Porsche - an adverse reaction?
Discussion
I recently swapped my (much loved) M3 for a 02 996 targa in seal grey. I have had a Boxster S before but always aspired to a 911 so was delighted to have finally got one 
However, my onwnership has been somewhat blighted by the attitude of my fellow drivers, particularly in London where I live and work. The daily commute from West London to the West Endh has changed from a stress free rumble in the M3 to a journey almost invariably including an element of road rage against me. I have not changed the way I drive and I do not drive aggressively but the reaction I get from other drivers (mostly middle aged w*nkers in Mercs rather than white van man or chavsters) is amazing. Example: someone cuts me up badly and you flash them to tell them that they nearly took your front bumper off and they react like you just cast doubt upon their sexuality in a very public way!! Or you don't let someone in at a junction (as traffic moving quickly etc)and when they eventually catch up with you, you get a load of abuse and bile vented at you.
Thus far I have retained my composure and not responded
(mainly due to my wife's pleas) but am just staggered by the change in attitude from some fellow drivers having changed the car. I might understand it if I was driving like a loon in a white 996 TT with smoked windows and a pumpin stereo.... 
anyone else get this kind of treatment? Didn't seem to elicit it in my boxster S and that was bright red!!
However, my onwnership has been somewhat blighted by the attitude of my fellow drivers, particularly in London where I live and work. The daily commute from West London to the West Endh has changed from a stress free rumble in the M3 to a journey almost invariably including an element of road rage against me. I have not changed the way I drive and I do not drive aggressively but the reaction I get from other drivers (mostly middle aged w*nkers in Mercs rather than white van man or chavsters) is amazing. Example: someone cuts me up badly and you flash them to tell them that they nearly took your front bumper off and they react like you just cast doubt upon their sexuality in a very public way!! Or you don't let someone in at a junction (as traffic moving quickly etc)and when they eventually catch up with you, you get a load of abuse and bile vented at you.
Thus far I have retained my composure and not responded
(mainly due to my wife's pleas) but am just staggered by the change in attitude from some fellow drivers having changed the car. I might understand it if I was driving like a loon in a white 996 TT with smoked windows and a pumpin stereo.... anyone else get this kind of treatment? Didn't seem to elicit it in my boxster S and that was bright red!!
and it had highly polished (mirror) turbo alloys...nice!! 
Reckon you will have to get used to it. I have/had to be quite aggressive in the Ferrari to get out of busy junctions, similarly in my previous Boxster?! I had an M3 convertible which only attracted road rage attacks when the roof was down?!
I'm afraid todays culture is more about jealousy and not letting anybody get one over on you, whether its how you drive or what you drive.
I'm afraid todays culture is more about jealousy and not letting anybody get one over on you, whether its how you drive or what you drive.
since I changed my silver c2 996 for a speed yellow GT3, I seem to get alot less hassle on the road.
Other drivers look on it far more admirably than the previous car.
It is the clubsport version, and has the rollcage etc.
Nobody tries to race, and more drivers seem to get out of the way on m-ways.
Other drivers look on it far more admirably than the previous car.
It is the clubsport version, and has the rollcage etc.
Nobody tries to race, and more drivers seem to get out of the way on m-ways.
I get a lot of this sort of thing since I changed from my TVR. That was a joy to drive people waved and smiled and let me out of junctions. In the Porsche it's completly different, at first I thought I was imagining some of these things. For example people slow down in front of me, pull to the white line to make overttakes harder (as if), flash as gesticulate wildly when I overtake, spit on the car when parked, do everything possible to not let me out at junctions, shout abuse (allsorts). I can't even say it doesn't bother me cos it does a bit. Why do people just assume you're a w*nker cos you drive a Porsche. At the end of the day I try not to worry what other people think and just enjoy owning / driving a fantastic car.
Steve, 996TT
Steve, 996TT
It seems to be par for the course. If I drive carefully, sticking to speed limits, I get carved up by every boy racer on the road - some seeming to think I'll be impressed by their speed. If I 'make progress' - however carefully - I get the reactions described above.
There seems to be a 'red rag to a bull' aspect as far as Porsches go, and I can only put it down to the kind of stereotype churned out by the media. I have found that, in general, Porsches are driven better and more carefully than almost any other car you care to name - at least, when there's other traffic around. When the roads are clear, it's a different story!
There seems to be a 'red rag to a bull' aspect as far as Porsches go, and I can only put it down to the kind of stereotype churned out by the media. I have found that, in general, Porsches are driven better and more carefully than almost any other car you care to name - at least, when there's other traffic around. When the roads are clear, it's a different story!
lets them out of junctions!
domster said:
and drive like a tosser - you've got nothing to lose! 
...that's what I do! Ever since I realised that I'd never be able to avoid the negative image associated with driving a Porsche, I decided I may as well live up to other people's expectations and drive like a knob.
(not all the time, though)
I used to drive all sorts of pork on a daily basis & the reactions were often quite bizarre & contrasted often quite a lot with what ever old cack road car I was running at the time- or even to the other makes & models of cars I'd also drive which was often quite a variation, yet the roads & the driving style (i.e quickish, but not agressive or tailgating) would be exactly the same.
Early pre impact bumper stuff most people seemed to love, often waved out of junctions, van drivers give the thumbs up, smiles from saucey minxes etc.
In racers or hardcore track spec road cars pretty much had the Moses effect esp on single carrage way A & B roads, particually if very loud! & especially if they backfire & spit the odd flame! but a fair bit of challenging from other road users- M3 drivers seemed to be the worst, women ignored them or shake there heads after seeing it! but blokes eyes are normally glued! kids love 'em & make rev the engine signals 
Later regular pork seemed to create the most negative effects, definatly harder to pull out of junctions & chavs in Novas & Saxos or reps in Vectras etc most likely to challenge! (the Novas etc seeming to love to overtake or sit up your arse when doing 30 in a 30 limit!) but perhaps the best steed for cars pulling out of your way on motorways & dual carridge way, but recived the most flashed lights & w4nker signs after perfectly safe single carrageway overtakes.
Impact bumper cars not so bad, & could be similar to pre impact stuff depending on the car & colour- silver seemed a good colour to get the old pre inpact 911 "oh its cute" so thus got a plesant effect, athough often Turbos or wide arch cars- esp in red, seemed to bring back a type of anti yuppie hate & was often similar to being in a later pork.
Early pre impact bumper stuff most people seemed to love, often waved out of junctions, van drivers give the thumbs up, smiles from saucey minxes
etc. In racers or hardcore track spec road cars pretty much had the Moses effect esp on single carrage way A & B roads, particually if very loud! & especially if they backfire & spit the odd flame!
but a fair bit of challenging from other road users- M3 drivers seemed to be the worst, women ignored them or shake there heads after seeing it! but blokes eyes are normally glued! kids love 'em & make rev the engine signals Later regular pork seemed to create the most negative effects, definatly harder to pull out of junctions & chavs in Novas & Saxos or reps in Vectras etc most likely to challenge! (the Novas etc seeming to love to overtake or sit up your arse when doing 30 in a 30 limit!) but perhaps the best steed for cars pulling out of your way on motorways & dual carridge way, but recived the most flashed lights & w4nker signs after perfectly safe single carrageway overtakes.
Impact bumper cars not so bad, & could be similar to pre impact stuff depending on the car & colour- silver seemed a good colour to get the old pre inpact 911 "oh its cute" so thus got a plesant effect, athough often Turbos or wide arch cars- esp in red, seemed to bring back a type of anti yuppie hate & was often similar to being in a later pork.
the best reaction I get is from owners of other performance cars, especially on the open road where my presence in the rear view mirror seems to cause them to nail the gas pedal 
and see if they can shake me (conditions permitting of course)
There is a dual carriageway on A44 driving away from Broadway in Cotswolds where I never fail to get this reaction
Think the media stereotyping is harsh - my 911 (aka "Chelsea Tractor" at the time) is not red, I am not a trader/broker, am not called Giles or Chrles, I do not live in Fulham, wear braces or wield a filofax ! Media should realize we are not in 1980's anymore
and see if they can shake me (conditions permitting of course) There is a dual carriageway on A44 driving away from Broadway in Cotswolds where I never fail to get this reaction
Think the media stereotyping is harsh - my 911 (aka "Chelsea Tractor" at the time) is not red, I am not a trader/broker, am not called Giles or Chrles, I do not live in Fulham, wear braces or wield a filofax ! Media should realize we are not in 1980's anymore
I'm so pleased that Im not the only person that has noticed this mad attitude.
I had a Lotus Elise before my Porker and people would stop and admire it as it i drove passed and even wave, everybody got out of my way when I had my foot down as well.
In 18 months of 911 ownership I have had three acts of vandalism fixed, 2 key lines and one smashed mirror and am always aware of the 'hateful' attitude of other drivers. I also have silver vauxhall van that I use for work so the contrast is very easy to spot so i know I'm not paranoid!
I had a Lotus Elise before my Porker and people would stop and admire it as it i drove passed and even wave, everybody got out of my way when I had my foot down as well.
In 18 months of 911 ownership I have had three acts of vandalism fixed, 2 key lines and one smashed mirror and am always aware of the 'hateful' attitude of other drivers. I also have silver vauxhall van that I use for work so the contrast is very easy to spot so i know I'm not paranoid!
I drive a Clio as daily transport and the difference is marked. I am a lot more courteous in the 911 than when in the Clio and still the response is worse. Does make certain people get out of the way sharpish on the motorway however, but then there are those that seem even more determined to hold you up because you're in a Porsche.
Hmmm...maybe I'm not sensitive to it, but I've never noticed any problem at all in any Porsche (I've had several from 944 through to 996 turbo). The odd idiot in an Impreza or similar wants a race, but no more so than in any other performance car. I also have a Noble at the moment which gets an altogether different reaction though. Everybody lets you out of junctions just to find out what it is!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff