I like driving
01/10/2025
You rarely read this sentence in the media these days: "I like driving". So I was all the more surprised when a documentary filmmaker, who had just shot a rather car-critical film, made exactly this statement. He was certainly venturing onto thin ice. Politicians and public figures would hardly do today what their predecessors did 30 years ago in a campaign by " auto motor und sport " , namely have their reasons why they like driving printed.
Boxing world champion Henry Maske, for example, sitting in a C36, said: "I like driving because it's the best way for me to get by in my private life".
And Heinz Dürr, the CEO of Deutsche Bahn 30 years ago, explained: "I like driving because the train doesn't go everywhere".
Franz Beckenbauer let himself be carried away with "... because the car is a necessity of life for me", while swimming world champion Franziska van Almsick added: "... because the crumple zone is bigger than on my bike."
The Federal Minister of Transport, Matthias Wissmann, posed with the 300 SL gullwing and was quoted as saying: "... because the car enables individuality, mobility and quality of life".
Show host Joachim Fuchsberger commented humorously: "I like driving because the steering wheel keeps me so busy and excited that I forget all about it."
And pop star Udo Jürgens also had something to add, namely: "... because the dream of freedom doesn't stop being a dream because it has now become a nightmare."
Finally, textile entrepreneur Jochen Holy: "... because it is the most beautiful toy a man can personally identify with."
Yes, people were obviously even more open to cars back then, despite all the advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps it was also because cars were simply a lot more fun to drive back then?
I, for one, still enjoy driving cars, even electric ones, even if some of the "feel" falls by the wayside. As long as you can still turn the steering wheel yourself ...
