Do you compliment other drivers' cars, or...

Do you compliment other drivers' cars, or...

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Ray Luxury-Yacht

Original Poster:

8,910 posts

215 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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...is it a bit weird saying something randomly to a complete stranger?

My experience is that it is usually always well-received, no matter who it is.

For example. Several times when I have been in my 911, I have pulled up next to something nice at traffic lights. One occasion I stopped next to a DB9, so I would my window down and looked across - the other driver saw me, and wound his passenger window down. I just said 'ah, she's really lovely - you must be proud!' He opened up the broadest smile ever, and just said how lucky he was to own her, then the light changed and off we both went smiling.

I did it to an Audi R8 driver too, not long after they had come out. He had a white one - an unusual, slightly brave choice. I said 'wow, that looks really sharp in white!' And we had a quick chat about how him and his wife agonised over the colour choice decision in the showroom - all whist waiting for the traffic lights to change!

But I do it to anyone, anywhere, even people with average cars. Petrol stations, shop forecourts - if I like the look of something, I say so. Then pretty much every time, I get 5 minutes of a bonding bromance with a fellow petrolhead, haha! I even did it tonight, a young lad was at the local shop with a new 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa. It was in white, but had black wheels, and he'd painted the brake calipers. I just told him I thought that the black wheels looked really smart against the white. We chatted about cars for a few minutes, and then we both left, smiling.

I think that those odd random connections with someone over a car makes the world a better place to be for a moment, and it's interesting to break the ice in such a way with a complete stranger. I like doing it - does anyone else do this kind of thing, or am I just mental?! biggrin


jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I do this when I get the chance.cannot see why anybody would object to it.

I drive a right old bag of nails and if I see something interesting on the road it makes my day. I think sometimes we get a bit blase about certain cars as we see them online so often. A classic example is the Audi r8. They look so much better in the metal than they do on the screen.

Poopipe

619 posts

143 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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Ive had it a fair bit - particularly with the scooby as it was in unusually good nick for its age but my mx5 and megane have both attracted a few admiring comments.

I'm not the type to initiate it but I think its a nice gesture and also makes a change from the tedium of being complimented on my looks, wit and sexual prowess.

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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Depends. Working in Chelsea I'd be pretty busy if I complimeneted every driver of a nice car I saw hehe

Generally these days I tend to compliment people if they have an unusual or enthusiasts vehicle. Unfortunately stuff like newer ///M, AMG, RS, and Porsche models seems to mostly be driven by people who don't care what they drive or about vehcile dynamics so long as it has a certain level of cache, so I don't tend to compliment those types of car owners.


MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I'll talk to owners of interesting classics.

I've talked to a couple of people about their GT86s at petrol stations -Contrary to popular opinion, there must be quite a few on the road as I see various examples of these cars most days.


People ask about my Street Triple and they used to compliment me and talk to me about my Mk1 Octavia vRS as they were quite novel at the time.

Edited by MC Bodge on Saturday 2nd May 21:21

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I do it sometimes. A while ago I was following a guy in a Healey 3000 being driven as intended. When I had the chance I told him how nice it sounded. He responded well.


Years ago when the Corrado VR6 was a new car I complimented a real posho I knew through friend on his, telling him what a great car it was. He just said "oh, is it?" He'd been given it as a birthday present. Along with a flat in Chelsea.

Levin

2,019 posts

123 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I complimented an older guy who owned a 190E - the car was in very good condition in truth, and he beamed when I said it before saying similar about mine. It didn't blossom into a full conversation, but I'm sure it made his day to hear someone admired his car.

The other two close examples weren't fully fledged compliments, but a brief nod and a smile to the owners of a Ford Consul Classic and a Mark I Ford Capri. Both of those were pretty spectacular to see out on the roads, and again, both were in astonishingly good nick.

On one or two occasions I've heard comments about my car as well, but they don't really count since they weren't directed to me. If I'm wrong and they do count then fair enough!

kiseca

9,339 posts

218 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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When a gleaming red BMW M1 pulled in to a petrol station that I happened to be walking through, I did (sort of) compliment the car, but I often will just admire it and smile.

I remember watching the car pull up to the pump and thinking I'll probably never see that again in my life, I think that's what I had said too. In Bracknell, of all places! Then again, I've seen a McLaren F1 here too. Driver must have been lost.

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I once at a petrol station said "Nice Cerbie mate" to the chap next to me (He had a Cerbera, I wasn't just shouting random stuff). He then said he though I had a nice car, what make was it, he'd not seen one before. It was a TVR 350i....

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I usually compliment anyone i see with an interesting car, often results in a quick and pleasant chat. I've been ignored on a very few occasions, but such is life. I don't normally drive anything particularly expensive, usually a hot hatch.

On bikes however, any time anything pulls up there is likely to be a chat, and if several come across eachother then you can almost guarantee a proper old natter verging on the geeky side of interesting. My BMW K1200R gets st loads of interest, partly because it's bright yellow, and partly i suspect, because no bike is seen in huge numbers they are always a rarer sight.

A shame, because i prefer cars! hehe

SkinnyPete

1,411 posts

148 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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I don't do this because it feels like licking arse, and by extension it feels like people are insincere when they do it to me.

I know that sounds like a really miserable attitude but its not indicative of my outlook on life.

ging84

8,825 posts

145 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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you talk to strangers??? I had always assumed you were British

Levin

2,019 posts

123 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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SkinnyPete said:
I don't do this because it feels like licking arse, and by extension it feels like people are insincere when they do it to me.
Why does it feel like licking arse? You don't know the person you're complimenting, and you don't know what kind of influence they have or the sphere they have it in. You're just showing an interest or respect for what they drive. That's how I view it anyway; is there any reason to concern yourself with someone's sincerity over a comment that takes all of two seconds to make?

Bonefish Blues

26,428 posts

222 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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Yes, occasionally, interesting stuff like a rough old SM in our village I recall, but hardly ever, if at all anything modern.

speedster986

251 posts

205 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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kiseca said:
When a gleaming red BMW M1 pulled in to a petrol station that I happened to be walking through, I did (sort of) compliment the car, but I often will just admire it and smile.

I remember watching the car pull up to the pump and thinking I'll probably never see that again in my life, I think that's what I had said too. In Bracknell, of all places! Then again, I've seen a McLaren F1 here too. Driver must have been lost.
BMW UK Headquarters are in Bracknell and McLaren are not a million miles away in Woking (with a new showroom in Ascot)

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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People approached me in the past. I have very little social skills and wish they fked off and died. Just shut your mouth, look at whatever you want to look at but don't approach me and ask me questions. Some people honestly hate other people and don't want to be spoken to, and when you come off as an ass it's somehow my fault that I was rude? I'm not the one who asked you to approach me /rant.

TLDR - Saying nice car as your walk past is fine. Cornering someone into having a conversation isn't IMO.



Edited by Sump on Saturday 2nd May 23:21

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
quotequote all
Sump said:
People approached me in the past. I have very little social skills and wish they fked off and died. Just shut your mouth, look at whatever you want to look at but don't approach me and ask me questions. Some people honestly hate other people and don't want to be spoken too, and when you come off as an ass it's somehow my fault that I was rude? I'm not the one who asked you to approach me /rant.
Er, right...

Bonefish Blues

26,428 posts

222 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
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Perhaps a 320D might be a better choice in that case Sir wink

CarreraWB

51 posts

117 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
quotequote all
Sump said:
People approached me in the past. I have very little social skills and wish they fked off and died. Just shut your mouth, look at whatever you want to look at but don't approach me and ask me questions. Some people honestly hate other people and don't want to be spoken too, and when you come off as an ass it's somehow my fault that I was rude? I'm not the one who asked you to approach me /rant.
How have you got to the position of owning an Aston Martin without being able to talk to people?

kiseca

9,339 posts

218 months

Saturday 2nd May 2015
quotequote all
Sump said:
People approached me in the past. I have very little social skills and wish they fked off and died. Just shut your mouth, look at whatever you want to look at but don't approach me and ask me questions. Some people honestly hate other people and don't want to be spoken too, and when you come off as an ass it's somehow my fault that I was rude? I'm not the one who asked you to approach me /rant.
Of course it's your fault when you're rude. Who else controls your manners?