I've had the CC3 for more than a year now, and there's no doubt it provokes a reaction in some other drivers.
When I had the Focus hatchback, I was largely anonymous, which is how I liked it.
I drive the CC3 the same way and seem to attract attention.
Often it's negative.
Some drivers seem to want to take me on, or make a greater effort to get past.
Several times another car has cut in front of me, as if to emphasize the overtake.
It rarely, if ever, happened with the hatchback, so it must be to get one over on the driver of a 'sports' car.
I imagine most of us have owned a wide variety of cars over the years.
Are there any you've had that attracted attention - positive or negative?
Or will anyone admit to altering their driving style at the sight of a certain make or model?
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I can't say I've notice any reaction when out in the Vitara or the Note.
The Jowett, though...well that's a different matter. Drivers tailgate you, presumably tryng to read the badge on the back wing. Then make risky overtaking decisions, either to see the front of the car or purely just because they feel I shouldn't be ahead of them.
I've been carved up more than a few times when I've been out in it.
Human nature, I suppose.
I have no real feelings towards other's choice of transport, each to his own.
However, see another bike in front of me and Bulls and Red Rags come to mind !
Ted
Last edited by: silence of the cams on Mon 5 Apr 10 at 15:37
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I get all the silly overtakes by people in bigger cars when im in my Charade. I think its peoples perception of how a certain car will be driven - ie, lilac Charade, must be a lil old lady, so they percieve they are being held up, or they simply cant stomach holding station behind despite me driving nearly always at the speed limit where I can when someone is behind me.
I dont make it easy for anyone to pass, but at the same time, if they have space and time, I dont make it hard for them either and have been known to brake to make up for the shortfall in their intellect when overtaking as they cruise towards a head-on, all for the sake of a little less lilac in their vision.
I was following a 50's MG being driven by an obviously old lady - bit slow in the corners as you would expect for such an old relic ( car aswell as driver! ) but on the straights she was hitting 65 on a nsl road, so seemed silly to make a move past for the sake of it. Lifes too short.
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Sometimes I felt a bit more bullied in the Ka but that was probably due to my own feelings of vulnerability when driving it in most cases.
The Westfield definitely got reactions at times. Some positive, some negative and some of amusement. Its ability to take corners at speeds which nigh on defied the laws of physics soon meant that any unpleasantness was usually, fairly swiftly, left behind. :-)
As far as my reactions to other vehicles is concerned I'd like to think I don't respond so much to the vehicle but more to the way it is being driven.
If anything is being driven in a way which unnerves me I try to find a way of creating a larger piece of geography between my vehicle and it.
I really don't think many people notice other cars much. They would most often just wish they were not there at all.
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I've discovered in the 2 1/2 years I've owned it that my Merc is something of a magnet for the ladies and I've been spoken to a number of times in car parks by members of the opposite sex.
Unfortunately the ladies in question have all been over the age of 60 and have wanted to reminisce about the bygone days when a W124 Coupe was a seriously aspirational car.
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I have no reactions to any car I drive - only the way its driven sometimes ;)
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I have noticed the difference when I drive Mrs Arctophile's MX-5 in place of my Mondeo.
In the MX-5 other drivers tend to travel closer behind me in traffic and also seem to want to overtake more. It is particularly noticable at the traffic lights Grand Prix.
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I've had Volvo 240s all the time from when they were dismissed as ugly tanks driven by people who couldn't care less about other drivers, to now when people admiringly say "that's a real car, you don't see many of those around any more". It's a strange feeling now being able to come-out as a classic owner when once I was rather apologetic.
Triumph 2000 - largely ignored on the road, but its mid-range acceleration was consistently under-rated. It had a surprising attraction for young people. "Cool car" was one overheard comment from a group of youths in a car park.
Series II LandRover - completely ignored on the road, presumably as just another LandRover, of indefinite age. Only noticed by fellow enthusiasts.
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Boy racers always want to 'take on' the Prelude, except in Switzerland where lots of boy racers drive matt black-painted Hondas. When we were there they almost always waved.
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>> Triumph 2000 - largely ignored on the road but its mid-range acceleration was consistently under-rated. It had a surprising attraction for young people. "Cool car" was one overheard comment from a group of youths in a car park.
>>
I've still got one of those, a mark 1 in a deep maroon colour and in exceptional nick as well. That still gets attention, from across all age spans i.e. not just your car nut, i'm not exaggerating either, it can be an old biddy stop and talk or a young lady with kids, it's a real conversation starter, which isn't bad for a city. I'm often surprised at the amount of attention it receives. Last year some chap flagged me down in it (which isn't all that common in London I can assure you, well not for positive reasons anyway)...and all he wanted to do was reminisce about his one he had in the past.
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I get some positive reaction to the CC3.
Some passengers in other cars smile as they pass on the motorway if the roof's down.
More commonly, I'll be asked about the CC3 by petrol station cashiers.
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When I had my TVR Griffith, petrol station cashiers used to ask me about it and sometimes follow me outside to here the roar of the 5 litre V8 as I left.
This was sometimes highly embarassing as the thing frequently wouldn't start so they ended up helping me push it out of the way so I could wait for the breakdown service.
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When next to something big with many many cylinders at the lights I sometimes wind down the window and cup my ear. The driver will often rock it on the springs and then give me a tune as it pulls away from the lights.
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An open top thing cut me up in a swiss tunnel once. I hopped in front of him and put the washers on. tres amusing.
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Somebody did that to me last week while I was driving my friend's Z3 - and I hadn't even cut him up! Maybe he thought I had a hair out of place...
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In the early 80's I had a V6 Sierra. It was a sort of 'Q' car really, because it was the GL model and fairly understated, but had a lovely silky smooth 2.3 V6 in it and for its' time was relatively quick.
Three years later I swapped it for an XR3i...(which was a mistake).
With the XR3i, everyone wanted to play silly sods away from the lights or do hooligan overtakes on me....whereas I got none of that with the Sierra.
The Sierra was by far the quicker car though, although in fairness the Escort did have go-cart handling, its' only redeeming feature, should have kept the Sierra, even with its' 80 thou on the clock.
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I have found recently that (mini) cab drivers let me out of junctions more than in my old Focus. I assume its because they think I am 'one of them'.
However, I have had more people pull out of junctions in front of me recently. I think this is because the Octavia is silver, while the Focus was solid red.
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I haven't noticed any reaction driving my Merc w211 which is how I like it. The Impreza turbo I had back in ~2000 was different. School boys would take notice as well as a number of drivers wanting to race. No interest from the girls though...
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Back along, well a very long time ago actually. I changed jobs. The previous one came with a Sierra Cosworth. Few people saw it as anything other than a Sierra, which was a good thing really in many ways, but as any enthusiast would know it was one heck of a driver's car. The new job also provided a car, in this case a BMW 316 basicmobile. Not much wrong with it but it was not the measure of the Cossie by a country mile.
Strangely though, it appealed to the laydeez much more. Cynically it confirmed my suspicion that they cared not about the size of one's engine but more about the ( apparent ) size of one's wallet.
Twas ever thus I suppose.
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I just go along minding my own business and try to ignore anyone who seems to be showing off or "making a point". I'm also happy to slow down to let people overtake more quickly.
I let them race away at the lights without contest as well. Something about BM's seems to bring out the beast in some people.
All I want to do these days is waft along all relaxed, just concentrating on trying to anticipate any potential hazards.
The only thing that does wind me up badly though, is when some idiot insists on tailgating me. I've tried dabbing the brakes, but this is risky because it seems to make some drivers absolutely furious - whereas other drivers get the message and drop back a bit.
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Some (not all of course) BMW drivers aren't great at letting people out of side roads - but sin cew I've had the Z3 I've found that if you too have a BMW they are more inclined to let you out.
Also, other Z3 drivers wave or flash headlights to say hello, Rather nice - the last time that happened was when we got the Espace new in 1988 when there weren't many of them around.
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When I had a Land-Rover a few years back I found other drivers reacted very well to it, and it was surprising how many other Landie enthusiasts would stop and chat in car parks or filling stations.
I find now people's reaction is influenced as much by the state of the car, and who's driving it, as it is by the type of car. Myself and SWMBO have the same type of car; mine is a few years older, and much rougher looking than hers though. I find if I'm on my own in mine, all types of people on the road do tend to let me out, even white van drivers. If she's in hers though, especially with the kids on board, the only people who let her out are other "school run mums".
On the motorway too I've noticed when I'm driving no one pays much attention when I overtake; with the missus at the wheel - she's probably a better driver than me, and she drives at the same sort of speed - there are some male drivers who on being overtaken will look at who's driving, put their foot down, and go shooting past us. Invariably we catch them up a few miles later when they've slowed to their usual mimse and the whole process repeats itself.
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In my teens I was a passenger in my mates fathers DS Citroen. A pretty rare machine and one car that really did look different to all else on the road.
Not only did this impress the lasses but being able to pump the suspension up and down was a bonus. Slowly driving around the town centre on the bottom setting until an interest was spotted then cruise along side and pump up the suspension. Not many vehicles could give one a bottom and top view like the DS.
We certainly got some reaction and then further reaction from the BiB enquiring about repeated laps of town and our intent!
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I drive a Toyota, and notice that the road clears in front of me.
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I drive a Toyota and am ignored: just as I like it.
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I expected sneers and rudeness when I got the Cruiser, but there haven't been any that I noticed (except here of course). I have concluded that people are impressed by it or think it's cool. Most people after all haven't a clue about motors, and the Cruiser is cool looking at least (matter of taste, don't bother to argue for God's sake).
This may, as Zero implies, be something to do with driving style. I am tending to drive it a bit more gently than the old Escort, partly because of its greater thirst but mainly because its rather coarse engine means that it feels nicer like that. The slightly thuggish, somewhat nippier demeanour of the Escort sometimes made people competitive.
Of course once you've blown them off and left them behind their feelings about your Skoda Estelle or Cruiser or chavmobile Escort are purely an academic question whose answer will remain for ever a welcome mystery. They very seldom make a comeback, and when they do it tends to put them in a good mood.
:o}
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I increasingly firmly believe that the only person who actually cares about or even slightly reacts to a car's appearance, make or model is the one in whose drive it is normally parked.
Stop Press ! ......No one else cares !
Which would, if true anyway be a huge not to say wastefully expensive irony to anyone who had bought something with some charmingly insecure intention of impressing others.
We haven't sneered at your PT Cruiser AC. Much anyway. I sort of like them for reasons I can't begin to understand but looked at in isolation they are big in the loadspace dept. and I like big.
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>> Stop Press ! ......No one else cares !
No one with any sense cares Humpo.
What percentage does that leave I wonder?
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>> I expected sneers and rudeness when I got the Cruiser but there haven't been any
>> that I noticed (except here of course). I have concluded that people are impressed by
>> it or think it's cool. Most people after all haven't a clue about motors and
>> the Cruiser is cool looking at least (matter of taste don't bother to argue for
>> God's sake).
How on earth do you make the leap in chasm logic from "expected sneers and rudeness" to "must be impressed or think its cool"
It is nothing more than embarrassment. The same way one wouldnt look or comment at or upon a drunk puking in the gutter.
On a kind note we treat it as your unmentionable disability.
Last edited by: Zero on Mon 5 Apr 10 at 21:43
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don't bother to argue for
>> God's sake).
>> How on earth do you make the leap
Heh heh. I knew you would, you little yellow bantam you...
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Since driving a BMW I've noticed a lot more aggression from other drivers, particularly at the lights.... and I've even programmed my indicators to flash 3 times when I change lanes too
;-)
Worst offenders seem to me to be Civic Type-Rs followed (I'm sorry to say as I used to be one) by Audi drivers, usually in the lower powered variants too I'd observe....
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I trust your Bimmer is up to the challenge i_c?
Off into the distance with a chirp and vroom?
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>> I trust your Bimmer is up to the challenge i_c?
>>
>> Off into the distance with a chirp and vroom?
>>
When I'm in the mood I guess so, yes.... 245PS, 384lbft Torque, 0-62mph in 6.2s is probably adequate by most people's standards (not forgetting the 45 or more mpg average).
I admit to occasionally rising to the bait but I always feel guilty afterwards and so generally try to turn the other cheek, content in the knowledge that "I could if I wanted to".
So I might just be a safer driver in my (apparent) target than I am in more anonymous machinery, however I'd add that mine is deliberately in SE spec without the M-Sport decoration apparently beloved by so many.
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I drive a C5 and find that it draws zero attention, but as a bonus I get cut up a lot less often than I did in the A3 I had before.
I did have a smart roadster and fellow roadies used to flash their lights which was nice.
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>> Stop Press ! ......No one else cares !
I'm amused when I read in car reviews written by their owners that their pride-and-joy gets "admiring glances". Does the write know what they sound like, I wonder?
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People who think others admire their cars probably also think that the other sex think them sexy, the moon is made of green cheese and there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Modern drug therapy works wonders on the more extreme cases...
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On the road like mikeyb my C5 Tourer blends in ( literally as it's tarmac colour) to the traffic unnoticed. However amusingly several of those those I have visited who have caught the rear 3/4 or side view commented... got a new Audi?.
I don't aspire to be thought of as an Audi driver but it shows Citroen made some inroads into their German quest.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Mon 5 Apr 10 at 23:21
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I read somewhere in the past about something called the ' Spotlight Factor '
The experimenteurs sent a man into a crowded party with a massive stain on his jacket. Quite noticable to anyone there.
At the conclusion of festivities partygoers were asked what they thought of somebody going out dressed like that.
A massive proportion said they hadn't noticed.
I would imagine thet it is the same with your wire wheels or extra stripes, etc !
No-one gives a toss............except you !
Ted
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>245PS, 384lbft Torque, 0-62mph in 6.2s is probably adequate by most people's standards <
Really? Looks as though you need a few more cylinders... ;-)
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Slight fred drift but ...
I've noticed over the years & cars that the type of mota I'm driving affects (greatly) the way I drive,
For instance - when I had the ole Supra, I used to drive like Hunt the Shunt but
With the ole metallic black Almera I drive like A. Mimser.
If I had a CC3, I'd drive it 'con mucho gusto' - unless it was a blimmin diesel :)
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I started to follow a very elderly Escort Ghia the other day. I expected it to be an irritation but was delighted with the sensible speed, signalling and road positioning. The elderly driver had probably had it from new.
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You don't have to have an expensive car to be a skilled driver.
You can have an expensive car and be a crap driver.
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It is not what you drive but how you drive.
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>> It is not what you drive but how you drive.
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Thanks movi, glad someone knew what I meant. :-)
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>>
>> Really? Looks as though you need a few more cylinders... ;-)
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Yes, only half an engine I guess ? A compromise like so many things in life !
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Good question by the op.
I like the look drivers have on their face when I leave them standing when climbing hills in the Rio.
My rear view mirror must be wrong, it mostly has astonished drivers in it !
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The reaction of others to the car you drive - Ted
