By Cheryl Tay

YOU CANNOT claim you know the pure joy of driving until you have driven a classic car. I spent last weekend driving a true classic - a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, which I rented for a daily rate of $500.

Restored to look like a 1956-era Beetle, it actually drew more attention and stares than my Nissan 350Z coupe (also known as the Fairlady).

After spending two days with the Beetle, all I can say is that a classic car, in all its beauty and glory, will never be something I will consider for an everyday ride.

Spoilt by modern technologies and innovations, it took me a while to get familiar with the classic rear-engined Beetle.

There were minimalist functions and controls with no onboard computers, no fanciful amenities or technological driving aids, no seat belts, no central locking and no electric windows.

Instead, what I got was wind-up windows and pull-out knobs for the headlights and windscreen wipers.

There was no dashboard, so I had to tape my parking coupons onto the windscreen.

Driving the classic can be very tiring.

CHALLENGES

The toughest challenge was coping with the absence of power steering and handling the heavy clutch.

Without communicative power steering, I found certain manoeuvres, such as a three-point turn which usually does not require that much energy, a tough act to balance.

A keen judgment is essential too, as braking has to be done much earlier than usual since there is no brake assist system in place.

Fortunately, the air-conditioning was strong and there was an in-car audio system so my ride wasn't all that boring.

Driving a sports car like the Fairlady in comparison, can also be quite tiring, but in a different way.

Handling the horsepower and dealing with the blind spots require a lot of effort, so you have to stay very alert while driving.

However, it is a lot more convenient with simple modern features like remote-controlled central locking, electronic seats, reverse parking sensors and fuel gauge.

In the classic, there was no fuel gauge so I had to anticipate and check the fuel level myself (the tank is under the front bonnet).

Cars in the past were made for one reason - to experience the pure joy of driving.

If you think you already know everything about driving, perhaps you should rent a vintage car just for one weekend.

Be patient, as it cruises along at 40 miles (about 60 kilometres) per hour on the highway - the speedometer in this classic Beetle which I rented records distance in miles instead of kilometres.

Enjoy the ride!

The writer is a freelancer

This article was first published in The New Paper.