3 ms·

After years of driving largely nondescript cars, I bought a bright red BMW in 2016. What was remarkable was how noticeably different other drivers’ attitudes we

After years of driving largely nondescript cars, I bought a bright red BMW in 2016. What was remarkable was how noticeably different other drivers’ attitudes were towards me on the road, like they’re so conditioned by the typical drivers of similar cars that they assume I’ll be driving like an asshole and react preemptively. I try to be a considerate and safe driver–I’m not sure I’d ever even been flipped off while driving other cars, so the difference was really tangible when suddenly there were middle fingers and horns happening regularly.

constantly 3y ago
Opposite experience here. Had a bright BMW sports model, and then when moving to a dark family vehicle from a manufacturer without this reputation people treat me totally different. Anecdotally I don’t drive any different, still speed as fast as the conditions allow on clear highways or go with the flow of traffic, even if that flow is +15mph over. However I got pulled over by the police for speeding about quarterly in the BMW, and have not been pulled over a single time in more than five years in my new car. Wild.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- BrentOzar 3y ago
  > However I got pulled over by the police for speeding about quarterly in the BMW, and have not been pulled over a single time in more than five years in my new car. In car fan circles, this is called a “sleeper” - a car whose boring design and boring color doesn’t draw attention from police. That’s not a negative at all - it’s great! Car fans often buy sleepers on purpose. Historical sleeper examples include the Ford Taurus SHO, Chevy SS sedan, and Audi S6. I had a 2003 Audi RS6, a notorious sleeper. Looked totally plain, but could absolutely fly, and I never got a ticket in it despite some truly hair raising speeds.
  - arprocter 3y ago
    The Chevy SS is another recent one - it looks like something you'd rent from the airport, but 6.2L... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore_(VF)#Chevrolet_SS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore_(VF)#Chevrole...
    - tass 3y ago
      This is not a sleeper when driven in Australia, that’s for sure.
      - arprocter 3y ago
        True - Holden's version is much more in-your-face
saiya-jin 3y ago
Hmm, must be demographic in specific countries, here in Switzerland the biggest a-holes IMHO are Tesla drivers, not all of them obviously (some of them drive ridiculously slow which is another danger), but it seems that tailgating is shared among many of those. Full gas & brake style of driving. Second biggest in my experience are... spread quite evenly across the brands, crappiest old french or italian ones are often a bit worse for some reason. When frequently driving through France, on my previous BMW 3 series sedan I was facing tight swirls and 1m tailgating on otherwise empty highways. They eventually lose interest when they see no reaction and see me driving according to rules, but its stupid and needlessly dangerous for everybody. So what is common trope of arrogant BMW drivers was actually, every fucking weekend over a decade, experienced by plethora of brands driven by french drivers, on BMW which was driving way more civilized than they were. Not even anyhow fancy one, no striking colors or designs on a freakin' V6 diesel. Switched to another BMW, 5 series wagon, and absolutely 0 of this, ever, in 4 years. But then again, in Switzerland there are tons of BMW, Mercedes, Audis etc., often compromise >50% of the traffic around me, and the idea that all BMW drivers behave like that is stupid. In fact traffic normally goes OK, in the morning rush hours I don't see any brand being particularly worse (apart from that Tesla, but maybe I had back luck on new drivers enjoying all that power). I guess different people tend to go for different cars. Also, say grey BMW 2 series is as uninspiring, boring and slow car as it can be, thats more a granny car than anybody else.
- cykros 3y ago
  Buying a car that drives itself, only to decide to drive it yourself, badly. That just makes it even more frustrating.

constantly 3y ago

Opposite experience here. Had a bright BMW sports model, and then when moving to a dark family vehicle from a manufacturer without this reputation people treat me totally different. Anecdotally I don’t drive any different, still speed as fast as the conditions allow on clear highways or go with the flow of traffic, even if that flow is +15mph over. However I got pulled over by the police for speeding about quarterly in the BMW, and have not been pulled over a single time in more than five years in my new car. Wild.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
BrentOzar 3y ago
> However I got pulled over by the police for speeding about quarterly in the BMW, and have not been pulled over a single time in more than five years in my new car. In car fan circles, this is called a “sleeper” - a car whose boring design and boring color doesn’t draw attention from police. That’s not a negative at all - it’s great! Car fans often buy sleepers on purpose. Historical sleeper examples include the Ford Taurus SHO, Chevy SS sedan, and Audi S6. I had a 2003 Audi RS6, a notorious sleeper. Looked totally plain, but could absolutely fly, and I never got a ticket in it despite some truly hair raising speeds.
- arprocter 3y ago
  The Chevy SS is another recent one - it looks like something you'd rent from the airport, but 6.2L... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore_(VF)#Chevrolet_SS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore_(VF)#Chevrole...
  - tass 3y ago
    This is not a sleeper when driven in Australia, that’s for sure.
    - arprocter 3y ago
      True - Holden's version is much more in-your-face

saiya-jin 3y ago

Hmm, must be demographic in specific countries, here in Switzerland the biggest a-holes IMHO are Tesla drivers, not all of them obviously (some of them drive ridiculously slow which is another danger), but it seems that tailgating is shared among many of those. Full gas & brake style of driving. Second biggest in my experience are... spread quite evenly across the brands, crappiest old french or italian ones are often a bit worse for some reason. When frequently driving through France, on my previous BMW 3 series sedan I was facing tight swirls and 1m tailgating on otherwise empty highways. They eventually lose interest when they see no reaction and see me driving according to rules, but its stupid and needlessly dangerous for everybody. So what is common trope of arrogant BMW drivers was actually, every fucking weekend over a decade, experienced by plethora of brands driven by french drivers, on BMW which was driving way more civilized than they were. Not even anyhow fancy one, no striking colors or designs on a freakin' V6 diesel. Switched to another BMW, 5 series wagon, and absolutely 0 of this, ever, in 4 years. But then again, in Switzerland there are tons of BMW, Mercedes, Audis etc., often compromise >50% of the traffic around me, and the idea that all BMW drivers behave like that is stupid. In fact traffic normally goes OK, in the morning rush hours I don't see any brand being particularly worse (apart from that Tesla, but maybe I had back luck on new drivers enjoying all that power). I guess different people tend to go for different cars. Also, say grey BMW 2 series is as uninspiring, boring and slow car as it can be, thats more a granny car than anybody else.

cykros 3y ago
Buying a car that drives itself, only to decide to drive it yourself, badly. That just makes it even more frustrating.