Rant from a old guy
Discussion
kotafey said:
This pisses me off so much. I had a Cayman at 26 and got exactly the same thing on occasion. Have since changed it to an A5 which is more or less invisible. Now thinking about a 911 as an only car but the possibility of abuse is in the back of my mind. It shouldn't be a factor in deciding what car to get.
Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
It is strange, isn't it? I’m the same age as you and sometimes drive around in my fathers early 911S or Miura.Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
When I do, I consciously head out of the city for the empty roads on the fastest way possible because people seem to drive extremely aggressive around me, ride my bumper, give me the finger for no reason, etc. All I want to do is enjoy the car!
The only fun part about it is stopping next to a "car guy" wanting to "race" at the stop lights. I always rev the engine in anticipation of the green light. Then the guy takes off at full throttle while I leisurely start rolling and he ends up looking like a total idiot.
Would you mind sending me a link to that thread? I’d love to read how other people experience this...
Edited by EricE on Saturday 3rd August 16:23
big h h said:
Hi Guys, does anybody get same the problem as me. I have just reached the grand old age of sixty six, i have owened and driven TVRs of all types for the last thirty years, but over the last year or so have come across the same reaction from young guys.
One day i was sitting at the traffic light,when a young guy pulled up along side me in his corse,lowered his window and called me a old w....r for no reason.
Today i got out of my car at Tescos and got the same reaction from a group of teenage lads, why!!!
The car is a 95 Chimaera, which is worth less than some new hothatch, i dont try to out drag them or us it's impressive noise in filling stations for effect, so why?.
Do they think i should drive a Rover 75 or maybe a wheelchair.
Haven't read all the thread (yet), but if I saw someone like you getting out of your car, I'd give you a nod of respect and approval!One day i was sitting at the traffic light,when a young guy pulled up along side me in his corse,lowered his window and called me a old w....r for no reason.
Today i got out of my car at Tescos and got the same reaction from a group of teenage lads, why!!!
The car is a 95 Chimaera, which is worth less than some new hothatch, i dont try to out drag them or us it's impressive noise in filling stations for effect, so why?.
Do they think i should drive a Rover 75 or maybe a wheelchair.
petrolsniffer said:
kotafey said:
Now thinking about a 911 as an only car but the possibility of abuse is in the back of my mind. It shouldn't be a factor in deciding what car to get.
Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
Please please don't let it put you off!Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
If I was lucky enough to be in such a position I wouldn't hesitate over such issues.
I'd love to get abused hurled at me in a 911 as then it's fair game to give something back and leave a nice set of 11's in their wake.
Buy what YOU want and don`t let the jealous scumbags put you off.
king at the time?EricE said:
kotafey said:
This pisses me off so much. I had a Cayman at 26 and got exactly the same thing on occasion. Have since changed it to an A5 which is more or less invisible. Now thinking about a 911 as an only car but the possibility of abuse is in the back of my mind. It shouldn't be a factor in deciding what car to get.
Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
It is strange, isn't it? I’m the same age as you and sometimes drive around in my fathers early 911S or Miura.Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
When I do, I consciously head out of the city for the empty roads on the fastest way possible because people seem to drive extremely aggressive around me, ride my bumper, give me the finger for no reason, etc. All I want to do is enjoy the car!
The only fun part about it is stopping next to a "car guy" wanting to "race" at the stop lights. I always rev the engine in anticipation of the green light. Then the guy takes off at full throttle while I leisurely start rolling and he ends up looking like a total idiot.
Would you mind sending me a link to that thread? I’d love to read how other people experience this...
Edited by EricE on Saturday 3rd August 16:23
Fubar1977 said:
petrolsniffer said:
kotafey said:
Now thinking about a 911 as an only car but the possibility of abuse is in the back of my mind. It shouldn't be a factor in deciding what car to get.
Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
Please please don't let it put you off!Anyway, I think there's a separate thread about that
If I was lucky enough to be in such a position I wouldn't hesitate over such issues.
I'd love to get abused hurled at me in a 911 as then it's fair game to give something back and leave a nice set of 11's in their wake.
Buy what YOU want and don`t let the jealous scumbags put you off.
I'm quite happy to be ignored, as long as I'm enjoying what I'm driving. Audi is quite good at performance cars which don't attract too much attention, because they look very similar to their numerous 2.0 TDI counterparts. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, most mid or rear engined performance cars tend to be quite shouty in appearance. A slate grey 911 is probably the most reserved example I can think of.
I know exactly the sorts of people OP is talking about. There was a 10 plate 1.2 corsa parked outside my dads place yesterday, sat there for about half an hour with the engine running as a lad who looked no older than 18 and his mates ate their tescos sandwiches and threw the wrappers out the window. With the elderly neighbours tending to the front garden at the time too, shamelessly dropping litter. The car regually pulls up around here too. I'm 23 and fear that if I were to wade in to teach the kid some respect i'd go too far and get in trouble myself.
big h h said:
Hi Guys, does anybody get same the problem as me. I have just reached the grand old age of sixty six, i have owened and driven TVRs of all types for the last thirty years, but over the last year or so have come across the same reaction from young guys.
One day i was sitting at the traffic light,when a young guy pulled up along side me in his corse,lowered his window and called me a old w....r for no reason.
Today i got out of my car at Tescos and got the same reaction from a group of teenage lads, why!!!
The car is a 95 Chimaera, which is worth less than some new hothatch, i dont try to out drag them or us it's impressive noise in filling stations for effect, so why?.
Do they think i should drive a Rover 75 or maybe a wheelchair.
66 .... Listen up young whipper-snapper. Yes, get a Rover 75 or MG ZT 260 and be done with it. Ideally the V8 version with a highly polished Zimmer Frame obviously placed alongside on the passenger seat. .... So uncool its well cool.One day i was sitting at the traffic light,when a young guy pulled up along side me in his corse,lowered his window and called me a old w....r for no reason.
Today i got out of my car at Tescos and got the same reaction from a group of teenage lads, why!!!
The car is a 95 Chimaera, which is worth less than some new hothatch, i dont try to out drag them or us it's impressive noise in filling stations for effect, so why?.
Do they think i should drive a Rover 75 or maybe a wheelchair.
When the tarted up hatch pulls up alongside and the yoof driver gives you the w.....r hand shake, leave them for dead when my favourite colour comes up ..
This old git will never tire of doing that ... 
Fast approaching 72, last month I bought the first soft-top two seater since the last one I owned back in the early 1970s... a delight to again sample top down motoring in the recent fine weather. Been using it a lot lately and no such antics from youngsters ... so far. Time will tell.
I don't understand some peoples attitudes towards their age & the car they drive.
About 2 weeks ago when I went shopping I parked up a few cars down from, what I discovered was, a classic vintage Austin Ascot 12/4. Beautiful condition, clearly had loads of £££ spent on restoration, paintwork, interior was stunning While I was giving it a look over the gent who owned it, in his mid 80's, returned to the car & actually seemed surprised that someone my age (33) was interested in his pride & joy.
Spent the next 20 minutes having a chat about his car, what he'd done to it over restoration wise, etc Sad thing is most people didn't even give the car a second glance 
About 2 weeks ago when I went shopping I parked up a few cars down from, what I discovered was, a classic vintage Austin Ascot 12/4. Beautiful condition, clearly had loads of £££ spent on restoration, paintwork, interior was stunning
While I was giving it a look over the gent who owned it, in his mid 80's, returned to the car & actually seemed surprised that someone my age (33) was interested in his pride & joy.Spent the next 20 minutes having a chat about his car, what he'd done to it over restoration wise, etc
Sad thing is most people didn't even give the car a second glance VidalBaboon said:
Birdster said:
VidalBaboon said:
LooneyTunes said:
Pretty much the coolest thing I've seen was a chap in his 70s+ struggling a little to get out of his 911.
Seeing him you just knew that there was petrol coursing through his veins and there was no way on this earth that he'd trade down to a Micra (or whatever old people are supposed to drive).
I fully intend to emulate his "two finger salute" to ageing, and respectfully suggest that you should continue to do the same.
The chap of a similar vintage who I've seen doing track days in his 7 (or similar), albeit slightly off the pace, with his wife in the passenger seat perhaps edges him to the #1 spot.
Seeing him you just knew that there was petrol coursing through his veins and there was no way on this earth that he'd trade down to a Micra (or whatever old people are supposed to drive).
I fully intend to emulate his "two finger salute" to ageing, and respectfully suggest that you should continue to do the same.
The chap of a similar vintage who I've seen doing track days in his 7 (or similar), albeit slightly off the pace, with his wife in the passenger seat perhaps edges him to the #1 spot.
Edited by LooneyTunes on Friday 2nd August 20:59
This picture cropped up on a friend's FB page. The amount of bilge & apparent jealousy that came out was unreal.
Just an old boy enjoying his time in a proper motor.
I'm young and drive an odd latge car for my age, get a bit abuse from young cretins. Drive girlfriends fiesta and I go unnoticed.
Drive my jimny and get odd reactions from all
I think it jus boils down to feral jealousy where If they can't have something nice it's not fair that you can
Drive my jimny and get odd reactions from all
I think it jus boils down to feral jealousy where If they can't have something nice it's not fair that you can
It's attitude - not age. I'm of an age now (55) where I increasingly despair of many of my fellow old farts who have resigned themselves to a slow decay into their "twilight years". This seems to consist in many cases of driving at 40mph on a straight, clear NSL road in perfect driving conditions in their Micra/Kia/insert vehicle of choice.
I however subscribe to the OP's way of thinking. I recently got my Octavia back on the road after a period in the garage getting various repairs done (suspension links and bushes - speed humps!
). I have had many pleasant blasts recently and the next stage is deciding how to make it go even faster!
I however subscribe to the OP's way of thinking. I recently got my Octavia back on the road after a period in the garage getting various repairs done (suspension links and bushes - speed humps!
). I have had many pleasant blasts recently and the next stage is deciding how to make it go even faster! There is a lot of pent up resentment in the UK which can spill out like this and spoil your day. I think it flows from the very wide gap in the UK between rich and poor (by European standards), together with a substantial tranche of people who feel effectively excluded, with no legal means of achieving a TVR or any other expensive car that they can see. This doesn't excuse their various behaviours, but it goes some way towards trying to understand them.
Less explicable (at least for me) is the UK's other obsession - that with age. Sixty six is hardly old; I consider it to be 'middle age' - not that the term has much real meaning. British people seem obsessed with defining themselves through their birth date - often negatively - to a much greater extent than people in many other countries in my experience.
Less explicable (at least for me) is the UK's other obsession - that with age. Sixty six is hardly old; I consider it to be 'middle age' - not that the term has much real meaning. British people seem obsessed with defining themselves through their birth date - often negatively - to a much greater extent than people in many other countries in my experience.
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