Driver Aggression towards Vettes
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Both Coasts
I agree - I think if CA were a shall-issue state and people knew that others could be carrying... and if the laws were supportive of acting in self defense... not only would people act less aggressively on the road, but crime would go down. But don't get me started on what the *actual* crime stats show on this issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Living in FL for the last 23 years I can tell you the drivers here are the WORST. Teens, soccer moms on cellphones, bluehairs in the left lane, rednecks in lifted trucks etc. etc. they all suck. Even the cops drive crappy; no signal lights, speeding for no reason. Every drive is an adventure, especially on the Harley.
Sounds like it.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 3
From: plymouth mi
You guys are *very* fortunate out there... why oh why can't Pennsy have a beach...
I agree - I think if CA were a shall-issue state and people knew that others could be carrying... and if the laws were supportive of acting in self defense... not only would people act less aggressively on the road, but crime would go down. But don't get me started on what the *actual* crime stats show on this issue.
I agree - I think if CA were a shall-issue state and people knew that others could be carrying... and if the laws were supportive of acting in self defense... not only would people act less aggressively on the road, but crime would go down. But don't get me started on what the *actual* crime stats show on this issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Doesn't make a difference here in Michigan. Many of us are carrying but they still act like idiots. I have pulled over many times to let a tailgater go. It just isn't worth getting hit by these idiots. And everybody in a heated up mustang or rice burner must think I want to race. I call the rice burners mosquitoes because they buzz around me on the freeway and I can't get rid of them. Everybody from mom in her mini van to the guy in the rusty pickup that didn't make it out of high school gets "racy" when around a vette. It's comical and sad at the same time.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Cottage Grove MN
I think some of it is related to the fact that we all care so much about our vettes that we really pay attention to them and whats going on around them when driving, but in our other cars that we don't care about so much we aren't paying as much attention to what others are doing.
When I first got the Vette, I thought everyone was out to get me and the car, but then I really started to pay attention to what people did when I was driving the Corolla and from what I've found its the same or worse - people are just bad drivers.
Maybe because mine is White, but I haven't had one person want to race me, or even really notice me out there. In the year I've owned it I've only had one comment at a stoplight from a random person and it was a nice compliment. It's kind of nice - I feel almost invisible out there.
Although today someone did drift into my lane and I laid on the horn - I don't think he did it on purpose, but who knows.
When I first got the Vette, I thought everyone was out to get me and the car, but then I really started to pay attention to what people did when I was driving the Corolla and from what I've found its the same or worse - people are just bad drivers.
Maybe because mine is White, but I haven't had one person want to race me, or even really notice me out there. In the year I've owned it I've only had one comment at a stoplight from a random person and it was a nice compliment. It's kind of nice - I feel almost invisible out there.
Although today someone did drift into my lane and I laid on the horn - I don't think he did it on purpose, but who knows.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
I think some of it is related to the fact that we all care so much about our vettes that we really pay attention to them and whats going on around them when driving, but in our other cars that we don't care about so much we aren't paying as much attention to what others are doing.
When I first got the Vette, I thought everyone was out to get me and the car, but then I really started to pay attention to what people did when I was driving the Corolla and from what I've found its the same or worse - people are just bad drivers.
Maybe because mine is White, but I haven't had one person want to race me, or even really notice me out there. In the year I've owned it I've only had one comment at a stoplight from a random person and it was a nice compliment. It's kind of nice - I feel almost invisible out there.
Although today someone did drift into my lane and I laid on the horn - I don't think he did it on purpose, but who knows.
When I first got the Vette, I thought everyone was out to get me and the car, but then I really started to pay attention to what people did when I was driving the Corolla and from what I've found its the same or worse - people are just bad drivers.
Maybe because mine is White, but I haven't had one person want to race me, or even really notice me out there. In the year I've owned it I've only had one comment at a stoplight from a random person and it was a nice compliment. It's kind of nice - I feel almost invisible out there.
Although today someone did drift into my lane and I laid on the horn - I don't think he did it on purpose, but who knows.
Alot of people will also hang back and watch you and then end up in your blind spot. which is minimal
Sometimes I wonder if this is what movie stars feel like as you do get noticed maybe even paranoid after awhile but the worse thing and feeling is leaving it parked on a public street in between cars
.Next car will be a sleeper
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: Redondo Beach California
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 4
From: Palm Beach County, Florida
This being my first Corvette, I have noticed that there are a lot of aggressive drivers and challenges that come my way. I try to drive with traffic and defensively, as there are a lot of foolish unskilled drivers on this crowded little island. I've been challenged by everything you can imagine on the road, from ricer to M6 to Porsche to Ferrari, and just try to laugh it off. On rare occasion however, I will escape a tailgater/lane hugger by using my right foot as a last resort. Self preservation comes first.
Once when repeatedly challenged at a few lights by the same dumb Mustang GT, I opened the exhaust flaps with my M2W, revved the engine a bit and then took off like grandma in a Toyota. Zero to 60 in 15 seconds and laughing all the way. I didn't see the Mustang collect his trophy.
Once when repeatedly challenged at a few lights by the same dumb Mustang GT, I opened the exhaust flaps with my M2W, revved the engine a bit and then took off like grandma in a Toyota. Zero to 60 in 15 seconds and laughing all the way. I didn't see the Mustang collect his trophy.
Last edited by BSE1956; Jul 14, 2010 at 10:47 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 22
From: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
The opposite here for me....in N.VA and Mid area VA... in fact, I have commented several times to my wife how refreshing it is that people give a lot of space when behind this car.. even when stopping... way more than any previous perf car I have had in many years.. including our 97 Comp TA (very rare), 97 Firehawk, 2005 GTO........and 2008 Solstice GXP. I love the respect this car gets.
But when they roll up and hear the exhaust they tend to disappear.
Last edited by NormWild; Jul 8, 2010 at 05:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 206
From: Mooresville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
I've been driving my husband's vett for 2 weeks and came home today asking him if was just my imagination or are people tailgating the car and stopping really close behind me. He said it's not my imagination and it happens to him all the time. From the sound of it's not just the area I live in a suburb of New Orleans but this is a problem everywhere. Good advice to keep your cool which I have found very hard to do, it infuriates me!
Then when there is an open road, I clear the carbon out of my NPPs!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 190
From: Austin TX
Seen it on and off around here...Austin. I think most of the time they think because your in a Vette you should be going fast. Other times I think they know you wont sacrafice your car and can do whatever they want around you and you will heed to them... I bought the car and lived in San Diego for 2 years. I saw a mix of people there and their attitude towards mine and others. I personally thought they were bad drivers to begin with. But, if they messed with me on the road, i didnt forget cars too easily and then would say hi to them in my F150 that had a nice lift to it
Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Olathe KS
I see that same rudeness here in the midwest. I suspect some of that is just my perception as I'm more paranoid in the Vette than the family car. And maybe I hope for a little respect but doubt we really get any from most drivers. Resentment seems to outweigh respect by a wide margin. In general, I think the "me first" "get out of my way" driving attitudes have gotten Awful regardless of what you're driving.
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
It happens quite often here. A lot of them are the ricers and the older mustangs and what not. Thats when you just slow down to make room between you and the car infront of you(if there is one) and then when the come up quick on your bumper you let the big dog eat. Usually does the trick
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 495
Likes: 5
From: Charlotte NC
I think it brings out the worst in other drivers. I've had people cut me off several times (as in oncoming car takes a left right in front of me), tailgaters, cars/pickups race up through traffic to get behind me (come on folks, it's a Corvette not some $1/2million exotic). My favorite is when people purposely 'drift' slowly over the line onto your lane just to see your reaction.
I also get a lot of aggressive drivers but they tend to back off when they see I'm driving and not a guy. I can't stand tailgaters! Especially in this car; it's like they're going to squish you. That is the main time I tend to step on it to create some space.