Childhood is the best years of your life so they say, but anybody who’s into their cars will know that to be total nonsense.
Really, the best years of your life start from the moment you turn 17 and pass your driving test and last until you’re 30, at which point you’re expected to grow up, knuckle down and trade in the hot rod for a people carrier.
But before you reach that stage, here are eight must-do items to tick off your automotive bucket list.
Go on an epic road trip adventure
We’re talking about thousand-mile-plus adventures, with days or perhaps even weeks spent behind the wheel: just you and your motor, along with a couple of your besties if you’re that way inclined.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive either if you bring a tent and some of your own cooking supplies to cut costs, but it does have to be epic. For a great trip closer to home we’d recommend taking three or four days to explore the 500-mile North Coast 500 route in Scotland.
For adventures further afield, why not take some inspiration from our list of the greatest driving roads in the world and the best cars in which to tackle them?
Get some back-seat nookie
Have you ever really been young if you haven’t Marvin Gaye’d and gotten it on in the back seat of your car? If not, there’s still time yet so don’t fret. Just be aware that this is both inappropriate and illegal in many areas, and likely won’t go down a storm if you’re only on your first date either.
Some cars are naturally better at this than others, so MX-5 drivers might want to do some forward planning first of all. We also wouldn’t really recommend it if you’re borrowing your mum’s car either and, of course, the usual warnings about protection apply.
Learn to fix your own car
We’re not saying you need to learn how to do full-blown engine rebuilds or custom fabrication jobs, but there’s little else more satisfying than being able to successfully diagnose and repair a problem with you car, without any help.
Even simple things like oil changes and brake pad replacement, which are easy to learn and quick to do, will leave you feeling like a mechanical genius, and could also save you a fortune in repair costs.
Take your car on a track day
Maybe you’ve always been a motorsport fan, or maybe you’ve bought yourself a fast new car and want to properly test its limits. Whatever it is, the best way to safely try this out is to book yourself in for a track day.
You don’t even need a particularly special car, even your boggo family hatch will do. There’s a lot to learn and you’ll doubtless scare the pants off yourself multiple times, but thrills like that don’t come round often. Read our guide to surviving your first track day if you’d like to find out more here.
Buy your attainable dream car
We’ve all got our list of cars that we’d buy if we ever won the lottery, but we also all have an idea of our attainable dream cars, the sort that you badly want and that are also achievable for the everyman to own.
Maybe it’s something like an original Peugeot 205 GTi, maybe a mid-90s Japanese turbo car or perhaps something more modern like the Ford Focus RS. Whatever it is, if you have the means don’t even think twice – just get it.
Take a supercar for a spin
For those with a horsepower addiction but who don’t necessarily have the funds to own a supercar, there are still plenty of opportunities to drive one on a track near you.
Typing “supercar experience” into Google will likely bring up hundreds of hits, with a track and a car near you that you can drive for as little as £60 or less. McLaren, Porsche, Ferrari and more – take your pick.
Give your car some (tasteful) modifications
New wheels, a shiny new exhaust or even a classic pair of fuzzy dice: some tasteful modifications can really bring out the best in your car, and also help make it more representative of you as a person, and of your personality.
You can spend as much or as little money as you like on modifications, but even small things can have a big impact. Just please, please, please, PLEASE avoid any of these classic chav mod no-nos.
Learn to do donuts or a J-turn
Why not impress your friends and annoy your neighbours in equal measure by learning to perform some cool stunt driving techniques? You don’t have to go full Ken Block either, as there are things you can do in everyday cars that are relatively simple but which look undeniably badass.
Channel your inner Jim Rockford and learn how to pull off the J-turn, a classic car chase staple, here. Alternatively, if you have a rear-wheel drive you can also learn to do simple but hilarious donuts here.
