Car model related bullying

Yarisbob

Hi All
I was wondering if anyone else has experience of bullying related to the type of car you drive...?

I have recently got a 05 Skoda Fabia Mk1 and it seems that a lot of other motorists seem to tailgate, cut up and generally be agressive twords me. I do drive in and around the appropriate speed limits whether in town or country but there will always be somebody right up my exhaust ..! I cant see the point of this behaviour or what is to be gained by it !

I never experienced this before even in my beloved Yaris or my missus 08 Civic. I cant seem to understand what is the problem.. The only thing I can think of is my car.. !

frozenfrozen

could your current car speedo be reading higher than your previous car? And you're actually doing 5-7km/h slower now?

afatbollix

Should have bought a BMW, People love BMW drivers.

chalky_ie

Sounds like you're a slow driver.

Atlantic Dawn

Could it be the mirrors are making the cars appear closer to you then they actually are?

TherapyBoy

It could be the car but there’s not a whole lot you can do other than change it.

Back when I was working I was regularly driving 3 vehicles - Mum’s old Peugeot 206, a Citroen Berlingo workvan & my own car, a very noticeable & very tasty looking classic BMW convertible. It was very obvious from driving the different cars that I was being treated differently depending on what I was driving.

In the Peugeot I always had someone nailed to my rear bumper, people would purposely cut me off or pull out in front of me like I was invisible. I was beeped for little to no reason, pedestrians would walk out in front of me to cross the road etc, all manner of bad road use was consistently thrown at me.

In the Berlingo I’d often see other white-van users stopping in slow moving traffic to let me out of a junction or giving me space to merge if needed. Normal non white-van type motorists would still occasionally cut me off or not leave space for me in heavy traffic etc but it was as if I was a member of a secret van-drivers society or something, me & my unnamed posse of fellow tradesmen!

Driving in the old BMW was an absolute dream. I had an odd run in over the years with the usual crazy loons but in general it seriously opened my eyes to how what car people see you driving in can affect their actions towards you. I was waved out of junctions, rarely tailgated & even had other motorists come to a full stop in an active lane of moving traffic to let me cross in front of them on more than one occasion. Anytime someone beeped me it was usually followed by a ‘thumbs up’ out the window & some randomer shouting “nice motor!” at me!

The BMW has since been changed for a VW R32 but most people just see a Golf so I’m back to having the loonies cut me up again!

Mjolnir

conor-w wrote: »

Sounds like you're a slow driver.

In or around would suggest that he's being polite about his slowness ha.

Op try ride a bike some people are just as$ hats

kirving

100% related to the car you drive. Changed from a black E-Class estate with dark tints to a silver F30 3 Series saloon.

Tailgated way more often in the smaller BMW, despite it being newer, more powerful, accelerates faster, and doesn't have a "Hybrid" badge on the back like the Merc did which you'd think would attract bad attention.

Checked the speedo vs GPS and both are about the same so it's not that (and yes, I'm in the left lane if not overtaking).

John_Rambo

Yep! Good observation Yarisbob. Due to unforeseen circumstances over the last few months I've driven a few cars from one end of the spectrum to the other. I drive them at the exact same speeds and the same driving style and experienced different driver attitudes.

New Landrover HSE disco - Never get tailgated.
Old Renault Clio - Up my arse, had people undertake me in the bus lane to get ahead and sit in front of me in traffic.
Honda Civic Type R GT - No hassle but one race contender.
Campervan - Can't wait to get ahead of me.
Landrover Defender (old style, old & rough) - ultimate respect even though it was slower than the Campervan, and the Clio.
Mercedes Vito - No hassle
Mercedes C300 hybrid - No hassle.

Wildly Boaring

Can't beat driving a van about the place.

There's an unspoken van drivers code. Getting out at junctions is a piece of piss. Nobody tailgates a van cus they can't see.

Have had a couple bmws and audis.
Always felt there were those who blankly refused to let me out.

OP yep I've driven the mother in law's Getz occasionally, deffo more tailgaters and cutting.

My filthy Leon estate gets no attention either way.

When we had bmw we never got let out at lights. Now with volvo, almost always let out.

Also, when I had a benz, tapped with doors every week. Not once in volvo

Wanderer2010

Im not sure if there is any truth in it but there seems to be an almost hostile reaction to Audi drivers and a character asassination based purely on this choice of vehicle; namely that Audi drivers are selfish and smug a$$holes who never indicate, park regularly in disabled spaces, are overly materialistic and judgmental and who turn their nose up at cars deemed lesser than theirs...

Not sure thats true based on choice of car as people come in all mannerisms and sizes and your car choice cant say that much about you?

Wanderer2010

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Im not sure if there is any truth in it but there seems to be an almost hostile reaction to Audi drivers and a character asassination based purely on this choice of vehicle; namely that Audi drivers are selfish and smug a$$holes who never indicate, park regularly in disabled spaces, are overly materialistic and judgmental and who turn their nose up at cars deemed lesser than theirs...

Not sure thats true based on choice of car as people come in all mannerisms and sizes and your car choice cant say that much about you?

Yeah, no. Audi drivers are just drivers that couldn't afford a bmw

hurleronditch

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Im not sure if there is any truth in it but there seems to be an almost hostile reaction to Audi drivers and a character asassination based purely on this choice of vehicle; namely that Audi drivers are selfish and smug a$$holes who never indicate, park regularly in disabled spaces, are overly materialistic and judgmental and who turn their nose up at cars deemed lesser than theirs...

Not sure thats true based on choice of car as people come in all mannerisms and sizes and your car choice cant say that much about you?

For me it’s the spec. If someone has bought a bog standard A3 or A4 (or 3 series etc), small engined diesel on the lowest spec going, just to be able to say they own an Audi, I immediately think that they’re a cnut. They won’t be getting out of a junction and I might not notice them trying to merge in slow moving traffic.

A complete over the top reaction I know, but I can’t help it

Andrew33

Yarisbob wrote: »

Hi All
I was wondering if anyone else has experience of bullying related to the type of car you drive...?

I have recently got a 05 Skoda Fabia Mk1 and it seems that a lot of other motorists seem to tailgate, cut up and generally be agressive twords me. I do drive in and around the appropriate speed limits whether in town or country but there will always be somebody right up my exhaust ..! I cant see the point of this behaviour or what is to be gained by it !

I never experienced this before even in my beloved Yaris or my missus 08 Civic. I cant seem to understand what is the problem.. The only thing I can think of is my car.. !

They're jealous. MK1 Fabia rocks. Proper proper little “hard as nails” car. No apology required.

Wishbone Ash

hurleronditch wrote: »

For me it’s the spec. If someone has bought a bog standard A3 or A4 (or 3 series etc), small engined diesel on the lowest spec going, just to be able to say they own an Audi, I immediately think that they’re a cnut....

You must lead such a sad and unfulfilled life to judge people that way.

For several years in the 1980's I lived a few doors down from a well known top rally driver. His everyday car was a first generation Fiat Panda which he pottered about in. (Although he made that Panda sing during the big snow of 1982).

hurleronditch

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

You must lead such a sad and unfulfilled life to judge people that way.

For several years in the 1980's I lived a few doors down from a well known top rally driver. His everyday car was a first generation Fiat Panda which he pottered about in. (Although he made that Panda sing during the big snow of 1982).

Oh don’t get me wrong, my life is happy and fulfilled, and I love seeing people drive a panda (I’ve owned one!), or a Yaris, or a 20 year old diesel Seat Leon, or a clapped out Toyota Carina. By most peoples standards my own current car is fairly ****e. It’s spending silly money to buy a new bog spec “premium” car just so they have a new Audi or Beemer in the driveway.

I know it’s petty, but that’s just how it is.

Wishbone Ash

hurleronditch wrote: »

... It’s spending silly money to buy a new bog spec “premium” car just so they have a new Audi or Beemer in the driveway....

I would be of that opinion also but it's their money. It was the 'they're a cnut' bit which I was directing my comment at. To judge someone by the car they drive just seems very shallow to me.

_Kaiser_

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yeah, no. Audi drivers are just drivers that couldn't afford a bmw

As someone who could have bought a BMW and has had several of them as loaners over the years, I will stick with my Audi

Bigger, better laid out controls, more modern feeling, and excellent for the motorway driving I do.

Wetbench4

I was only talking about this to my dad the other day, he drives an avensis, I drive a bmw f10 and my sister has a yaris, and a micra before. If one of us is down a car for service or whatever reason we borrow each others cars.

Anytime over the years I've had to borrow my sisters car, I felt like people would almost drive over me on the road, stuck up behind me, more aggressive towards me, its really noticeable. My dad said the exact same thing about borrowing my sisters car, the difference is crazy.

When i get back in the bimmer, its the opposite, people get out of my way.

hurleronditch

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I would be of that opinion also but it's their money. It was the 'they're a cnut' bit which I was directing my comment at. To judge someone by the car they drive just seems very shallow to me.

You are clearly right; it was more of a euphemism for my thoughts on that type of car buying behaviour than an actual feeling of disdain for the individuals involved.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

yaris and micra are usually driven by old folks or and / or older women -
easy to bully and not get the sh1te kicked out of you i think is the mentality of the bully here .

i get it sometimes in my mk3 sh1t3 fabia , i wish it was a mk1 . they were bullet proof
however mine is actually quite nippy and catches some bullys by surprise.

Calahonda52

A complete imagined reality, all of this.

You are making so much meaning out of everything

Question: why does it rain?

Answer: it just does

Yarisbob

Lads - Thanks a million for all your posts - I got a great laugh and its made my day.

Sorry im not getting in to the BMW vs Audi argument ... This argument is rolling from the 80's. All Im saying if its a fancy version of both them they dont engage in such unsavoury behaviour ...!

I did check my speedo at a stage as I thought that my non standard tyre size 205/50 x 16 vs 215/45 x 16 was causing an error - I used an app (strava but didnt record the data as it would have given the cycling community a heart attack) and it was near enough probably an error of 3km

You are right about the van thing as I had a VW Caddy behind me at a correct distance for 15km yesterday. He had a 2-3 sec gap on me.

I did fail to mention earlier that my Mk1 Fabi is a PD130 vRS. The exact type of vehicle that this corrupt government is trying to get off the road. Perhaps its the envoirnmental police and tree huggers that are tailgating and cutting me up.

My commute is 50+k each way with motorway and backroads. The wee car does it all so well. Nimble, easy on fuel, cost me buttons, cheap and plentiful parts, cheap insurance and great pull. The tax is the only downside but id rather pay €673 for a fun car rather than €160 for a PCP financed Ecobox that I absolutely hate...!!

Fitz II

I dont really give other drivers much consideration, if they are faster I let them past and forget it, if they are slow I get past them and forget about it If you are feeling bullied you might be feeling nervous on the road. Generally people only tailgate Lexus is200lux editions in ireland trying to get a look.

frozenfrozen

It was an is250 and I still haven't forgotten the glorious day it graced our roads

selectamatic

Yarisbob wrote: »

.

I did fail to mention earlier that my Mk1 Fabi is a PD130 vRS. The exact type of vehicle that this corrupt government is trying to get off the road. Perhaps its the envoirnmental police and tree huggers that are tailgating and cutting me up.

Straight pipe, letter box tip tilted upwards, hardcut limiter and a smoke map should sort out your tailgating problem

On a serious note the whole smaller car being bullied thing I generally find it is sorted by driving more aggressively. Kind of a pain though if you're simply settling into a monotonous commute.

I'm currently driving the quintessential aul man farmers e11 corolla saloon and while this phenomenon is not really noticeable on the small country roads I normally drive, it can be when I venture further afield. Usually sorted by a few bould overtaking manoeuvres and or when other drivers realise there's 2 or 3 questionable looking bucks in their mid 20s in the car instead of some aul fella or older woman.

Wishbone Ash

Yarisbob wrote: »

... I used an app (strava but didnt record the data as it would have given the cycling community a heart attack)...

You can record as 'private' so it won't get listed with others and then won't give us a heart attack.

maddness

Yes 100%. My previous car was a very large salon and my current car is a small hatchback and the reaction of other users is very different. The fact that the current car has a large engine and a lot of performance is irrelevant, the majority see a small car and will try and push you off the road.