People trying to get you to lower windows in the street...
Discussion
Happened 2nd time to me this morning. Driving the F12 (last time happened in the Roma), quite used to lots of people giving thumbs ups, smiles, waves, occasional w
ker gesture, all of which I'm fine with but 2nd time I'm stopped at lights and someone walks up to the car and tries to get me to lower my window, both times person was holding a bottle of some sort. Not particularly friendly looking but also not aggressive. Anyone else experienced this? Is this just me having London paranoia with watch snatching headlines recently? What are your thoughts on this and more importantly, would you lower the window with a stranger standing a foot or two away from the car with holding a bottle?
ker gesture, all of which I'm fine with but 2nd time I'm stopped at lights and someone walks up to the car and tries to get me to lower my window, both times person was holding a bottle of some sort. Not particularly friendly looking but also not aggressive. Anyone else experienced this? Is this just me having London paranoia with watch snatching headlines recently? What are your thoughts on this and more importantly, would you lower the window with a stranger standing a foot or two away from the car with holding a bottle?In general this is case by case and very situational so completely your call bc you alone need to deal w the outcome.
Even tooling along on a £12k S-Works bike which are currently under target of daylight jackings I'd want full discretion re: who I engaged with.
Fwiw, having just spent 3 weeks driving 2500 miles in FR, CH, DE and AT, London by far has the most weirdos 😅
So don't put any pressure on yourself to be too nice to a fault.
Even tooling along on a £12k S-Works bike which are currently under target of daylight jackings I'd want full discretion re: who I engaged with.
Fwiw, having just spent 3 weeks driving 2500 miles in FR, CH, DE and AT, London by far has the most weirdos 😅
So don't put any pressure on yourself to be too nice to a fault.
Iwontlietoyou said:
This happens to me. Are you sure they're trying to get you to lower your windows? Is it a gesture where they're "flapping" horizontal hand? If so, I've always taken this as a request to rev the engine... which of course, is something I don't do. We're not animals 
Definitely not flapping rev request, have those quite regularly too and fine with that. This is someone walking out into the street to stand right next to the door and one held out his hand with index finger knuckle extended and simulated knocking on the window (although he didn't actually touch the car). The other one today walked out to the car to again stand right next to the window, leaned down to put his face next to the window and was trying to talk to me although couldn't make out what he was saying but gestured hand horizontally downwards at the window, flapping is usually angled.I had this not so long ago in north London but also happened to be in a convertible Aston with the roof down. Was not a particularly pleasant experience. Was stuck in traffic and he was obviously a bit pissed with a beer bottle in hand. After sone initial banter along the lines nice car/is it quick/you must be loaded and me casually making self-deprecating jokes it ended with him saying give us a go and getting more agrrssive and waving his bottle around. Ended in a staring contest with him just walking away but low down in a convertible with the roof down and in a traffic jam I didn’t half feel exposed…..
DeejRC said:
2 things:
1. Don’t live in a sthole like London.
2. No. Never. In any car. Nor have I ever had anybody signal me to rev any car I’ve ever owned. Anywhere.
I suspect 2 is related to 1.
I don't live in London but life often necessitates trips to it.1. Don’t live in a s
thole like London.2. No. Never. In any car. Nor have I ever had anybody signal me to rev any car I’ve ever owned. Anywhere.
I suspect 2 is related to 1.
Surprised at 2 though, I've had rev requests in the UK regardless of whether in south east, west country, midlands, north, Scotland and Wales. Also in France and other countries on the continent! Do you only drive at 4am?!
Soleith said:
Happened 2nd time to me this morning. Driving the F12 (last time happened in the Roma), quite used to lots of people giving thumbs ups, smiles, waves, occasional wker gesture, all of which I'm fine with but 2nd time I'm stopped at lights and someone walks up to the car and tries to get me to lower my window, both times person was holding a bottle of some sort. Not particularly friendly looking but also not aggressive. Anyone else experienced this? Is this just me having London paranoia with watch snatching headlines recently? What are your thoughts on this and more importantly, would you lower the window with a stranger standing a foot or two away from the car with holding a bottle?
Most likely a drunk - I wouldn’t lower the window, just try not to engage.ker gesture, all of which I'm fine with but 2nd time I'm stopped at lights and someone walks up to the car and tries to get me to lower my window, both times person was holding a bottle of some sort. Not particularly friendly looking but also not aggressive. Anyone else experienced this? Is this just me having London paranoia with watch snatching headlines recently? What are your thoughts on this and more importantly, would you lower the window with a stranger standing a foot or two away from the car with holding a bottle?DeejRC said:
Lived n worked all over the UK and Europe over 30yrs. Driving a variety of silly cars. I have though always refused to drive into London because it always seemed a bloody stupid thing to do.
It's weird, I've had similar but Europe, US and Asia Pac and often get requests although rarely with someone walking directly up to the car. I must have an "approachable face".London is fine in general, I still love it as a city.
ferrariboi said:
This happened to me last week. I did open the window. The guy wanted to warn me about a huge pothole on the exit of the Starbucks we were parked in. That was kind.
Thanks for sharing actually a really nice example of it. Somewhat restores a bit of my faith in humanity that someone had a good experience with this!Had this the other week. 2 young lads (13 - 15 ish) at J11 M4 roundabout. They were standing by the lights, looking to film cars to the 'tok, I imagine.
I have a B8 RS4. So, very run of the mill. I was in the fornt row at the lights.
Waved at me to lower, and said "please, please launch it". I didn't oblige, but did rev a bit.
But a pleasant experience, perfectly polite. All good.
I have a B8 RS4. So, very run of the mill. I was in the fornt row at the lights.
Waved at me to lower, and said "please, please launch it". I didn't oblige, but did rev a bit.
But a pleasant experience, perfectly polite. All good.
A few years ago, a friend and I were driving down Shaftsbury Avenue in our cars and I told him he should put the roof up. He said it would be fine. I think see some guy walk up to his car and climb in. he drove about about 30 metres and teh guy got out and thank him for teh ride.
I was of course so concerned that i was laughing my head off.
London is a greqat city but you need to always be on guard and epect teh worse.
Persoanly i drive all the time with the roof down without any issue....
so far....
I was of course so concerned that i was laughing my head off.
London is a greqat city but you need to always be on guard and epect teh worse.
Persoanly i drive all the time with the roof down without any issue....
so far....
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