily, and about 4-6k in the 'toy'. Nothing beats jumping in that and taking it for some thrashings down country lanes and some dual carriageways!

I do enjoy the irony of overtaking a prius whilst I'm doing 9mpg though!


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