What's the longest you've gone without driving?

"JCAlan" (jcalan) 09/25/2016 at 18:35 • Filed to: None

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My wife’s cousin moved to Shenzhen China about three years ago. There, like many big cities, there is no need to drive. Walking combined with public transportation is really the only way to go. He explained to me that people do have cars, but pretty much only the very wealthy partake due to prohibitive costs.

The cars themselves cost more due to import and other taxes, as well as just the simple fact that they are at a premium. He said that Tesla advertises that unlike other manufacturers, they are selling their cars there for the minimum amount allowed by law, and yet they are still way more expensive than here in the states. Then there’s the cost of parking. Also, if you’d like to register the car in the city....not so fast. There’s only so many registrations allowed. Half of those are dolled out in a lottery fashion, and the other half go to the highest bidder. So good luck with that.

As a consequence of this, he hasn’t driven in three years. Now he’s back home visiting, and borrowing my car to get around. Making certain to get his license renewed while here before it expires is a priority for this visit. But you wouldn’t believe how nervous he was about driving again. He took the car out by himself for a spin around the block to see if he even still knew how. I thought he was being silly, but then he asked me, “Honestly, what’s the longest you’ve ever gone without driving?”

Great question. I have to think that since I’ve had my license, probably not more than one day has passed that I haven’t gone for a drive. Maybe a long lazy weekend combined with riding with the wife has gotten me through two days at some point, but honestly I’m not sure. Three years without driving? That would be really strange. Plus, car ownership is such a part of my identity that I think even taking away the need wouldn’t cure the desire. I just gotta have a car or I feel deprived of a certain freedom. It makes me feel almost claustrophobic to think of it.

Man am I glad I live in the land of open highways, large parking lots, cheap fuel, low interest rates, and extended financing options.

TheHondaBro > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:38

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15 years.

smobgirl > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:40

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5 weeks, had a broken back and wasn’t allowed.

JCAlan > TheHondaBro 09/25/2016 at 18:41

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Is this the first 15 years of your life?

McMike > TheHondaBro 09/25/2016 at 18:41

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LOL, I was going to give the same answer.

TheHondaBro > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:42

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Perhaps.

bob and john > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:42

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8 months. Dont have a set of wheels up here in thunder bay

404 - User No Longer Available > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:43

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18 years, and yes that was my first years of my life. Though officially I didn’t have my own car in my title until 21.

dogisbadob > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:44

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well besides the first 16 years, I’d say about a month

HammerheadFistpunch > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:47

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10 days, maybe 11

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:49

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Five days, when I was bedridden with a wicked flu. And I was never happier in my life the next time I got back in my pickup.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:53

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After licensing, probably 10 days at most.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 18:57

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7 Months, while I was in Prague.

FerioDreams > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:02

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Three months earlier this year when I lived in Oaxaca. Rented a car near the end for a weekend then didn’t drive again til I got back to Texas and drove 24 hrs to LA.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:10

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Well, it’s been two weeks since I last drove, and I won’t drive again until friday. So almost three weeks is my answer.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:18

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Two, maybe three days since I got my license. Driving is a major stress reliever for me so I’d probably go nuts if I went longer than that.

Milky > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:25

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2 weeks. Oddly enough when I was China for work. I wanted to rent a car but didn’t have time :(

inlinesexzylinder > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:25

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18 years before I got my driving license. heh. i am funny.

and now 3 months and counting as I am away from home... it sucks.

Old Red Wagon > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:36

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Five and a half months

Honeybunchesofgoats > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:39

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Probably about a month while on vacation. I like to spend my vacations either drunk or hungover, so I rarely rent a car.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 19:40

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9 months. On deployment in Afghanistan. We had TATA Xenons (pic below if it doesn’t get Kinja’d) because we were dirty, nasty fobbits (soldiers who don’t go outside the wire). My NCOs drove those things like they stole them though so it wasn’t too bad adjusting after coming back. They almost let me drive one time, but I got too excited and they changed their mind :(

The only thing I had a problem with coming back was the interstate made me really nervous driving at high speed and traffic was a little overwhelming since obviously we didn’t have much of that. Also paying attention to signs, traffic and street, was weird getting used to again.

4 cylinder diesel, 5 spd manual, and an LSD. They had a lot of fun driving these on dirt and gravel roads.

C62030 > TheHondaBro 09/25/2016 at 20:01

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Beat me to it

JCAlan > Milky 09/25/2016 at 20:57

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You know what? I just remembered that last fall we went to New York City and parked the car on Sunday and didn’t see it again until Saturday. So I guess I’ve gone a week.

JCAlan > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/25/2016 at 20:59

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Exactly. Even if I don’t really have anywhere to go I’ll find a reason to go for a drive, like to go get gas or to the car wash.

JCAlan > Honeybunchesofgoats 09/25/2016 at 21:00

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I’m guessing first drunk, then hungover.

JCAlan > FerioDreams 09/25/2016 at 21:02

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I don’t feel like googling Oaxaca, but it sounds exotic.

AR24-7 > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 21:02

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Not counting my Baja experience, about a month so far. Might be 3 before I get to see my car (and everything/everyone else, of course) again

Milky > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 21:15

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I dont about you, but when I got back to my car I went for a cruise right away. Had to.  

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 21:36

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Probably not more than 4 1/2 months (a semester at university) since getting my learner permit at age 15.

Nick Has an Exocet > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 22:43

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2 months that I spent in Glasgow last year. I’ve done a few other 3 week or so stints. That’s more because driving in Europe is kind of a hassle. Stick on the wrong side, seat on the wrong side, car on the wrong side, speed cameras, average speed cameras, crappy diesels, expensive rentals, etc. Anyone who says that diesel with a manual is an amazing combination needs to spend some time in Europe driving an inline-3 on a 2-lane highway with 75hp trying to pass a lorry.

BorkBorkBjork > JCAlan 09/25/2016 at 22:56

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I did a 3 month long job in Egypt, didn’t drive the whole time, my longest yet.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > JCAlan 09/26/2016 at 03:44

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16 years, obviously.
Since I have a license, about 4 months, when I was hospitalized.
I think the maximum I did without driving a car by choice was a 2 weeks vacation when a friend drove the whole time.

JCAlan > Nick Has an Exocet 09/26/2016 at 10:52

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I’ve always thought that shifting with my left hand would be very confusing.

Rykilla303 > JCAlan 09/26/2016 at 17:28

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nothing helpful. just happy to see another colorado jalop.

JCAlan > Rykilla303 09/26/2016 at 18:27

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Actually, I live in Ohio. But I did take this picture while driving in Colorado to visit my aunt.