Do the English have a jealous attitude to cars...
Discussion
...compared to their European/US counterparts.
There seem to be a lot of stories on PH of individuals in nice cars (especially new cabrios) who have received abuse for no discernible reason than simply having said nice car. This is almost certainly owing to jealousy on the part of the abuser.
Having spent some time in various European countries (and the US) my impression is that this kind of attitude doesn't really exist (or is at least far far rarer than over here). There, expensive/flash cars are viewed in a positive light as it suggests the owner has worked hard for it. They are considered aspiration (especially so in the US) and something to work to.
Seeing the response on an Italian street as a Ferrari goes past is great - smiles and waves (from all ages). Yet I suspect if the Ferrari was going down a street over here, the waves would be somewhat 'different'.
Why such a difference? Ideas/opinions?
There seem to be a lot of stories on PH of individuals in nice cars (especially new cabrios) who have received abuse for no discernible reason than simply having said nice car. This is almost certainly owing to jealousy on the part of the abuser.
Having spent some time in various European countries (and the US) my impression is that this kind of attitude doesn't really exist (or is at least far far rarer than over here). There, expensive/flash cars are viewed in a positive light as it suggests the owner has worked hard for it. They are considered aspiration (especially so in the US) and something to work to.
Seeing the response on an Italian street as a Ferrari goes past is great - smiles and waves (from all ages). Yet I suspect if the Ferrari was going down a street over here, the waves would be somewhat 'different'.
Why such a difference? Ideas/opinions?
Berlin has a problem with nutters torching flash cars. "left wing crime"
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518...
geeteeaye said:
I wonder how many incidents of random abuse, actually aren't that random.
See your point, but I have done nothing different since getting my Z4 than I did when I drove my older MG TF and I never got abuse shouted at me in that (apart from one pissed idiot in town trying to jump in it one night). I can only put it down to jealousy and small minded individuals...Over the years I have rented quite a few 'decent' US cars on US jaunts from transams and firebirds (in the 80s) through mustangs (hardtops. ragtops and shelby), corvettes and last year a camaro. I've lost count of the positive comments I've had at fuel stops, diners, supermarket car parks etc and never had anything negative.
Quite the opposite in the UK [not just limited to England
]. I drove 911s for a number of years quite some time ago and don't recall any positve comments apart from other 'enthusiasts' at club meetings, runs, track events etc. I do recall coming back to find them having been spat on, the remenants of fish suppers/donner kebabs emptied over them etc. I've had stones thrown at them and various hand signals, none of the complementary. Moved to TVRs and nowhere near as bad, but still very few positive comments from joe public; most along the lines of 'doesn't it break down a lot'.
Ran the pick-up as a 'daily driver' for 5 years or so now, so out of the loop re decent cars most of the time, and on the limited use I give it the Masser also seems to escape negativity - but again I can't recall much in the way of positive comments. The Tuscan...well folks just don't know how to take it! But I remain less comfortable driving a 'decent' car in the UK as I am in the US.
In the US I even had a guy sleeping rough get up and want to talk about the Corvette I had [rented]. Curiously though the Camaro got more folks praising it than the Corvettes did.
Quite the opposite in the UK [not just limited to England
]. I drove 911s for a number of years quite some time ago and don't recall any positve comments apart from other 'enthusiasts' at club meetings, runs, track events etc. I do recall coming back to find them having been spat on, the remenants of fish suppers/donner kebabs emptied over them etc. I've had stones thrown at them and various hand signals, none of the complementary. Moved to TVRs and nowhere near as bad, but still very few positive comments from joe public; most along the lines of 'doesn't it break down a lot'.Ran the pick-up as a 'daily driver' for 5 years or so now, so out of the loop re decent cars most of the time, and on the limited use I give it the Masser also seems to escape negativity - but again I can't recall much in the way of positive comments. The Tuscan...well folks just don't know how to take it! But I remain less comfortable driving a 'decent' car in the UK as I am in the US.
In the US I even had a guy sleeping rough get up and want to talk about the Corvette I had [rented]. Curiously though the Camaro got more folks praising it than the Corvettes did.
geeteeaye said:
I wonder how many incidents of random abuse, actually aren't that random.
Said innocent may be:
driving like a t
t
previously seen driving like a tt
known to be a tt
looking like a complete tt
being a sad poser tt
having ttty music at 120 Db
etc...
Remember when Victor Meldrew tipped his rubbish in the wrong convertible. Said innocent may be:
driving like a t
tpreviously seen driving like a t
tknown to be a t
tlooking like a complete t
tbeing a sad poser t
thaving t
tty music at 120 Dbetc...
In France & Germany I had a fairly nice looking car for my age (FTO), had lots of positive comments about it. In the UK I was generally abused by fktards.
The UK has a real problem with envy I think, rather than thinking "If I work hard, I could have that", many of the populace seem to think cheated that they do not have nice things handed to them on a plate.
ktards.The UK has a real problem with envy I think, rather than thinking "If I work hard, I could have that", many of the populace seem to think cheated that they do not have nice things handed to them on a plate.
The problem isn't just an English problem, it's found here in Scotland (and probably Wales, NI and Ireland too).
The yanks pat each other on the back in recognition of success, we look for ways to put someone down, tax them, uncover ugly truths about them, sneer at what they drive or where they live - we're an odd bunch really.
The yanks pat each other on the back in recognition of success, we look for ways to put someone down, tax them, uncover ugly truths about them, sneer at what they drive or where they live - we're an odd bunch really.
I do not think it is just envy. I sincerely believe it's an indicator of a nation in decline with an increasing segment of the population who simply do not get it and have 'problems', often self inflicted or just plain uncaring ignorance. We excel at getting far too many things wrong and failure to nip things in the bud at an early age. Often with the best of intentions.
I'm convinced things will continue to get worse here in the UK.
It did not used to be like that.
Lost count of the times my own and family's cars or motor cycles have been spat on or vandalised and things stolen. £500 quids damage to the car's windows and door to check the contents of the glove box and steal a few old CDs. "MG Crap" deeply scrathed over the car's bonnet whilst parked inthe city's main multi-storey car aprk. A cigarette stubbed out and left on my new MG ZS's spoiler leaving a blister in the paint whilst a heighbour's new 3-series untouched. Selective anti-Britishness... who knows with these types who are breeding at an alarming rate... often state supported breeding .....
We are all doomed of course.
There, that's cheered you all up no end...
.
I'm convinced things will continue to get worse here in the UK.
It did not used to be like that.
Lost count of the times my own and family's cars or motor cycles have been spat on or vandalised and things stolen. £500 quids damage to the car's windows and door to check the contents of the glove box and steal a few old CDs. "MG Crap" deeply scrathed over the car's bonnet whilst parked inthe city's main multi-storey car aprk. A cigarette stubbed out and left on my new MG ZS's spoiler leaving a blister in the paint whilst a heighbour's new 3-series untouched. Selective anti-Britishness... who knows with these types who are breeding at an alarming rate... often state supported breeding .....
We are all doomed of course.
There, that's cheered you all up no end...
.
I would say that we absolutely do but it tends to be the obvious new car/obvious sports car envy..I.e drive a lotus Carlton, audio rs2 etc and most people will look at the reg plate year and assume you're a member of the dhss brigade.
On the flip side of the coin I'd say we also suffer from the 'look at my material possession - I'm better than you as my car cost more money/is newer'
Sorry to stereotype but over the last week whilst it has been sunny I have lost count of the number of middle aged women in audi cabriolets that have clearly just read that famous tome 'arrogance and vanity - a users guide' and put it into action at every opportunity by giving you that nose in the air, displeased look, that your vehicle is gracing the queens highway at the same time as theirs. (rant over)..
On the flip side of the coin I'd say we also suffer from the 'look at my material possession - I'm better than you as my car cost more money/is newer'
Sorry to stereotype but over the last week whilst it has been sunny I have lost count of the number of middle aged women in audi cabriolets that have clearly just read that famous tome 'arrogance and vanity - a users guide' and put it into action at every opportunity by giving you that nose in the air, displeased look, that your vehicle is gracing the queens highway at the same time as theirs. (rant over)..
Definately!
Reminds me of a topic we had on this before this video was posted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcYy62Gzq7w
Anyone brave enough to do this in a english town/city centre?
Reminds me of a topic we had on this before this video was posted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcYy62Gzq7w
Anyone brave enough to do this in a english town/city centre?
geeteeaye said:
I wonder how many incidents of random abuse, actually aren't that random.
Said innocent may be:
driving like a tt
previously seen driving like a tt
known to be a tt
looking like a complete tt
being a sad poser tt
having ttty music at 120 Db
etc...
There's a few words that you used that some people may think you could describe yourelf with.Said innocent may be:
driving like a t
tpreviously seen driving like a t
tknown to be a t
tlooking like a complete t
tbeing a sad poser t
thaving t
tty music at 120 Dbetc...
I think the dating reg plates has a lot to do with it as newer is always seen as better. Sadly It doesn't matter what you are comparing it too a fresh out of the showroom Kia always is better.
As others have said people in th uk resent other people having anything that they haven't. How hard you work for things is irrelevant if you have got something that looks like it might have cost a few quid then apparently it's fine to damage it, as if you can afford to buy it in the 1st place then you can afford to fix it it's not the done thing to praise others for their hard work, anyone that has done better than you is a wker.
As others have said people in th uk resent other people having anything that they haven't. How hard you work for things is irrelevant if you have got something that looks like it might have cost a few quid then apparently it's fine to damage it, as if you can afford to buy it in the 1st place then you can afford to fix it
it's not the done thing to praise others for their hard work, anyone that has done better than you is a wker.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff