Attitudes to Porsche drivers…
Discussion
Chaps, am generally enjoying my introduction to Porsche ownership. While I loved my TVR (bought from a fellow PHer), driving something infinitely better built, more reliable and far better handling has been a revelation.
The only problem I can see though is the sheer aggression that my car seems to engender in other people. By contrast, when driving the TVR, I would always get let out, people would make friendly comments, want to talk about the car and generally be lovely. 3 weeks of 968 ownership have seen people spitting at the car, cutting me up, tailgating, brake testing, constantly wanting to race from the lights etc etc – it just seems to bring out the worst in people! I’m actually quite shocked by the extent of it! Mine isn’t even a particular exotic or showy example of the breed – a cobalt blue 968 convertible.
I have three friends with Porsches – the two chaps in the 996 cabriolet and the Boxster have had similar experiences to me. However, my friend with the 993 says that it never happens to him – odd!
It’s almost enough to ruin the Porsche experience for me, to the point that I am already thinking about selling the car at the end of the summer. Which is a shame as, as an experience, the thing has blown me away with its build quality, superb handling and lovely looks. Gutted…
The only problem I can see though is the sheer aggression that my car seems to engender in other people. By contrast, when driving the TVR, I would always get let out, people would make friendly comments, want to talk about the car and generally be lovely. 3 weeks of 968 ownership have seen people spitting at the car, cutting me up, tailgating, brake testing, constantly wanting to race from the lights etc etc – it just seems to bring out the worst in people! I’m actually quite shocked by the extent of it! Mine isn’t even a particular exotic or showy example of the breed – a cobalt blue 968 convertible.
I have three friends with Porsches – the two chaps in the 996 cabriolet and the Boxster have had similar experiences to me. However, my friend with the 993 says that it never happens to him – odd!
It’s almost enough to ruin the Porsche experience for me, to the point that I am already thinking about selling the car at the end of the summer. Which is a shame as, as an experience, the thing has blown me away with its build quality, superb handling and lovely looks. Gutted…
Yup, definitely noticed.
I have a beautiful red 944 T cab... most people admire it, some dont.
See the link below.. great minds think alike! I started the same thread not long ago!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=229164
Regards,
AD
I have a beautiful red 944 T cab... most people admire it, some dont.
See the link below.. great minds think alike! I started the same thread not long ago!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=229164
Regards,
AD
nope not noticed it. have been very suprised by the number of people risking life and limb to stand in the road and take photos. was called a w*nker a few weeks ago by someone but i probably deserved it. I get far more aggression from people driving my ka, they seem incredulous that they should ever be overtaken by such a sh1t car and invariably try and block, speed up or re-overtake. doesnt rile me, just makes me laugh, which can lead to them getting really upset.
hello flashman!
so you parted with the old S2? I trust it has gone to a good home -
must say that when I first got the porker I was worried about the same thing - but to my relief found that the reactions to the car were very similar to the TVR...
and thats in a guards red 911!
Maybe its a soft-top in the sun thing?
dont let the fackers get you down!
so you parted with the old S2? I trust it has gone to a good home -
must say that when I first got the porker I was worried about the same thing - but to my relief found that the reactions to the car were very similar to the TVR...
and thats in a guards red 911!
Maybe its a soft-top in the sun thing?
dont let the fackers get you down!
bergs2 said:
hello flashman!
so you parted with the old S2? I trust it has gone to a good home -
must say that when I first got the porker I was worried about the same thing - but to my relief found that the reactions to the car were very similar to the TVR...
and thats in a guards red 911!
Maybe its a soft-top in the sun thing?
dont let the fackers get you down!
so you parted with the old S2? I trust it has gone to a good home -
must say that when I first got the porker I was worried about the same thing - but to my relief found that the reactions to the car were very similar to the TVR...
and thats in a guards red 911!
Maybe its a soft-top in the sun thing?
dont let the fackers get you down!
Hello chap! Unfortunately the S2 went to the big TVR dealer in the sky after a high speed argument with a fence and a field, trying to avoid some fool overtaking on a blind corner. Trying to buy her back from the salvage company to rebuild as a trackday car...cosmetic damage only, but they wrote the car off as fixing the fibreglass would be very expensive. Not really an issue for a trackday toy…
Didn't realise you had become a Porsche owner! Glad your experiences have been different; suspect the Porsche convertible thing is what's causing the great unwashed to veer to such aggression. Shame.
Carrera2 said:
I have never noticed anyone treat me any differently whatsoever...no adverse behaviour, nothing. Weird.
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
See your point C2, but incident I was referring to was on the A3 yesterday, in heavy traffic – chap pulling in just in front of me and then standing on the brakes for no reason at all. Nice.
Harry Flashman said:
Carrera2 said:
I have never noticed anyone treat me any differently whatsoever...no adverse behaviour, nothing. Weird.
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
See your point C2, but incident I was referring to was on the A3 yesterday, in heavy traffic – chap pulling in just in front of me and then standing on the brakes for no reason at all. Nice.
Ah I see. Did you see that as a deliberate 'anti Porsche' thing though or just a t
t driver? If it's the former I may have to re-think my opinions on the way I'm treated 
I was drving the Boxster through a built up area approaching a school, doing just over 35mph. White van man came up behind me and started waving his arms trying to get me to speed up/move out of his way! As you can imagine I dropped it down to dead on 30 mph.I think his name was Wayne Kerr!
Also alot of people decide to wash there windscreen when you come up behind them with the top down, obviously they have never driven an open top car 'cos no you dont get a good soaking!
Also alot of people decide to wash there windscreen when you come up behind them with the top down, obviously they have never driven an open top car 'cos no you dont get a good soaking!
Carrera2 said:
Harry Flashman said:
Carrera2 said:
I have never noticed anyone treat me any differently whatsoever...no adverse behaviour, nothing. Weird.
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
See your point C2, but incident I was referring to was on the A3 yesterday, in heavy traffic – chap pulling in just in front of me and then standing on the brakes for no reason at all. Nice.
Ah I see. Did you see that as a deliberate 'anti Porsche' thing though or just a t
t driver? If it's the former I may have to re-think my opinions on the way I'm treated Well, given that he and his chav mates were pointing at the car and mouthing obscenities for a good three miles (at which point the traffic opened up and I was able to press on and leave them behind), I'm going for the anti-Porsche thing...
Katie F said:
Also alot of people decide to wash there windscreen when you come up behind them with the top down, obviously they have never driven an open top car 'cos no you dont get a good soaking!
I got this yesterday as well - it was deliberate too. Mind you, it was my friend in his 993 doing it, so at least I can plot revenge...
Sorry, mate. But your experience is quite common. I have a bright red Boxster S and as AMAZED at the difference from less "visible" cars (including a Lapis Blue Boxster S I had).
Luckily the car is completely brilliant.
Also - always remember - five minutes later on when the sad s are nowhere near you they will still be sad s and you will still be driving a Porsche. They will always lead a shallow miserable existence and you will have known the joys of real performance motoring.
Nice thought isn't it.
Luckily the car is completely brilliant.
Also - always remember - five minutes later on when the sad
s are nowhere near you they will still be sad s and you will still be driving a Porsche. They will always lead a shallow miserable existence and you will have known the joys of real performance motoring. Nice thought isn't it.
Now, having never been fortunate enough to be the proud owner of any prestigious cars, I see it like this. You don't see many TVR's on the road (compared to Porsches) TVR owners tend to be enthusiasts, not just about the car itself, but about the mechanics, speed, etc that comes with owning one, whereas a Porsche driver may, MAY sometimes give the impression that s/he has got a few quid, and .................Na, changed me mind, forget that......I don't know.
However, I must admit, if I see a TVR, I admire it, and say I'd love to have that car. If I see a boxster, I hardly give it a second glance. If a see a 911, I think yeah, that's ok.
To be honest though, I'd dream of owning any of them.
Doesn't really help, I know. Sorry.
However, I must admit, if I see a TVR, I admire it, and say I'd love to have that car. If I see a boxster, I hardly give it a second glance. If a see a 911, I think yeah, that's ok.
To be honest though, I'd dream of owning any of them.
Doesn't really help, I know. Sorry.
In my experience, Porsche and TVR are very different in this respect. I always get let out of junctions in the Chimaera and everyone is always complimentary of it, including the chavs, unfortunately, the Porsche seems to attract abuse and idiots. My 944 is hardly of great value so presumably they just dislike Porsche.
flatsix said:
Never had anything untoward thus far - in fact people tend to get out of my way when I come up behind them 
Mind you I'm driving a 964 Cab so maybe that's OK as it's old.
Have been called a w@nker in my MGB, but then again I probably was being one at the time.
Mind you I'm driving a 964 Cab so maybe that's OK as it's old. Have been called a w@nker in my MGB, but then again I probably was being one at the time.
On German autobahns, most cars will move aside if I am approaching them from the rear. In the UK most cars won't move aside in the same situations. In built up areas, very few people drive beyond the posted limits. In the UK it's the opposite. This is probably due to the better road infrastructure, wider roads and a generally more pleasant driving environment. It's all down to investment over many, many years.
Stems from the 80's City boys unfortunately and in a little bit of a way from Porsche themselves. The "Flash Tw@ts" image of City boys buying and crashing 911s has stuck, esp as plenty of the City crowd still buy them. With the rise of the anti City bonus mentality, so there has been a corresponding rise in the anti 911 mentality. It was also a time when Porsche went courting those buyers...they had the cash and Porsche needed it...and in a way changed themselves fundamentally. Porsche had always been a little conservative, not quite toned down, but well it was a no frills policy, put it that way. Suddenly Porsche started to get a little blingy...the guys with the cash wanted that...but the added show was just that...show. Eventually by the 90's Porsche had become synonymous with the word "show" and as anybody with an appreciation of history knows, if there is one thing that unites both the Upper and Lower classes of British society, it is the horror of gratuitous shows of wealth.
In a way Nic Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds probably sums it up better than anything when he goes to the Dealership and cracks the 2 Rogers joke. Every ar5ehole in town is driving *that*, whereas if they had any class they would be in (I forget what he asks for, a GTO?) the classic.
The Boxster is very much a "haha, you cant afford a 911, but you still want to show that you are better off than the rest of us" showcase. Whether it is true or not is irrelevent.
The TVR is allowed because everyone *knows* they are unreliable so thats OK, it is like the viewer can share the joke with us.
In a way Nic Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds probably sums it up better than anything when he goes to the Dealership and cracks the 2 Rogers joke. Every ar5ehole in town is driving *that*, whereas if they had any class they would be in (I forget what he asks for, a GTO?) the classic.
The Boxster is very much a "haha, you cant afford a 911, but you still want to show that you are better off than the rest of us" showcase. Whether it is true or not is irrelevent.
The TVR is allowed because everyone *knows* they are unreliable so thats OK, it is like the viewer can share the joke with us.
Harry Flashman said:
Carrera2 said:
Harry Flashman said:
Carrera2 said:
I have never noticed anyone treat me any differently whatsoever...no adverse behaviour, nothing. Weird.
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
Harry - if people are 'brake testing' you, surely that means you're too close doesn't it?
See your point C2, but incident I was referring to was on the A3 yesterday, in heavy traffic – chap pulling in just in front of me and then standing on the brakes for no reason at all. Nice.
Ah I see. Did you see that as a deliberate 'anti Porsche' thing though or just a t
t driver? If it's the former I may have to re-think my opinions on the way I'm treated Well, given that he and his chav mates were pointing at the car and mouthing obscenities for a good three miles (at which point the traffic opened up and I was able to press on and leave them behind), I'm going for the anti-Porsche thing...
Blimey. Utter scum.
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