Why do Porsches (and the ilk) send other drivers into rages??

[dulmer]

This morning I was driving into work minding my own business, when this young guy in a Ford Fiesta decides that he needs to tailgate me. I'm on a two-lane roadway that is quite congested during rush hour traffic. When I finally was able to move over to the right lane, he's waving his fist and me and yelling something (though I couldn't hear him as he didn't put his window down and neither had I). I guess I was not driving fast enough for him (this despite the fact everyone travels at a rate of about 20 over the speed limit to begin with). I find this is an all-too frequent reaction from people to drive aggressively around "nice" cars. Are they really jealous of a 20-year old, $10K car?? This only seems to occur on this one portion of my commute, where I notice many people driving very aggressively and with little regard to the people around them. Maybe I just don't want to accept that the general populace is moving in this direction in terms of driving etiquette...

[Quadcammer]

I have never noticed that in my boxster or 911 turbos.

[Nine8Six]

Boy, what happened to our little happy Canadians man. CBC News going too strong on the general population?! lolll

Tension is high these days, got to be strong to remain sane. Nothing to do with Porsche cars imo. Insanes-a-lot-out-there. You just can't avoid that crappy living flesh (apparently) so.... put on your favorite tune and pump up the volume a notch next time it happens - as in "ignore", don't let it get to you.

Try this, works every time for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f0LEoDwFO8

[Nine8Six]

Few years back, the day I left Les Canadiens de Montreal hockey and all my girlfriends crying behind, that's what a "Road Rage" looked like in Canada.

[bwdz]

I think you are overthinking it, it happens all the time no matter what you are driving as I see it regularly.

[dulmer]

Originally Posted by bwdz

I think you are overthinking it, it happens all the time no matter what you are driving as I see it regularly.

Unfortunately, I think you are right...


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[stephen wilson]

Originally Posted by bwdz

I think you are overthinking it, it happens all the time no matter what you are driving as I see it regularly.

Maybe in his case, but My wife has even noticed "car prejudice". I've had co-workers tell me that they tend to "snub" high end cars like BMW and Merc's. I just had a VW try and race my last week, that doesn't happen with either of my trucks............

Granted, I agree the general aggressive driving and ass-hattery is rampant no matter what you are driving.

[san rensho]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Few years back, the day I left Les Canadiens de Montreal hockey and all my girlfriends crying behind, that's what a "Road Rage" looked like in Canada.

That video is absolutely hilarious. It reminds me of when I lived in Wisconsin. Canadians, Minnesota ins and Wisconsinites are all cut from the same cloth. Well mannered to a fault.

[thstone]

I'm sure that everyone has a different experience but I'm with Dulmer on this, yes it happens in my other cars, but not nearly as often as my Porsche.

Except in my Boxster race car, everyone leaves me completely alone in that car, so I guess the takeaway is to drive a race car.

[Fintro11]

I don't have that problem over here as there is not that much traffic. I do on occasion have people tail gate me / pass me on residential streets, keep in mind I drive 10 over the posted limit, if some one is right on my ass I let off on the gas and coast to the speed limit, if they still don't take the hint I slow to 10 under. Once they back off a bit I go back to doing 10 over.

The big problem here is jacked up trucks with hid kits and led light bars all around them. They like to turn on their rear light bars when it's night to try blind you. They really do not like Fred's projectors when they go into high ram mode...

[JayG]

Originally Posted by Fintro11

I don't have that problem over here as there is not that much traffic. I do on occasion have people tail gate me / pass me on residential streets, keep in mind I drive 10 over the posted limit, if some one is right on my ass I let off on the gas and coast to the speed limit, if they still don't take the hint I slow to 10 under. Once they back off a bit I go back to doing 10 over.

The big problem here is jacked up trucks with hid kits and led light bars all around them. They like to turn on their rear light bars when it's night to try blind you. They really do not like Fred's projectors when they go into high ram mode...

You sir are being an ass. All slowing down does is escalate the issue

If someone wants to go faster than you, just move over and let them pass.

I tend to drove a bit fast and if someone comes up on me, I move over and let them go by. I ask that others do the same when I come up on them. Unfortunately there are lots of rude and inconsiderate drivers that don't move over or worse slow down as they think that is teaching the person behind a lesson. All it is doing is showing you are an inconsiderate asshat.

I have no problem with someone driving slow or at a speed they are comfortable at. I don't expect nor want them to match my speed, especially when I am in one of my Op-cars and they are in a Prius or whatever. Drive what ever speed you want, just don't hold up people behind

All they have to do is move over and let the faster traffic pass. In many states, that is even the law.

Lets face it, a Porsche is safer at 20+ over than most cars are at the speed limit

[Fintro11]

Originally Posted by JayG

You sir are being an ass. All slowing down does is escalate the issue

If someone wants to go faster than you, just move over and let them pass.

I tend to drove a bit fast and if someone comes up on me, I move over and let them go by. I ask that others do the same when I come up on them. Unfortunately there are lots of rude and inconsiderate drivers that don't move over or worse slow down as they think that is teaching the person behind a lesson. All it is doing is showing you are an inconsiderate asshat.

I have no problem with someone driving slow or at a speed they are comfortable at. I don't expect nor want them to match my speed, especially when I am in one of my Op-cars and they are in a Prius or whatever. Drive what ever speed you want, just don't hold up people behind

All they have to do is move over and let the faster traffic pass. In many states, that is even the law.

Lets face it, a Porsche is safer at 20+ over than most cars are at the speed limit

By all means I will be a miserable ass to people that on a double lane residential road , they are on your ass driving side to side.
I do however move over if you come up on me fast and not tail gate me I'll have no problem pulling over to the side of the road to let you pass. Same thing for when I am in a new area or looking for an address I will pull over and let people pass.

I live right by my kids school and you know who the worst offenders are? Mothers dropping off their kids at school. Try obey they school zone limit and they are on your ass or pass you in the oncoming lane.

Any four lane road I always keep in the right lane except for passing people.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Fintro11

Any four lane road I always keep in the right lane except for passing people.

Renegade pickup trucks, criminal moms, sounds like south Indonesia

Problem with "resisting" is you just never know what's coming your way. Could be the guy who is trying to get his wife to maternity, or Ms Seagul White below. In both cases my best advice to you is accel until there is a safe pass or get the f out of their way. Put on the meditation music for safe recovery.

You goin' to brake 10 less on this guy? Got bad news for you, won't work lolll

[JayG]

Originally Posted by Fintro11

By all means I will be a miserable ass to people that on a double lane residential road , they are on your ass driving side to side.
I do however move over if you come up on me fast and not tail gate me I'll have no problem pulling over to the side of the road to let you pass. Same thing for when I am in a new area or looking for an address I will pull over and let people pass.

I live right by my kids school and you know who the worst offenders are? Mothers dropping off their kids at school. Try obey they school zone limit and they are on your ass or pass you in the oncoming lane.

Any four lane road I always keep in the right lane except for passing people.

I should have read it better.

Residential street, they are worse than an ass, not you

Yea, Soccer Moms are the worst

For tailgaters, brake light check them a few times, they generally will drop back

[Nine8Six]

Stay alive every one! No Road Rage (Ms Seagul's got some crazy fingernails)

Just wanted to add.... that ... it wouldn't be a 1st time for me to see a guy in a Porsche... who could have done better with a Public Transport Card.

Oh and, Porsche family secret: +50% of the time when ppl tailgate you, its because they want to race with you no harm

[Fintro11]

Originally Posted by JayG

I should have read it better.

Residential street, they are worse than an ass, not you

Yea, Soccer Moms are the worst

For tailgaters, brake light check them a few times, they generally will drop back

I use the rear fog light it works well

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by JayG

You sir are being an ass. All slowing down does is escalate the issue



If someone wants to go faster than you, just move over and let them pass.



I tend to drove a bit fast and if someone comes up on me, I move over and let them go by. I ask that others do the same when I come up on them. Unfortunately there are lots of rude and inconsiderate drivers that don't move over or worse slow down as they think that is teaching the person behind a lesson. All it is doing is showing you are an inconsiderate asshat.



I have no problem with someone driving slow or at a speed they are comfortable at. I don't expect nor want them to match my speed, especially when I am in one of my Op-cars and they are in a Prius or whatever. Drive what ever speed you want, just don't hold up people behind



All they have to do is move over and let the faster traffic pass. In many states, that is even the law.



Lets face it, a Porsche is safer at 20+ over than most cars are at the speed limit

+986 to the above post.

That being said I'll admit to some ass like behavior myself. I tend to drive in a German manner. Back roads I keep my distance and when I get a broken yellow *and a clear line of site (I swear there are so many areas I can see for miles with no passing and others completely blind where it's broken)* I pass slower traffic.

On the highway I prefer the middle lane if 3 and the right if 2 but move to the left when passing. If I am passing I do so briskly to move myself to a pocket with no traffic. Taking my Porsche (now this is only in Mexico that I do this) to 90 plus on a straight open section of interstate to pass and move back to 80 or so in the right with no traffic around me is best for me and everyone else as long as signals are used etc etc.

Now what I do that is immoral is not tailgating but rather if I see someone riding in the left lane. Not using it for passing and either myself or see others have to pass them on the right. I at times will once I get around them on the right, (after providing ample time for them to merge right which speed yellow usually helps out with.) move back into the left.

I place my car infront of theirs and slow to usually about 5 under or less if needed so that the idiot usually talking on their phone just cursing in the left at 2 over blocking the entire system will finally move right. The moment I see their signal on I downshift speed back up to 10 over and merge back to the middle lane. With the left lane now clear.

[Oldcarguy]

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I need to vent because this just happened to my wife again yesterday.

We've had our home in the Catskills since 2007. Retired here full time in late 2015. Love it. State Hwy 28 is our main access to practically everyplace. Beautiful two lane road through the mountains, speed limit 55 mph for the most part, 35 / 45 mph through the towns. I race karts and we both do HPDEs and AX, so we are not street racers.

We never tailgate, pass only under safe conditions in legal passing zones, and we always signal our passes. On Hwy 28 we generally drive 60 - 65 in the 55 zones. Never speed through the towns.

Now that we are on Hwy 28 regularly, we often encounter other locals driving 35 - 50 mph max in the 55 mph zones. We always wait patiently at a safe following distance and then pass when legal and safe. More often than not, one or more of the following happens when we pass (no matter if we are in the Explo Sport, S5, or 986, or if it is me or my wife driving):

1) the driver we are passing sees us and floors it to try and keep us from passing (yeah, good luck with that)
2) honks and / or gives us an obscene gesture, shakes their fist, etc. out their window as we pass.
3) speeds up and tailgates us (and I mean I can't see their license plate) until one or the other of us turn off.

These are not people on weekend sightseeing drives (we get a lot of that), this usually occurs during the week. In all my decades of driving in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Europe and SE Asia, this is the most consistently bizarre behavior I have ever seen in the US.

Frankly, if these people exhibited this behavior in Texas they would either be eventually shot or run off the road. No kidding.

We just ignore them except for the few times they have actually followed us, then I pull into the first available LEO establishment and they bug off. I never try to outrun or otherwise engage the tailgaters.

So many angry? resentful? people in such a beautiful place. We don't know what's going on with them, but we're glad that we live in our world instead of theirs.

[Disaster]

Originally Posted by Oldcarguy

1) the driver we are passing sees us and floors it to try and keep us from passing (yeah, good luck with that)
2) honks and / or gives us an obscene gesture, shakes their fist, etc. out their window as we pass.
3) speeds up and tailgates us (and I mean I can't see their license plate) until one or the other of us turn off.

Yep. I've seen this behavior multiple times. I'm not sure if sometimes passing a person doesn't "wake them up" and then they speed up to the speed limit...and then often beyond because...well...people are competitive and don't like to be passed.

It is bizarre behavior whatever the reason.

On a recent trip in the Allegheny Mountains in PA, (might have been rte. 219) I came popped over a hill only to see a guy tooling along at maybe 5 under the speed limit in a Dodge Magnum wagon. It was a road with lots of fun curves which I didn't want to take at 5 mph below the yellow signs.

I moved into the oncoming lane and stayed on the throttle. Should have been a smooth pass...really long straight away going into a blind corner. As I came up on him he started accelerating and the 15 mph difference in our speed changed to zero. I pressed the pedal to the floor and he matched my speed. There was no way I could out accelerate a Dodge Magnum but I thought he might back off. He didn't till we were well within triple digits and a car appeared coming around the corner.

I decided to stay on it and enjoy the road. It was great fun driving on this almost empty road except for him. He would drop way back in corners but come on like a locomotive every straight stretch. Finally he passed me at what must have been close to his tire limit speed on a really a really long straight stretch. I dropped my speed and never saw him again.

I hope he didn't go over the edge of the road somewhere.

[Deserion]

I used to get that sort of behavior from others. I think I was driving it when I got finger-wagged by someone who cut in front of me because I honked? The hell?