A new survey for Top Gear highlights a fast changing world of family motoring. 

Classic in-car ‘I-Spy’ style games, parents bickering over directions and children’s cries of ‘are we there yet’ are now all part of a bygone age of motoring according to a new study.

Back in the day

The survey into the history of family car travel identifies the motoring experiences that younger generations will never encounter. Six in ten adults (63%) aged 40 and over cherish their childhood memories of family outings by car. Meanwhile, 60% say the most honest and heartfelt chats with family take place in the car .

Mum and Dad bickering over maps and directions, playing ‘I Spy’ style car games with the kids are missed, Not so much using wire coat hangers for replacement aerials. They are now all part of a bygone age of motoring.  Family car travel over the last 40 years reveals a seismic change between generations. Tuning in the car stereo, picking up hitchhikers and the plaintive cries of ‘are we there yet?’ are unlikely to be encountered any longer.

New beginnings

The survey of 2,000 UK adults aged 40 and over was commissioned by BBC Studios. It marks the start of the 30th series of Top Gear on Sunday 14th March. In the series opener, the presenters drive their old family cars and reminisce.

The top ten family car travel experiences which have been lost to history:

  1. Unfurling of maps and arguments between parents over directions (54%)
  2. One CD or tape in the car that you had to listen to every single time you went on a drive (53%)
  3. Pre-planning routes (39%)
  4. Using a coat hanger as a radio aerial (39%)
  5. Using the cigarette lighter for its original intended purpose (35%)
  6. Endless tuning to get a radio signal (34%)
  7. Classic ‘in car’ games such as ‘I Spy’ (34%)
  8. Picking up hitchhikers (30%)
  9. The rallying cry of ’are we there yet’ (24%)
  10. His and hers windscreen stickers (sunscreen strips) (23%)

Sunday Drivers

Other notable bygone experiences were also mentioned. Changing your own spare tyre (23%), while the discovery of local radio stations as you drive was another (19%). The family treat of going for a Sunday ‘leisure drive’ (19%) was another.

The countless hours spent on childhood car journeys hold vivid and cherished family memories for the vast majority (68%) of British adults. In car games such as ‘I Spy’ and ‘checklist spotting’ road signs were also fondly remembered (67%).

Whilst it may have been their parent’s worst nightmare, the cry of ‘are we there yet’ still has a place in Brit’s hearts. Over half (56%) say it is one of their most vivid family road trip memories.

Conversely, arguments between parents over directions (44%), and endlessly tuning to find radio stations (43%) are the least popular. Arguments over what radio station to listen to (37%) were also painful memories.

“Kids now will never witness the delights of an A to Z or the games of eye spy in a very warm car. It was great to take a drive down memory lane in our old family cars,” says Paddy McGuiness.  

Soul searching

The research also reveals that over half of us find it easier to have deep and meaningful conversations with family in the car.  53% of respondents recall memorable heart-to-hearts with mum on the road, whilst 47% also delved deeper with their fathers. Six in ten of those surveyed said they connected most with their parents while chatting in the car.

Further findings reveal that 59% of Brits now identify satellite navigation aids as the number one piece of modern tech they would not want to live without.