A thread in praise of the private car!

[weltweit]

Given the barely contained anti car feeling in the recent expensive train thread I think it may be time for a thread in praise of the private car and the freedom it brings.

After many years with a turbo diesel which while ok, was not the most economical, (I used to get 400m from a tank of £60.00 diesel) I now have a 1.2L 3 cylinder petrol Corsa which seems to cost £48.00 to fill the tank and will also do 400 miles per tank, making it quite economical.

So car users have to pay for :
1) the purchase price of the car
2) insurance
3) road tax
MOT test and consumables, petrol, tyres etc

I wouldn't be without my car, go where I want when I want, fill the hatchback with all manner of things, way more than I could carry in a train or coach .. carry 5 people including myself .. a dog .. and I can hide valuables in the boot when I don't want to carry them.

So a thread about cars and how great they are. By all means compare journeys by car with other means or whatever ..

 

[Pickman's model]

everyone pays for car use

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Living in the Peak District I find them rather handy!

 

[blairsh]

Being an idle bastard i find them rather handy.

 

[bi0boy]

If they didn't run over children and emit deadly fumes I think they'd be a wonderful thing.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

If they didn't run over children .

Cars don't kill people, people do

 

[bi0boy]

Cars don't kill people, people do

Not many children die from getting run over by people who aren't driving vehicles.

 

[Orang Utan]

they need to be consigned to history

 

[keybored]

Not many children die from getting run over by people who aren't driving vehicles.

Probably a lot more than than get killed by driver-less cars though.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

they need to be consigned to history

I'll go back to using a horse and cart then.

 

[felixthecat]

I wouldn't be without a car. No way, no how.

 

[Orang Utan]

I'll go back to using a horse and cart then.

well i think we all will have to eventually, especially if we don't get over our fetish for the motorcar and keep burning that fuel.

 

[weltweit]

Once, in Northampton, I had a nasty experience with a child and my car. I was waiting for a light to change and a woman appeared pressing through the cars dragging a recalcitrant child with her. She pushed into the road and ran directly into the front of my car then collapsing, with the child, beneath the bonnet!

Horrified I climbed out, went to the front of the car to see her rising to her feet and, without uttering a sound, continue dragging her unhappy child towards the opposite pavement.

 

[Dan U]

well i think we all will have to eventually, especially if we don't get over our fetish for the motorcar and keep burning that fuel.

We will never get rid of cars or equivalent type vehicles, we will just change the fuel type.

 

[Orang Utan]

We will never get rid of cars or equivalent type vehicles, we will just change the fuel type.

to what? we need something fast or we're fucked. we may be fucked already

 

[fishfinger]

to what? we need something fast or we're fucked. we may be fucked already

Electric cars?

 

[Orang Utan]

Electric cars?

yes! driverless ones!

 

[Dan U]

to what? we need something fast or we're fucked. we may be fucked already

As fishfinger said electric

Via duel fuel probably

 

[weltweit]

yes! driverless ones!

OU the other thread is the place for your naked driver and car hatred, this is for people who appreciate the freedom offered them by the private car.

 

[Orang Utan]

OU the other thread is the place for your naked driver and car hatred, this is for people who appreciate the freedom offered them by the private car.

your days are numbered!

 

[mauvais]

Can we admit the humble HGV? Biggest polluter, biggest single hazard to vulnerable road users, and yet good luck to the urban dwelling anti-vehicle numpties who want the shops to be stocked each day.

 

[weltweit]

your days are numbered!

Actually, I don't think so. The vast majority of the population of the UK lives in places where public transport is patchy at best, for them the car is the best solution for their transport needs and will likely stay that way for the foreseeable.

 

[Orang Utan]

Actually, I don't think so. The vast majority of the population of the UK lives in places where public transport is patchy at best, for them the car is the best solution for their transport needs and will likely stay that way for the foreseeable.

if the money spent on private cars was spent on public transport....

 

[weltweit]

if the money spent on private cars was spent on public transport....

Public transport would still not be as versatile, I quite agree.

 

[Orang Utan]

Public transport would still not be as versatile, I quite agree.

true, but sacrifices must be made, and bumpkins will suffer for it more than others.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

The car is one of the greatest things ever invented.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

If I'm going to have a driverless car, then I want mine with a bed

 

[Orang Utan]

The car is one of the greatest things ever invented.

so is nuclear fission!

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I love the way I can go from Surrey to the Black Mountains, pick some shrooms and drive back home all on the same day. Magic.

 

[Spymaster]

well i think we all will have to eventually, especially if we don't get over our fetish for the motorcar and keep burning that fuel.

We'll be fine for several lifetimes yet. Especially with people like you about. You make it possible for people like me to drive 3 litre turbocharged cars and be an extremely frequent flyer, so I've decided to pair-up with you. I'm just using the fuel that you're not, so the net effect is to even out the carbon footprint, and between us we're burning no more than two normal people.

I think we make a pretty good team but I'm buying a second car soon so I need you to put some thought into finding something else to cut down on.