What do people think when they see BMW E30 going sideways ?

What do people think when they see BMW E30 going sideways ?

Author
Discussion

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
chav, low class peasant, commoner, thick, stupid drugged up idiot is what the majority, 99% would think of someone in a very old car.

If you were doing it well in a concours 325i sport without presenting a danger to anyone then I'd be one of the 1 percent.

StottyEvo

6,860 posts

162 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
I'd think that it looks fun, and say/think something along the lines of "Go on fella" providing that its clearly in control etc. If it looks sloppy or there's any cars nearby I'd probably thinking "idiot"

Lemonyfresh

108 posts

135 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
I think the driver:

A - May need to rethink his driving style as to not lose control, or buy shoes not made of lead.

B.1 - May be a drift wannabe using public roads to practice on and/or show off.
B.2 - Doesn't realise nobody cares/ thinks he is "cool".

The amount of idiots I see close to where I live doing this around a certain roundabout either in clapped out 200sx or various uninspiring BMW models is laughable. The result is usually either a variety of bumper fragments at the side of the road, or the "driver" pulling into the nearby drive-thru to tell all his little friends about his achievements.

Rant rant rant
Rage rage rage

Etc smile

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
How old are you OP? Early twenties?

jackh707

2,126 posts

155 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Antics like that should be done when there is absolutley knowone else around if you must do it on the road.

161BMW

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

164 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
jonah35 said:
How old are you OP? Early twenties?
31

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Fair enough. I'd have guessed younger.

Even though this is a car site with car lovers, what you are doing and admitting to is quite irresponsible.

Go drifting or on track days. Just don't hit my family or me whilst you're going round a roundabout!

Id be surprised if the cops don't track you down to have a word with you given what you're admitting to!

Henry Fiddleton

1,581 posts

176 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
If anyone else see's you "drift" well power slide on a public road, then you've failed to find a safe place.

Track or deserted industrial estate etc.

And yeah, when I see someone do it, I think its pretty cool - although often "tut tut" about the fact there are other cars around (me for example!)...

HorneyMX5

5,306 posts

149 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
I find in the 5 it's pretty mixed. I like to get the back end out a bit leaving t junctions, not mad angles but a bit of slip. SOme people give the thumbs up, some use more hostile hand jestures.

I don't slide it round roundabouts although I have had the odd unecpected step out when coming off a damp roundabout even at normal speeds.

chrispmartha

15,360 posts

128 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Guy going sideways in an old BMW on a public road = Knob.

IanCress

4,409 posts

165 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
I'd probably think that this guy's going to reach the bottom of his talent barrel pretty soon, and I don't want to have anything to do with it, so i'll hang back.

akirk

5,376 posts

113 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
When I was doing my IAM test back in the 90s - we came off a dual carriageway round a steep hairpin to a roundabout - behind us came a rally prepped lotus cortina, sideways the whole way - flicked the wheel at the roundabout and vanished - it was fantastic driving - the examiner knew the driver well - he was local and an experienced rally driver... I will never forget the sight... but 99% of the time probably not ideal!

sandman77

2,366 posts

137 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Agree with most in saying that a public road with other cars about is not the place to be sliding your car about. On a deserted road maybe (and by that I mean one with absolutely nobody about to see) but I suspect that would defeat the point as you want people to see what a great driver you are.



161BMW

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

164 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Yes looking into DWYB which is the good safe option

Also you see all these motoring journos with opposite lock on roads in mags so the issue of going sideways in public roads is a lot wider.

Hudson

1,857 posts

186 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
I went into a roundabout a bit too quick in the wet and got some lift off oversteer (FWD unfortunately) in my straight piped ST24 as a yoof... technically perfect slide but it was about midday on a saturday so there was a lot of disapproving looks off, well everyone really.

Felt an odd combination of elation for holding "the line" and not binning it, and like a right prat for doing it in front of people on a busy roundabout.

As for an E30 going sideways? Situational. If there's no one about (bit of a paradox, how would i see it if there was no one about?) and it was a well executed drift i'd be impressed, if it was like the white E92 i saw getting the arse out on every corner while in fairly heavy traffic i'd think he was a complete bellend.

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

252 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
161BMW said:
A few of the times is unintentional and most are intentional.
As/when you hit something / someone there will be a queue of people arriving on the scene within literally seconds to say things to police officers like:

"He was all over the road"

"Better breathalyse him quick"

"driving like a lunatic"

"I've never seen a car skidding like that before"

And you will be in major major bother. Absolutely nobody will say:

"Very unlucky to kill that granny - his car control skills as he passed me sideways were superb"

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
TBH although I appreciate the skill that goes into it, and I would smile to myself I saw you do it... but... I am of the opinion that purposefully doing this is a bit silly with people around. 1. Because everybody is a fking handwringer, and 2. Because other drivers are idiots. You are drifting around a roundabout and a car pulls onto it right in front of you. You're stuffed.

Having said that I once woke myself up early one morning when my 5 series went a little sideways after getting on the throttle too early off a roundabout and hitting standing water. I did catch it (quite well wink ) but I did feel a berk, and if I had binned it I just know people would have accused me of being a lunatic

Beer Man

249 posts

113 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
If Plod sees you then you're probably looking at an immediate reporting for careless or inconsiderate driving. Possibly even dangerous.


You may think you're being 'cool' and clever and that you're a driving god, but behaviour like that on a road when other people are about is quite frankly idiotic. Normally preceeded by "Watch this" and followed by "Oh f***............" Crash.

Good friend of mine is a semi-pro Motorcycle racer ( TT/support level races at BSB etc etc). The guy can handle a bike make no mistake. Got caught doing a bit of one wheel action by an unmarked plod on an R1 (cameras the lot). 6 points. £800 fine.

StottyEvo

6,860 posts

162 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
Lemonyfresh said:
I think the driver:

A - May need to rethink his driving style as to not lose control, or buy shoes not made of lead.

B.1 - May be a drift wannabe using public roads to practice on and/or show off.
B.2 - Doesn't realise nobody cares/ thinks he is "cool".

The amount of idiots I see close to where I live doing this around a certain roundabout either in clapped out 200sx or various uninspiring BMW models is laughable. The result is usually either a variety of bumper fragments at the side of the road, or the "driver" pulling into the nearby drive-thru to tell all his little friends about his achievements.

Rant rant rant
Rage rage rage

Etc smile
Maybe the driver goes out late at night on his own when there's no one around and drifts around on public roads because he enjoys the feel of it. Not to brag or wonder what anyone else thinks of him, but because it makes him happy.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Friday 7th November 2014
quotequote all
I got a cheer of a couple of schoolkids, came out of a damp junction and gave it some, nice and tidy but nothing special, hadn't notice the two kids sat on a wall waiting for a bus, they obviously appreciated me providing entertainment whilst they had a boring wait for a bus biggrin