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-   -   How obsessive are you? Enthusiast thoughts while driving (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/244279-how-obsessive-you-enthusiast-thoughts-while-driving-2.html)

Pretty much identical driving conditions here in Bangalore as well. Consequently, I make it a point to reach office early (within 8 am) so that my morning drive is at least less stressful and much more enjoyable thatn the evening drive back home.

Good time to really gun the engine and enjoy the car on the few empty stretches of road that I encounter on my morning commute. Prefer concentrating on the drive and enjoying each aspect of the car. For instance, riding that slug of torque on a TDCI engine when pulling past 2000 RPM resulting in a fast overtake is immensely enjoyable. Similarly, a nice linear high revving blast on a Honda iVTEC is equally pleasurable. A nicely progressive braking curve when slowing down from a high speed stretch, for another. I enjoy each of these aspects and concentrate on that feeling when driving.

I commute ~33kms one way, every day. Most people ask me, "How have you been doing this for the past ~4 years?" I answer, "Well, I enjoy driving!" And they know it within 1-2 hours in the passenger seat.

Although I think, I am not boring while driving. When there are interesting discussions, I let my subconscious take over. Interestingly, my driving style doesn't change much then as well. Either way, I drive pretty sedately (I always upshift between 2-3k RPM). But people recognise when I'm driving (zoned-out state :loveit) and when my subconscious is driving. Till now, no one has "woken me out" of my zone.

Many times though, even the mechanics don't find problems I am noticing. After much deliberation, they finally say, "Sir, your car has done over 80k km, this is how it feels like then. Don't spend money on fixing it. Get used to it for now. I'll tell you when it's time to get it fixed." rl:

I hope you keep your footwear somewhere not in front of your seat. :)

Cheers

Nice tread, In fact I can reflect upon many aspects mentioned here, probably that's what connects us together as BHPians.

Normally I'm totally focused and absorbed on my driving, rather than any other random thoughts running or distracting me, which is more or less is like meditation for me.
In that process I feel a lot connected to the car and notice various things about the car. Say I can even feel tiny rattles or noises, which my fellow drivers rarely even notice.
Also I too tend to think and anticipate the moves of the other other road users.

While fitting the category, never thought of this form of stimulation while..... driving

I get very obsessive about driving, to the point my wife asks if I'm alright and why I'm not talking

- Enough people on this thread have mentioned how they get meditative, the same applies to me as well. Put it in top gear, let the tacho stay at a relaxed 2-2.5k RPM and drive. Sometimes I don't even put music on, I just sit with my thoughts all through the drive

- Rev matching. This is a little game I play when I'm driving in the city. I blip the throttle just a bit as I downshift for imperceptible continuity in power delivery. When it works, I feel like a god, but I really can't brag to anyone about this since nobody really cares :(

- Predictive Driving. It is my endeavor to use braking as little as possible. So I look way down the road for possible slowdowns in traffic (speedbreakers, signals, cows, erratic riders/drivers) and coast all the way to a stop if needed. This works wonders for FE as well!

- Lane Driving. Too often we see cars stray over lane markings around corners, which is massively unsettling to the driver behind. I stay well within the markings, but also try to maintain speed as much as possible without upsetting my passengers. This is one of the few scenarios where you can have fun in the city, pushing the limits of the suspension without putting anyone in danger. For Bangalore residents, the Agara stretch is a joy (well at least until the recent rains which have decimated the surface)

- Real time mileage indicator. My nemesis. Its always a ball trying to keep the indicated kmpl above 10 (I drive a big 3rd Gen CRV which offers dismal FE if you're not careful). I consciously have to keep looking up to prevent myself from staring at the blasted reading which, if I'm careful, is wonderfully cooperative in saving my hard earned money

I feel this thread is a safe space where I can vocalize this without feeling like I'm crazy :)

The above quote may be apt for the movie and the race tracks but may not always be ideal for our Indian roads where potholes or sudden imperfections of the tarmac will pull you down from space travel to the real "grounded" travel.

Driving on our Indian roads with a few exceptions requires the driver to be alert of unexpected potholes, bad lane disciplines, fuel efficiency (for quite some of us), and what not. In a lot of highways enthusiast driving requires you to continuously dodge slower vehicles obstructing all lanes time and again, example being 2-3 trucks all moving at 60kmph where speed limit is 80+, all side by side in 3 lanes and on the 4th lane a 2 wheeler or slower 3 wheeler carrier is keeping the same pace, most annoying).

But one thing I agree is for enthusiast driving if it involves tons of quick maneuver that is more fun, I enjoy this more in my i10 and less in the Crysta as the i10 has better cornering and handling anyday. One thing is for certain that it is less about speed and more about RPM, just that instead of 7000 it may be 2500 - 3500 at the most for the cars I own.

So for me, as long as the engine tone is not annoying and I can keep a constant cruising speed, with a good company who keeps my senses alive as well that is what and engaged driving is all about for me.

I drive a short distance to work and my weekly long drive is often the best part of my week. Music is synonymous with driving for me, and I would hate driving a car without Bluetooth stereo.
A few of my eccentricities (believe me, this list would be endless)
1. I cannot be on the passenger seat. If anyone else is driving, my blood pressure goes off the charts. I feel like they're going to crash into something(or someone) any time now. I would attribute this to my defensive driving habit (or maybe sub clinical OCD?!)
2. The volume control rocker has to be on an odd number. 11, or 13 but not on 12 :coldsweat

Your assumption is correct. I prefer to keep them around and not use them. I like the feeling on bare skin.

I was talking about shoes of course.:) For clarification.

Wow, I feel like a monster now.
I'm generally thinking of bashing up habitual offenders and rule breakers while driving in the city. Especially, how to get away scot free later.

Not at all!
Another game I play on my highway drives is asking myself to recall at least three items I saw in the last 10 seconds. If I can't remember anything, I take a break.

When I drive my Polo 1.2 TSI, the lightning fast upshifting of the DSG always gets me thinking. Sometimes, the RPM/needle drops instantly on upshift, and sometimes the RPM has a much more gradual drop. And sometimes, somewhere in between. And no, it's not a straightforward relation to how much you floor the accelerator - it depends on a combination of load/weight, incline, accelerator input, and the weather at a minimum. Am sure it's an equation of atleast the third degree! It's fascinating to see/predict/think how it behaves every time there's a shift. Over time, I can predict what happens exactly when, but I'm unable to explain exactly in words lol:

When I drive my Verna, the creamy sound and refinement of the 1.6 CRDI is the only music I need on a quiet and cool open road at night, with the windows rolled down. I find it remarkable that a 10+ year old technology is still unbeatable in this department in its segment, and probably in a couple of segments from above too. What sort of innovations, testing, components, fine tuning, timing, fuel quality, and so many other factors must have gone in, to achieve the perfect balance of power, refinement, reliability, mileage, and adherence to pollution norms! These are some random thoughts when I drive.

Before i even get going, i make sure to get the music right!. I cant drive without music on (not blaring, mind you). With the ignition on, i am mindful of the road. Driving to me especially on our roads is serious business. Within the city, i am mindful of two wheelers, side swiping and always keep my eyes peeled on the rear and side view mirrors. Many times in a red light stop, the two wheelers trying to get ahead and scraping paint off your car is a real risk annoying. I am also mindful of pedestrians popping out of nowhere, or animals. Cars / Bikes suddenly appearing out of bye lanes. Aggressive braking by the vehicle in front so i keep good distance. At night, oncoming vehicle with full beam on and some times with the fog lights on make me keep my eyes peeled on the road.
On the highway, I am thinking of idiotic driving behaviour and try to keep the speed down to 100 kmph. You never know what to expect on our highways. So Yes, one has to think and drive i suppose.

Not as weird as I am, maybe:

Driving is my greatest delight. I relish the driving experience soooo much that almost everything else is a distraction. Shocking it might seem, I would have hardly ever used my car stereo in any of the cars I have owned/used. It just distracts me from my immersion in driving.

I am obsessed with precision, be it in a gear-change-clutch-release routine, a rev-matched downshift for a smooth overtake or modulating the speed and angle of attack at a turn. They are simple little gratifications for me.
The downside to this is, when I am in the passenger seat, I end us frustrated and picking on almost every driving input from the person behind the wheel. It was absolute anguish (for both of us) when escorting my wife for driving practice. :Frustrati

Equally, I am easily unsettled by dudes trying to overtake from the wrong side, not giving way, honking too much, etc. It makes me a combative driver when pushed, always contemplating what the guy behind me or in front would do next.

Despite it all, I continue unfazed, enjoying every single moment on the road, astride the most amazing creation of humankind

When I drive, am usually in a zone. Trying to become one with the car as much as possible.
The shall we say “interesting” behavior of some of our fellow drivers ensures that I don’t stay in the reverie for too long.
Just last week there were 2 Boleros driving the wrong way on the shoulder of the Mumbai-Pune expressway.