Don't laugh guys, this is worrying me.....
The weather is great and I guess we're all getting into some really spirited driving.
Those of you that know me will understand that I'm too old to drive like a loon and I'd like to think that years on motorcycles and over 20 years with a clean license demonstrates an awareness for when and where a spirited drive is simply inappropriate or downright unsafe.
But tonight, in separate incidents, I attracted no less than 4 have-a-go drivers who wanted to race, tailgate, weave and swerve.
This started to bother me - these guys (and surprise, they were all blokes s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) had obviously bust a gut to catch up with me on the 60mph country twisties, but long after I'd slowed to a pootle for the rush hour town traffic they were driving like possessed lunatics and taking ridiculous risks way beyond their car's limits to overtake me when it wasn't safe to do so.
I'd never condone street racing, but is my enjoyment of acceleration and handling inviting an accident? Two of the four that I mention ended up facing the wrong way s:shock: :shock: s:shock: - if I wasn't there as a "target" this probably wouldn't have happened.
Hope you can see where I'm coming from with this - I value your thoughts.
Agreed - Since I TTET'ed my car every muppett in anything from white vans to turbo diesels just have to get past no matter what - show them a little speed and they all seem to have something to prove.
I make a point of not going crazy on motorways (fancy my licence too much - have a little spurt on the throttle now and again, mostly flow with the traffic in the fast lane) and as such most cars can hit 100-110mph and by god they do anything to get past - Futile as once they back off the pace im past again - dont figure!!
Feel like having a sign saying "Look mate its a bloody white van (or diesel) you are driving not a sports car" Now bu**er off!
It would be well and good if had autobahns then adios as we speed off at 130+
Chill out, sounds like your getting over sensitive!!!
Take it as a compliment. Worse things to worry about in life than twats like that. Think at some times we all get this sort of thing happening. Envy??
Perhaps. Either you go with it and match them or get real. Comes down to choice and how you feel at the time.
Is it worth it?? s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: Know where your coming from!!!
Hey Spit, know exactly what you mean!
I have at times thought of getting rid of my beloved for exactly this reason.
s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
I'm positive I get more unwanted attention in the MR2 than I have ever got before in any other "normal" car!
As you say its usually blokes who are the culprits, the ones that take everyday driving as some kind of peeing contest, really boils my blood. s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
I (like everyone else on the planet s:roll: :roll: s:roll: ) consider myself a good and careful driver but I can't remember the last time I took the car out for a spin without some loon completely spoiling it for me!
Quote from: "ml02mrl"Chill out, sounds like your getting over sensitive!!!
Take it as a compliment...
s:lol: :lol: s:lol: Im also sensitive about them when they decide to undertake and cut into traffic ahead like that proves anything!! s:roll: :roll: s:roll: s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
QuoteI'm also sensitive about them when they decide to undertake and cut in ahead like that proves anything!!
Weve all been there. At the end of the day, do you give a S**t? So they get ahead now and again. Am I worried?? s:roll: :roll: s:roll: s:roll: :roll: s:roll: Some you win some you....
Youve got the car..... they aint.
Quote from: "ml02mrl"QuoteI'm also sensitive about them when they decide to undertake and cut in ahead like that proves anything!!
Weve all been there. At the end of the day, do you give a S**t? So they get ahead now and again. Am I worried?? s:roll: :roll: s:roll: s:roll: :roll: s:roll: Some you win some you....
Youve got the car..... they aint.
s:wink: :wink: s:wink: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
No issue. Im with you guys on this. Seen this every day and it pi*ses me off no end. Not that Ive been a little guilty of doing the inside thing occassionally s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:oops: :oops: s:oops: . Here, like most of you, we get some twatty drivers, and hey, Im not perfect by any means, just pis*es me off that all!!
'Anger vented' sorry guys, pet hate I guess s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
Yep, and its basic physics that a car doing 31 is faster than a car doing 30!! Its the aggression that I find hard to handle and Narky has hit it on the head - this spoils driving for me.
I'm not so anal that I could name most of the nice cars on the road (but after last weekend I now know what a Vectra turbo looks like, eh Dan? s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) However, I want to appreciate these enthusiasts and share a nod with like-minded drivers.
But I can't escape the fact that my driving enjoyment is encouraging irresponsible driving. I'm sure that none of us want to be party to anyone getting hurt, widowed, orphaned etc....no matter how indirect our involvement is.
Maybe I should chill a bit.....I dunno.
Spit, on second thoughts, just keep on doin what you enjoy doin and let 'them' do whatever it is that gets them off. Their problem not yours. s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
I had this on the way to work today, a Ford Transit - blue to make a change - right up my chuff, I am not kidding when I say that all I could see in my rear mirror was a bit of his headlights and the Ford badge. It was not as though I was in a position to speed up as I had a car in front of me and I was overtaking other. The tosser got the hand shandy sign as he went past me when I pulled over for my slip road. I was so tempted to stand on the brakes hope for a right off and spend my money on a Turbo!
Liz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
QuoteThe tosser got the hand shandy sign
Go girl s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
I had the same matey when I left for work last night. I was just warming her up so wouldn't rev etc on a cold engine even if I wanted to. This Cupra R was determined to race and I though it was funny when he flew past me as I drove at a normal pace warming the engine, then five minutes later we were together again at a roundabout. I think he was expecting me to boot it s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
I've noticed a real difference in the last 2 months i've been driving the '2 to work and back. My other car is a Volvo estate and people are definately a lot more aggressive around me when im driving the '2.
Basically I guess all you can do is ignore them and drive the way you want to. Why let them spoil your enjoyment of a great car!
Ste, I say ignore the idiots. If they continue to drive like muppits I tend to use the tried and tested method of backing off and letting them pass. It's better to have poor drivers in front of you so that you can anticipate their errors than tailgating you and potentially causing an accident.
On the motorway if anyway gets too close behind I slow down (as per the highway code s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) and then drop a gear to increase the gap. This continues and until they get the message and usually works. s:? :? s:?
Why not take the fun out of the perceived challenge for the guilty/aggressive party? At the first safe opportunity, maintain a steady speed and wave them through. Clearly, they want to get past you, so why not allow them to do just that? It then becomes your decision, not theirs, about when and where this is done. Kind of takes the fun out of it, if you want a race s;-) ;-) s;-)
Then, when you catch them up in the next traffic queue, give 'em a wave and blow 'em a kiss* s:!: :!: s:!: They might just start to feel a bit silly ...
* No, this is not a Spyder chat post that has somehow found it's way here s;-) ;-) s;-)
laybys and bus stops are a marvelous thing, just let the muppets go on their artificial enjoyment of haveing beaten you, this unfortunatly is going to happen more and more IMHO and theres nothing you can do about it.
welcome to the chav generation
Guys, imagine my dilema....i have a yellow one s:!: :!: s:!:
They all want to race....they are all surprise that it is actually a woman who's driving (and one who CAN drive by the way s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) when they desperatly try to overtake in 3rd gears (just to try to have a bit of punch), the car raving like mad...
I feel sorry for them and let them pass...and then as a thank you, i got the finger or wank gesture....class s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
i call those people parasite of the road, kill joy, or simply as we say in France.....TROU DU CUL (i will let you guess what that mean)...
Ste, just relax, enjoy YOUR drive and let them kill themself if they want, their choice not yours...
On a slightly different note, but still on-topic (just).
I was driving up the M1 for an hour or so on Sunday, early afternoon. We all know about middle-lane hoggers who, for some reason, sit there mile after mile when there is nothing in the inside lane.
But what amazed me was the number of people sitting in the outside lane when they could move to either the middle or inside lanes. And they weren't Range Rovers, BMWs etc - they were Ford Kas, Escorts, even a K-reg Fiat Panda that was glued to the outside lane for at least 20 miles for no apparent reason.
I know it's unsafe and illegal but I do underake occasionally, not forgetting the long "do you have any idea why there are 3 lanes on a motorway" stare rightwards.
What's the point in widening motorways to 4 lanes (is the M25 going to be 6 ?!) when 80% of drivers don't have any lane discipline anyway ?
Rant over
Celma..
Appyer sur la champignion
hehe some time since I worked in paris sorry I can barely remember anything. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "philster_d"Celma..
Appyer sur la champignion
hehe some time since I worked in paris sorry I can barely remember anything. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
It is still not bad s:D :D s:D ...Appuyer sur le champignon...
for those who do not understand....it means putting your right foot down s:wink: :wink: s:wink: .
Quote from: "spit"But I can't escape the fact that my driving enjoyment is encouraging irresponsible driving
s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Don't get the point...
Can't understand how your grandpa driving style can encourage anyone to drive irresponsible... s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Can't think of a better justice than them writing off the cars! (Though I hope they are uninjured and it's an immobile object)
Quote from: "red_leicester"I know it's unsafe and illegal but I do undertake occasionally, not forgetting the long "do you have any idea why there are 3 lanes on a motorway" stare rightwards.
What's the point in widening motorways to 4 lanes (is the M25 going to be 6 ?!) when 80% of drivers don't have any lane discipline anyway ?
Rant over
i'm with you on this, the M25 is up to 5 lanes around heathrow and quite often when i come through there you can sit in either the inside or lane 2 whilst the outside lane is chocca block, its getting ridiculous, where do these people learn to drive? theres only one driving lane on a motorway, unless the laws suddenly changed
I used to have major problems with Jap performance cars (mostly Imprezas, it has to be said) trying to race me in the '2. Sometimes I admit I would bite and fly past them with the turbo spooling away just to prove I had a bigger penis (pathetic I know, but at least I can admit to it: Sometimes I kinda felt like I was trying to almost show them that the Roadster wasn't as slow as they thought s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ), but most of the time I just laughed and let them carry on.
Funnily enough though, no-one wants to race me anymore. s:( :( s:( s:wink: :wink: s:wink: Well, ignoring the AMV8 that wanted to have a play in the middle of some 40-limited speed camera-infested roadworks the other week. I just sat there and smiled as the sound of the V8 roared off. I want one.
Quote from: "red_leicester"I was driving up the M1 for an hour or so on Sunday, early afternoon. We all know about middle-lane hoggers who, for some reason, sit there mile after mile when there is nothing in the inside lane.
Simple answer to this - make it legal to overtake on either side, a'la the US (if memory serves, at any rate).
Actually, one Police fella on IMOC did comment that you'd be unlikely to be pulled for undertaking if the middle lane is totally clear and you simply go past them and stay in the middle lane.
You are likely to get pulled, however, if you are undertaking then pulling back out because neither lane is clear (essentially weaving through traffic).
Quote from: "kanujunkie"i'm with you on this, the M25 is up to 5 lanes around heathrow and quite often when i come through there you can sit in either the inside or lane 2 whilst the outside lane is chocca block, its getting ridiculous, where do these people learn to drive? theres only one driving lane on a motorway, unless the laws suddenly changed
Your telling me, I cant believe lane 4 is the new middle lane where people just potter allong reagardless.
Europe was incredible, the exact opposite, EVERYONE pulls in for you there. long before you catch them. Such an unbelievable difference.
Phil
Ah we all get this sort of thing - comes with owning a nice looking sporty car.
It will only get worse in the summer.
If it's a similar spec car or obviously an enthusiast then I don't mind some good natured competition where it's safe, fun and not effecting any other drivers.
I've got no time for nobs in vans and rep mobils who are out to prove something - just wave them on by, not worth the petrol.
Quote from: "philster_d"Europe was incredible, the exact opposite, EVERYONE pulls in for you there. long before you catch them. Such an unbelievable difference.
Phil
agree on that one, took the '2 over to cologne a week after buying it and I couldn't believe how their driving attitudes are so completely opposite to here in the UK! made me realise just how uptight and stressed out our drivers are! If only people could realise that there are more important things to worry about!
Ste,
Just try not to let them get to you. I know it's easier to say than do sometimes. You're not resposible for the inferiority complexes of these people who feel that driving is one big competition and they have to prove themselves against everyone else on the road. Every day on the way to work I set off thinking "I'm not going to let anyone wind me up, I'm going to have a nice relaxing drive." Then someone will do something stupid or try to goad me, I used to rise to it but these days I try not to (mostly successfully). There's no point in these people trying to prove they're fastest, because there's always someone who's quicker. Have you noticed how owners of Lambo's & Ferrari's generally tend to sit in the inside lane on motorways: they have nothing to prove! Anyway my point is you've got nothing to prove to these people so head for the moral high ground and just ignore them whenever possible.
Sometimes people mistake quick driving for aggressive driving. I'm really not an agressive driver at all, but I love the feel of acceleration and good handling. s8) 8) s8)
Quote from: "rmowbray"....Have you noticed how owners of Lambo's & Ferrari's generally tend to sit in the inside lane on motorways: they have nothing to prove! ...
Thats a bloody good observation, you are so right!
Quote from: "rmowbray"....Have you noticed how owners of Lambo's & Ferrari's generally tend to sit in the inside lane on motorways: they have nothing to prove! ...
That said i did witness an aston vanquish totally spanked by a toyota supra the other day. supra at the lights giving it revs, aston looks over ... with a look of dont be silly ... aston takes off from the lights to prove the point and sees nothing except the back of the supra .... in fairness the supra must have been puting down a few horses though !
Good point Richard - shame my car looks pretty bog-standard though s:oops: :oops: s:oops: I'm sure that contributes to these muppets wanting to cut me up.
Thanks for all of your advice and observations people. I guess I was just feeling a little sensitive this week - a lot of uncertainty over the future is clouding my brain a bit at the moment s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
"not worth the petrol" is a lovely way of looking at it simonp - and I'll try to bear that in mind.
On a more positive note, its Barcelona or bust for me soon - the grand C2 (old stylee) reunion with Alberto - so I'm looking forward to some mainland Europe driving courtesy (you guys are so right, its a joy).
But I will be witness to some really quick driving while I'm over there - F1 at Catalunia s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce: I'll get some pics for you all.
Call me immature but Ste, you owe these people a demonstration of your superior firepower! It's not your fault that they want to take you on. I say that you blow them away and have some fun s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:
I had a guy in a new 3 series 330i behind me yesterday - when the road cleared I gunned it. Obviously he kept up with me on the straight - fair enough, so I thought I'd see how well he kept up through bends. I carried big speed into a sweeping right hander, which dropped him back a few hundred metres. I felt I'd proved my point and couldn't be bothered playing anymore when we got to a stretch of dual carriage way. It always amazes me how many people with fast cars throw down the gauntlet for a little play but seem only to possess the ability to plant the throttle s:? :? s:? I had just had my TTE springs fitted though s:D :D s:D
Of course we do get the flip side of the coin - I had a tussle with a prat in an MX5 who decided that coming off the M1 he was not having (obviously what he thought was my Cupra R) get past him. There is a nice long two lane bit approching some traffic lights and he went in the right overtaking lane when the lights went to red. The lights changed and he sat there letting a couple of lorries undertake him.
So I beebed and flashed and he drove off like a granny, sorry at this point I have had enough, nothing oncoming so I blatted round him and the undertaking lorries.
Only to have prat in MX5 then sit on my lardy Leon ass (at this point I am sure he is not so impressed to see that I actually have a Cupra TDi FR). So I soot him and leave him standing, thinking this will be enough. Oh no prat boy decides twice more to sit on my ass. I am doing 60 in a 60 but he makes no attempt to pass, so twice more I soot him (he must be covered in my diesel now).
This goes on for 4 miles towards my house before he has to turn off flashing me as he does.
Ok so he has a "super car" in his eyes and he initially felt I had a hot hatch and was obviously gutted to be taken by a diesel, but I like Liz was very tempted to just jam on the brakes and let him sit in my boot.
Quite funny though, I normally get Audi and BMW's treat me with contempt in mine.
I had all sorts racing me but mostly TTs and Minis!
The most dangerous was about a week ago when a f***ing idiot in an M3 almost crashed - twice. I have a certain opinion about BMW drivers and this guy just enhanced it.
The best one was against a blonde in a modded Megane Coupe and on an empty road. She was an awesome driver and we both had fun; probably because it was perfectly safe being silly at that time.
Quote from: "RUSTY"I had a guy in a new 3 series 330i behind me yesterday - when the road cleared I gunned it.
I had a bloke in a 316i sat right on my back end the other day - I was already doing slightly over 40 in a 40 limit, he obviously wanted to go faster seeing as he was practically pushing me along..
So we get to a big roundabout - right lane is for Thorpe Park
only, but he uses that to get past me and a white van that we've caught up with anyway..
So I stay in the left lane, overtake the white van in the 50yds of two-lane exit to the roundabout, and find Mr 316i pootling along now we're in national limit!
He floored it when the road became dual carriageway and pulled out into the outside lane - I didn't stay behind him for long s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: Man those 316's are slugs!
Still need more power, though s;) ;) s;)
Quote from: "RUSTY"I had just had my TTE springs fitted though s:D :D s:D
[Off Topic]Where did you get them from Russ? Can I ask how much and is it worth it? s:D :D s:D
Back on topic (gonna get tough with you soon Steve s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ).....
.....Thanks to your posts I'm back on track with a more comfortable mindset.
Still a little concerned that I'm encouraging vulnerable young male drivers (mostly) to drive beyond their car's limits. But I'm less inclined to let it get to me now. That has probably affected my own driving style to reduce the false signals that I'm putting out to these muppets.
OK heres my new advice.....
Top down, Stereo up, Catch the rays and cruise ..... !!!!
Quote from: "Two's Company"Quote from: "RUSTY"I had just had my TTE springs fitted though s:D :D s:D
[Off Topic]Where did you get them from Russ? Can I ask how much and is it worth it? s:D :D s:D
Check this: http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11260
I'll post some pics in that thread when it stops raining.
I've only had mine five minutes and I know how you're feeling! It's a pain in the ass! s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
...never had any idiots trying to race me when I had the vectra...can't think why.
its funny I rarely if ever notice anyone trying to race me
This is an interesting thread which slowed up and stopped for the summer. I have experienced some mildly challenging manoeuvres since I began driving the 2 in June 06, not least from the bigger pokey saloons driven by well shod (you know what I mean) 40 onwards year olds.
That said, two more significant events come to mind. I was once on a wide two lane A road (probably built as one of those dreadful 2 lanes downbound and one lane upbound - now all change, crash, etc., etc), in a stream of traffic, when I noticed a smallish white van in the mirrors, overtaking my side at high speed. As he approached my 2, he swerved left to give me a very close pass. Shortly afterwards a police car swept past, with everything going, and a couple of miles further on I saw the van driver out of his vehicle giving two policemen a very good listening to!
This weekend I was on the M54 near Wolverhampton, cruising along at 2800rpm in 6th gear, nearside lane, when I noticed two pretty smart 4 X 4's approaching from behind, one in each lane. The one directly behind me might have been an X5 and the one in the other lane a Range Rover perhaps. They were racing, the one behind me undertook the other, got past when pretty close to my frail craft, before swinging right to, thankfully, get past me. So, I think this thread raises some valid points. Well done.
a good thread to ressurect, expecially with the oncoming greasy road season.
cant really say i have had any idiots trying to tease me. in fairness i drive like miss daisy on the motorways and built up areas. its a tough call when people challenge you and try to force you into making driving decisions that you would not normally consider.
my outlook is simple, if some goomer wants to pass me then they can, i drive very defensively and would encourage you all to do the same.
however, on the twisties, i do become a bit of a loony some time, again staying well within the limits of the car (ive never got the back end out, or had the front end go straight on (touching huge pieces of wood so's not to tempt fate)) and found myself down in wales having a little tickle with an evo.
this boy's car was fast, but he was a boy. he knew the roads too, which was very apparent, whereas i had never been down this section before. It all got quite challenging, and i was driving at 90%. However, it got to the point where i thought i was getting a little silly, i didnt want to push him too far, nor did i want to extend myself, so without obviously giving up on the thing and losing face i took the following action. There was a fork in the road, and i simply turned off, whilst travelling at a good lick, and acknowledged him.
I think my point is this,
Dont allow yourself to be drawn into a situation that you are not happy with. Know your own limits, and that of your vehicle. It is easier to avoid getting into a situation rather than trying to get out of one when the red mist is down. Once the red mist is over you, it can only normally end in tears.
Spit's point of feeling responsible for enitcing people is a fair one. Sadly some folk are jealous of us, and seem to have to prove that their danglies are made from steel. I would advise that we dont give off the 'race me' signals unless it is at the appropriate place, and time.
If i had carried on with the evo and something had happened to him, i would have felt awful. indeed, even if i had not had any physical involvement in an accident with him the wording of the law may have meant that i was still involved/responsible.
Definition of an RTC (accident).
Owing to the presence of a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road, an accident occurs by.........
so by being there, you are involved.
Drive safe, be safe, enjoy the car.
Lecture over?
E