Do people in big cars try to boss aboutpeople in small cars?
Discussion
I regularly drive three different cars, two big-ish (galaxy and porker) and one small (fiat panda). The panda is new to the bert fleet, the previous small car being a rover 25 and not that small (and now liberated by my eldest).
I have been in the panda sev times this week and seen more than the usual amount of bossy driving with a number of die-hard tailgaters and a guy behind me this morning at at T-jcn sounding his horn to get me to pull across the traffic.
My journey is mostly 30 limit and I actually drive all 3 cars pretty much the same, max of around 30, maybe up to an indicated 33 or 34. But i haven't noticed the effect in the bigger cars.
Is that the same as others' experience?
Bert
I have been in the panda sev times this week and seen more than the usual amount of bossy driving with a number of die-hard tailgaters and a guy behind me this morning at at T-jcn sounding his horn to get me to pull across the traffic.
My journey is mostly 30 limit and I actually drive all 3 cars pretty much the same, max of around 30, maybe up to an indicated 33 or 34. But i haven't noticed the effect in the bigger cars.
Is that the same as others' experience?
Bert
Yes, certainly. People behave differently when I'm the Chimaera, as opposed to the Modus. My sister, used to driving clapped out bangers my dad bought her, noticed it too when she started driving her husband's Saab 9000...she used to feel pressurised by other drivers to go faster...
...perhaps a trip to Scarborough/Skegness/etc for a bumper-sticker reading 'My Other Car's Big!'is called for?
...perhaps a trip to Scarborough/Skegness/etc for a bumper-sticker reading 'My Other Car's Big!'is called for?
I drive several cars including a Chimaera, a Nissan Primera, Audi A4 and a Daihatsu Charade and there is no doubt that I am treated differently by other road users depending upon what I'm driving.
Drive the Chim at the speed limit and people sit on the boot lid or try and race (especially Golf Gti's - God knows why :rollyes: ). Drive the Primera and people are desparate to pass. Drive the A4 and I get treated like an Audi driver.
Best of all is when I'm in the Charade. People try to bully me. What they usually don't realise is that its the GTti so I just p1ss off and leave them looking silly. Like the Volvo XC90 the other day that sat so close to my rear bumper that I could only see the headlights. Regisration was B1G DF and very appropriate!
I floored it and left her looking pretty silly. She tries to catch me but one the twisty bits....... well you can imagine!
Drive the Chim at the speed limit and people sit on the boot lid or try and race (especially Golf Gti's - God knows why :rollyes: ). Drive the Primera and people are desparate to pass. Drive the A4 and I get treated like an Audi driver.
Best of all is when I'm in the Charade. People try to bully me. What they usually don't realise is that its the GTti so I just p1ss off and leave them looking silly. Like the Volvo XC90 the other day that sat so close to my rear bumper that I could only see the headlights. Regisration was B1G DF and very appropriate!
I floored it and left her looking pretty silly. She tries to catch me but one the twisty bits....... well you can imagine!
BertBert said:
I regularly drive three different cars, two big-ish (galaxy and porker) and one small (fiat panda). The panda is new to the bert fleet, the previous small car being a rover 25 and not that small (and now liberated by my eldest).
I have been in the panda sev times this week and seen more than the usual amount of bossy driving with a number of die-hard tailgaters and a guy behind me this morning at at T-jcn sounding his horn to get me to pull across the traffic.
My journey is mostly 30 limit and I actually drive all 3 cars pretty much the same, max of around 30, maybe up to an indicated 33 or 34. But i haven't noticed the effect in the bigger cars.
Is that the same as others' experience?
Bert
Motorised bullying of all cars is standard, everyday practice for drivers of buses, coaches and lorries. I have been in the panda sev times this week and seen more than the usual amount of bossy driving with a number of die-hard tailgaters and a guy behind me this morning at at T-jcn sounding his horn to get me to pull across the traffic.
My journey is mostly 30 limit and I actually drive all 3 cars pretty much the same, max of around 30, maybe up to an indicated 33 or 34. But i haven't noticed the effect in the bigger cars.
Is that the same as others' experience?
Bert
Motorised bullying of cyclists and pedestrians is standard, everyday practice for drivers of almost everything.
It would therefore be surprising if all drivers of big cars were solicitous towards small cars.
humbling of large vehicles is a favourite sport of mine. Never let them in, if they cut me up, i make sure that at the next available opportunity they get to test their ABS system. I'm not adverse either to get out of the car at traffic lights and give them an earful. I find women to be the worst offenders, most blokes are predictable in their aggressiveness on the road and easily avoided, its the dozy airheads in their X5's etc that pose the greatest risk to human survival.
To an extent I'm sure they do, but equally I drive a Boxster which isn't exactly a big car, but it stands out a little more than if I were in a Focus/Astra etc. and as a chap pointed out to me on a defensive driving course the car works to my advantage in a way because people notice it so they see I'm there.
I wonder if some of it is perception i.e. if you were in a 4x4 and a Fiat Panda tried to tailgait or "boss" you around you simply wouldn't notice it or pay much attention, whilst it's hard not to notice a sodding great 4x4 in your mirror?
I wonder if some of it is perception i.e. if you were in a 4x4 and a Fiat Panda tried to tailgait or "boss" you around you simply wouldn't notice it or pay much attention, whilst it's hard not to notice a sodding great 4x4 in your mirror?
evil thoughts! SkinnyBoy said:
humbling of large vehicles is a favourite sport of mine. Never let them in, if they cut me up, i make sure that at the next available opportunity they get to test their ABS system. I'm not adverse either to get out of the car at traffic lights and give them an earful. I find women to be the worst offenders, most blokes are predictable in their aggressiveness on the road and easily avoided, its the dozy airheads in their X5's etc that pose the greatest risk to human survival.
Crikey, and I thought this was supposed to be the "advanced driving" forum not the "advanced cock" forum?
SkinnyBoy said:
Never let them in, if they cut me up, i make sure that at the next available opportunity they get to test their ABS system.
When i had my Range Rover it's actually quite interesting to see people like you trying to "accidentally" get into a situation where they could feel put out by my driving in some way.I usually drive a new style Daihatsu Charade and yeah, lots of people try to intimidate me.
To the point that on my first AD observed drive the IAM observer commented, "People really are aggressive to small cars aren't they?"
It's generally tailgating to try and force speed to to make me pull out or over. Meh, sod em.
I tend to find that using the (admittedly limited) abilities of the car shows them that size isn't everything. Mind you, getting out and unfolding all 6'1 of me tends to do the same
To the point that on my first AD observed drive the IAM observer commented, "People really are aggressive to small cars aren't they?"
It's generally tailgating to try and force speed to to make me pull out or over. Meh, sod em.
I tend to find that using the (admittedly limited) abilities of the car shows them that size isn't everything. Mind you, getting out and unfolding all 6'1 of me tends to do the same
Aeroresh said:
SkinnyBoy said:
humbling of large vehicles is a favourite sport of mine. Never let them in, if they cut me up, i make sure that at the next available opportunity they get to test their ABS system. I'm not adverse either to get out of the car at traffic lights and give them an earful. I find women to be the worst offenders, most blokes are predictable in their aggressiveness on the road and easily avoided, its the dozy airheads in their X5's etc that pose the greatest risk to human survival.
Crikey, and I thought this was supposed to be the "advanced driving" forum not the "advanced cock" forum?Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff