Getting nervous when filling up the car?

[genichiro_ashina]

So I saw a post recently on Reddit where someone said they get nervous when they are filling up at the pump, and there is another vehicle behind them waiting to use the pump. Here is the link for your perusal: https://old.reddit.com/r/CarTalkUK/comments/xan7su...

I'd like to share my own thoughts on the subject. If there is someone behind me, I'll still fill the tank up to full, but I definitely won't dither in the car before driving off. Whereas if there is no one waiting, I will make sure the AC is set to my liking and get a playlist running on Spotify before exiting. What do you guys typically do? If there is someone behind you waiting impatiently as you fill up, would that influence you towards filling up the tank to less than the maximum, or would it embolden you to take even longer whilst filling up, paying and driving off?

[jm8403]

genichiro_ashina said:

So I saw a post recently on Reddit where someone said they get nervous when they are filling up at the pump, and there is another vehicle behind them waiting to use the pump. Here is the link for your perusal: https://old.reddit.com/r/CarTalkUK/comments/xan7su...

I'd like to share my own thoughts on the subject. If there is someone behind me, I'll still fill the tank up to full, but I definitely won't dither in the car before driving off. Whereas if there is no one waiting, I will make sure the AC is set to my liking and get a playlist running on Spotify before exiting. What do you guys typically do? If there is someone behind you waiting impatiently as you fill up, would that influence you towards filling up the tank to less than the maximum, or would it embolden you to take even longer whilst filling up, paying and driving off?

Yes, I think that's what most people do. Fill and pull off quickly. Some people seem to get pleasure out of making the person waiting an extra minute when they could do whatever they're doing from a few M in front.

[kambites]

I can't say it's ever occurred to me to change my behaviour at all based on whether there's someone behind me. I can't fill up the car any faster and I want to get out of the petrol station as soon as I can once I finish filling up regardless of whether there's anyone waiting.

[jm8403]

kambites said:

I can't say it's ever occurred to me to change my behaviour at all based on whether there's someone behind me. I can't fill up the car any faster and I want to get out of the petrol station as soon as I can once I finish filling up regardless of whether there's anyone waiting.

No faffing in the car when you're back in the car then...putting phone on mount, selecting a podcast to play, etc. That's the only time I move off quicker.

[vikingaero]

kambites said:

I can't say it's ever occurred to me to change my behaviour at all based on whether there's someone behind me. I can't fill up the car any faster and I want to get out of the petrol station as soon as I can once I finish filling up regardless of whether there's anyone waiting.

Eggsactly this, although sometimes you get the impatient PH Bruv-istas in hard as nails pick-ups, vans or 4x4's giving you death stares.

Fill up, get a move on promptly. If they get arsey, then take your time.

[GiantCardboardPlato]

I dont get nervous if a car is waiting behind, but i do get nervous when someone pulls up alongside. I worry that they are about to tt their door into the side of my car.

[kambites]

jm8403 said:

kambites said:

I can't say it's ever occurred to me to change my behaviour at all based on whether there's someone behind me. I can't fill up the car any faster and I want to get out of the petrol station as soon as I can once I finish filling up regardless of whether there's anyone waiting.

No faffing in the car when you're back in the car then...putting phone on mount, selecting a podcast to play, etc. That's the only time I move off quicker.

My car doesn't have much to faff with to be honest. My phone stays in my pocket, my head unit just constantly picks random MP3s to play. About the only thing I might want to do is set up the sat nav but I'd generally have done that before I left home in the first place.

Edited by kambites on Monday 12th September 09:45

[Muzzer79]

I can't believe this is a 'thing'....

Simple common sense dictates that you fill your car up to the desired amount, then get in your car to leave.

If there is someone behind you, you promptly move off the pump to allow them to get on to it.

It's not hard.

[5s Alive]

Stress on steroids if filling up an EV while others wait - same applies though, take only what you need and exit stage left asap.

[highway]

I thought this thread was going to be about panicking when the pump reads over £100 whilst filling up. Looking flash to the poor soul behind who is thinking, how can that guy afford over £100 fuel in his car. He must be loaded!

[Riley Blue]

We've got it down to a fine art.

Irrespective of whether it's pay-at-the-pump or a walk to the kiosk is involved I fill it up, she pays so she keeps her hands clean, I keep my card balance low.

[LotusOmega375D]

Worst thing for the car waiting is if the person filling up in front decides to go browsing the supermarket shelves or take that big poo they’ve been looking forward to.

[joropug]

I recently had a queue of 3 cars behind me (during the shortages) - My car picked that exact moment, to clench its cheeks and retain the fuel nozzle with extreme prejudice.

I spent over 2 minutes trying to get it out, twist it, yanking it to the point the whole car was rocking side to side. It has literally never happened to me before and I use the same station all the time.

Bloke in the car behind got out and walked over just as it came out - Had to put one foot on the wheel and pull with all the force I had! He thought the hose was too tight as I was filling up in the far side.

So embarrassing...

[RizzoTheRat]

When I pull in to a petrol station I ha already been driving the car at aleast the distance from my house to the petrol station, so already have my aircon set to what I want, my satnav set the destination, any music/podcast/playlist I want already running and paused. Other that putting my seatbelt on an maybe putting my sunglasses on, what is there to do between getting back in the car and setting off?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

At Sainsbury's in St Albans the super was only on the nearest pumps. The number of times I pulled up (leaving the later ones vacant) and got a blast from drivers behind me was significant.

It was quite funny really

[Sheepshanks]

genichiro_ashina said:

... I will make sure the AC is set to my liking and get a playlist running on Spotify before exiting.

That must be what half the people who fill up at Costco are doing - the place is always rammed, yet it seems like 50% of drivers take a couple of mins to get going after getting into their cars.

[donkmeister]

5s Alive said:

Stress on steroids if filling up an EV while others wait - same applies though, take only what you need and exit stage left asap.

But how are you to enjoy the Pizza Express delivery to your car when there is a building queue? (Pizza Express to your charging EV is something advertised at the chargers in South Mimms services )
I hear there is an etiquette with fast chargers that you only charge to 80% as that is when the charge speed really starts to ramp down and you start holding others up.

TBH it isn't something that has ever worried me... For a petrol car, the limiting factor is usually the dispenser itself, if it has a sensitive cut-off you might be running it at half speed. If it shares a pump with other dispensers you might find it slow to fill anyway.

I also found that when petrol prices shot up it pushed many more cars into the "need two fill ups at PAP" category. I can't recall the last time I got grumpy looks for doing so, as it's kinda normal now.

[jeremyh1]

What the hell has happened to the modern world

You people need some national service or be getting in the boxing gym!

Scared of the people at the petrol pump! what next !

[jm8403]

jeremyh1 said:

What the hell has happened to the modern world

You people need some national service or be getting in the boxing gym!

Scared of the people at the petrol pump! what next !

3rd post in years too

[jeremyh1]

jm8403 said:

3rd post in years too

Yes I dont spend too much time on here !