By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
As we become overrun with car technology, it’s nice to take a nostalgic look back at some of the motoring joys of yesteryear, courtesy of Insurers Aviva.
They surveyed 4,000 Brits about things they miss from their driving memories….. and also what they are happy to leave behind!
These are the top 10 motoring experiences people said they most miss:
Listening to music on cassette and CD players (28%) – Over a quarter of people surveyed said they missed playing their favourite tracks on their car CD player or cassette.
You might think these car accessories had hit ‘eject’ years ago, but some new Suburu and Lexus cars still offer CD players in their 2025 models.
Time shared with family and friends (18%) – Many drivers missed time travelling with loved ones who are no longer with us.
Sing-alongs and games (18%) – Nearly two-in-five adults surveyed said they look back fondly on the family fun of a ‘sing song’ in the car or playing games like ‘I Spy’ on long journeys.
Road trips (18%) – Many drivers said they have happy memories of days out going to a favourite spot or somewhere new.
The road atlas (16%) – One-in-six drivers said they still miss turning to a paper road atlas to guide them. Happily, copies like the bestselling AA Road Atlas are still available to buy.
Wind-down windows (15%) – Remember using the door handle to open and shut your window. There is still the odd new car made today that comes fitted with manual handles (the Dacia Sandero springs to mind!)
Getting lost (14%) – Oddly, 14% of those surveyed said looking back they missed the memory of taking a dead-end!
Writing down directions before a trip (13%) – Until the noughties many of us relied on a route planner or jotting down directions to a new location.
Stopping at a roadside diner (12%) – Do you remember sitting down to a hearty breakfast at a Little Chef? At one time there was 439 Little Chefs alongside UK roads, by 2018 they’d all but disappeared. Not surprisingly, more than one-in-ten miss the joys of roadside dining.
Asking someone directions (11%) – With new cars coming with sat-nav or smartphone compatibility there’s no need to wind the window down and ask for help.
Of course, there are some things that might be best left in the past. Two-fifths of drivers said they would happily never see a dangling fluffy dice again. Whilst 35% gave a thumbs-down to fluffy steering wheel covers.
Do you have a driving memory you miss? Why not share yours by leaving a comment at the end of this story?
To delve into more of our driving memories – good and bad – go to http://www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/motor/car-insurance/miles-of-memories/