Racing on the highway
Discussion
I was driving along happily on a dual carriageway the other day in my aging and rusty but well maintained and enthusiastic enough 14 year old MR2 with a noticeably blown out exhaust pipe (now sorted 
).
Anyway I happened upon a Toyota Celica GT4 driving along at what I'll call speed X. I was doing about X+10, which in my opinion was comfortably within what was safe for the conditions. So I drew alongside the GT4 fairly rapidly, as may be expected. Perhaps he didn't care to be overtaken by an older, slower car with a smaller bonnet? But anyway he drew up to X+10 as I came alongside and when I eased back to X + 7 (which should have made a significant difference) he did the same.
I said out loud (as one does ... or as I do) "I'm not racing you cupid stunt", or something along those lines. Discretion being the better part, I was about to back off even more when a new Merc SLK came up at what was probably X+15 and hovered a few feet from my bumper. I tried to back off a little and found that neither GT4 nor SLK were going away.
Realising that an SLK bumper is probably worth more than my entire car cost (NOT an exaggeration) I hit the brakes fairly firmly, confident that Mr SLK, especially in view of my exploded exhaust, would react swiftly ... He did 
, and Mr GT4 shot off at what was by now speed X again, ego intact. SLK flashed and gestured at me for endangering his bumper, and I returned his freindly one fingered gesture and dropped to the left lane. Then he too overtook and they both disappeared into the middle disance at about X+30.
I gently eased back to X+10 and carried on my merry way, and was pleased to catch up with the SLK doing about 20 behind a combine harvester the other side of the next town
Anyway I don't know the point of this long post, I just wanted to get it off my chest 'cos I was a bit pi$$ed off. I think I took the right course of action (I know both of the other cars are faster than mine, not to say newer, I just don't feel the need to prove it the hard way!)
Anyone think I should have done something else? Or care to comment? Is it really so humilating to be overtaken by a "lesser" car?
(I happily let myself be overtaken by a 2CV once while in France - he desperately caught up with me at a closing speed of 0.5 mph and pulled out - the merest squeeze of the right foot, even in the Montego I had then, and he'd have bitten the dust - but then, which was the lesser car there?)
). Anyway I happened upon a Toyota Celica GT4 driving along at what I'll call speed X. I was doing about X+10, which in my opinion was comfortably within what was safe for the conditions. So I drew alongside the GT4 fairly rapidly, as may be expected. Perhaps he didn't care to be overtaken by an older, slower car with a smaller bonnet? But anyway he drew up to X+10 as I came alongside and when I eased back to X + 7 (which should have made a significant difference) he did the same.
I said out loud (as one does ... or as I do
) "I'm not racing you cupid stunt", or something along those lines. Discretion being the better part, I was about to back off even more when a new Merc SLK came up at what was probably X+15 and hovered a few feet from my bumper. I tried to back off a little and found that neither GT4 nor SLK were going away. Realising that an SLK bumper is probably worth more than my entire car cost (NOT an exaggeration
) I hit the brakes fairly firmly, confident that Mr SLK, especially in view of my exploded exhaust, would react swiftly ... He did , and Mr GT4 shot off at what was by now speed X again, ego intact. SLK flashed and gestured at me for endangering his bumper, and I returned his freindly one fingered gesture and dropped to the left lane. Then he too overtook and they both disappeared into the middle disance at about X+30. I gently eased back to X+10 and carried on my merry way, and was pleased to catch up with the SLK doing about 20 behind a combine harvester the other side of the next town
Anyway I don't know the point of this long post, I just wanted to get it off my chest 'cos I was a bit pi$$ed off. I think I took the right course of action (I know both of the other cars are faster than mine, not to say newer, I just don't feel the need to prove it the hard way!)
Anyone think I should have done something else? Or care to comment? Is it really so humilating to be overtaken by a "lesser" car?
(I happily let myself be overtaken by a 2CV once while in France - he desperately caught up with me at a closing speed of 0.5 mph and pulled out - the merest squeeze of the right foot, even in the Montego I had then, and he'd have bitten the dust - but then, which was the lesser car there?)
I used to get this quite a lot when I drove my old polo G40. Used to take the bait quite a lot, fortunately I have mainly grown out of this. I have always been quite happy to let people past if they are in a rush, when it is safe to do so. It bugs me when people flash at you to get out of the way when there is clearly no where to move to! Have definately found this to be less of a problem since buying a newer and bigger car! I don't judge peoples ability to move fast by the age or type of car they have. The polo taught me that being a very boring looking car that went really quick (dodgy handling tho.!)
(dodgy handling tho.!)Did they ever sort out the dodgy brakes on those?
I had to do a clutch on one many moons ago, when i took it out on test, it scared the tits off me.
Two feet on the pedal...arrrrgghhhh.
Mind you, dont laff, i was driving that old favourite, the Austin Princess at the time....what a car that was!
They dont make em like that anymore.....thankfully...
I had to do a clutch on one many moons ago, when i took it out on test, it scared the tits off me.
Two feet on the pedal...arrrrgghhhh.
Mind you, dont laff, i was driving that old favourite, the Austin Princess at the time....what a car that was!
They dont make em like that anymore.....thankfully...
Did they ever sort out the dodgy brakes on those?
I had to do a clutch on one many moons ago, when i took it out on test, it scared the tits off me.
Two feet on the pedal...arrrrgghhhh.
Nope!
I had high temp pads on as well due to a very very scary no-slow-down incedent coming over the snake pass one day! This made the brakes even better when they were cold!!
They only had 175/60/13's on as standard which didn't help. Great fun cars tho. My local garage used to love it when I took it in to get work done 
edited to apologise for half hi-jacking thread
>> Edited by sp60 on Tuesday 26th November 16:26
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