126 replies to this topic

[Claibo]

There's some seriously grumpy people out on the road today, wow, what is there problem...

Finally got my mini running, so I was desperate to take her out for a nice drive, it's decent weather too so I took my camera hoping to drive somewhere picturesque for some pretty photos. Went down to my local nature reserve all going well, the reserve was busy, lots of old bird watchers down there I guess, so I took a few photos but I wanted somewhere a bit more open, so I set off again, very chuffed that she started back up first time and didn't embarrass me in the busy car park. Now because I haven't had her long I'm still getting used to the "Stick in a bucket gear stick" so I'm a tad on the slow side pulling away. A lady in a silver Vauxhall is behind me, gets impatient and shoots around me as I'm pulling away off the middle of a cross roads, fair enough, so she goes flying off into the distance when I catch her up because she's trying to turn right, I happen to look her way chuntering to myself that she didn't get very far after all the "performance" next thing I know she's come back onto the road and is flying up my back side (which I'm not sure about you guys but I REALLY can't stand people driving up my backside, especially in my new pride and joy) then goes to overtake me to turn right again, and as she does sticks her finger up at me!! what the hell did I do!? Next as I continue on my ventures, I get some purple VW golf up my backside, at least I think it was a golf, it was so close up my rear all I could make out was the corner of the bumper and the driver's face, down to every last little bit of stubble, in my mirrors. So I'm not going slow, at least as far as I'm aware, my speedometer is fairly accurate to say it's nearly 40 years old, and still, up my arse!! Please back off Mr VW, my car is prone to stopping when it wants to and not when I choose to either, and I don't fancy a big purple bump in my lovely white mini!


Anyone else had one of those days?

On a brighter note, that's makes up for such a rubbish driving experience I saw two other minis on my travels, a blue one on the A52 and a red one with a white bonnet that waved at me on the A609. Oh and the photos I did take to follow, just uploading them now

[RossKnight]

I know what you mean, some people really can't drive, I'm not saying I'm the best driver in the world, (but of course i am... ) I'm tempted to get a mini camera and mount it on my dash, record my 20 mile journey to college daily just to compile the ammount of times I get cut up, people randomly stop, school run mums that get confused on mini roundabouts etc. I feel your pain

get the pics up though

[MaxAndPaddy]

I'm not an agressive driver, I'm quite happy to pootle along behind someone going steady regardless of what I'm driving.

But I have a complete personality change when people are RUDE.

Bumper bullies annoy me, people with no patience behind learner drivers, idiots who whizz by you on a bend giving you a filthy look for being too slow for them....I get road rage and have occasionally forgotten where I was actually going and made it my mission to then bumper hug them for miles

I'm hoping to grow out of it...but its manners or lack of them that 'drives' me crazy

[Boycie]

It is getting bad.
I put it down to impatience, it used to be young lads/ white van man etc but now all groups of motorist seem guilty of irresponsible driving. My work hack is a (very) slow 106 diesel, I can't accelerate up hills with any great effect and it's a job to maintain a good speed on the motorway without sacrificing fuel economy; I get people so close behind me, it's unreal.

What these morons don't understand is, they have no chance at all of stopping if you don't leave a decent gap.. and are far too arrogant to listen to anyone who tries to explain this to them.

Just keep your gap to a safe distance, I'm afraind that's all you can do.

[AndyMiniMad.]

For some unknown reason all minis are seen as something that HAS to be overtaken. No matter if the other driver is 20 or 75, it just seems that all minis are seen as old slow rust buckets that are simply getting in the way of other traffic. I can no longer be bothered with these plonkers and simply get the hell out of the way, giving them a pleasant smile and a wave. they quite often looked shocked at what they are doing as they go past. Remember its not their fault! poor normal car drivers, I almost feel sorry for them...Numptys!

[RossKnight]

I hate people that think they can play around with minis, like Andy said, people just assume they're slow etc, sure when I'm going up a slight incline I'm slow, but apart from that, I wipe the smiles off their faces, because I'm stubborn haha

[govig]

Women drivers with attitude are becoming common. That's something that has definitely changed.

[Bearface]

Unfortunately, rude and grumpy people are everywhere these days, not just behind the wheel. Shops, hospitals, restaurants, public transport. Wherever you go these days there are seriously annoying people! I have to say, when I'm driving these days most road users are really nice to me and Mini, I always get flashed out, even more than when I was learning to drive in the driving school car!

[miniman24]

If Im doing the speed limit and someone tailgates me, I slow down Which means they overtake, I get to laugh at the look on their face when I smile at them as they pass, and my Mini is not in danger of being rear ended if I have to slam the brakes on.

I dont drive aggressively unless theres a really nice stretch of twisting road, and sit at 65 on the motorway and the speed limit everywhere else (where safe) and, even in a year and 4 months on the road, the amount of near misses caused by other peoples stupid driving is quite scary! Not saying Im Lewis Hamilton or anything but Id never pull out if it would cause someone else to brake so hard their wheels lock up (happened 3 times to me now)!

Edited by miniman24, 20 October 2011 - 12:38 PM.

[Pitcrew6464]

never get annoyed at them as thats what they want just smile or blow them a kiss, misserable gits

[Pitcrew6464]

PS make sure you get a 3rd brakelight really cheap and easy to fit check out my link below

[Claibo]

I realise I'm slow, my mini is only an 848cc, so it definitely does struggle on the hills, and it's in need of some tuning and so struggles to get close to 60 let alone past it! It makes me laugh that people want to overtake to prove a point, if they think we're that slow they're not earning themselves any "street cred" by over taking me anyway! Go bother some souped up Scooby or something if you want a decent race. I don't get annoyed with them, I just get all flustered at the thought of them shunting my rear when Lunar decides she wants to play games to see how fast I can turn the ignition when she stops.

Also, people really need reminding to respect their elders, and telling it applies to cars too, in my swift I'm ALWAYS nice to people with classic cars, it makes me smile when I see them about so I give them plenty of room, I think I'd cry more if I ended up hitting a classic car than a stupid chav that wasn't looking when they crossed the road haha!

As promised, here are my photos... thinking of driving up to Sherwood forest, or possibly going to Wollaton Park this afternoon, anyone local is free to join me

[Frank the Tank]

I don't think people expect some of the drivers that drive a mini. I have (foolishly) stepped out of my car to "have a corrective word" with one such driver. He soon looked sheepish inside his steel box and shot off in another direction.

I tend to find people are a lot more respectful towards me when I am in the mini. I get out of junctions a lot more, waved at etc etc but there are of course the numpty drivers. I usually get the bumper riders in the 20 and 30 zones - the people who are 40/40 drivers (40 in a 30 and 40 in a 60). Get yourself to a NSL road and they are nowhere as they are straight line drivers.

I tend to laugh as they do get passed, I am far better at dealing with it now. Just crack on at the pace you were going at.

Get yourself on the Autobahns for some true bumper to bumper driving. 8 years over there and you soon get used to it.

[Claibo]

Yeah, I reckon a lot of the people being idiots would act a whole lot differently if they were confronted, or when they're out of their little steel bubble.

[Frank the Tank]

I must admit it is a stupid thing to do but it's how I felt at the time.

We have to be worried because if someone sneezes on our cars it'll probably write them off.