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Post by johnc on Jul 18, 2019 15:36:26 GMT
Strangely, since getting the M5 I think I have probably driven more slowly on many occasions than I would have in the past: firstly the exhaust note does tend to let everyone around what you are up to if you floor it and secondly I can bask in the knowledge that no matter how hard 99% of the other cars on the road try, I could have them if required.
However I have noticed the road behaviour of different types of driver in response to me being on the road:
Recently I have had 3 S3's, an R32, an ST Fiesta with drain pipe exhaust and a Golf R either take off from the lights beside me as if someone had lit the after-burner or come up alongside me for a second or two and then floored it. Most of these idiots were in 30 or 40mph limits and most of them probably doubled that speed as they disappeared with no response from me.
The next group are the Quasqai, Zafira, Kia, Toyota brigade who just don't see me and then get annoyed when they can't get past as and when they want - I had one this morning in a Mazda 5 who was trying to get past me despite the fact there were signs telling him for the past 1/4 mile that the outside lane was closed - he got quite irate as I increased my speed to match his and prevent him jumping the queue in front of me - the guy behind did the same and Mr Mazda was forced to brake hard and wait for a space.
The final group are the M3, M4, C63 etc group who don't bother to engage in any kind of willy waving and show a bit of mutual respect. Strangely these are the guys who used to blast away if they pulled up alongside me when I had the 4 Series and the S3's etc largely ignored me.
Human behaviour is sometimes very caveman like.
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Post by Martin on Jul 18, 2019 18:09:22 GMT
Sounds similar behaviour driving a Golf R attracts unfortunately, anything remotely ‘sporty’ seems compelled to have a go. It’s quite often something like a Fiesta ST, or a tarted up 500 with stupid exhaust, neither of which would stand a chance if I could be bothered. But the worst by miles is the M135i/M140i brigade. I reckon that at least 80% have to try and prove a point, which is usually their lack of understanding of what inappropriate use of speed means. It’s not just at lower speeds, it often happens on the A45 dual carriageway, I cruise past minding my own business and when they realise it’s an R they attach themselves to the bumper then blast off into 3 figure speeds.
The 7 is well under the radar of these morons thankfully.
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Post by Stuntman on Jul 22, 2019 21:16:50 GMT
The M3 seems to fly under the radar very nicely most of the time, which is helpful when I want to make proper progress. It's the sort of car that you can drive smoothly and carry big speed, yet also change down and nail a quick overtake.
The GT4 is an entirely different kettle of fish in terms of visibility and reactions from other road users. When I drive it, I either just bimble about and let everyone go past if they want to - or occasionally I will spend most of the drive giving it serious revs, revelling in the noise (and draining the tank).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2019 21:37:42 GMT
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Post by Tim on Jul 23, 2019 8:22:10 GMT
No one wants to play with me. I'm guessing they either know what it is and back off or think I'm a nob head with a Q3 who's put an RS badge on it? Or simply don't notice the badge and just assume its a Q3 with big wheels. Most of those things are usually spotted going very fast in town with a 30 or 40 something female behind the wheel and little evidence of driving skill or even general awareness. Perhaps if Audi had fitted more exhausts to the back - as they do with the non-Q models - you'd get more attention. I think in 12 years and 45k of driving the M5 I can only think of a couple of occasions when someone had a 'go' and one of those was a non-sporty SEAT Ibiza full of young lads. |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Jul 26, 2019 8:49:34 GMT
I've found car type and even colour can play a big part in how people react to you on the road. I've never had anything overtly "fast" like some others here, the V60 T6 being the quickest car I have ever owned but then being counteracted by being an ordinary-looking Volvo estate. Every now and agin it seemed to annoy people, presumably being bright red or something. Other cars that annoyed were black MX-5s, yet the silver ones I had were never an issue. The VRS seems to be under the radar mostly, perhaps partly because it looks like an unmarked police car. I tend to very rarely (can't recall the last time, in fact) I saw a gittishly-driven Porsche. Most seem to sit at 70 on the motorway, presumably safe in the knowledge that if they went fast they would attract the wrong sort and also knowing that they could really give it some, if they wanted to make a point!
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jul 26, 2019 10:27:17 GMT
The difference shown by other drivers between a 3 or 4 series saloon and Touring is remarkable. They see the saloon and they think "twat" and you don't get let out. They see the Touring and they think "what a nice well-balanced chap he is in his sensible, dog-friendly wagon, I'll let him out and give him right of way with a smile". Extraordinary.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2019 11:10:48 GMT
Was surprised by a Tesla Model X earlier in the week. There's a set of lights on the way back from the pool, and I only use the right hand lane if it's clear - the lanes merge soon thereafter and I don't like to barge in. The lights changed as I was coming to a standstill last time, so rather than be aggressive and overtake both waiting vehicles, I use brief throttle and blended in between them. I wonder whether the Tesla was doing his bit to put the Luddite in his place as he attached himself to my arse - only backing off when it became clear that I wasn't doing anything remotely similar to the car in front.
Re the original point - when your car gets old, people seem to assume that it has somehow become slow by dint of age (rather than being faster than ever).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2019 11:20:56 GMT
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Post by johnc on Jul 26, 2019 11:24:04 GMT
An M&S lorry driver waved me out of a side street this morning and then gave me a big smile and a thumbs up. It's nice to start the day on a positive note.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2019 14:21:05 GMT
Baboon in a 10-plate S4 today. Had just pulled out to go swimming and Mrs 12th pointed out the crack in the windscreen, so I was not in a good mood. Car also stone cold (relatively speaking), and I'm not over-revving a cold engine for anyone. We appeared behind me on slip road and latched on, so I opened a politeness gap that he had no option but to accept even at middling revs. Stopped accelerating to join dual and he gets to with half a car length, then veers from slip road to fast lane in one ill-judged lunge and off he goes. I am childish enough to have wished that I had been on my own, in a car without a damaged windscreen and a fully-warmed through engine...
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jul 26, 2019 16:13:00 GMT
Baboon in a 10-plate S4 today. Had just pulled out to go swimming and Mrs 12th pointed out the crack in the windscreen, so I was not in a good mood. Car also stone cold (relatively speaking), and I'm not over-revving a cold engine for anyone. We appeared behind me on slip road and latched on, so I opened a politeness gap that he had no option but to accept even at middling revs. Stopped accelerating to join dual and he gets to with half a car length, then veers from slip road to fast lane in one ill-judged lunge and off he goes. I am childish enough to have wished that I had been on my own, in a car without a damaged windscreen and a fully-warmed through engine... That would have made you as bad as him and you’re better than that. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2019 17:22:04 GMT
Not entirely sure about that! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2019 21:55:25 GMT
An RS-6 Avanti, undertook the traffic by driving in the bus lane into town and then stopped in the middle of the approximately 1.5 lanes to hang a right. Cue lots of people queued up waiting for a gap on traffic coming the other way. Obviously more important than everyone else and it was only my frozen food defrosting after all.
Pity he did not see the array of one fingered salutes out a whole line of opened windows. Womble.
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Post by Tim on Jul 29, 2019 12:11:40 GMT
I can confirm that if you're cruising at 90 leptons in a Toyota Alphard campervan and have the temerity to overtake a couple of young lads in an E90 M3 (in white, of course) then you will get shown that they could 'have you' if they so chose.
It did sound nice as it came blasting past before returning to its previous cruising speed.
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 29, 2019 14:44:52 GMT
But the worst by miles is the M135i/M140i brigade. I reckon that at least 80% have to try and prove a point, which is usually their lack of understanding of what inappropriate use of speed means. Sadly, as an ex-M135i owner (albeit not a guilty one), I must agree.
In the GC, I rarely get bothered, but the other day, a chap in a 3dr M140i who'd joined the A12 as we went past, duly planted his foot and went past and off at VMAX before backing off again in the middle distance. My wife was both bemused and highly unimpressed. When I explained that it was probably because we were in a 440i, she said with no little scorn "huh? it's not exactly a Ferrari"... Which I thought was a fair point.
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