Does anyone else think Drive It day is stupid?

[ajsphead]

Get a classic, choose it and modify it to cope with modern motoring if it needs it, then use it every day.

..if you need to modify it, then you havent't chosen the right car! The Vitesse needs no 'modification' for daily use, it's just a thirsty car, end of.

I disagree, it benefits hugely from an electric fan and electronic ignition - and becomes less thirsty as a result!
[/quote]
That's pretty much what I had in mind.

Anthony

[Dave3066]

I think that as a concept 'Drive it Day' is a good idea. It's just marketed at the wrong group of people. As drivers of "older" vehicles (note the lack of a descriptor that starts and finishes with a c ) we all love to drive our cars as often as we can. In my case every day is Drive it Day but only because I can afford to run my V8 Rover P6 every day and my commute is a mere 250 miles a week.

I got into the inevitable "what are you up to this weekend" conversation at work before DiD weekend and when I mentioned what I was up to most people thought it was a great idea and were looking forward to seeing all those "older" vehicles on the roads. None of them had heard of it before, despite me telling them about it last year So in terms of raising awareness it seems to fail miserably. Long may it continue

Dave

[1900sr]

On the whole I don't think it's a bad idea, just possibly badly executed. For a start, holding it in April is not the best idea, as a lot of cars don't get taxed until May (oh, but as far as the federation are concerned, any car of worth will be tax exempt so will be taxed). This year is the first that I did drive my "classic/historic/old" car, as I'd taxed it early this year. I didn't go on an organised run however, just decided to drive to a country pub for lunch and took the Manta rather than the Saab convertible. If the weather had been poor we'd have still gone for lunch, but not in the Manta.

As for no-one outside the movement knowing about it, then surely that's the fault of the organisers. The PR department ought to be trying to get coverage into the non-specialist media, rather than just the specialists. Reminds me a bit of a retail company I used to work for who got some new PR people in, and were really pleased to start featuring regularly in the leading trade magazine. I pointed out that it didn't really matter how many column inche we got there, as our potential customers wouldn't see it. We needed to be getting into the general media. If there are articles in the daily papers and on the TV news then the publicity is worthwhile. Those clubs who've got their runs mentioned in the local press have done so by telling the right people what they are doing.

Personally I think we should be more worried about what FIVA are proposing as the definition of "Historic" if the information coming from ACE is correct.

[richardthestag]

Drive it day, couldn't caree less really

Went out last year, forgot about it this year, don't really understand the fuss tbh

I would imagine a lot of people with big engined pre 70's fuel crisis cars are taking it easy and limiting use now !

Don't you believe it.

Mr 3 litre Stag accompanied me into work and gave mr 3.9l Range Rover the day orf.

However the Range rover is my daily driver. it is LPG'ed and averages around the 15mpg sort of area on my daily grind. It does 12k miles per year. I fix it when it needs fixing, it doesn't depreciate and it is very versatile and capable vehicle. Now I could get a dizzler eurobox which will cost me thousands a year in depreciation alone, hmmm no thanks

I have however adapted my driving style and have eeked another 1.5mpg out of the big old beasty.

very very careful driving of the Stag will see high 20's MPG but enjoying myself makes this nearer mid 20's. though a sprited drive back from Le Mans a couple of years back saw me into the teens but don't tell err indoors

[TerryG]

the Range rover is my daily driver. it is LPG'ed and averages around the 15mpg sort of area on my daily grind. It does 12k miles per year. I fix it when it needs fixing, it doesn't depreciate and it is very versatile and capable vehicle.

Glad to see i'm not the only one using a RR as their daily driver (on top of fuel costs you need to have a big budget for welding! )

I did use my mog on drive it day but not deliberately because it was. I was going up and down the road testing the brakes pre re-test that tuesday. I only found out it was drive it day after the event.

It isn't a pointless day as it does show how many classics there are still in existance but it would definitely be better if there was some notice in the national press, even a 30 second mention on breakfast telly or small announcement in a daily rag so the general public know what's going on.

[Adam43]

It's easy for people to simply take part in it, have a nice day with their friends, and perhaps have a pint and a bag of chips at the end of the day. I'm not against having fun in your classic, far from it, but this day seems to have simply become a jolly and many people who take part in it don't know or have forgotten what it's meant to achieve. Therefore it has become a bit useless, and i particularly detest the name (as i've stated).

Thinking about what you and others have said I've come to realsie what I think DiD should be. It should be a weak random excuse for exactly what you say above. A reason to get out there in your classic. If you meet another soul in their classic you can flash your lights, smile, or have a chat in a car park. You're both out on DID because you used the weak excuse. Your not making a political point, your just like minded souls driviing a classic.

On the political front. Write to your MP with your rationale.

[richardthestag]

Glad to see i'm not the only one using a RR as their daily driver (on top of fuel costs you need to have a big budget for welding! )

Not if you spent a couple of months hunting down a 43k one owner minter

4 years in and 60k the only welding has been a plate to the n/s inner wheel arch where the stoopid plastic lugs that hold the stoopid wheelarch liner inplace caused some rust.

My first Range Rover however must have spent the first couple of years parked in the sea. the chassis was great but sills, rear crossmember and all the other usual candidants were plated ontop of plates when I got it. I ran it for 40k and the engine grenaded so I stripped it for spares.

[TerryG]

My first Range Rover however must have spent the first couple of years parked in the sea. the chassis was great but sills, rear crossmember and all the other usual candidants were plated ontop of plates when I got it. I ran it for 40k and the engine grenaded so I stripped it for spares.

Mine is in need of outer sills, inner wings (although they are repairable) rear arches and a rear crossmember, ie every typical RR place. but the engine is new and it's a soft dash so it's nice and comfy to drive.
Well done on finding a good classic, every one i have seen has had rust issues!

[TriumphDriver]

My first Range Rover however must have spent the first couple of years parked in the sea. the chassis was great but sills, rear crossmember and all the other usual candidants were plated ontop of plates when I got it. I ran it for 40k and the engine grenaded so I stripped it for spares.

Mine is in need of outer sills, inner wings (although they are repairable) rear arches and a rear crossmember, ie every typical RR place. but the engine is new and it's a soft dash so it's nice and comfy to drive.
Well done on finding a good classic, every one i have seen has had rust issues!

i looked at 11 Discoverys before buying mine, they were all terminally rusty despite only being 8 - 10 years old. They just never used any kind of rustproofing underneath! My brother is big into Range Rovers, he has a beautiful 1993 version that is used every day as a work vehicle, polishes up well and attends shows, such as the one in the photo at which he was refused a finisher's award... for NOT being a classic car.

[TerryG]

i looked at 11 Discoverys before buying mine, they were all terminally rusty despite only being 8 - 10 years old. They just never used any kind of rustproofing underneath! My brother is big into Range Rovers, he has a beautiful 1993 version that is used every day as a work vehicle, polishes up well and attends shows, such as the one in the photo at which he was refused a finisher's award... for NOT being a classic car.

You can argue either way about the classic thing but they are such a fantastic car and they are so cheap to buy!
That one looks factory fresh!
With them being basically the same car i am always amazed how rusty Discoverys tend to be compaired to Range Rovers. I have seen re-imported Jap Discos going for silly money because they are rot free.
It's a shame to see cars that were once top of the motoring tree rusting away. Fingers crossed Land Rover have learnt their lesson so the L322 and Disco3/4 will survive british winters a bit better.