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

[PointyLittleDonkeyEars]

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.

"... Especially disliked 2CVs ..."!

:(

I used to love mine - it was my very first car - and never experienced any tailgating, impatience or any other road rage. In this part of the UK there are still quite a few of them around (and VW campers). Most people probably think: "surfer" and smile at the funny little French 'escargot etain'. Most visitors - especially in summer - aren't usually in a rush anyway.

However, just like the OP's examples; when I had a Skoda for a couple of years everyone, but everyone, seemed to be desperate to get past.

But now I have my beautiful red Alfa....

i drive a Porsche 911 and people assume I'm a rich wanker

Have had several parents shout at me as i park in the Parents bay ... only to look in the back and see two car seats and me tying a Didymos wrap for the baby.

We recently got a large SUV type vehicle and I travel on the same routes as when I had my battered old Focus.

There's one road that I drive along and almost always, people pull over to let me through. They didn't before. It's staggering really, the change. I think it must be the size and the permanently-on daytime lights.

I really don't intend to intimidate but think I must. I've even had buses giving way on another junction. It's all really odd.

I don't judge the car but I am always wary of a driver in a hat. There is no need for a hat in a car. Young or old a hat = bad driver. I have yet to be proved wrong!

Well I have Rover 45 and a BMW, there is a massive difference in the way other drivers treat me, even though the Rover actually has a bigger engine than the BM. I love letting people out when I'm in the BM and watching the other driver pick themselves off the floor from shock before they can drive on.

There has actually been a study... car stopped at red light. Light turns green. Car doesn't move. How long until the driver behind non-moving car starts honking?
Result: The posher the non-moving car, the longer until 'complaints' of the honking kind start. Statistically significant and all.
Further result: If the driver in the second car is male, and you send a young woman who is not wearing much in the way of clothing, walking by in the decisive moment, there will be no honking at all, no matter what type the obstructing car is.
Yes, people have conducted real-life experiments on this, were probably paid for it, have published it in research journals.

I enjoy that too, Vicky I probably let way more people out than I would otherwise do for just that reaction.

I've noticed a difference in how other drivers react to me when driving my (average) DP's (sexy) or younger son's (not quite shit heap). And I'm not a car buff, so don't tend to drive any differently in them.

Oh I don't care at all what anyone else thinks about my car tbh.

Ha, I recognise this, I used to have an old-style mini (900cc engine I think) and the main thing I noticed was that people could not accept being overtaken on a motorway and just HAD to overtake back. I had very limited acceleration but could get up, gradually, to a good steady motorway speed and, by driving smoothly, maintain it. Not so easy when people won't let you out or pull out in front assuming you're going slower than you are.

The plus side was that when it broke down (quite a few times in its later years) people were very helpful as it was easy to push.

When I drive my ancient VW Camper van everyone pulls out infront of me in desperation not to get stuck behind me. Which is fair enough apart from the brakes in the van are shite and the stopping distance is about 2x a normal car so it can be a tad exciting at times.

Also have a mid sized Ford and don't get cut up, pulled out in front of as much in that.

I used to have a Datsun 120Y until a couple of years ago and blokes use to chase me up the road flashing their lights and waving. I don't get that anymore.

As a cyclist I steer clear of Audis, 4x4s and buses as about 50% of them are driven by people who are either; needlessly aggressive, partially sighted, a bit dense or some combination of all three...

Although, I did notice yesterday when I got badly cut up by a Yaris that its about the first time I can remember having seen bad driving from a Yaris - so keep up the good work Yaris drivers

I drive a 10yr old corsa, DH has a new Audi. When I drive my car, I am tailgated, hooted at and undertaken (not always, obvs). When I drive dh's car in exactly the same way, same routes, I am treated like a princess.

I drive a variety of - an 8 year old Astra; an 18 month old A4; a 3 year old Golf and a massive campervan. I can't say I've ever noticed any difference in how I'm treated driving any of them, other than the campervan, but that seems entirely sensible. Even my Dad says I'm the best driver he knows (and if you knew him, you'd know quite how much of a compliment this is.) I can't say I ever really feel intimidated by any other cars, and wouldn't judge people on what they drive. I do, however, judge terrible drivers, no matter what they drive. Sadly, it's often Micra drivers round here.....

NeilsBoar It was a happy day for cyclists in London today.

The LAST DAY OF BENDY BUSES.

I drive a 3 year old Corsa and the same happens to me when going to overtake.. the person behind assumes I'm going to stay stuck behind whatever-slow-moving-vehicle is ahead.

I'm not a slow driver, in fact, I love a good straight stretch of road but I did go for conventional thinking when I bought my Corsa (low mileage, minimal petrol cost, low tax and insurance etc) but when I buy a new car in a year or so's time, I'm going to think 'fuck it' and buy myself one of the new golfs. In white and black. 'And I'll beeee, king of the roaaaad, king of the roaaad'.

I drive DH's "boy racer" car and other drivers definitely expect me to be a liability when they see me coming. My driving style is more "old lady" than "boy racer" though

I judge people who put a cap on to drive. What's that all about? If it's an old man in a tweed cap, I think he'll probably pootle. If it's a young man in a logo jobby, I think he will drive his stupidly loud, tarted up old banger as if he owns the road. I judge people whose car has a spoiler, especially if it's entirely incongruous. Ooh, and extra lights and shiny bits. I don't get it.

See, see! My car has a spoiler, but I am actually a very good and careful driver!!

People (men) always feel the need to overtake me when I am driving my little Suzuki with kid in the back - regardless of the speed limit they just HAVE to get past me to prove they are not dickless wimps or something.
But it never happens when I am driving the transit van.

I have a BMW estate, and people look surprised when I let them out (because they expect me to be a wanker) and certain drivers panic and move if I'm behind them on the motorway (because they expect me to be a wanker). I'm not a wanker btw, I'm quite sensible as I have my 4 month old in the back

Right that's it. I let the first few pass but it is starting to irk me now.

Its not a BMW estate. Its a TOURING!!!!

I'm very tetchy when it comes to the 'Prumobile.

Suburban, what's a spoiler for? Just curious.

Spoilers are generally used to create downforce to improve grip and in turn handling. On mass-produced road cars though, they make minimal difference and are added more as a styling feature.

I feel like I've accidentally opened DPs laptop and logged onto pistonheads...