Passenger reactions....
Discussion
Do you ever inadvertently scare your passengers, my mother in law cannot cope with any acceleration or cornering forces even when driving well inside the sensible envelope, she doesnt seem to like turbo type power, I think as it comes in without a load of revs to warn you, its kind of like being on a plane.
Conversely, do you ever have a mate, aquaintance in the car and give it some only for them to continue talking like nothing is happening or is it just my car isnt fast enough ?
Conversely, do you ever have a mate, aquaintance in the car and give it some only for them to continue talking like nothing is happening or is it just my car isnt fast enough ?
Grandad mode on 
I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
Whenever I've been a passenger in a car full of people and the driver is doing his best to demonstrate his car's abilities, I tend to think they're a bit of a dick to be honest. Passengers are the driver's responsibility.
I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
Whenever I've been a passenger in a car full of people and the driver is doing his best to demonstrate his car's abilities, I tend to think they're a bit of a dick to be honest. Passengers are the driver's responsibility.
If you drive something quite quick you can get used to driving quite a bit quicker than your passengers might be used to and overtaking etc. where they might not have in their own daily transport. Dad still sometimes asks if I'm in a hurry for something even when I'm on best chauffeur mode lol, agree with above though best to get your passengers there in one piece so always keep the fun driving to when I am on my own.
Edited by Crusoe on Thursday 17th June 13:07
Always try to make my driving as smooth and as safe as possible when passengers are in my car... But my mum still managed to act as if my gear change is very julty!!! with no-one elses but her head bopping forward and backwards! in the snow my sister freaked out a few times when the back went out a little... But usually no, not a problem!
Yes 
I can still remember the complete look of abject horror and fear on a former colleagues face as I got my Ruf 911 ever so slightly sideways after dropping a rear tyre into a pot hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6'3" 17st Russ was physically shaking when we got out . . . . . later on that day I was taken to one side and asked if I was aware that he'd been suffering panic attacks whilst driving / in cars (no I wasn’t) and that he'd come very close to losing it on a rather large scale that morning
post work trips to the pub were on me for a month or two afterwards to make up for it!
I can still remember the complete look of abject horror and fear on a former colleagues face as I got my Ruf 911 ever so slightly sideways after dropping a rear tyre into a pot hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6'3" 17st Russ was physically shaking when we got out . . . . . later on that day I was taken to one side and asked if I was aware that he'd been suffering panic attacks whilst driving / in cars (no I wasn’t) and that he'd come very close to losing it on a rather large scale that morning
post work trips to the pub were on me for a month or two afterwards to make up for it!durbster said:
Grandad mode on
I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
Whenever I've been a passenger in a car full of people and the driver is doing his best to demonstrate his car's abilities, I tend to think they're a bit of a dick to be honest. Passengers are the driver's responsibility.
Yes, I agree, but people are all so different you never know what the reaction will be to what you think is normal, sometimes passengers expect a bit of a demo, petrolhead mates when you get a new car for instance.I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
Whenever I've been a passenger in a car full of people and the driver is doing his best to demonstrate his car's abilities, I tend to think they're a bit of a dick to be honest. Passengers are the driver's responsibility.
durbster said:
Grandad mode on
I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
Whenever I've been a passenger in a car full of people and the driver is doing his best to demonstrate his car's abilities, I tend to think they're a bit of a dick to be honest. Passengers are the driver's responsibility.
I agree. I must admit though if I had a really powerful car I'd couldn't resist putting my foot to the floor every now and again on straight sections of road just to see the look on my mother/grandmothers faces.I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
Whenever I've been a passenger in a car full of people and the driver is doing his best to demonstrate his car's abilities, I tend to think they're a bit of a dick to be honest. Passengers are the driver's responsibility.
There's usually a period of expectation-readjustment if I'm giving someone a lift in the Caterham for the first time. Most people aren't used to a car that can accelerate, brake and corner like the 7 so their judgement of "safe" and "possible" needs some updating before they relax.
Once they are relaxed I can then really scare them
Once they are relaxed I can then really scare them
I've scared a few passengers.
My Mother not long after having some new tyres fitted. I wanted to see how good they were compared to the old Dunlops so I took a fairly tight roundabout at a decent pace and found them to offer plenty of grip. She however, hated my little test and told me not to do that on the following 3 roundabouts...spoilsport.
My friend's Mother was terrified when I accelerated up to 30 (yes 30!) miles per hour in my C1. I think the high revs gave her the feeling of more speed despite the fact I wasn't driving it hard at all really. Whenever she is in my car now I've got to be as gentle as I can as she doesn't enjoy the sensation of acceleration, strictly keeping off the turbo is boring as hell
More recently after picking up another friend's Dad and his mate, I was told to "boot it" as he'd noticed some pull when I was in 4th. Drop down to second, quick scan around to make sure the road is clear and I floored it. He did ask me not to do it again
Some people just aren't used to speed or rather hard acceleration and I don't have a particularly fast car, well not fast enough for me anyway!
My Mother not long after having some new tyres fitted. I wanted to see how good they were compared to the old Dunlops so I took a fairly tight roundabout at a decent pace and found them to offer plenty of grip. She however, hated my little test and told me not to do that on the following 3 roundabouts...spoilsport.
My friend's Mother was terrified when I accelerated up to 30 (yes 30!) miles per hour in my C1. I think the high revs gave her the feeling of more speed despite the fact I wasn't driving it hard at all really. Whenever she is in my car now I've got to be as gentle as I can as she doesn't enjoy the sensation of acceleration, strictly keeping off the turbo is boring as hell
More recently after picking up another friend's Dad and his mate, I was told to "boot it" as he'd noticed some pull when I was in 4th. Drop down to second, quick scan around to make sure the road is clear and I floored it. He did ask me not to do it again
Some people just aren't used to speed or rather hard acceleration and I don't have a particularly fast car, well not fast enough for me anyway!
Few years back took mate and his missus to the 'ring.
In the queue to get into the cafe car park we swapped around, dived out for a leak, I went and got some tickets and we progressed.
The mates wife is, tbh, a bit of a wimp.
As I got back into the car and my friend ran into the loos the queue disappeared and I found myself at the barrier, mates wife in the passenger seat asking 'Is this the entrance to the car park?'
Roughly 10 minutes later.
'No, this is the entrance to the car park, and would you please stop screaming?'
Mate, in car park needing another piss from laughing so much.
In the queue to get into the cafe car park we swapped around, dived out for a leak, I went and got some tickets and we progressed.
The mates wife is, tbh, a bit of a wimp.
As I got back into the car and my friend ran into the loos the queue disappeared and I found myself at the barrier, mates wife in the passenger seat asking 'Is this the entrance to the car park?'
Roughly 10 minutes later.
'No, this is the entrance to the car park, and would you please stop screaming?'
Mate, in car park needing another piss from laughing so much.
A friend asked me to 'drive him really really quickly' in my turbo'd CRX down a road I know like the back of my hand.
I was concentrating hard and he wasn't screaming so I just carried on, we stopped 7 miles later and he got out the car shaking like a leaf and actually sobbing, he didn't say anything while I was driving and after about 5 minutes he had recovered and said he really enjoyed it.
I was concentrating hard and he wasn't screaming so I just carried on, we stopped 7 miles later and he got out the car shaking like a leaf and actually sobbing, he didn't say anything while I was driving and after about 5 minutes he had recovered and said he really enjoyed it.
Back when we were 17/18 my friend used to drive his Uno like he stole it. The most memorable incident was when the car was understeering round a roundabout on full lock and by pure luck we ploughed straight through a bus layby which happened to be in the perfect location. The lad in the front had a death grip on the dashboard by this point and shouted "fuuuuuuccckk!!!!" whereas I just laughed it off.
My girlfriend totally confuses revs with speed. I was accelerating onto a dual carriageway once, and she started screaming "Slow down!"
What the hell? We were doing 65mph. The fact that I was in second gear was what I think she was really upset about. Thing is, I was borrowing a 350Z for the day and it was the first chance I had got to run it through the revs.
Other than that, I don't really think scaring passengers is a very mature or sensible thing to do.
What the hell? We were doing 65mph. The fact that I was in second gear was what I think she was really upset about. Thing is, I was borrowing a 350Z for the day and it was the first chance I had got to run it through the revs.
Other than that, I don't really think scaring passengers is a very mature or sensible thing to do.
Yes to both cases - people without experience of fast cars can be blown away by performance and corner speeds even when you think you're just cruising, and I also know people who even if I was to drive like an absolute lunatic would just grin away and enjoy the ride.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 17th June 13:16
durbster said:
I think it's something of an delusion to think you will impress your passengers by driving like a nutter, unless they've actually asked you to. It's a bit like playing music loudly, bordering on anti-social.
I don't think anyone was saying that. The OP even used the word inadvertantly. Had an old colleague that loved everyone knowing he had the fastest car in the office. Was a Seat Ibiza 1.8 20v T with like 150bhp or something silly.
So I took him to lunch in the Integra one day.
"PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"
He didn't mention his Ibiza again
I must add though I was driving quite within safe margins of the car, myself and the road. He was just a big girl with a big mouth.
When I was younger and stupid, I was often keen to show people my car's performance. Now I don't bother unless I'm asked. Now I have a daughter, I'm looking at safe, sensible saloons.
So I took him to lunch in the Integra one day.
"PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"
He didn't mention his Ibiza again
I must add though I was driving quite within safe margins of the car, myself and the road. He was just a big girl with a big mouth.
When I was younger and stupid, I was often keen to show people my car's performance. Now I don't bother unless I'm asked. Now I have a daughter, I'm looking at safe, sensible saloons.
I can be quite a bad/nervous passeneger as I know a bit about driving cars quickly etc, and therefore I think I am quite good at judging the degree of how hard they are pushing themselves and the vehicle. I do get quite nervous if I think they are pushing harder than their abilities/vehicle/road conditions permit. (there's probably a bit of 'control freak' in me as awell)
For example, I've had a passenger lap of the Nurburgring in the Ring Taxi which did the BTG lap in about 8:20. I wasn't scared at all and loved every minute of it.
I then went out with a friend on his second ever lap of the ring and he probably did around a 10 minute lap and I was regularly reaching for the imaginary brake in the footwell, and genuinely felt quite uncomfortable.(particularly as I have a fair idea of which corners are coming when).
For example, I've had a passenger lap of the Nurburgring in the Ring Taxi which did the BTG lap in about 8:20. I wasn't scared at all and loved every minute of it.
I then went out with a friend on his second ever lap of the ring and he probably did around a 10 minute lap and I was regularly reaching for the imaginary brake in the footwell, and genuinely felt quite uncomfortable.(particularly as I have a fair idea of which corners are coming when).
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