What is it with Merc drivers?
Discussion
I was proceeding in a northerly direction along the M5 on 3rd March 2003. My speed was 75mph. I was overtaken by a Mercedes E320, which I estimate to have been travelling 20mph faster than me.
The car suddenly slowed and moved from the outside lane to the middle lane and I observed that the driver leant down to pick up his mobile phone.
As the Mercedes was now travelling 10mph slower than me (I had not changed my speed), I overtook it. I glanced at the driver to observe that he was doing a "Quasimodo" impersonation (phone tucked under the chin causing the hunchback!). He was also writing on a pad of A4 paper that he had balanced on the steering wheel, all the while ignoring the traffice conditions in front of and around him!
What a muppet!
The car suddenly slowed and moved from the outside lane to the middle lane and I observed that the driver leant down to pick up his mobile phone.
As the Mercedes was now travelling 10mph slower than me (I had not changed my speed), I overtook it. I glanced at the driver to observe that he was doing a "Quasimodo" impersonation (phone tucked under the chin causing the hunchback!). He was also writing on a pad of A4 paper that he had balanced on the steering wheel, all the while ignoring the traffice conditions in front of and around him!
What a muppet!
Mmm, it's not really fair to generalise as I see bad drivers in all sorts of cars.
There are many people who get behind the wheel of something nice like Bee Emm or Merc or even a Jag and act like they are more important than anyone else. I had a stupid woman in Merc yesterday morning who I watched change lanes three times to jump the queue and then when she got behind me she drove about 2cm from my bumper...
But that doesn't mean all Merc drivers are tossers.... I've owned three Mercs myself....
Oh dear I've just contradicted myself...
There are many people who get behind the wheel of something nice like Bee Emm or Merc or even a Jag and act like they are more important than anyone else. I had a stupid woman in Merc yesterday morning who I watched change lanes three times to jump the queue and then when she got behind me she drove about 2cm from my bumper...
But that doesn't mean all Merc drivers are tossers.... I've owned three Mercs myself....
Oh dear I've just contradicted myself...
Unfortunately though, there seem to be a predisposition towards certain cars by people with a bad attitude towards their fellow road users.
It's not the cars but the people driving them, it's just that these dicks choose prestige German cars as a status symbol, maybe they equate power and status with the ability to push people around and afford to drive a 'badge'.
Anyone who needs that kind of emotional reassurance has a major self image problem IMHO, but that's their problem (and unfortunately those fellow BMW/Merc/Porsche/etc. they tarnish by association).
Not all BMW drivers are arseholes, but many arseholes drive BMWs.
It's not the cars but the people driving them, it's just that these dicks choose prestige German cars as a status symbol, maybe they equate power and status with the ability to push people around and afford to drive a 'badge'.
Anyone who needs that kind of emotional reassurance has a major self image problem IMHO, but that's their problem (and unfortunately those fellow BMW/Merc/Porsche/etc. they tarnish by association).
Not all BMW drivers are arseholes, but many arseholes drive BMWs.
The merc/BM drivers you refer to drive either: X5s or M-classes (schoolrunning suburban numptymum) or base model (4-cyl/non-supercharged) SLK's and Z3's. These are the all-mouth-no-trousers cars that yumpties (cross between yuppie and numpty) drive as they only stand for badge value. They either want to drive over you in their German tank or show you their new hairstyle. Surveys showed that nearly all first-time Merc/BM drivers go for these cars.
I observed that the driver leant down to pick up his mobile phone.
Off on a slight tangent but it made me smile on Sunday when I was out on my pushbike........
A Police panda car came past with not only the driver taking into his mobile but also the WPC in the passenger seat
and not a hands free kit between them 
chaparral said: This problem is very common over here. It's called "Cadillac Syndrome"; mix arrogance, cheap gas, and utter incompetence behind a wheel and you're sure to end up with some of this.
Usually those with the Purple Heart tags!
Nissan Micra drivers though, without exception are almost all shite!
Matt.
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