do you ever just go for a drive with no destination anymore
Posted by Small_Ad_4808@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 217 comments
I was thinking about this the other day and realized I don’t really do random drives anymore like earlier it used to be a thing where you’d just take the car out at night or early morning with no plan no destination just driving for the sake of it
yanncatt@reddit
I did it once, drove like 150 miles in the middle of the night for no reason. Never again
JillierHaroldLamaar@reddit
No, and I blame it on headlights. I used to drive around aimlessly in my shitbox for hours a night, but I have an ND Miata now and I barely do that anymore because I'm blinded everywhere I go. I work during the day and I chose nighttime before because the roads are empty.
RichieJ86@reddit
I'm ready for my downvotes,
But I actually do. I mean, I have no business doing it with gas prices the way they are, and that I only get 300-350km on a tank a gas, per average. But, I've recently moved to a smaller city and I no longer do the long commutes I had been doing for the past 9 years, so I go out and drive, so not to go stir crazy. I had been doing 60 hour work weeks for the past 3 years to, hopefully, save for a place, down the road.
I was in an accident in June last year. Car was a complete write off and I got my hands on one of my dream cars, a MK7 Golf R that I had recently tuned. Am I happy it costs me plenty of money? Nope. But is it also nice to just go for a random drive when your couped up either doing work or at home? It sure does.
5GCovidInjection@reddit
I have a 5.0L V8, can’t afford to do this anymore. However, Los Angeles is adding more bike paths, so I’ll rent a bike and cruise around that way
lothartheunkind@reddit
Last time I did that was in 2020 for obvious reasons.
Ok_Two_2604@reddit
Too much traffic here. Driving is no longer enjoyable bc even the fun roads people are going 20 mph in a 35 zone and not using the turnouts.
shoveazy@reddit
Yea the only time I really went for drives just for fun was early mornings during COVID shutdowns a couple of times. The back roads were empty save for other people like me just looking to enjoy the emptiness. Saw other drivers and motorcyclists. Everybody understood what we were up to, it was fun.
CreaminFreeman@reddit
Very happy I was in Atlanta during Covid. Driving around downtown and midtown felt surreal, like being in The Walking Dead.
The drives were unmatched!
jalopaf2@reddit
That Covid era was wild. I would be driving quite fast and I would have my doors blown off by people taking even more advantage of the empty roads. For better or worse I suspect that opportunity will never happen again
neonxmoose99@reddit
My friend and I got into an impromptu 6 way street race early in covid. We got dusted by a turbocharged c6 z06
CoffeeFriendish@reddit
This. Used to go on drives a lot in Colorado about 20 years ago. Now there are too many cars and people driving like they can’t live without checking their phone.
Hywelthehorrible@reddit
Same. Love cars, don’t enjoy driving anymore. Think I need to give up the chase. Right now there is practically a six figure Rolex that doesn’t get worn in my garage.
FoMoCoNutjob@reddit
Nope, gas is too expensive.
DooceBigalo@reddit
Basically this, it's ruined this years driving to just drive.
e92s65king@reddit
You have a $50k+ car and you’re worried about +/- $150/month in gas?
Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit
You tend to see petrol prices everywhere you to, whereas most other expenses don't come with constant flashing boards by the side of the road telling you how much they cost now. So people will always be more sensitive.
e92s65king@reddit
It’s just incredible to me that someone has the financial means to spend $50k on a car and then drive it less due to $4.50-5 gas prices.
Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit
If people were wholly rational none of us would attach such meanings to our machines anyway, and we'd all drive Chevy Bolts (or in my country, one of the ~35k AUD EV hatchbacks)
Random61504@reddit
Exactly what I thought the moment I saw this question. I would, but I can't afford to aimlessly drive around.
Zephyruos@reddit
My daily, meditative night drives under the moonlight are becoming a luxury sadly.
Teledildonic@reddit
Night is the only time our traffic isn't awful, but I increasingly don't want to leave the house that late.
NinthTide@reddit
Yep I still do my random drives but am aware of how much more expensive it now is.
Limesmack91@reddit
Exactly, gas is almost 2€ per liter now, I'm not driving anywhere unless I really have to
zummit@reddit
Gas is pretty cheap considering inflation. It's at about half of some recent peaks.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1UJI1
adamfps@reddit
That data stops in march and we’ve seen a 35% average increase in gas prices since Feb, already over $5 average for premium.
Not that any of this matters because OP (and others) can feel priced out from joy riding at this price with inflation levels and CoL.
So.. not sure what your point is?
zummit@reddit
My point is about the data.
The increase from Feb to Mar is 24%. Even with a further bump it's where it was in 2023. There weren't any news stories about high gas prices then, because they had just come down from even higher prices. The feels tend to come from a comparison to recent prices, without looking very far back.
adamfps@reddit
… what? Gas prices were a story in 2023 and Rs used them as frequent attack vector. You’re hardcore recency biasing.
Also, if you feel there are more news stories now (as a proportion of total news the past few weeks) that is likely true, but because there’s a very identifiable cause effect relationship that everyone can understand. Stories in 2023 weren’t sensational, you had to make connections to a year-long war in Ukraine, higher seasonal demand, and lower production. Not the most snappy news headlines.
zummit@reddit
I'm not finding a whole lot, other than from people who are really just trying to criticize other politicians.
Yeah I'm lying. Uh huh.
adamfps@reddit
No one said you’re lying, I’m pointing out your lack of attention to the news of summer 2023. It wasn’t as interesting of a story, but it was still prevalent in June-September. Same thing happened in 2021. Gas prices up= story = political ads.
Middle East war started by the USA leading to an energy crisis will generate more sensational news stories (shocking I know)
zummit@reddit
Well there you go. We're making the same point and I'm getting downvoted and you're getting upvoted. Only difference is that I'm pointing out that it's not the price, it's the increase. People didn't say gas was too expensive when it came down to levels that are higher than they are today.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
Even if gas is the same price now as in 2014, other costs have gone up so much
zummit@reddit
But so has disposable income. It's doubled since 2014.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DSPI
I tend to see people complain about gas prices pretty much all the time, except right after it crashes. Then when it goes back up just a tad (and not nearly to where it was before), they're back to complaining. Probably something to do with loss aversion.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
That doesn't track with other data suggesting people have no money for emergencies, can't afford housing, etc.
zummit@reddit
I suppose both could be true, but those problems concentrated among people who weren't in a position to go joyriding to begin with.
Nonetheless people are spending a lot of money on things they want:
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MRTSSM4453USS
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MRTSSM7225USN
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RSXFS
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
I checked and these are all averages, so they are skewed by the K-shape economy.
Skensis@reddit
Complaining about gas price is as American as baseball and apple pie.
It's annoying I guess when it goes up, but it's relatively a small cost of my car ownership experience so I frankly don't care.... And I'm paying nearly 7/gallon.
DarthJezza@reddit
People don’t want the truth
MetaTrombonist@reddit
I go for bike rides instead these days.
TurtleCrusher@reddit
It costs me $1.30 to go 100 miles in my 20k used car.
This is why the main car in a driveway should be electric. The 40mpg truck in my driveway goes unused right now.
Roy_McDunno@reddit
yeah. I agree. But it's never gonna happen for most people who rent and/or live in the city, like me.
dumahim@reddit
I was thinking of doing Route 66 this year, but with the gas prices going the way they're going, I'd probably spend over a grand of gas alone for the trip.
Kindly-Benefit-9826@reddit
yeah i miss those days but my wallet definitely doesn't lol. used to cruise around at like 2am making beats in my head but now every mile costs money i don't have
Nonce_Response_Squad@reddit
I used to do it a lot, but it’s gotten soo much busier on the roads now. The only chance I get for a good drive is after a late shift at like 2am.
Rob_af_a@reddit
Same here. I still occasionally find time past 10pm which is generally not too bad. Roads are abysmal tho lol
Skensis@reddit
I use to wake up early for some of the fun roads, then I hit a deer, and now I don't :/
mateww@reddit
Yeah that'll do it.
Even going around town at early hours csn be enjoyable. Fewer deer too
Yankee831@reddit
On my motorcycle’s but not my car. Honda Element’a are not the most pleasurable drive and I live in BFE with long freeway stretches. Next vehicle I’ll get another 4x4 then I tend to go for off road drives to nowhere.
MasterChief813@reddit
With these fuel prices? In this economy? Nope.
aspartame-daddy@reddit
Yeah, my high energy dog loves it. Especially on days where I don’t have it in me to get him out on a long walk.
Just let him hang his head out the window and take in all the smells while I cruise parkways at like 20-25 mph. Podcasts and coffee for me. No stress, no route, just set GPS to home and let it keep recalculating everywhere I go. When I get to the point where I think, “I’m about X minutes from being done,” and the GPS has the same number, I route myself back.
By the time we get home, we’ve both had a ton of enrichment and can just chill on the couch. Perfection.
Next step is to get something better than a boring crossover to do this in.
1Steelghost1@reddit
I go out and stare at my car, clean the rims & tires. Whisper sweet nothings like 'soon we will see the road again soon, I promise.'
neonxmoose99@reddit
Me with my RX7 (it’s broken again)
Tumbleweedwhacker@reddit
I got a folder called 'Driving Roads' where I gather all the tips for must-see-spots, Google-Routes for 70 different roundtrips/mountain roads/Alpen passes and holiday road-trips. Almost every weekend I choose one or invent a new one.
But I do often take the chance if I have the time to take a turn to a direction/road I didn't drive before and more often than not I find a great new road. The last time I found the Katschbergstrasse and it was like a Monte Carlo style rally stage. Along a river, small tunnels, tightening turns, crests, bad tarmac, close rocks, the works.
neonxmoose99@reddit
Got any tips in the Chicagoland area?
Spiritual-Attempt-93@reddit
Sweet. 2 questions.
Favorite ever road?
And how you decide where to drive. Google maps satellite? Google pictures from destination city? Full random?
Thanks
munche@reddit
Yeah I don't do "no destination" drives per se but I'll go to a road just to drive every month or two. Hard to really enjoy a car if all you do is sit in traffic.
neonxmoose99@reddit
I just did yesterday. 3 hour random cruise
pooooooooo@reddit
If I can eventually get another v8 then yes, I had to downsize to a v6 grand cherokee and although comfortable it does not make me smile to drive.
Gas prices do not matter, I live in the most expensive place for fuel in Canada, I am well acclimated to it
Beginning_Ad8663@reddit
Lets see him deny an order from congress
TheNorthernMunky@reddit
Yeah, I just bought the car I’ve wanted for the last 10 years, so I’m basically looking for any reason to take it out for a spin at the moment.
I’ve always enjoyed driving. Before having kids, I’d hop into the car and drive 1.5 hours to the coast, or I’d play a game I made up: Pick (or have someone else pick) a direction and distance. We live close to an intersection of motorways which covers all four directions. Then I’d drive in that direction for that number of miles, take the next available exit and find my way home through the towns and villages without using motorways or satnav.
Kids are a little older now and I almost did the game last night, but decided against it. I reckon it’s gonna be soon, though.
The_R4ke@reddit
It's one of my absolute favorite things to do. Sometimes I'll take my pup with me. I think my longest one lasted about 18 hours.
gaius49@reddit
This is the way. Long drives are wonderful. The key thing in my experience is to live somewhere with good access to great roads.
The_R4ke@reddit
Yeah, I'm on the east coast, there's some fantastic roads out here, although the west coast might have us beat.
Master-Plankton8044@reddit
Yeah I still do this, especially on weekends. Even with the price of gas currently, driving around for a saturday and stopping for a burger in a random town costs like 20$ in gas and 15$ in lunch. Cheaper than any full day entertainment I would do in the city.
I used to do it more at night too, and still would expect I live downtown in a major city so getting out of the city takes 40 minutes on its own which is just more stress than its worth. Something I really miss about living in a smaller town was being able to be out an driving country roads in 20 minutes no traffic.
bobj33@reddit
Yeah. I have some good back roads 10 minutes away and even better roads about 30 miles away. I try to go 2 or 3 times a month for 1-2 hours. Sometimes I will add in a hike but not always.
bstyledevi@reddit
Absolutely. Not as often as I used to, but it's one of the best most relaxing things I do. Then again, I'm from the Midwest where there's a lot of areas like that to go drive, so 30-50 miles one way is a regular commute.
taticalgoose@reddit
Yes, I go on a 150+ mile drive most early weekend mornings. For those complaining about the cost of gas, it's not up that much. AAA has the current average for premium at 4.92, a year ago it was 4.07. A 15 gallon tank at $.85 more per gallon comes out to a whopping increase of $12.75 per tank. It would take 4+ hours to burn an entire tank of gas, which most people aren't doing. So, 4 hours of entertainment costs you less than $13 more than it used to last year. At an average of $73.8 for a whole tank in 4 hours (again it will last most longer than 4 hours) your total cost of entertainment is $18.45 per hour which is way less than a restaurant/bar/almost any other activity.
Stop being overdramatic folks.
theirishseller@reddit
I do in the summer with my 69 Chevelle convertible. Its a summer adventure thing for me and my wife. I don't do this with our daily drivers though. We always have a destination in mind.
ParkJeongguk@reddit
Like 2 days ago I did it for the first time in like a month and accidentally took out a Skunk Family of 5. All 5 of them were crossing the road at the same time and my car is basically slammed so I took them all out. I checked on them. Zero survivors. I went straight home.
Hokie23aa@reddit
Something similar happened to me. I saw a raccoon crawling on the road and his back legs were shattered. I felt awful, and called non emergency line and animal control was busy. Luckily someone came by and put him down, but man. That was sad :(
Sending hugs <3
franksandbeans911@reddit
Damn, that's grisly. I can picture him yelling Ayy-driannn! dragging himself along.
disposablepresence@reddit
That's rough :( I hit a huge beautiful rattlesnake one night... could hardly sleep that night because I felt so bad about it.
franksandbeans911@reddit
Happened to my uncle in Colorado in his jeep. Liked the heat of the driveshaft, didn't like it spinning. His head and part of his body got separated, uncle jumped out to check, head flew towards him with half a snake attached. Mean even when nearly dead.
InsertBluescreenHere@reddit
I keep a 3 foot board in my truck to get spicy wildlife off the road. No venomous snakes near me by do have sone hellacious snapping turtles that will stand their ground. I will just puck up painted, box, and softshell turtles and move em across the road if its a safe area
AnemoneOfMyEnemy@reddit
As a grown ass man I would cry ugly tears. Sorry that happened to you.
ParkJeongguk@reddit
I felt the same as hitting a cat. I’ll drive during the day now. Too many animals are out at night.
franksandbeans911@reddit
Day I learned how to drive a stick in my teens, hit an opossum at night. Bad timing lil buddy. Since then I've hit at coyote at 70mph, a squirrel at walking speed, and a black cat that looked like a small black trashbag out of the corner of my eye, went back and checked on him, no dice.
I felt bad every time, especially the coyote, because he was out in this huge elaborate median, in the cold and rain, doing his forest stuff late at night. He just thought he could run perpendicular to the road when I drove by and he got bounced out of bounds somewhere, leaving a dent in my lower front bumper and license plate. Could have lived, preferred if he didn't with those injuries he no doubt suffered.
Animals getting smacked by cars is an unfortunate side effect, and ironically, good business for scavengers.
DifferentEmployer435@reddit
Yes. My 911 makes driving fun.
franksandbeans911@reddit
Yes, because I'm in a big city with a lake nearby. In the right season and without too many Tour de France doctors on the road, creeping around the lake at 30mph with all the windows down is pretty nice. If the doctors show up and bring my speed down to 15, I entertain them with super loud songs like Eye of the Tiger or You're the Best, Around from the Karate Kid soundtrack.
angrycanuck@reddit
Everyday with my wife.
Wings-N-Beer@reddit
25 years ago? Absolutely! Now? I debate going to work some days thanks to gas price.
Gubbtratt1@reddit
Stopped doing it when I changed to the boring winter car. Now that I've changed back to the summer car, I'm way too used to only having to refuel every second week. Maybe once the classic car drives get going at the end of may though.
Boxsterboy@reddit
Every weekend. A great way to relax.
unicyclegamer@reddit
Nope, that’s what the bicycle is for.
Iron_Baron@reddit
I used to do 3,000/month driving around for fun when I was younger and had a fun sporty car. Nowadays, it'd take an hour to list all the reasons why I don't anymore.
GT3Racer@reddit
I’m a trucker. I love my car but the last thing I want to do is drive without a destination
1911Earthling@reddit
Not anymore. Driving ceased being fun at the first gas crisis in the 1970s then the 80 MPH speedometers. Cars chocked with pollution control equipment. Insane insurance costs. Lost interest just drive my government approved and regulated car.
AsassinX@reddit
Not anymore. Post COVID, traffic sucks even more on the west coast and gas is way too expensive.
gaius49@reddit
Really depends where on the west coast.
asimo3089@reddit
I make an aimless drive out at least once a week. Everyone should. You don't need to find a canyon road. And if you pick the right time of day, roads can be quiet.
Skensis@reddit
There are some fun roads near me I occasionally drive on, but too many hooligans treat it as a race track, and my suspension is a bit too firm for some of it so it's not super comfortable, which has caused me to drive it less often.
gaius49@reddit
Why not fix the suspension?
Skensis@reddit
I went firmer and lower for the track.
phxbimmer@reddit
I still do it plenty, I go to various roads in the Sierra Nevada range, it’s like an hour from me in Sacramento and I can often drive for hours without seeing another car, even on the weekend.
Yeah it’s technically a waste of gas, but it’s very therapeutic and gives me time to kinda just think on my own whilst enjoying some beautiful scenery. After a while, I get into a really nice flow state where I feel like I am one with the car; the downshifts get crisper, the engine revs are exactly where they need to be, and the turns just flow into each other like a symphony of asphalt and rubber. At the end of the road I like to just pull off and just sit in the forest, listening to the wind rustling through the trees, it’s very peaceful.
fhs@reddit
Yeah sometimes. Fun moment to relax and listen to some podcasts, see some nature
Hnry_Dvd_Thr_Awy@reddit
One night in college I went out for a drive to clear my head which was kind of unusual for me as I usually just went on a walk or played video games. Anyway I'm driving with no music or anything. Just windows down on a hot summer night. I wound up getting out and walking on the beach ~6 hours away from where I started.
But no I haven't done anything like that in years and it's not because of gas prices or anything I just haven't.
dL_EVO@reddit
I remember when life was more simple. I would do similar things that you just described.
Like randomly I remember wanting to go out for a drive and I ended up in Reno (4-5 hours away). I stopped and got ice cream then drove home.
lol
FENICH@reddit
I did until I moved to city. Now the driving is not enjoyable anymore.
Rumple4skiin@reddit
I used to but I feel like the state of driving on American roads has declined so heavily that it isn’t even fun anymore. I used to enjoy driving but now unless I’m driving during lower traffic hours I just find it frustrating and dangerous. Like 80% of people drive like morons now.
beermaker@reddit
Highway 1 is a handful of miles away through beautiful scenery. I'll drive it up the coast, cut inland at the Russian River, and back home through the redwoods... It's best driven during the week when spectator traffic is low.
uwxa@reddit
All the time. Small turbo 4cyl cars are when it's at for letting the mind go.
Routine-Ad-7882@reddit
I used to take unplanned drives, but my current car has no CD player. ☹️
anjaroo96@reddit
Whenever I can. Living near mountains does have its perks.
NoodlesRomanoff@reddit
I go for several car club charity rides every year. Somebody defines a 2-3 hour course through nice winding roads, and 30-40 of us like-minded souls cough up $50 that goes to charity. We have turn by turn instructions, but we are also using the “Scenic” app. We wind up at a restaurant and trade experiences.
Fun-Gas3117@reddit
yes, a lot. it’s the one thing i miss the most when my cars out if commission, just random drives after midnight, with the only purpose of burning diesel 😂
DustyHamWallet12@reddit
when i bought my house in 2016 i was 23 and living in a new town. i would sit at home bored on a friday with nothing to do, so i would load up my dog lilly and we would just drive in a random direction until it got dark and either stay in a hotel or sleep in my car. in the mornings we would go to a park and play, get some food and either stay another night or head home. I miss those days.
Thisisnotgoodforyou@reddit
Yes and no. I have a second car that needs gearbox work that I can't currently afford. I've only ever done this in a normal car when I wanted to clear my thoughts.
mihaajlovic@reddit
Yes, often. Just drive around, maybe few kms out of town. Love driving in the night
JamiDoesStuff@reddit
yeah sometimes around town and the surrounding area, usually during the evening or night when i dont have anything else to do or if im bored
yeawrongperson@reddit
Yup. For the last 3 years, every night. I had a life changing accident 3 years ago, rolled my car, stuck upside down in it for 40 minute, mangled left hand cuz it went out the window and was crushed when the car rolled on it. Now I’m missing like 80% of my dominant left hand. My life is kinda ruined and over, and I’m only 29.
I for some reason, gotta drive past my crash site everyday. Been like that since Jan 21, 2023. Just take a lonely 40 mile drive, my thoughts, music and the world just stops for a while so I can think.
SMW22792@reddit
Burn out has taken the passion out of a lot of activities I used to enjoy. I used to aimlessly drive almost every weekend. Now it's been over a year since the "fun" car came out. The older I get, the less enthused I am for toys. Give me a new Camry XLE Premium, and I'm all set. The hybrids can move out of their own way now, and trading half my fuel economy for something fun seems pointless.
ApoliticalOldGuy@reddit
No, and there are a couple of reasons. I'm older and there are other things I need to do. There's more traffic and drivers seem worse. To get out of town to somewhere that's interesting to go I have to drive 40 or more miles.
Bugeaters@reddit
I put the majority on miles on my 911 with no destination in mind or making a random trip much longer. One of the positive aspects of living in a more rural area.
dayvieee@reddit
Not really, gas prices are not the problem but the type of drivers since Covid
redshift88@reddit
Yes. I like to cross the border and cruise Wisconsin. Usually spend about 8-12 hours with stops. In the spring time, there's usually some local festivals, patio bands, pretty wildflowers.
Sometimes I take people with me, but they usually burry their head in their phones the whole way or chew my ear off.
I prefer solo. I have a young son now, so I'm looking forward to doing that with him when he's ready.
Graywuff@reddit
Not yet this year, anyway. It's still wet and dirty snowmelt time up in the Rockies, need to give it another month or two to clear out. At least my "fun car" is a Tesla Model 3 Performance right now, so gas isn't much of a worry!
TheDistantEnd@reddit
Yes, but usually on a motorcycle.
rajwade695@reddit
I think the reason most people stop doing this comes down to friction. The more friction there is between you and just getting in the car, the less you do it. It can be physical, like living in an apartment complex where you have to walk to the garage, go down a level, and drive out, or living on a hill where just getting to the city feels like a task. It can be financial with gas prices being what they are now. Or situational, like heavy traffic killing the whole vibe of a spontaneous drive. Every little thing stacks up and eventually the spontaneity just dies. When I lived in Buffalo, my car was parked 5-10 feet from my door right next to the highway. I used to do weekend drives to NYC on a whim. Now I live on a hill and even getting out feels like more effort. But when friction is low, things just happen. I once missed an exit on the Bay Bridge and ended up all the way in Big Sur/Monterey.
KyledKat@reddit
I lost the joy when I had to commute 220 miles a week for work, plus an additional 60-120 if I want to visit friends.
I just want to disconnect on my off time.
jalopaf2@reddit
Ha yeah when driving was something I had to do for 2 hours a day in traffic my appetite for a "fun" drive was almost zero. I still liked having fun cars incase the opportunity presented itself but the juice wasn't worth thr squeeze to go looking for more driving
KyledKat@reddit
I had the opposite outcome. I couldn't justify the insurance and maintenance on a fun car I drove fewer than 3k miles a year, and the thought of having money stored in a depreciating asset didn't sit well with a mortgage on the horizon.
I still window-shop Facebook Marketplace for cheap options, but then I come right back to the reasons I sold my M240i in the first place.
TILFromReddit@reddit
Usually after I've watched too many YouTube car reviews I have to go for a drive to remind myself that I don't need a new car. Lol.
FederalDoctor9385@reddit
I have a motorcycle which I just love driving and it goes 5 to 6 times as far on a gallon of gas as my truck and yes I do just go bomb around
UltraHawk_DnB@reddit
before the orange monkey made iran shut hormuz yes
InB4Clive@reddit
This is what Sundays are made for imo.
H-TSi@reddit
Used to do it when I was young and my car was new. Now 12 years later it’s barely done. Time changes. Still the same car
RedEyed__@reddit
Sometimes I do
Impressive-Usual-451@reddit
Going for a drive with no destination is exactly what you are driving away from. Leaving structured minute by minute life with neurotic people all around asking you to make decisions non stop. As Bob Seger sings “I can go east I can go west. It’s all up for me to decide.. “
dorian-mourning@reddit
I live out in the country so rambling drives are always fun- I can always find some strange diner or sort of suspicious gas station with ice cream in the middle of nowhere. It’s great in fall when the leaves are out. Can’t do it as much anymore (gas prices) but always a fun time.
InsertBluescreenHere@reddit
Exactly. I have a pretty good memory of my area like general location of towns, major highways, rivers, lakes, etc. So i will just pick a direction and take those nackroads with no stripes. Come to a T and pick a direction. Then see if i can figure out where i am and make it hone no gps or maps. I too have found sone really cool little county parks and food places
Small_Ad_4808@reddit (OP)
Yes gas prices really sucks, also i am envious of the place you live .
ChatGPT4@reddit
I'm 49 and I'm probably dying. But I still do that.
InsertBluescreenHere@reddit
Yup, helps to own a classic car thats fin to drive and gets 40mpg lol. I gotta burn out last years gas, takes awhile to do lol
shawizkid@reddit
Never, now that I have a family and so many obligations.
But 20 years ago, when I finally got the sports car I had longed for since birth, I would drive out to the two lane roads and cruise a few times a week.
Now the closest I get to that is taking my preferred route to places. Which isn’t the quickest or shortest, but definitely less stressful and more enjoyable. This is probably something I’m unlikely to ever stop doing.
AladeenModaFuqa@reddit
I do on my motorcycle. Swapping my yata for a luxury car stopped the joy rides in that.
twiggymac@reddit
Basically never. Gas is too expensive and the state of driving on public roads in America is so abysmal I can't go on a drive without seeing the most infuriating bullshit ever.
Post covid driving has just been horrible all around. Nobody gives a single shit about anyone but themselves on the road.
VerryRides@reddit
Same. Driving is just so frustrating now. There's nothing therapeutic about it anymore. Everyone drives completely braindead and has their face in their phone.
twiggymac@reddit
I do 24 hours of lemons for fun and driving with 80+ shitboxes around a track wheel to wheel with...questionable variation in driving skill is genuinely relaxing in comparison to any public roads I drive on.
newcarguy2019@reddit
Yes. It's still a thing. Why wouldn't it be?
testthrowawayzz@reddit
Not anymore because of traffic.
My preference is cruising on a nearly empty freeway. The curvy roads near me got too many wannabe racers to be enjoyable for relaxing drives.
Unusual_Piano7118@reddit
No, I haven’t done that in probably close to 15 years. Maybe longer.
rudbri93@reddit
I actually just went out and did that. The weather here is breaking and so i figured id run out and get some miles on.
mr_lockwork@reddit
Just did that with my best bud last weekend. We were waiting on something, so we decided to drive around on country roads for a couple hours in his 78 mercury marquis. We found a few neat spots.
E400wagon@reddit
My city has become perpetual grid lock except for Sunday at 7am so I don’t find driving enjoyable at all anymore
W_Silver2356@reddit
I used to do it a lot more often than I do now. I had a lot of fun doing that.
MagpieMathematics@reddit
It's getting to be tourist season here so all of the fun, scenic routes are clogged with tourists. That and gas is over $4
slapmatiddeez@reddit
Do i look like i'm made of money??
humdizzle@reddit
thats most of the miles in my GT3, and every weekend car before that. Probably because im too paranoid to use it for errands and potentially having someone or some kid open their door into my car.
BicycleMage@reddit
Driving is my main hobby, so even with gas skyrocketing I still find myself going on aimless drives, forest road runs, etc.
When I don’t feel like going out I do the same thing in my sim rig!
2Drogdar2Furious@reddit
Yes, on weekends... it's hard to do though when both kids want to take the car with only one seat.
Averyphotog@reddit
Where I used to live, there were plenty of twisty roads that were fun for a drive in a sporty car. Where I live now the roads are not so fun, and are usually clogged with slow moving trucks and SUVs. So no, I don’t just “go for a drive” any more.
bikedork5000@reddit
Yeah, but on my Thruxton RS, not in my car.
rugbyj@reddit
Eww who has a 1200cc Triumph motorcycle and a German estate car.
bikedork5000@reddit
Only a sick and depraved person would do such a thing!
Guyana-resp@reddit
Yes. To enjoy
FullofLovingSpite@reddit
Initially my usual drives were burned out by a big fire. Now the roads are open again, but gas is so expensive that it's about $100+ to go out for a drive like I used to.
workswithpipe@reddit
I will when it’s nice enough to get the jeep naked
benmarvin@reddit
All the time. If I'm not working that day, I feel lost and don't know what to do. So I'll just drive around for a couple hours.
noSSD4me@reddit
Yes, pretty much every other weekend. Sometimes I just hit a freeway, take a random exit, and just keep going.
rkj__@reddit
Sometimes, when my child needs a nap. A car ride helps put him to sleep. We live in a rural area with lots of quiet back roads. We have an EV, so the energy cost is low.
karmais4suckers@reddit
In this economy? I just sit in the car with the windows down
yamsyamsya@reddit
All the time, we just take the Miata instead of the thirstier sports cars
S_W@reddit
All the time! SE Wisconsin has some really boring roads, but I still love taking the car out for random drives. I didn't buy this car for it to sit in a garage and event a short drive brings me enjoyment, so I'll take it out after work or random drives on the weekend. Hearing that intake right next to my head and 9k RPM will make any car enthusiast's day better!
3Green1974@reddit
I do, just not as often and for not as long.
benedictfuckyourass@reddit
I definetly still take detours but at 2.50/l i really can't justify it anymore. I'm already all kinds of broke tbh.
PugDriver@reddit
When I 1st learned to drive, pre gps. Drove for hours then tried to find my way home.
thetrappster@reddit
With nearly $7 a gallon gas prices? Hell to the nah.
Mysterious-Lick@reddit
Used to.
Got a bit older, now it’s about doing tasks/things that need to get done.
Do miss it though.
dL_EVO@reddit
I did it recently when I rented a more fun car than my daily because my car was in the shop.
I loved it. I was leaving earlier to pick up my kid and just giving myself extra time between errands. For me it depends on what I’m driving.
My current stable of cars I see as a tool, an appliance to get me from point A to B.
ucancallmevicky@reddit
every nice saturday or sunday. My 993 is a garage queen now so she only sees the road a few miles a weekend. Just enough to keep the battery fresh
Vhozite@reddit
No. I will take a slightly longer route if it’s more scenic, more fun, or has less traffic but I don’t just drive aimlessly.
Beni_Stingray@reddit
Nope, i like driving sporty and its simply not possible to have even a little bit fun here in switzerland anymore. Hidden radar traps, police using drones flying overhead to catch you, very very high fines, more traffic and more idiots on the road.
That's why i decided to buy an expensive simrig instead of getting a Miata ND, no its not the same i know but it has many other advantages like being able to drive whenever i want, whatever i want and it doesnt matter if im drunk or stoned or even crash.
spenwallce@reddit
Not in the last few years with gas prices how they’ve been
BXRunner@reddit
Yes but I decided to make money off it and just do food deliveries.
Kinda the same thing if you think about it..
Ended up doing deliveries in a neighboring state once..
ReticentGuru@reddit
I remember my parents doing that many years ago, typically on a Sunday afternoon. We lived in a small’ish town, maybe 25,000.
zircnivle@reddit
Not this time, maybe if gas prices will be "normalized" again.
hundredjono@reddit
Not since gas went up lmao
The route I would take sometimes on the weekends was about 80 miles
eh_itzvictor@reddit
Yeah, but i drive a 4cylinder and Costco is 4 miles from my house so gas isn't as big of a deal for me. Still, doing less fun drives lately.
Hodgetwins32@reddit
I’ll rip the long way home often, and I’ll also purposely pass things or be wishy washing about my destination if it’s food because I’m indecisive lol
raginghavoc89@reddit
I do so more when I'm tuning the car than I do any other time.
BillT999@reddit
Not in my car, but I do it at least weekly on my motorcycle
na3800@reddit
I do this often on my motorcycle, and much less frequently in my car
Significant-Pen-6049@reddit
Nope too expensive. Instead I ebike all over the place
UncleBensRacistRice@reddit
Sort of. My favorite roads are about an hour and a half away so I'll drive there
snootchiebootchie94@reddit
I wish I could, but I live in a high density area with traffic all the time. I would mostly just be sitting in the car....I do though try and take my "fun" car whenever I have the opportunity for traveling alone or with the wife.
GrumpyOlBastard@reddit
Not so much in the car anymore, but on my motorcycle I still do
nigevellie@reddit
In this age? With these gas prices?
GuyMcTest@reddit
Sometimes I’ll take the long way going somewhere so I can just be on high ways longer
54strife@reddit
Not with these Bush gas prices
thousandfoldthought@reddit
Walk, every evening
reward72@reddit
All the time. I love take my roadster on backroads.
pridetwo@reddit
In this economy?!?!
PurpleSausage77@reddit
Couple days before bombs over Iran, I went for a Model S that I’ve wanted since I rented one a few years ago. $13k usd 75k miles clean title with free AT&T 4G LTE internet and free supercharging for life tied to the VIN, and I can charge at home and at work. I’ll go anywhere, scenic routes, even offer free delivery on things I frequently sell on FB marketplace to entice buyers. Way less stress driving this baby around, something about the way they drive is soothing for me.
The gas savings from that will subsidize premium fuel/mods for my stick shift manual LSD 50/50 2800lb summer/track car.
Outdoorguy2017@reddit
I do, all the time. Clears the mind
diptenkrom@reddit
In this economy?!?
Iriss@reddit
Drives for the sake of driving, definitely. But I am very intentional about destination because the frustration of traffic more than offsets what I'd get out of the drive.
Darth_Firebolt@reddit
That's what my motorcycles are for.
BillyJohnsFinds@reddit
Everyday. Luckily I have some great backroads like 5 minutes from my house with no traffic. If I get some time after work I’m going for a little cruise. Even if I am coming home from somewhere I might take a little detour to drive a few empty roads.
dumahim@reddit
Yes. I need to drive the GTO at least every 2 weeks to keep the battery from going dead, but try to drive it once a week. Instead of driving it to work and leaving it in a public ramp all day, I try to take it out some sat or sun morning and stretch its legs. I didn't used to do that, but the car just wasn't feeling right for a while. Last year it was finally diagnosed as a bad steering rack. Replaced that and did some other suspension upgrades, and I can just enjoy driving it again.
K_R_A_K_E_N-540@reddit
Yes with my fun cars
InfinitePossibility8@reddit
Yes.
The_GeneralsPin@reddit
I do it at least once a week. Drop the top and cruise or blast, or both, on a summer evening. These things are made to nourish the soul
james_Gastovski@reddit
Yes, sometimes when my head is full and im in a good moodI take my car to some backroads. Fuck the extra costs of gas, I need some peace in my mind. I can skip a meal
Falloutvictim@reddit
I work in an office in a highrise, and I usually eat leftovers at my desk for lunch most days (my wife cooks good and often, so leftovers for lunch most days). I get cooped up feeling being in said office and need to get out for my sanity. My escape is spending my actual "lunch time" running errands just to get out and drive. Yeah, I'm running errands, but most days I just make up something, anything, so I have an excuse to myself to get out and drive around while it's not rush hour. Could be going to the nice store 20 minutes away for one item, whatever, I enjoy driving and need outta the office.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I never did.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I never did. I'll have a vague destination in mind but if I get distracted by something else I'll change it.
kingoflint282@reddit
Relatively frequently. I like to just find some fun backroads
carsnbikesnstuff@reddit
Typically I do weekly drives just to drive. Get out of the city. Curvy roads windows down. Could be for an hour. Or four hours. Or a couple days. Wheels are out for refinishing so car is down right now. Soon tho.
FreshStartLiving@reddit
All the time but mainly because my dogs also like a drive and they love the wind in their hair. Gives me a reason just to get out and enjoy the weather before the summer heat says "NOT TODAY BOYS".
BeWilduhBeest@reddit
I work from home so I have no daily commute and I have no life so I don't get out much. 😊
I try to take a drive at least once a week just to keep my car running properly. I know having it sit for too long can cause issues. I have a couple different routes I like to take that are scenic and relatively easy drives which take an hour to a couple of hours. I enjoy driving so it helps me take my mind off stuff.
Pixelplanet5@reddit
no, never.
If i drive its to get somewhere, if i just wanna get out and think i walk.
ImpressiveTough7724@reddit
No. I live in mid-michigan. All the roads within an hour of me are shitty, and filled with potholes, distracted drivers and deer. All the GOOD driving roads are 2-3 hours away at a bare minimum. Oh, and we're now into 'Road-work season'. Because michigan has 2 seasons... winter and roadwork.
jseams@reddit
Yes, I take one of the fun cars out every week for about an hour drive - usually early morning before traffic (Bay Area) picks up. I have a couple of routes I'll take where I can find areas to stretch out the car a bit on some nice straights that includes a few nice curvy areas. I really do miss living in a more rural setting where you didn't have to time these drives around traffic issues.
PinkishOcean430@reddit
All the time
RiftHunter4@reddit
I don't know if I've ever done that. I always have some kind of destination in mind.
desf15@reddit
Once every 1-2 weeks for a short drive, much much rarer for longer one.
JReitman@reddit
Once a week sometimes more. Instead of finding backroads for spirited driving like I used to it’s more now just getting in our truck and looking at property we will never be able to afford in areas we would likely never live in.
AmericanExcellence@reddit
it comes and goes, but nowadays i drive just to drive about twice as much as i do to get somewhere.