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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people judge your driving based on what car you drive?

135 replies

PointyLittleDonkeyEars · 08/12/2011 21:32

I drive a 10yo Rover 45. For some reason, people assume that I

  1. Will never, ever, ever want to overtake and quite enjoy sitting behind a Tesco lorry at 45 mph

  2. Must be in the outside lane of the dual carriageway because I like the view, therefore undertaking me is OK even when I'm overtaking a whopping artic

  3. Must be quintessentially terrified of any bit of road that has a bend in it, so will slow down to 2 mph on all bends, so overtaking me on a bend is fine?

Should I get myself a speeding ticket just to prove that I'm not a geriatric snail? (I know where the cameras are...) I could tape it to the inside of a rear window.

OP posts:
iloveeverton · 09/12/2011 13:07

I drive an Audi and find people love to try and race you especially men in much smaller cars.

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 09/12/2011 13:09

I used to have a modified Astra coupe. In honesty, I think people expected me to drive like a dick, so I frequently did.

About six months ago I got rid of it and replaced it with an eight year old MPV. It took me a good few months to adjust to people just pulling out in front of me when I was doing 70ish, just because they didn't want to be 'stuck behind' the mammy-mobile. Now, for my own safety, I just pootle along and expect the very worst from people.

I have to say, the following kinds of car have consistently been proven to me to be driven by wankers:

Audis. You are not in a fucking Ferrari, you're in a 1.9tdi, frankly, my mammy-mobile is faster than you, so fuck off away from my back bumper and wait in the long queue of traffic patiently like everyone else is. No, flashing your lights wil make no difference. I'm not moving over to allow you to literally get 30 feet ahead of where you were.

BMWs. You are a moron Mr BMW sales rep, with your snazzy bluetooth earpiece. You did not need to cut me up on the roundabout, just to pull into the next layby. Knob.

White vans. I can't decide if you're trying to intimidate me, or if you're attempting to climb into my back seat. Either way, please stop it. I'm doing the speed limit.

Anything being driven by someone where all I can see of the driver is the very top of their flat cap/blue rinse peeping above the steering wheel. You are too old to drive. I understand that when people get older their perception slows down and now the road seems a big, fast and scary place. However, you're doing 25mph in a 60 zone. You are going to cause an accident. Also, do you really need to be out and about in commuter traffic?

ViviPrudolf · 09/12/2011 13:10

I judge people who drive Mk2 Nissan Micras. I have yet to be proved wrong.

DoesNotGiveAFig · 09/12/2011 13:10

YANBU - I do it - if I see a 4x4 / Audi / BMW I usually assume the driver will be tit, and am surprised if they aren't.

Likewise people judge my little yaris and pull out in front yadda yadda.

typicalvirgo · 09/12/2011 13:12

I am judged on MN for my choice of car definitely.

You can see some posters positively frothing at the mouth when you mention a BMW X5 Grin

DoesNotGiveAFig · 09/12/2011 13:16
Tinselrella · 09/12/2011 13:17

Xmas Grin @ virgo!

KirstyJC · 09/12/2011 13:19

I drive a lovely Fiat Panda and people definitely think I pootle along at 20, whatever speed I actually am doing.

It has really good acceleration at the lower speeds though and I frequently pull away quicker than the bigger cars. I also like it when I overtake a car that is trying to speed up so I can't overtake it.....

DH drove it once and when he was stopped at the lights a group of kids pointed at him laughing and saying 'look at that man in that stupid car!'Grin

GrimmaTheNome · 09/12/2011 13:20

I judge people who drive Mk2 Nissan Micras. I have yet to be proved wrong.

I don't know about the mk2 bit, but my first car 25 years ago was a Micra. I had to drive a windy A road, always in a hurry and going as fast as conditions allowed, and the number of times I'd be clearly positioned and indicating ready to overtake something at the first opportunty but the arse behind (usually a BMW) would shoot out around me was - I was going to say astonishing, but actually predictable. Bastards. Or white vans - I noticed their bad behaviour well before ever hearing the term 'White Van Man'.

Next car was a Cavalier - no-nonsense, more of a bloke type car - other drivers started to behave decently around me. No difference in my driving style (except the cav did have better acceleration of course). I've always had 'proper' cars since then, would be quite scared to go back to a small hatchback and be bullied again.

AriesWithBellsOn · 09/12/2011 13:21

I'm afraid I followed a rover at 25 mph for 8 miles on an A road (reasonably twisty so couldn't overtake) and was shouting Bad Things about rover drivers.

giveitago · 09/12/2011 13:23

Oh I do judge people. I drive A TINY car so am invisible. I see the 4x4 school run in london and I SEE AND EXPERIENCE that the drivers find them hard to handle hence I'm pushed out of the way and they take up multiple parking spaces etc.

I hate parking - hence I drive a tiny car. Horses for courses.

wahwahwah · 09/12/2011 13:24

I have a question... Why do so many of the women I see driving humongous 4x4s have such catsbumfaces? Or is it just a Kensington/Chelsea thing? I don't drive but if I was driving our one I would be going 'whheeeeeeeeee! Out of may way you taxi!!'. Maybe that's why I don't drive...

HighHeidYin · 09/12/2011 13:26

I'm not sure if it's just the car that is judged on.

We have a Zafira and dh and I both drive it. I get pulled out on much more than DH, although I am the faster driver. I think they see a middle agedwoman driving a people carrier and think 'hell, don't want to be stuck behind THAT!'

I love driving DHs transit van though. People pull out in front of me and just don't realise that it is a beast of a machine. I blow kisses as I zoom past them.

bran · 09/12/2011 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeckTheHugeWithBoughsOfManatee · 09/12/2011 13:35

OP, in my experience Rovers often don't seem capable of speeds much over 45mph, so I'm not completely surprised at the way other drivers behave around you Xmas Grin

worldgonecrazy · 09/12/2011 13:36

I used to have a small and ancient 'sports' car, an Austin Healey Sprite (similar to the old MG). I lost count of the number of times people would pull up next to me at the lights, revving their engine, and sending out all those signals that say "I challenge you to a race off the lights".

I figured if they were that into cars they would know that (a) it weighed over half a tonne and (b) it has a one litre engine in. I think it's acceleration was something like 0-60 in 25 seconds.

Hulababy · 09/12/2011 13:45

I think they do to an extent yes. I notice a difference int he way people treat me as a driver depending on which car I drive. When I am in my little Fiat 500 people let me out all the time. When I am DH's Golf R they are far less likely.

dizzyblonde · 09/12/2011 13:45

I drive a old fiesta which I bought for £500 four years ago. It was covered in scratches and dents when I bought it so people probably think I can't park.
As I drive for a living and can drive down a narrow road at speed without hitting anything I don't care.Grin

Hulababy · 09/12/2011 13:46

Have to admit that I do judge peole who are driving huge cars but don't seem to know the size of their car - so they drive very very slowly down parked up roads, stop all the time to let others go by even though there is enough room for both cars, etc. If they can't trust themselves to drive a big car - then get a smaller one!

pissovski · 09/12/2011 13:52

yanbu

my first (and second) car was a mini (old shape). I loved it, but think lots of people thought i could pick it up and put in my pocket! I was regularly pulled out on, overtaken, undertaken. not much changed when i got a KA, and even now its only slightly better in a Suzuki Swift. My 2nd mini was a full on Cooper and went like shit off a shovel stink! think i surprised a few boy racers when i left them for dust in their souped up 1.2 Corsas!

DH had an Audi (i know!) and now has a BMW estate (i know, i know!!). i don't enjoy driving them, but really do notice the different way other road users treat me when I do (both positives and negatives)

ViviPrudolf · 09/12/2011 13:52

The K11 Micra .

Universally badly driven.

DeckTheHugeWithBoughsOfManatee · 09/12/2011 13:59
trixymalixy · 09/12/2011 13:59

Yes, drum brakes purple. dH is in the process of doing it up at the moment and wants to put in more modern brakes.

I also drive a 4x4 and am on a solo mission to disprove the assumption that 4x4 drivers are twats. I am far more courteous than when I drive our blue motion Golf!! Sadly I think people are often very surprised at me letting them out.

MixedBerries · 09/12/2011 14:04

YANBU. I drive a big white van. Enough said.

ElaineReese · 09/12/2011 14:06

I had a micra as a loan car once, and got treated like an old granny it I'm sure. No-one will let you out and everyone wants to get past you ASAP.

I try not to judge on car - but there's only ever one kind of car which, when at the head of the traffic light queue, moves forward to occupy the green area clearly marked as designated for bikes.