I have now got rid of the Fiesta, and replaced it with a slightly larger, booted car. (Peugeot 306 diesel saloon). What a change. I had gotten quite used to being the 'target' of the local boy-racers in their hot hatches. I have only had it a couple of weeks, and also noticed a distinct reduction in the amount of tailgaters.
Change of Car - Change of Attitude
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02-05-09 11:42They still drive as close, Just that because you have a 'boot' now they appear further away :p
Seriously, I know what you mean. When you drive a smaller car people try to push you along in their large BMW's and volvo's even if you are driving at the maximum speed. -
GuestHometune02-05-09 17:06I used to get the tailgaters on the M1 and the lane hoggers too. That was until I bought a Toyota Supra turbo. The change in other drivers' attitudes is amazing. They don't force you along, they stay back. If they see you in their mirror they pull over immediately. You don't get 'raced' at the lights or carved up too. In some cultures, the word is 'respect'.
But now, I'm in a Ford P100, so back to constant grief... -
Guestwagolynn02-05-09 22:01I wonder if when using a ‘down market vehicle’ all the agro just bothers people more.
I remember, a long time ago, I tuned 850cc Minis for my own use. With a Mini everyone would have a go at you. But all that did not bother me anymore because when I chose to I could just drive away from trouble. 850 Minis ah happy days..... -
03-05-09 09:57yeah i dont have a problem with people driving old cars, but it depends on how old the car is, old cars like an austin 7 are great to see on the road, and you should treat like a horse and give them time and room, the people that do get on my t*ts are people that own cars that are capable of keeping up with modern traffic, but they seem determinded to drive at 10 15 mph below the speed limit for that road, 20-25 in a 30, 40-45 in a 60 mph,
i work with one of these idiots, he drive's a 15 year old 405 diesel est in a 30 limit at 25, and it's not just the speed either, the 0-30 time must be 30 seconds, when we pull his leg about the speed he drives at, he claims the engine is knackered, but it's more like he's trying to get as much mpg as poss :D -
03-05-09 12:15
One of the reason's i've found for why people do this is because they are not sure of the speed limit and it is usually people that passed their dring test years ago,Have forgotten all the highway code and therefore don't have a clue what the national speed limit sign means.
Personally, I'd like to see the National speed limit signs changed to indicate actual speed - at least it would solve the problem - Not only for people here that can't be bothered to read the highway code again but, also for foreign drivers too. -
03-05-09 16:36
I don't agree with excessively slow dawdling way below the speed limit, but neither do I accept that it is necessary, nor safe, nor good driving to try to maintain the maximum speed permitted.
Form example, I very often limit myself to 50 mph (sometimes less depending on conditions) on winding rural roads. Many of these roads have a permitted 60 mph limit which is not always safe at that speed, and can be uncomfortable for passengers in particular.
If your passengers are anxious because of the way you are driving, this is an early indication that you are driving badly.
The maximum speed for any road does not mean that any driver must travel at that limit, or that every type of vehicle is safe at that limit.
A good driver will be able to cope with all types of other drivers' speeds and abilities, without placing another road user under stress. Once you do put pressure on other drivers to modify their speed to suit yours, you have proven yourself to be a sub-standard driver. I'm no expert,and you don't have to take my word for it. Just ask a police driver for his opinion. -
03-05-09 19:57I generally prefer to judge my speed without use of the speedo if I'm on a winding country lane. Obviously, I make sure I stick to the speed limit, but I find that simply limiting my speed to a certain figure takes my attention away from actually judging the road itself.
With regards to the attitudes of other drivers, I have a lot of different experiences on a regulaer basis. I drive a 1989 MK1 Toyota MR2 that's lightly modified (tastefully might I add ;) ). It's a little old to appear on the radar of the average boy racer, but every so often I get one determined to stick to my bumper or race me off the lights, as if it proves something to themselves.
I get mixed reactions from older drivers - some seem to appreciate the 'retro' car, whereas others seem to have me down as a boy racer (I'm 22) and treat me accordingly. Usually people in newish executive saloons give me the most hassle in this respect, as well as anyone stuck behind me over speedbumps :D
However, when I'm driving for work (in a 3.5t van) I am treated as 'white van man' before I get a chance to prove otherwise. It's difficult to avoid being drawn into it and acting as what is perceived to be a typical van driver - I can see why so many of them do. -
03-05-09 23:04I have a Grande Punto, just recently I was able to get my hands on a pre reg t-jet. this is a 1.3 turbo car. Nice car for someone at 20! anyway, i upgraded from the slower version of this. This is my third car and I notice alot of differences.
Many people abused my old car as I had a very old nissan micra, it wasnt slow but many people thought that I shouldnt overtake on dual carriageways at 70mph.
When I got my new car it was nice to see a bit more respect, but now I have a faster car its amazing that some people think im stil in a slow fiat. Often people in bmw's etc try and overtake me on slip roads. I seem to astound them when i accelerate with the speed of my car. -
Guestwagolynn04-05-09 11:42Hmm respect because of the car you drive, I find that very strange. I can have respect for a vehicle well driven. After all any car is just a relatively poor attempt at providing a means of transport.
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GuestHometune04-05-09 16:19The word 'respect' was taken from a culture and not necessarily the way you and I interpret it.
However, next time you are on the motorway and there is a queue of traffic bunching in the outside lane just watch out for the Ferrari or Porsche. Those who would otherwise hog the lane at 80mph will soon shift over to let these cars go past. This is where the attitude comes into play. The lane hog knows the performance of these supercars, wishes he owned one and out of 'respect' moves over to let them pass.
If it was a Mondeo - no chance. It would be, 'you can wait mate.'
This is the point I'm trying to make. -
Guestwagolynn04-05-09 20:32
I see what you are saying Hometune, but is not the speed with which the vehicle is approaching that causes people to get out of the way? Oh but then I am assuming that the hoggers’ use their mirrors. -
05-05-09 12:08
I agree 100% of this. If i see a nice car coming up behind me and im in the way even if im going with the flow of traffic in lane 2 or 3 then ill attempt to move in. Its just coz its a nice car and that as it passes you can give it a glance and admire it! -
Guestwagolynn05-05-09 14:17
For nice car, I would substitute any car because it might be me...:cool: -
GuestHometune05-05-09 14:39...in a souped up 850cc Mini of course :D
I'd never see you in my P100 but you could just drive underneath...Now that would be :cool: -
GuestHometune05-05-09 16:22Yes, working in a motor club till 2am on my speedy modified Mini, home to bed, up at 7am for work at 8. Full day at work, tea at 6, back to motor club and so on. Those days have, sadly, long gone. :(
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05-05-09 17:10Now that my two-months-old car has suffered rear end damage by a hit-and-run driver, even though it will be as good as new after the repairs I don't really know how I feel about it.
Perhaps the thread ought to be called "Change of Car Panels - Change of Attitude".
Regards, Snowball. -
Guestwagolynn05-05-09 20:43
They don’t make cars like that anymore. Eee when I wer a lad....... Looks as though Farther Time is creeping up on us both. Did you ever see Harry Ratcliff he raced Vitafoam Minnis? :eek: -
Guestwagolynn05-05-09 20:53
There are times when you think life’s dice have been loaded. If it’s been done on modern jigs it should be ok. As long as you managed to convince the car it was not your fault all will be well... Are you ok? -
GuestHometune05-05-09 22:37Afraid not. I was doing 12 car rallies every weekend in the RAF. Gave up with my mini and went for it in a, wait for it, Hillman Imp. Frightened my navigator to death in that.
Going back to attitudes for a minute, when the accelerator cable broke in my Imp on a journey to South Wales from Lincoln at 2am on the A50 (now M50), it wasn't a case of, 'who do we call to help?' Open the boot lid, pull the wire all the way through then feed it through one of the cooling vents in the boot lid, open the rear window and pass cable into the car. Tie a pencil to the end and holding it above my left shoulder drove another 30 miles.
In today's cars that's impossible and there is no 'fix'. Cars no longer have character or fun to drive. They have become clones of each other, ruled by computers and as a result, driver's don't cherish them the same. They have finally become what they were meant to be - a tool to get you from A to B.
How sad. -
06-05-09 00:28
When that happened to me I just used the choke cable on the throttle.
Driving is so uneventful these days. In those days of unsophisticated cars you could almost always do a temporary repair with something. -
Guestwagolynn06-05-09 10:26Agreed about modern cars, what frustrates me is so little progress has been made. I would say disk brakes, ABS, perhaps computer control and a reasonable standard of road holding are the only true progressive changes, and the rest is just dross. Old Otto would recognise a petrol engine. Rudolph would say that the diesel is back to where he started. Perhaps I am a bit odd but I still try to get satisfaction from me and the car working together efficiently
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06-05-09 19:05Boy! reading that brought back memories, I used to own a Hillman Imp, in fact I had two of them. Great little cars for throwing round corners, and I never had that overheating problem with either of them:cool:
Cheers, Smudger. -
Guestwagolynn06-05-09 20:29
I used to fantasise about having an Imp motor in a mini. Imps had problems in club racing - under steer due to front lifting at speed – by the time someone stumbled on air dams that scene was over. How did the car stand-up to rallying? This fantasy was replaced by the ford escort engine. I did not own a mini/escort but I worked on a couple in return for a thrash round the track. Hey that looks kinky, rephrase, test driving. -
GuestHometune06-05-09 21:31Like Smudger, I never had head gasket problems but then I rebuilt the engines before they had a chance to blow.
There was a kit available to allow you to fit a Lotus twin cam into an Imp and if only I had had the money at the time...
If only the manufacturers would stop fitting computers in cars to operate the climate control, sunroof, door mirrors, radio, seats, each door for locking, each door for window control, transmission, instrument panel, aeriel, wipers, etc ad infinitum. All absolute nonsense that we don't need and which we as customers have to pay for if we want that car.
I have a solution!
Get Toyota to remake the Hillman Imp then it would be a brilliant little car made by the best manufacturer :D -
07-05-09 00:01
Excellent idea :D I had several Imps over the years, I still have a full race 1040cc sitting in the garage.
It was a shame it was soo badly built, As some of the ideas and engineering on the Imp was way ahead of other cars of the time.
Alot of people don't know of the other uses for the imp engine, Including being used as a starter engine for a british built Tank. -
Guestwagolynn08-05-09 10:49
Re computers and cars: Back in the late 70’s I looked at a system AB electronics in South Wales were developing. They had literally everything controlled by a computer, the point was to reduce the weight of the wiring, they said at that time the average car wiring weighed over a 1cwt – whats that about 60Kg in new money? – They had one loop of wire calling at all electrical items. Each item had its own code number and the computer looked for the codes on the loop. So if you turned the lights on the computer spotted the code, decided you wanted the lights on then issued a command code, this would be picked up by the lights and their local control unit turned them on. The wire loop was both power supply and signal pathway. Logic in the local control units dealt with the fuse function, diagnostics were to be built into the system. No one was interested so it died. -
08-05-09 13:54BMW have been using this on their motorcycles for a few years now. It is a pig and a half to do fault diagnosis with. Lucas tried to introduce the system back in the 80s. They found the same. It would be next to impossible to troubleshoot without ridiculously expensive equipment. Lucas had a couple of Rover 820s with the system, the ideal car to use for diagnostic testing!? (Lucas called it 'Hotwire', and BMW call it a 'Cambus'. I have no idea why.)
As an aside, it is why British Rail used to broadcast their apologies for 'leaves on the line' or 'wrong type of snow'. They interfered with the pulse pickups on the track.
