I learned to drive as soon as I was old enough to. It was kind of necessary as I grew up in the middle of nowhere, 12 miles to the nearest town and no public transport. However, when I went to Manchester and later London I sold my car. Driving along almost deserted country roads is great fun, but I don't particularly fancy driving around big busy cities.

So now I get trains when I go places. As Dan says, when they run on time they're cool. When they don't they are very, very annoying. But, hey-ho, such is life... And at least you can get drunk when you're traveling on trains.

I'm supposed to have been learning to drive for months. If i'm ever going to get promoted or another job then its kind of necessary. I've managed a grand total of 1 lesson, and everything else seemed to get in the way of scheduling it over the summer, and now no more is happening as i've pretty much cut out anything that isn't absolutely necessary to existing (some days thats just bed and galaxy chocolate...)

I like trains, not so much for the getting drunk thing but as they are the only form of transport i can travel long distance without feeling ill. Although a couple of times recently i have nearly passed out in overcrowded carriages. Haven't mangaged a journey with Virgin in recent months that isn't late and/or has 3 trains worth of people in it due to cancellations.

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by In a State of Dan
I can't drive, have no particular desire to,

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by Funky Monkey

The weirdest thing about London is the way its quite normal to hand your keys over to an Alfa Romeo to someone you've never met in a dodgy car park to look after your car for a day... Frayed nerves anyone??

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LOL - Just no...

Remeber that bit in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, when they take the Ferrari to the parking lot in Chigago? 2 minutes later the guys are off on a joy ride to the Star Wars theme...

Tis my mission for the new year to learn. Will make getting to work easier and will allow me to go for promotion where I work too. The travelling to meets thing will be a bonus too as i too have experienced teh super horror that is Virgin trains at the moment. The last three trips i've been on EVERY train i was booked onto was cancelled

As for buying a car. New is generally better if its your first car as the free insurence and tax deals will knock a HUGE ammount off teh running costs and you'll get a no claims at the end of the free period too (Unless you total it of course)

Fitting in lessons around work is going to hurt and i will have to get a loan out to afford them all but it doesn't half make me wish i'd learnt when i was younger. I did start but my instructor was a rip off merchant who charged more than everyone else did and by seven lessons in hadn't even looked at reverse gear with me :/

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by Lori
Not always - train fares can be more expensive than you think. Journalists from Auto Express magazine bought a car to travel from London to Newcastle and back, and the whole trip cost less than the train fare would have...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1479878.stm

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You can hardly expect an unbiased view from a motoring magazine! After a few seconds worth of investigation, I have discovered that you can travel from London to Newcastle the night before and stay in a Travel Inn for easily under the 200 pounds that Auto Express quote for buying a car!

Business Return: 81 UKP
Hotel: 52.95 UKP

Total: 133.95 UKP

which leaves 66.05 UKP extra for a rather nice dinner at a restaurant! Also, if you are able to get up at the crack of dawn, it is still only 81 UKP for a return ticket which has been booked one day in advance.

I have to say that I would much prefer the train in these circumstances, because you don't have to drive down congested motorways, you can do some work on the train and as Auto Express themeselves say, it takes a shorter time!

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by Lori

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Well, now I'm What part of that quote requires explanation? Is it beyond your realms of comprehension that someone would not want (well, not actively not want, just not particularly want to either) to be able to drive? Perhaps you want reasons, in which case, erm, I can't think of any in particular, except that I've survived the last 7 years or so of being old enough to drive but unable to with only minor inconvenience. Maybe I will learn, when I get round to it, or have a compelling reason to do so, but for now, I'm quite happy.

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by Mr Bob
I have to say that I would much prefer the train in these circumstances, because you don't have to drive down congested motorways, you can do some work on the train and as Auto Express themeselves say, it takes a shorter time!

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And besides, I'd have to question the sanity of anyone who'd trust a car that cost £40 to get them from London to Newcastle and back safely...

Well, the upside to driving in your own car is that you can travel when you want, have no other annoying passengers to put up with and can listen to your choice of music and not what someone is listening to on a Walkman next to you. And the argument that you can get caught up in traffic jams in a car is offset by the fact that you can get caught up just as easily in delays on public transport and you still have the annoying passengers to put up with.

Also, my car (which is probably not worth more than £500 now) and is a 1L model, has taken me to London umpteen times, Liverpool four times (once in the snow!), York twice, Leeds, Blackpool, Sheffield, Nottingham, Stafford, Stoke, Birmingham, Huntingdon, Chatham and Bath (twice) in the last five years with no problems. So it is quite possible for a cheap and low capacity-engine car to do a number of long haul journeys without failing you.

So it's very much a case of swings and roundabouts as to what is the best method of travel. And, although I travelled to Nos last week by train and am doing again for End Of Days, I'm only doing so so I can relax on the journey and have a drink. And, in any event, I still had to get a replacement bus service between Eastleigh and Winchester both ways because of work on the line which added a considerable amount of travelling time to my journey.

Still, there's nothing like the feeling of being able to jump into your car at any time and take off rather than rely on a unreliable time table.

Have to agree Dino Up untill recently I have always taken a train everywhere rather than drive , that was more to do with the fact "I don't do motorways" But recently I drve to Manchester for the first time , it took me From leaving home 4 hours to get there and that was with stopping for something to eat, and cost me about £50 in petrol there and back. The last time I went via train it took me 6 hours from leaving home one cab two trains and the tube through london and cost me £80

I know what way I would prefer to do it now

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by In a State of Dan
And besides, I'd have to question the sanity of anyone who'd trust a car that cost £40 to get them from London to Newcastle and back safely...

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Ususally in these cases it's done in groups so instead of one individual it's a group of 4 friends travelling together, thus the price of 4 tickets as opposed to one tank of petrol sort of thing.

But still not very conclusive either way.

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by In a State of Dan
(quotes)
Well, now I'm What part of that quote requires explanation?

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Its beyond my comprehension.

I couldn't imagine not being able to drive - I can understand people not wanting to do it for financial reason or because they're scared or whatever, but if I had the money / time I'd do it just so that if I ever needed to I could, even if I didnt have a car. It just a very useful skill, even if you dont actively use it everyday.

I agree with whistler. I'd be less bothered about public transport if it was

a) clean
b) the staff were friendly
c) it wasnt full of drunk idiots goading people
d) they were on time
e) the air conditioning worked
f) there was room to sit
g) you didnt have to change and wait in cold train stations

I could probably go on. As for time? Well, it depends where you're going. Most of the time isnt on congested motorways but trying to get through London. If my destination is outside London I can get from Darwen in Lancashire to say Hemel Hempstead in 3 and half hours in the morning. It'd probably take me longer to do it by train once you factor in delays, changes and departure times. During that time I can listen to CDs and make phone calls in privacy without annoying other people.

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by MonSTeR
Ususally in these cases it's done in groups so instead of one individual it's a group of 4 friends travelling together, thus the price of 4 tickets as opposed to one tank of petrol sort of thing.

But still not very conclusive either way.

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That was actually the cost given in the article:

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How they fared
TRAIN
Peak time open-return ticket: £157
Total cost of train journey for two: £314

CAR
Buying car at auction: £40
Buyer's premium: £10
Month's insurance: £44.18
Month's road tax: £14.67
Petrol: £87.53
Lubricant: £2.99
Total cost of car journey: £199.37

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I don't deny that people sharing petrol costs can often travel cheaper than getting the train, but a car for £40? They may have been trying to prove a point, but that's just silly.

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by Hoppy_Toad
(quotes)

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you not think that you're missing out by not spending your weekends on campus? I know for me that weekends are when i got the most time to spend with my flatmates and it's often it's the only chance everyone's around at the same time.
Isn't uni about getting away from home and meeting new people? I kinda sound harsh here but don't mean to be. I'm just wondering is all. I guess it makes it difficult when you have your boyfriend to consider tho. I'll shut up now anyway.

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Well I see all my flatmates everynight, I don't think I'm missing out on anything!! I have a great social life both here and in Wigan/Bolton!! In fact me, Sonya, Nigel and Martin (my flatmates) have all been in Sonya's room tonight messing about!! I don't like going out really as I'm always bored and it's a waste of cash so that's that bit covered!!

I like my home, that's about all I can say, home will always be home and it's where my heart is!! For lots of reasons, I've never lived anywhere else, grew up there, it's where my parents are and where my friends come from even if they arn't there anymore and my boyfriend is there!! I guess I have three different social circles, the one at uni which I see in the week. My parents and thier friends and my mates in Bolton, which are my b/f's mates too and I see them at the weekends!!

I think i've got everything I could ask for, but please don't ask my to bring my heart with me to Huddersfield, I don't think it'd cope with the climate change!! (Soppy I know but I feel very strongly about this whole issue and I don't think anyone should forget thier roots!!)

Anyway, rant over!!

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by In a State of Dan
What part of that quote requires explanation?

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I don't require an explanation, thanks. It was just my way of illustrating that I am on the other side of the argument, that's all. Sorry if it was badly chosen - didn't mean to upset anyone.

I don't really have much to add to this now as Funky Monkey has said it all for me

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by Lori
I don't require an explanation, thanks. It was just my way of illustrating that I am on the other side of the argument, that's all. Sorry if it was badly chosen - didn't mean to upset anyone.

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Oh, I wasn't upset, just a little puzzled.

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by Dru's Dead Bird
(quotes)
I have a great social life both here and in Wigan/Bolton!!

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How

Sorry i just guess i've never had a good night out in either place so i can't really appriciate why you'd choose that over Uni socialising. Having said that this is the girl who came home about 5 times for the entire time she was at uni and now escapes from there to socialise at almost every opportunity. Each to their own I guess *shrugs*

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by Sydney
(quotes)

How

Sorry i just guess i've never had a good night out in either place so i can't really appriciate why you'd choose that over Uni socialising. Having said that this is the girl who came home about 5 times for the entire time she was at uni and now escapes from there to socialise at almost every opportunity. Each to their own I guess *shrugs*

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hehe!! I don't tend to go out to socialise!! I mean there are a few pubs that me and all my mates go to but we tend to go to each others houses for parties and BBQ's and stuff, going out costs too much!! hehe!! It's just hassle!!

Bah, £260 to get my car through it's MOT

well i'm taking the plunge. As soon as i get paid in January i'm going to block book a heap of lessons with the AA and darn well learn to drive. Am totally cacking it as last time I tried to learn it wasn't a good experience for me. Here's hoping things will go well this time.