The article describes my own vision 100%. To me, a car is a vehicle, i.e., it needs to transport me from point A to point B most safely and reliably. I don't listen to music when I drive, I don't text or make calls - I enjoy driving, and I focus 100% on this and, thank God, I've never been in an accident, not even a fender bender, and I have over half a million miles behind the wheel. When I'm in Bulgaria, I drive a 2003 Audi A4 1.9 TDI with a stick shift, and I enjoy it much more than my US AT car.
I'd have a very hard time not playing some music if I were driving an A4 through Bulgaria. But the laser focus between you and the road is the most important thing.
Why would I want to play music? I enjoy driving more than listening to music. I don't get bored even when I'm driving thru heavy traffic on I-5 or I-405, so, why would I need music not being in a traffic jam and having beautiful scenery?!
I grew up next to the 405, and I don't think I'd ever call the view from it beautiful!
But as far as music. Yes I just want to listen to my motor sometimes. But... I probably shouldn't admit this, but the reason I love driving to loud music is that I drive to the music. I prepare different MP3 mixes for my cars. The Datsun mixes are only music from 1970 to 1983, but I rotate the bands and songs before any long drive. When certain songs really take off I shift in time - I play the car like a guitar, and inevitably I want certain songs to come on when I know I'll be on an empty stretch of road with no cops and I can drive way too fast and shoot the curves. Blasting Kansas in an 80 Datsun at twice the speed limit is probably the closest I've ever gotten to pure joy.
Music while driving seems to be one those divisive subjects. Some people basically need music while driving and some people find it pointless or annoying.
Yeah, some need country music, others - techno. I personally like to be able to hear the engine. I then wonder why race drivers don't listen to music if it has benefits to some people.
