4x4 Drivers: Are you met with contempt on the road?
Discussion
bobfett said:
OpulentBob said:
Meeting on country lanes, you're in a 4x4 so can climb the verge to get past? (Quite often out my way, the 4x4's will insist on keeping all 4 wheels on the tarmac, meaning the smaller car has to dive in to the verge at pinchpoints)
This is one of my bugbears- you bought an offroad vehicle, use it as such (or reverse back to the passing place/gateway you shot past about 50m back if you're worried about hidden ditches).bobfett said:
OpulentBob said:
Meeting on country lanes, you're in a 4x4 so can climb the verge to get past? (Quite often out my way, the 4x4's will insist on keeping all 4 wheels on the tarmac, meaning the smaller car has to dive in to the verge at pinchpoints)
This is one of my bugbears- you bought an offroad vehicle, use it as such (or reverse back to the passing place/gateway you shot past about 50m back if you're worried about hidden ditches).I don't know about contempt exactly, but I do find hardly anybody will let me out of a junction when I'm in the FFRR, and when I'm joining a motorway people will put their foot down to block me getting on.
When I'm in the Roadster, it's the complete opposite. Maybe that's why it's so obvious that people are less tolerant of the FFRR.
I always put my wheels into the verge to let smaller cars past, too. I reckon that I can get out much more easily than they can, so why not? It's built to go offroad, and it does it pretty well. A verge isn't going to hurt it.
When I'm in the Roadster, it's the complete opposite. Maybe that's why it's so obvious that people are less tolerant of the FFRR.
I always put my wheels into the verge to let smaller cars past, too. I reckon that I can get out much more easily than they can, so why not? It's built to go offroad, and it does it pretty well. A verge isn't going to hurt it.
This may NOT be the case, but...
Its a bigger car and therefore more noticeable.
People will therefore notice more, if you don't indicate/cut corners/don't look in your mirrors before changing lanes etc. Before, you might have slipped under the radar, but now.............!
Also consider that if you commute the same road/time daily - somebody may be reacting to something borderline (or worse) that you did to them a day or two previously. If it was really bad, they will remember your car more.
I certainly used to see a lot of regular knobs doing the same outrageous things at various junctions when I was commuting 45miles each way.
Im NOT saying this is the case, BTW.
Its a bigger car and therefore more noticeable.
People will therefore notice more, if you don't indicate/cut corners/don't look in your mirrors before changing lanes etc. Before, you might have slipped under the radar, but now.............!
Also consider that if you commute the same road/time daily - somebody may be reacting to something borderline (or worse) that you did to them a day or two previously. If it was really bad, they will remember your car more.
I certainly used to see a lot of regular knobs doing the same outrageous things at various junctions when I was commuting 45miles each way.
Im NOT saying this is the case, BTW.
I think that the extra height and super bright lights these vehicles often have sometimes makes it feel like these 4x4s are closer than they are in reality. When I had a Fiesta, the interior would often get lit up brighter by a 4x4s headlights than my own headlights were lighting the road in front. 
SGirl said:
I don't know about contempt exactly, but I do find hardly anybody will let me out of a junction when I'm in the FFRR, and when I'm joining a motorway people will put their foot down to block me getting on.
When I'm in the Roadster, it's the complete opposite. Maybe that's why it's so obvious that people are less tolerant of the FFRR.
I always put my wheels into the verge to let smaller cars past, too. I reckon that I can get out much more easily than they can, so why not? It's built to go offroad, and it does it pretty well. A verge isn't going to hurt it.
Re: your first point.When I'm in the Roadster, it's the complete opposite. Maybe that's why it's so obvious that people are less tolerant of the FFRR.
I always put my wheels into the verge to let smaller cars past, too. I reckon that I can get out much more easily than they can, so why not? It's built to go offroad, and it does it pretty well. A verge isn't going to hurt it.
I dont think many people like following any big car or a panel van on a busy motorway.
For a start, you cannot see through the car at the brake lights of the two or three cars in front.
Hence they have to leave a bigger gap - which often means that somebody MAY think its too big and force themselves into it (before themselves realising that they need more breaking room).
Ironically, a tall car like a RR can see over the top of the roofs in front, and hence can see a lot more brake lights - which allows them a greater reaction time to a jam ahead.
I hate them i in car parks, no one can park next to them as they're too big to fit in the space. I do think they should have to pay for 2 spaces because it is unfair otherwise.
How many times have you seen an empty space only to get to it to decide that because of the 4x4 in the next space that it is too small to get into.
Often the drivers can be ignorant to others or just think they're more important - perhaps one of the reasons they feel the need for a big car.
Of course this doesn't apply to all drivers, but even the best of you will not be able to help spilling out of your car park space.
How many times have you seen an empty space only to get to it to decide that because of the 4x4 in the next space that it is too small to get into.
Often the drivers can be ignorant to others or just think they're more important - perhaps one of the reasons they feel the need for a big car.
Of course this doesn't apply to all drivers, but even the best of you will not be able to help spilling out of your car park space.
Not really.
You get the usual a
hole trying to stop you joining the motorway, or tailgating you but they would do that for any car.
I've had people block merge in turns on me, normally I just let that slide but one time the guy had also blocked other cars, so I used my size advantage and forced my way in. Then let cars past me to piss him off. ( I did post that action in the Knob thread in fairness and did say it was a knobbish thing to do )
I do usually move in on back roads to let people get on with it, however, if I know the usuals who do, and those who don't.
I find myself less willing to move over for some, I have moved over to let people past and found what I thought was a grass verge, was actually the start of a overgrown ditch...
Local farmer still laughs at me for that one..
As for spaces? My Disco3 is 2 inches shorter and 1.5 inches narrower than the current mk4 Ford Mondeo..
Yet how many would park next to that and not mine?
I do agree with the poster saying the height is great for motorways, it is. I can plan ahead and react better to changing traffic and ease off to keep a buffer between me and the car in front. I hate the brake-accelerate rubbish so try to be smooth with it.
You get the usual a
hole trying to stop you joining the motorway, or tailgating you but they would do that for any car.I've had people block merge in turns on me, normally I just let that slide but one time the guy had also blocked other cars, so I used my size advantage and forced my way in. Then let cars past me to piss him off. ( I did post that action in the Knob thread in fairness and did say it was a knobbish thing to do )
I do usually move in on back roads to let people get on with it, however, if I know the usuals who do, and those who don't.
I find myself less willing to move over for some, I have moved over to let people past and found what I thought was a grass verge, was actually the start of a overgrown ditch...
Local farmer still laughs at me for that one..
As for spaces? My Disco3 is 2 inches shorter and 1.5 inches narrower than the current mk4 Ford Mondeo..
Yet how many would park next to that and not mine?
I do agree with the poster saying the height is great for motorways, it is. I can plan ahead and react better to changing traffic and ease off to keep a buffer between me and the car in front. I hate the brake-accelerate rubbish so try to be smooth with it.
bobfett said:
OpulentBob said:
Meeting on country lanes, you're in a 4x4 so can climb the verge to get past? (Quite often out my way, the 4x4's will insist on keeping all 4 wheels on the tarmac, meaning the smaller car has to dive in to the verge at pinchpoints)
This is one of my bugbears- you bought an offroad vehicle, use it as such (or reverse back to the passing place/gateway you shot past about 50m back if you're worried about hidden ditches).It might be that people have a history of aggressive driving from those in some 4x4's and are a bit sensitive.
I have to admit, where I live (Manchester)almost every RR/RR Sport I see is driven very aggressively. It doesn't make me assume all 4x4's are, or make me drive any way differently, but when I see one belting up behind me, typically at about 60 in a 30 zone, I do think 'Here we go again'. And I'm usually right as they come and sit 4 cm behind me. I've grown to despise RR's on sight, as I look at the headlights 4 feet behind my children's heads. Doesn't make me drive any differently though. Never had it with any other 4x4 though, X5, LC's no bother at all.
I have to admit, where I live (Manchester)almost every RR/RR Sport I see is driven very aggressively. It doesn't make me assume all 4x4's are, or make me drive any way differently, but when I see one belting up behind me, typically at about 60 in a 30 zone, I do think 'Here we go again'. And I'm usually right as they come and sit 4 cm behind me. I've grown to despise RR's on sight, as I look at the headlights 4 feet behind my children's heads. Doesn't make me drive any differently though. Never had it with any other 4x4 though, X5, LC's no bother at all.
Edited by Rich Boy Spanner on Tuesday 21st October 11:03
Edited by Rich Boy Spanner on Tuesday 21st October 11:05
Had an XC90 which being a Volvo is impossible to drive in an aggressive manner :-)
I also didn't find I got any negative reactions which may have been because of the above.
Sold it at the beginning of the year due to high running costs on my wife's commute.
Just have to wait for 5 years until the new one becomes affordable :-)
I also didn't find I got any negative reactions which may have been because of the above.
Sold it at the beginning of the year due to high running costs on my wife's commute.
Just have to wait for 5 years until the new one becomes affordable :-)
No, I've never noticed any such behavior. I tend to drive 4x4s in a more relaxed way and leave greater gaps as they don't stop as well as cars so I doubt I come across as pushy which probably helps. Actually I find people treat me worst when I'm in small hatchbacks, the bigger the car the more respect and space people seem to give.
This said, I prefer proper old school 4x4s, I'm not a fan of shiny modern 'SUVs' plastered in LEDs with gigantic alloys, rubber band tyres and no off road capability. I think that old muddy proper 4x4s get different reactions to the modern shiny plastic 4x4s as they are much more vehicles with a purpose rather than statements of wealth and fashion.
This said, I prefer proper old school 4x4s, I'm not a fan of shiny modern 'SUVs' plastered in LEDs with gigantic alloys, rubber band tyres and no off road capability. I think that old muddy proper 4x4s get different reactions to the modern shiny plastic 4x4s as they are much more vehicles with a purpose rather than statements of wealth and fashion.
Zod said:
I drive a big 4x4, but I also drive a sports car and this is one of my bugbears too. In the sports car, I get forced onto verges by idiots in RRSs and the like.
It's a common misconception that the paint on a RRS is more hardwearing and cheaper to repair than the paint on a sports car or diesel town car. I've no issue with taking to the verge when encountering an approaching car, however I won't drive with two/three/four wheels on the grass from the moment I see the other car as it's neither necessary nor particularly good for the verge from all aspects of the Tread Lightly mantra. I'll move over at a suitable point and for the shortest distance possible and the slowest speed necessary.
However, I won't stuff the car into a hedge and risk damage to its paint like the owner of a hand painted Defender might do, but nor would I expect the other driver to risk their car's paint either. Cooperation is required from both of us to complete the pass at overgrown pinch points. I find a cheerily waved "thank you" always helps with the navigation.
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