What is it with Vauxhall and van drivers?
Discussion
warcalf said:
Is it coincidence that all of the worst drivers who utilise UK roads either love Vauxhall's or drive vans?
I honestly don't know if it's just me or not, but ever since I've been driving. It seems that it's always Insignia's, Astra's or any old van that want to give my exhaust a close inspection. And it really is starting to bug me, not least of all because I'll have completed another year of clean driving in a few weeks and am adamant to defend my no claims.
Does anyone else find the owners of these vehicles tend to drive annoyingly as if they're trying to trigger a reaction? Or is it just me?
I drive 160 miles a day for work and defintely agree with this. To add to this Small SUV drivers (Q5/X60/X3) seem to think they should stick to the right lane recently, not matter how long the left lane is empty for....I honestly don't know if it's just me or not, but ever since I've been driving. It seems that it's always Insignia's, Astra's or any old van that want to give my exhaust a close inspection. And it really is starting to bug me, not least of all because I'll have completed another year of clean driving in a few weeks and am adamant to defend my no claims.
Does anyone else find the owners of these vehicles tend to drive annoyingly as if they're trying to trigger a reaction? Or is it just me?
lee_fr200 said:
I drive a Vauxhall movano mwb van I love it, and once it's moving it's brilliant it doesn't hang about
I also have a clean licence and full no claims
And do you stop your car inches away from someone rest in dead traffic? I also have a clean licence and full no claims
Edited by lee_fr200 on Thursday 23 February 10:25
This is where my gripe lies
warcalf said:
DoubleD said:
Next week someone will say all the worst drivers are in Audis, then someone else will say BMWs then maybe Nissan then.........
Fair point, but Vauxhall drivers I've noticed usually seem to be terrible drivers over the 3 consistent years I've been driving haha. I'm one who usually says its the driver, not the car. But Vauxhall drivers and can drivers are making me sway
It seems that different eras have their own `car and driver type to be avoided' candidates. Many years ago it seemed to be Hillmans, especially if the driver was smoking a pipe, even worse if they had any kind of hat on (Why do people feel the need to wear hats, bobble hats, hoodies, etc when they are sitting inside a car?)
For some time, `some' but by no means all drivers of BMW`s and Audi type vehicles seem to have acquired for themselves the title of aggressive/cr*p drivers, (especially in the area of using indicators) but this seems to be fading now, and quite a few people on the roads, have actually seen BMW and Audi drivers using their indicators. However as posted by others above, the drivers of Safiras do seem to have created a niche of their own in terms low quality, Mr Magoo type drivers. and represent the latest car and driver type to be avoided where possible.
For some time, `some' but by no means all drivers of BMW`s and Audi type vehicles seem to have acquired for themselves the title of aggressive/cr*p drivers, (especially in the area of using indicators) but this seems to be fading now, and quite a few people on the roads, have actually seen BMW and Audi drivers using their indicators. However as posted by others above, the drivers of Safiras do seem to have created a niche of their own in terms low quality, Mr Magoo type drivers. and represent the latest car and driver type to be avoided where possible.
Nearly got run off the road by some 
in a MK2 Vectra about an hour ago actually, down a narrow country lane, he didn't bother reducing his speed or road position, just continued straight towards me, as usual I had to be the one to avoid the inevitable accident and braked and took to the grass verge to get out of his way, he didn't even look at me, missed me by a few inches, not sure how these people manage to go so long without crashing?
Angry looking middle aged man, Ronnie Pickering type.
in a MK2 Vectra about an hour ago actually, down a narrow country lane, he didn't bother reducing his speed or road position, just continued straight towards me, as usual I had to be the one to avoid the inevitable accident and braked and took to the grass verge to get out of his way, he didn't even look at me, missed me by a few inches, not sure how these people manage to go so long without crashing?Angry looking middle aged man, Ronnie Pickering type.
Jonno02 said:
al1991 said:
I've never seen a Zafira driven well.
Around here, 99.99% of Zafira's are owned by middle eastern families that have 3 people per seat inside and look like it's on a journey to the scrappy. I give them a wide berth. I await a SJW to tell me off for this comment.
warcalf said:
Is it coincidence that all of the worst drivers who utilise UK roads either love Vauxhall's or drive vans?
I honestly don't know if it's just me or not, but ever since I've been driving. It seems that it's always Insignia's, Astra's or any old van that want to give my exhaust a close inspection. And it really is starting to bug me, not least of all because I'll have completed another year of clean driving in a few weeks and am adamant to defend my no claims.
Does anyone else find the owners of these vehicles tend to drive annoyingly as if they're trying to trigger a reaction? Or is it just me?
Indeed, I agree with most of that.I honestly don't know if it's just me or not, but ever since I've been driving. It seems that it's always Insignia's, Astra's or any old van that want to give my exhaust a close inspection. And it really is starting to bug me, not least of all because I'll have completed another year of clean driving in a few weeks and am adamant to defend my no claims.
Does anyone else find the owners of these vehicles tend to drive annoyingly as if they're trying to trigger a reaction? Or is it just me?
This is a bit of a no brainer. Vans? Rarely driven for the fun of it. Vauxhalls? A much higher than average proportion of new Vauxhalls will be company vehicles. As someone else observed driven by those that bit further down the food chain, the technicians, the account managers, the junior surveyors etc. Vans? Rarely driven for the fun of it.
When I was of this ilk the figurative jet up my arse was big financial pay-offs for hitting individual and group production targets along with profits shares. Nowadays, said individuals aren't getting the bonuses but will end up out the door if they don't hit even more difficult to achieve targets.
So if you are one of this group it goes like this. The faster you drive the more jobs you do. The more jobs you did in the good old days the more you get paid. The more jobs you do now the less likely you are to be sacked. Add to this the fact someone else is paying for the fuel, consumables and repairs and you drive accordingly.
That is why if you are gittering about on the outside lane of the motorway a Vauxhall Insignia or Citroen Berlingo on your tail will be practically driving over the top of you.
When I was of this ilk the figurative jet up my arse was big financial pay-offs for hitting individual and group production targets along with profits shares. Nowadays, said individuals aren't getting the bonuses but will end up out the door if they don't hit even more difficult to achieve targets.
So if you are one of this group it goes like this. The faster you drive the more jobs you do. The more jobs you did in the good old days the more you get paid. The more jobs you do now the less likely you are to be sacked. Add to this the fact someone else is paying for the fuel, consumables and repairs and you drive accordingly.
That is why if you are gittering about on the outside lane of the motorway a Vauxhall Insignia or Citroen Berlingo on your tail will be practically driving over the top of you.
al1991 said:
Not sure, but all I've got to add is that I've never seen a Zafira driven well.
On the flip side, I rarely see a badly driven Volvo.
I once did a VXR trackday at thruxton. Pay £95 and get to thrash GM's UK performance arm around the track for half a day - great value.On the flip side, I rarely see a badly driven Volvo.
They bring a fleet, several VXR astras and corsas, a few VXR8s but also the weird things like the VXR meriva and zafira.
I had one of the instructors laughing his head off as we overtook a VXR8 round the outside of church corner at about 90mph.
Vauxhalls can be driven well.
On the demo lap I was in a car for, Fabrizio Giovanardi mashed a road car alloy on one of the kerbs at the chicane (he took a chunk out of the wheel). ... bloody touring car drivers.
Timely thread for me as I am probably getting an Insignia in the next month. Not a new company car, the neighbours old one at trade cost, because they do represent a stonking amount of car for the cash IMO - but I've never owned a Vaxuhall, have always hated them and am dreading becoming a Vauxhall driver, because you rarely seen one driven well!
The Corsa seems to a be a favourite of push on young drivers, the Vivaro, your typical push on mid size van and the Insignia is, well your typical m-way rep in a hurry car, although not as bad IMHO as the more popular Audi A4 TDI.
Having said this, when I am out and about in my MX-5, its ALWAYS BMW drivers that go out of their way to try and race me, nobody else usually bothers with a 17 year old MX-5 (they're not exactly quick by modern day standards) and I have not yet come across a RR Sport that hasn't tried to intimidate me/bully me off the road. They really are in a league of their own the RR Sports...
CraigyMc said:
I once did a VXR trackday at thruxton. Pay £95 and get to thrash GM's UK performance arm around the track for half a day - great value.
They bring a fleet, several VXR astras and corsas, a few VXR8s but also the weird things like the VXR meriva and zafira.
I had one of the instructors laughing his head off as we overtook a VXR8 round the outside of church corner at about 90mph.
Vauxhalls can be driven well.
On the demo lap I was in a car for, Fabrizio Giovanardi mashed a road car alloy on one of the kerbs at the chicane (he took a chunk out of the wheel). ... bloody touring car drivers.
I should've done that. I wonder if anything similar is still availableThey bring a fleet, several VXR astras and corsas, a few VXR8s but also the weird things like the VXR meriva and zafira.
I had one of the instructors laughing his head off as we overtook a VXR8 round the outside of church corner at about 90mph.
Vauxhalls can be driven well.
On the demo lap I was in a car for, Fabrizio Giovanardi mashed a road car alloy on one of the kerbs at the chicane (he took a chunk out of the wheel). ... bloody touring car drivers.
I've been driving a van every working day for the last 11 and a bit years and up until recently had been driving BMWs too. In that time I've managed not to crash into anyone (but have been crashed into on more than one occasion) and have a clean licence and maximum no claims. I should really get a dashcam 'cause some of the worst driving I've seen definately wasn't done by drivers of vans! Or BMWs! You may be onto something with the Vauxhall thing though.... 
MitchT said:
al1991 said:
I rarely see a badly driven Volvo.
I rarely see a well driven Volvo. If I were a cop I'd be stopping and breathalysing most Volvo drivers, based on what I frequently witness.I drive a Vauxhall Combo works van btw.
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