To be a little surprised how many essential trips

[Hingeandbracket]

Were being made yesterday in cars and on motorcycles with extremely loud exhausts blasting around at full tilt. Perhaps it was the absence of other traffic, but it does seem as if some bellends are using it as an excuse to roar around in their fucking noisy bellend-mobiles

@Hingeandbracket Ok, another reason is my car won’t pass scrutineering during the race season if it’s left for any length of time. They go over it with a fine tooth comb, they have to for my and other racers’ safety. And I can’t replace belts and fully drain and replace fluids every time I want to race. I don’t have endless money and a pit crew... Like racehorses , they need to be kept in peak condition because long-term is protects them and also saves money.

If you know that much about cars, then I can’t really understand at all why you’re pushing me to explain why I’m not leaving my car un-moved for months on end? Even non-performance cars shouldn’t be left sitting.

Was out on my bicycle over the weekend, came across the local Porsche owners club driving about on B roads.

Whats the harm? its a tiny minority of the traffic that is increasingly out and about now since the Police said its ok to drive to your place of exercise.

Is it really any worse than all the elderly i see driving around in their Honda Jazz's or wandering about without a care in the world?

I'm sure all sorts of people's hobbies are being negatively impacted by this crisis.
Boats not getting essential maintenance is an obvious analogy.

And unlike a racehorse, a car isn't a living sentient being.

@MonkeyToesOfDoom Crumbs, have you honestly likened me racing cars to people killing children?

I thought you were jumping on me a bit because I was talking from the other side of the argument, (I mistakenly thought this to be a good-natured debate) so I had a look at some of your posts and it appears to be your MO. I'll take it less personally now.

I'm sure there's plenty of things you enjoy that others might not enjoy but they probably wouldn't feel the same vitriolic need you have to bash you for it.

I was pushed and pushed to explain why my car needed to be run. So I did. I gave quite a few reasons. It was an expensive purchase for me and I want to look after it. That means it needs running. It also needs to be in prime condition so it's safe when I do my hobby. As an aside, it does make a noise and it has the capacity to go very fast. These are things you think I should be publicly flogged for apparently.

But I urge you to rethink the children killing comment as that is absolutely bonkers.

I also have a loud, fast, powerful and expensive car that is exceptional fun to drive.

I drive it sensibly as it cost me a lot of money and I don't want it getting hurt.

I made an essential trip to the doctors last week and was surprised to learn later on that evening that some utter twat had taken a picture of me sat at the lights and named/shamed me on a local Facebook page. Apparently the mere fact that my car is a complete chav mobile (yes it is, and I love it so I don't care) means that I can't possibly be using it to drive to essential places and doing so sensibly.

By the by, I used to have a W reg MGF which was mid engined with massive cooling vents above the alternator, if not run for a while the damp air and rain got in and caused the alternator to rust and seize up, so yes, not running cars for a while can cause them harm.

I think if you drive a twatmobile and have an exhaust that makes offensive noise, you shouldn't be surprised that people think you're a twat. This is nothing to do with essential journeys. It's to do with doing something that makes people think you're a twat.

If you know that much about cars, then I can’t really understand at all why you’re pushing me to explain why I’m not leaving my car un-moved for months on end? Even non-performance cars shouldn’t be left sitting.

Because in my experience, what you're saying doesn't make any sense. I am not arrogant enough to assume I know everything so I needed a proper engineering explanation. There ought to be plenty of info about this phenomenon if it was really a thing. So far all I have heard is a vague assertion "it needs it because it needs it".

@Mrsmorton had it tbh

HAS it not have it

Having exhausts that make offensive noises is one thing, they are usually found zip tied to the back of cheap Corsas. They are also usually the twats driving through villages at 70mph. We also have a resident twat with an aftermarket dump valve that sounds like an asthmatic duck.

There is absolutely nothing offensive about the burble-burble of a well maintained, high powered engine being driven normally by people who enjoy automobiles.

(Unless it's 3am then any decent person drives off as quietly as possible without loitering)

Both my OH and I have motorbikes, this weather has been perfect for us. Warm roads, warm tyres, beautiful sunshine, time off work. Weeks and weeks of ideal biking weather, so we took our bikes out, gave them a wash, started them up and put them back in the garage. It is so so hard not to give in to the temptation but I don’t believe that I’m so special that the lockdown doesn’t apply to me. I may just put on all my gear, sit out the back and cry. Us motorbikers do love this weather 😭

There ought to be plenty of info about this phenomenon

A well maintained and cares for car can sit for years and years with little more than running the engine once a fortnight for 15-30 minutes. My dad had a 1940s Morgan 3wheeler from new. He laid it up from October to July every year and would only take it out to classic car shows within 50 mile's of where he lived. Every other Sunday he'd pop to the garage, run it for a little while, check battery, oil, fuel, tyres etc. Clean and polish it etc. Kept it beautiful and not once felt the need to drive it around the town meaninglessly, in fact, a meaningless drive would cause wear and tear and he'd be horrified at the thought.

Monkeytoes - that sounds amazing! I'd love an old classic like that.

I would worry however that I would be being more annoying to my neighbours with the car sat on the drive running than if I nipped round the village once or twice? What with the exhaust smell and noise?

Yup lots of reports of speeding drink drivers round here by police

I don't care if your car is loud really. I like loud cars like proper super cars. Formula 1 sucks now because they sound like hedgetrimmers. They used to sound amazing.

But driving a car fast in a housing estate where kids are running around is stupid. That was ops point I believe. Plus you don't need to deliberately rev the car louder near houses. If it's a loud car, it's a loud car, you can't help that. But these are generally little hatchbacks that aren't loud and are just driven in a way to make them loud. I could make my golf very loud if I wanted to, it's not even modified. Could make any car sound loud, it's not hard. You just don't do it because it's courtesy. Something a lot of people don't have. And you don't need to make an already loud car more noisy. You drive it properly.

Zomblie

His was an F4 model that sounded more of a purr than a roar. You could be stood in the kitchen and barely hear the engine rumbling. Beautiful it was. Sold it eventually to a collector for a shade over £50k as I recall.

Every nice and expensive car I've ever encountered have always purred, never roared. Every bike ive owned, from Harley's to sports bikes, have all purred. You can hear a nice bike or car as it passes, you can hear shit ones from a mile away.

Well, making that level of noise might not be illegal but it is antisocial.

I find it amazing that people seem to complain on here about someone’s children making noise for too long during the day and yet having a loud car and deliberately flaunting that fact while driving like a maniac is perfectly legal so it’s ok.

And to the PP with a racing car. You race racing cars around a track or a circuit I believe not on the roads. So as the tracks are closed, the car doesn’t get raced.

I’d quite like to pop down to the coast and maintain my yacht which has been sitting at anchor now for some time and really needs some maintenance, but sadly lockdown means that’s not possible and I might not make it to Monaco this year after all...

Responsible drivers are capable of driving even loud cars without having to rev them to screaming point.

MonkeyToes - offft beautiful.

I've got a Subaru Imprez WRX STI which has a very distinctive burble. It's loud, but not intrusive. It does however make my neighbour tut at me (but then she tuts for a pastime) and you can definitely hear it coming. I don't drive it like a knobber however and I would judge anyone who does drive like an idiot.

@Hingeandbracket You keep asking me the same things. I'll explain why I like to run my car AT LEAST once every four weeks (It's actually been five since I last run it out and incidentally, this isn't enough in my opinion) when it isn't race season. But I'm not going to keep answering. Or, if you are determined to talk about it further, message me privately and I'll tell you ALL about it. It's my pride and joy and if you're actually a petrolhead like me - you said you've rebuilt cars so I presume you to be - you might be interested. But if you are a petrolhead, I don't know why you keep trying to demonise me for having a noisy, fast car.

Anyway, this is why it is important for me to run the car regularly:

1.) I race it so I need to check for loss of performance, tracking issues, brake wear and odd noises. I can then sort these before they become catastrophic. The car will also fail scrutineering if something small is not noticed.

2.) I run it to get it to temperature. I need the engine and the exhaust to get hot to distribute or burn off any residues or pooled contaminants

3.) I need to run all the fluids fully through the system, as above, this will also distribute or burn off any residues or pooled contaminants.

4.) It will invariably need fuel. It's not very economical. I don't allow the fuel tank to get below a certain point so residues aren't worked into the engine. As I've previously said on another post, I invest in super high-octane fuel. That didn't win me many friends then either.

5.) I need my tyres to come to temp so I can check tyre pressures and check for slow punctures. These are not uncommon. I live on a farm and also things can crop up latterly post-race. I also check my treads religiously to check for uneven wear.

6.) I like to blast air through the vent system and also to air the cabin for moisture. I then close my aircon system before I re-store my car.

7.) Various rubber components, belts, seals and valves will corrode over a relatively short space of time if not used regularly.

8.) In a nutshell, I like to get all moving parts moving, all hot parts hot, and allow the car to 'stretch its legs' as it were, so that my diagnostic systems will flag any issues, allowing me to correct them. It will become very expensive otherwise.

9.) Electrical issues tend to crop up if the car isn't used for a while. Running it regularly seems to keep this at bay. Wires can corrode so easily.

10.) I keep it on a trickle charger, but I like to run it out properly to give the battery a better charge.

11.) Running it prevents oil pooling and oil loss.

12.) Finally, I, and every performance car engineer I have ever had any dealings with, believe that a car like this needs to be run to keep it running. You only need to go to Goodwood Revival and see the Edwardian racers being raced to see that's the case.

May I leave now? Or do people want to bash me some more?

May I leave now? Or do people want to bash me some more?

You didn't need to contribute to begin with. It was pointless to post brag about indulging in the very thing being complained about.

Go well...

But if you are a petrolhead, I don't know why you keep trying to demonise me for having a noisy, fast car.
I wasn't trying to demonise you.
Thank for for explaining your thinking - that was decent of you and I appreciate it.
I disagree with about 90% of your reasoning but I respect your right to a different opinion and I am not going to bore you or everyone else with a list of why.

I have used some of my extra time to finish an engine swap on one of my cars - it's just an ordinary street car (although it is an Alloy quad-cam V6). It's stood for nearly five years awaiting me having time to do it. Once I'd done it started first go on the fuel that was in the tank when I parked it up. In my opinion (and experience) there's a lot of nonsense talked about cars needing to be used - but I accept you disagree and I confess I don't drive a loud fire-breathing racing car.

I have one car sat (sorn), I do worry that when we come out of this it won’t start, I had to make the choice between my 2 cars and chose to keep my ‘almost classic’ vehicle on the road, I don’t just take it for a random drive to keep it running though, I tie it in with getting bread and milk once a week, that’s all I can really do.

I live near the main road into our village, I wouldn’t say it’s busy, I walked along it yesterday which I can’t normally do as it’s too dangerous. Have seen a few sports cars being taken for a spin and a couple motorbikes but over all it’s pretty dead.

I try not to judge anyone’s reasons for going out because they maybe delivering food to elderly relatives, providing care or doing their own shopping, it’s not really my business, I just focus on what I’m doing and staying home as much as I can.

@MonkeyToesOfDoom you again. It wasn’t bragging, it was speaking from the other side of the argument. It would be a little dull if everyone just agreed with each other (or you) wouldn’t it? You get very personal and resort to nasty name calling, such as ‘fucknugget’. Maybe you’re a mean girl or maybe you’re just someone who vents their frustrations by being nasty to others online.

Also, there’s always sexist remarks surrounding cars and males on here and I like to add a rare female voice speaking in favour of cars. I know I’m not typical.

To me, my journey yesterday was an essential one and I pitched up to say so and subsequently explain time and again why I thought so.

It wasn’t bragging, it was speaking from the other side of the argument.

Hmm....

I took my noisy car (apparent bellend machine) for a blast yesterday because it needed running.
We've established it didn't.

And I justified it by putting a little bit of fuel in it. It didn’t need fuel but it did need running.
So by own admission, a pointless journey.

It is noisy and fast and loud and it cost me a lot of money
Bragging, nothing to do with topic at hand.

so turning it over and keeping it running well is an essential trip for me.
Nonsense

Yesterday was the only day I could do it.
And?

Some one comments on the increase of trips that aren't essential, your "other side of the argument" was detailing a non essential trip and mentioning how loud the car is before bragging... sorry, 'Mentioning' how expensive your car is.

So tell me again how that was the other side of the argument?

@Winterwoollies do you not think that loud engines are a nuisance to other people though? The noise of them is horrific. I'm not trying to be argumentative but I'd genuinely like to know why people buy cars with loud roaring engines?