Do people in big cars try to boss aboutpeople in small cars?

Do people in big cars try to boss aboutpeople in small cars?

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Discussion

Daschund

374 posts

191 months

Saturday 12th April 2008
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I don't notice it. Most tailgaters do so out of habbit not malice.

Sure, I look in my rear view mirror and think "mmm, tosser." but that's it. I don't really pay much attention and just concentrate on my own driving.

One thing I will not do is allow my driving to be influenced by a 3rd party.

Chavvers trying to "race" me is always a fave. I just nod at them as I blip my throttle a few times. They end up FWD wheelspinning away from the lights thinking they're so amazing. Normally to be seen tailgating some other car up ahead.

Funny people, tailgaters. I think they like the ass too much.

Carpie

1,111 posts

194 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2008
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Well since driving the bm around, I have noticed alot of people acting differently. Now if I'm following someone on a single lane, I notice they quite often will move to the left, giving me room or encouraging me to overtake, as if just because I'm in a bm coupe it means I want to floor it everywhere.

People will let me in (across lanes) more often too, if I'm indicating and positioned as if I'm about to. Maybe they are thinking I'm more likely to force my way in than someone in a micra.

cornishgirl

1,692 posts

191 months

Friday 25th April 2008
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Just wanted to say I agree with the OP. When I had my VW golf (which is now in the scrap yard as i couldnt afford to keep it on the road sob sob) I was forever getting bullied by people in big cars even though I usually drove a bit faster than the speed limits when I could so as to not hold anyone up. Never worked as it seemed whatever speed I was doing it was never fast enough for these nice people.

The most usual culprits were 4x4s (there are 100's of them down here) and i am ashamed to say a lot of the drivers were female, so it's not just a male testosterone thing.

I now drive my employer's Range Rover and hardly ever get tailgated. People always cut me instead. Can't win!! wink


anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 25th April 2008
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You don't even have to upgrade massively (size-wise) to notice a difference. Now that I've gone from occasional use of my mum's old Metro to my own Escort I've noticed a few changes:

  • People seem more likely to let me out of junctions/change lanes. Perhaps Metro's are associated with old people and they think that the drivers will dawdle and hold them uphehe
  • People seem less likely to carve me up. I'm not so sure about this one. If people associate Metro's with old people then - theoretically - they'd be "safer" pulling out in front of cars with younger drivers (ie better reactions). Who knowsconfused
Either way, it feels so much better to have a decent sized car, rather than the crammed-in "sardine can" feeling of tiny onessmile

xxplod

2,269 posts

243 months

Saturday 26th April 2008
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I often have the satisfaction when driving the Mini of having someone tailgate, then when I get into heavier traffic I can make progress as I can squeeze around cars turning right or squeeze past parked cars etc...

cornishgirl

1,692 posts

191 months

Sunday 27th April 2008
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Symbolica said:
You don't even have to upgrade massively (size-wise) to notice a difference.
Maybe not, but when you are 5ft2 and have often experienced people who bully by abusing their greater size, then driving a large 4x4 has helped me feel less intimidated on the road. It also makes a welcome change to be able to look down on people, even if only for a moment wink

Pugsey

5,813 posts

213 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
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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.
Hilarious. Try that when I'm in the Landie and you'll end up with a Defender shaped boot mate - no ABS!

Pugsey

5,813 posts

213 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
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agent006 said:
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.
Glad I'm not the only one. When I'm in the X5 I often see people rushing to do exactly that (front end rising under, apparently unnecessary, acceleration which will only put them in an awkward position is the usual giveaway).

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 29th April 16:56

basherbarrichelo

187 posts

194 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
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I would say people in big cars do boss people in small cars about but today I went out with my step dad in his ultima which is a very low (smallish) car. I found with that, when we go out in it every body slows down to have a closer look, even on the country roads other people slow down and pull right over just to let us past, even though they are in a bigger car
You just get the young boy racers who think there corsa with a big exhaust is the fastest thing in the world.

ralphk

596 posts

211 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
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i like letting drivers in BMWs and stuff out of side exits, even if its just for the look of surprise on their faces

JamesZS

541 posts

195 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
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sjmmarsh said:
I hadn't realised that many drivers will take stupid risks to get past a learner...
This one is scarily true!
In the ZS I get very little trouble with people intimidating me (ok, it's a Fiesta, but I drive confidently so as to give more of a prescence, and less opportunity for people to do silly maneouvres to overtake me).

but... when I get on my Honda CG125, with my little L plates on, it seems like they're out to get me!
I had a van driver try to kill me this morning. I'd filtered past him in traffic, pulled in in front of him (3 cars back from the traffic lights in a safe spot). The next thing I know, the lights have gone amber and this twunt is revving his engine and was about 5mm from touching my rear L plate!
I moved out to go around the temporary traffic lights as he moves out, effectively barging me into the hedge on the right hand side of the road!
Then he threw his fag butt out the window at me! All because of a perfectly safe filter past him.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 2nd June 2018
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Yes. My daily nail is a k11 Micra. It inspires major contempt. You could be doing a good speed but the usual berks in the usual brands will bust a gut trying to drive over you. Same speed in any of my other cars, no reaction whatsoever. The assumption is that the Micra, associated as it is (or used to be) with learners, retired people and the generally incompetent, must be dawdling, *regardless of the actual speed you're doing*.

There is great fun to be had. The Micra has been fettled by Matt Humphris and is not entirely as it seems, and, while far from quick in absolute terms, is nonetheless a little bit quicker than you might expect. Oh the childish fun to be had when Mr. arrogant pie-features in his peasant-disperser-mobile pulls out to overtake and then has to retreat back in again. The ensuing rage, bafflement and headlamp flashing always brightens my day. You simply cant have similar fun in a better car ...

Hotel India

456 posts

196 months

Saturday 2nd June 2018
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Much as I like and appreciate the K11, this thread is over 10 years old!

(And yes, I remember it from the first time.)

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,954 posts

210 months

Saturday 2nd June 2018
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I drive a variety of cars, fat 4x4, my very special old 911, rover 25 (which I love), old Skoda fabia, new Renault Zoe and I can't say I can see other people's driving changing according to my cat at all!
Bert

Blakewater

4,303 posts

156 months

Saturday 30th June 2018
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I've always driven Volkswagens and Audis myself but once had a Toyota Auris as a hire car. Waiting to turn right off a restaurant car park onto the A6 near Preston a delivery driver for a local purveyor of cakes decided he didn't need to wait behind someone he assumed was an old dodderer. He drove up my left side and turned right in front of me.

jakesmith

9,461 posts

170 months

Wednesday 11th July 2018
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Slinky said:
Try driving a smart 4-2... Cars will do ANYTHING to overtake you..

The roadster isn't too bad...
I found in my Brabus Roadster people showed no respect at all. I replaced it with a Boxster S and people keep distance

I think people worry that they’re being slowed down even when they’re not. Sit in the Brabus keeping up with everything at 80 on the m4. Do the same in my Other cars, Maserati, Evoque, people keep back more

Evilex

512 posts

103 months

Thursday 19th July 2018
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I have no issues at all in the Multipla.
I don't intimidate or bully anyone with it, I guess everyone figures I've got nothing to lose and just gives me a wide berth...

KerwinRobertson

135 posts

81 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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Yep, get bullied a lot in my Ignis Sport, but also get the immense pleasure of fitting through small gaps, embarrassing much bigger engined cars and losing them on the twisty bits.

Always love the look on their faces when they match my entry speed on a corner, which they find out is a bit higher than their 4x4 barge is used to, which now has some serious body roll angles going on. Cue some mid corner panic braking as the laws of inertia and grip take hold.

I may have a small car, with a small engine, but it's light, nimble and designed to go round corners quickly. Mitsubishi Warriors are not.

Psycho Warren

3,087 posts

112 months

Monday 23rd July 2018
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basherbarrichelo said:
I went out with my step dad in his ultima which is a very low (smallish) car. I found with that, when we go out in it every body slows down to have a closer look,
I used to get that when i drove my old rally car on the road. Problem being I'd be in lane one closing on a truck, person in lane 2 cruising past quickly. No need to slow for the truck as the car in lane 2 would be past with plenty of time to pull out. Only then the person pulling past stops overtaking and sits there looking at the car for like 10 seconds plus meaning i have to slow down as he is blocking me pulling out, Annoying.


I'd say in the "class wars" on the road, sports cars get a mixed response IME. I think some people think youre a cock or a mid life crisis in a sports car and/or a boy racer so treat you like an ahole.

Fore Left

1,411 posts

181 months

Monday 23rd July 2018
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BertBert said:
I drive a variety of cars, fat 4x4, my very special old 911, rover 25 (which I love), old Skoda fabia, new Renault Zoe and I can't say I can see other people's driving changing according to my cat at all!
Bert
Well that's a big improvement on when you made the OP ten years ago. Must be the calming effect of the cat laugh