Let me drive my TVR in peace...
Discussion
Why is it that I am unable to simply drive my TVR on public roads in peace? What is it that seems to cause drivers of moderately quick (or not so quick) family cars and warm hatches to assume that you must be looking for a street race every time one ventures out? How does bolting a load of plastic tat and a Halfords exhaust onto a 2.2 children vehicle suddenly make one into a rally driver? I simply do not understand; a Golf, will never out accelerate a TVR (except maybe on ice). The case is the same with virtually all BMWs. Why bother then? Yesterday, driving with my girlfriend, I was forced off the road by a 320i so desperate to undercut me that he slid into the outside lane without affording the courtesy to check whether he had succeeded. His mistake was then to accelerate hard(ish), straight through a speed camera, which flashed obediently. Ha Ha. I presume he was concentrating on the continuous horn blaring behind him. On motorways I invariably find myself with a Golf GTI inches from the exhausts; easily despatched with a stab of the accelerator when I can be bothered which results in their looking rather foolish so why try in the first place? I have had the same thing with all of the genuinely fast cars I have owned and driven but I have never understood why. Do other PHers find the same thing?
kailear said:
kambites, I totally agree with you; it just gets difficult when you are two wheels off the road as a result of it!
I've never had it quite that bad (although I've only had the Elise for 6 months). If someone did that to me I'd just take down their number plate and stop for a bit to let them bugger off then report them to the police when I got home.
r simply for having the roof off. 
ok, if going fast is not the point of a fast car, what is then? if you can't prove it to someone then possibly you are driving an inappropiate car.. I have always enjoyed being in a fast car or riding a fast bike when wannabes have a go. Makes a dull drive more fun blowing them away. Mind you I like taking on fast cars at all times whenever possible (even in a slow car/bike) 'cos when I get past it must be driver skill 
'cos it couldn't be my car/bike could it!? And I'm onto a winner - if I can't get in front, the other guy had a faster machine 
. Ok that was a bit juvenile, but face it, you're deemed an attention seeker for driving a TVR, so you've gonna have to live with it.
'cos it couldn't be my car/bike could it!? And I'm onto a winner - if I can't get in front, the other guy had a faster machine . Ok that was a bit juvenile, but face it, you're deemed an attention seeker for driving a TVR, so you've gonna have to live with it. 
It must be the areas you drive in?
I commute nearly 50 miles every day up and down the A1 and a fair few country lanes and rarely do I get anyone trying to race me in the 350z. Even in my track car, which is as loud as they come with its white wheels and graphics everywhere, I only get the mid-life crises lot in the Scoobs / Evos trying to have ago.
I commute nearly 50 miles every day up and down the A1 and a fair few country lanes and rarely do I get anyone trying to race me in the 350z. Even in my track car, which is as loud as they come with its white wheels and graphics everywhere, I only get the mid-life crises lot in the Scoobs / Evos trying to have ago.
The best way to have fun is at a set of traffic lights when the guy behind you who has been surging up and flashing his lights in attempt to get you to plant your foot down pulls along side you.
I found the best thing to do is look at them straight in the eye, blip the throttle and nod in the direction of the road with a smile on your face. Then look at the lights in anticipation revving the car to about 3-4k rpm then quickly looking back over at them. When the lights go green they will speed off the line whilst you are left engaging 1st gear anticipating slowly driving off with a huge smirk on your face.
I found the best thing to do is look at them straight in the eye, blip the throttle and nod in the direction of the road with a smile on your face. Then look at the lights in anticipation revving the car to about 3-4k rpm then quickly looking back over at them. When the lights go green they will speed off the line whilst you are left engaging 1st gear anticipating slowly driving off with a huge smirk on your face.
Robatr0n said:
I found the best thing to do is look at them straight in the eye, blip the throttle and nod in the direction of the road with a smile on your face. Then look at the lights in anticipation revving the car to about 3-4k rpm then quickly looking back over at them. When the lights go green they will speed off the line whilst you are left engaging 1st gear anticipating slowly driving off with a huge smirk on your face.
That is undoubtedly the most fun way to approach traffic light events but I don't think that's what the OP was referring to.
time for an ajp lump perhaps On the flipside, getting destroyed by a really nice car can be interesting and funny. I drive a Cupra R, not exactly slow but there's plenty out there that's quicker. So many times I've encountered a Tuscan or something else and just wanted them to plant it and disappear. Mainly for the sake of comparison and to hear the noise, it can be quite frustrating and disappointing to be ignored whilst the quicker car just stays on course. Although I understand drivers of quick cars aren't there purely for the pleasure of others and why should you risk a speeding fine just for another person.
The only time I've got my wish was on the M3 a number of months ago and saw a chap I presumed was on a test drive in an F430 (salesman-looking type in passenger seat and mid-aged asian chap driving, not that it's a totally sound assumption). I got binned off fairly instantly leaving me not with feelings of inadequacy (because it's obvious who's quicker), but with a massive grin and more motivation to win the lottery!
I suppose if you drive a car which can defeat most others out there you should be able to spot which of those pestering you are worthless scum trying to cope with their dull lives and which of them are just interested in cars and their performance.
The only time I've got my wish was on the M3 a number of months ago and saw a chap I presumed was on a test drive in an F430 (salesman-looking type in passenger seat and mid-aged asian chap driving, not that it's a totally sound assumption). I got binned off fairly instantly leaving me not with feelings of inadequacy (because it's obvious who's quicker), but with a massive grin and more motivation to win the lottery!
I suppose if you drive a car which can defeat most others out there you should be able to spot which of those pestering you are worthless scum trying to cope with their dull lives and which of them are just interested in cars and their performance.
Unfortunately no..... noone ever wants to play with me 
Which I find quite depressing sometimes.
Even yesterday there was a woman in front of me driving a porsche carrera 4 and we had an empty road and I thought at last.. but nothing..... Not out for going totally mental but a little blatt now and then would be nice if the road/conditions are right.
Which I find quite depressing sometimes. Even yesterday there was a woman in front of me driving a porsche carrera 4 and we had an empty road and I thought at last.. but nothing..... Not out for going totally mental but a little blatt now and then would be nice if the road/conditions are right.
Edited by cslgirl on Monday 3rd September 13:08
The Griffalo said:
Thank you 
What I find most enjoyable is leaving them for dead and then slowing down once I've shown them just how deficient their car is.
It doesn't matter if they pass you then, you know and they know that you could toast them again any time you choose
As the owner of a normal car I expect you people to put on a show for me (part of the road fund license in't it? What I find most enjoyable is leaving them for dead and then slowing down once I've shown them just how deficient their car is.
It doesn't matter if they pass you then, you know and they know that you could toast them again any time you choose
And many thanks to the F360 (complete with monstrous Tubi exhaust) for 'razzing' from the lights on the East Lancs last Sunday (all 4 times, as I eventually caught back up with him again, it made my 8 year old lads day!
Edited by Fastra on Monday 3rd September 13:12
Edited by Fastra on Monday 3rd September 13:13
cslgirl said:
Unfortunately no..... noone ever wants to play with me Which I find quite depressing sometimes.
Well you did pick a car that, to most people, looks the same as a saloon that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Most people probably think it's a chavved up 318 until it's too late. Which I find quite depressing sometimes. ETA: Try painting it lime green or something
Edited by kambites on Monday 3rd September 13:14
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