Ok, I am a car guy. I see a need for all vehicles and love most all of them... but for some reason giant SUVs really make my blood boil when there is just one person in them.

Off my podium.

I was coming off I-405 to highway in Renton last weekend and there was a black Lincoln Navigator with 22" wheels that for some reason didn't like my Victory Red HHR. Maybe he thought I was too small to take seriously. Anyway, he was riding my bumper - and I'm guilty of doing this when the person in front of me is 2MPH below the speed limit. But I was doing 75.

I recently added the Turbo Tech sway bar (in powder coated red!) and was feeling CONFIDENT!

I slowed to about 50, gritted my teeth and tossed the wheel on a hard right hand cloverleaf. I've never seen a car fall off my bumper so quickly, and I've had some fast cars.

The Lincoln didn't lock up, but you could see it severely understeer with its wheels pointing the right direction but it plowing straight off to the shoulder.

He stopped before going off the road.

It was one of the worst things I've ever done as far as "baiting" a car I knew couldn't corner.

And it was fun!

Am I going to hell now? And can I drive my Red HHR there?

Yes, you are going to HELL for that one.:lol: :lol: :lol:

Just joking. That is a good one though.

I thought so!! But can you blame me?

Its one of those things... you could almost say "honest mistake!" but I totally knew he couldn't hang!

But can you blame me?

Nope.

I knew I liked you from your very first post!! ;)

A friend of mine has a 70 something Jag XJ that he baited a Beemer with. Had the same effect. This thing has 4 wheel independent suspension and flies like the wind. Its only a V8 (not V12) sedan but sucks gas like its going out of style.

Serves the Nav right for trying to mess with ya. Apparently he was driving past his abilities..:rof: :steering:

God help me, I love it so. I'm constantly amazed at drivers who don't know their vehicles too well... or the limitations thereof!

I'm going to do the door lock mod this weekend... I'll let you know how it goes!

"A man's got to know his limitations." - Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force, c. 1973

Winter drivers of SUV's really bother me in this way. they don't seem to understand that 4800-6000 pounds takes a really long time to stop sliding, and also slide from speeds as low a 15mph. I understand that with the weight and the 4wd you can accelerate great. But that is half (actually less than) the battle.

I prefer to get on very long entrance ramps (in summer btw), and while hypermiling up to 55mph , let the yo-yo on the cell phone ride right up on my bumper. When they put on their blinker and try to pass on the right, i say to my self

Full sail!! Ramming speed!!!!

After a mile of 11-13mpg consumption and a little work on the clutch, I neutral coat back down to 55. A few seconds later i see them flooring their gas guzzler or pitiful 1.nothing liter honda trying to pass me on the left.

I leave it in 5th and speed up ever so slightly to make them feel like they are standing still.

once they "get it", Ill neutral-coast back down to 55ish at 40mpg inst.

Here's my driver's side lock. Its nearly flush!

(More than) A few years ago, I saw an AMC Eagle, thinking he was hot sh!% in the snow, cut the wheel to turn and, with the front wheels turned to the lock, slide straight into a utility pole. Lucky for him, by that point he wasn't going too fast. Laughed mao. BTW, I was driving a full size 4wd Blazer at the time when he blew past me.

git r done!! dont worry bout him, just keep on a driving
ive ran a guy off the road before who kept screwin wit me

I prefer to get on very long entrance ramps (in summer btw), and while hypermiling up to 55mph , let the yo-yo on the cell phone ride right up on my bumper. When they put on their blinker and try to pass on the right, i say to my self

Full sail!! Ramming speed!!!!

After a mile of 11-13mpg consumption and a little work on the clutch, I neutral coat back down to 55. A few seconds later i see them flooring their gas guzzler or pitiful 1.nothing liter honda trying to pass me on the left.

I leave it in 5th and speed up ever so slightly to make them feel like they are standing still.

once they "get it", Ill neutral-coast back down to 55ish at 40mpg inst.

Let me make sure I'm getting your story right. You go extra slow on a long on ramp and justify it by saying you're hypermiling, when in reality you're just doing it to piss off the guy behind you who is probably just late for work. Then, when the guy finally has room to go around you, you spoil your hypermiling so he "gets it."

My interpretation is this. In reality the only person getting anything is you, because you apparently get off on being rude to someone who's not doing anything wrong. You're not hypermiling, you're trying to feed your ego.

I don't mind people going slow and hypermiling if they are actually trying to get good gas mileage, as long as they stay the hell out of the way of people who need to get somewhere in a hurry. You, on the other hand, don't really seem to care about your gas mileage. You just seem to want to piss everyone off. I've often contemplated buying tire spikes to throw out the window when I feel the urge. If I ever do, someone driving in the manner you just described of yourself would be a likely test candidate. If I misunderstood something in your story, feel free to correct me.

My interpretation is this. In reality the only person getting anything is you, because you apparently get off on being rude to someone who's not doing anything wrong. You're not hypermiling, you're trying to feed your ego.




Maybe it's a "Cleveland" thing....................:D

I was kind of thinking the same thing, AaronSS. So I would agree with you, if the assessment is correct.

Cleveland...while I do believe SOMETIMES this type of behavior IS fun (and I do understand it)....it is kind of juvenile. You're lucky the guy didn't pop a "cap or two" at you. That would probably be the end result here in AZ......happens much to frequently.

Sigh,

I'll correct you line by line.

#1-You go extra slow on a long entrance ramp?

Did i say that or did you interpret

#2 and justify it by saying you're hypermiling

I have no reason to justify getting on the highway and obeying all traffic laws (or hypermiling..lol).
I did not say (nor was I) travelling above or below a resonable speed to merge IE 0mph at the light, 55mph by the time I need to merge.


#3 when in reality you're just doing it to piss off the guy behind you who is probably just late for work.

Feel free to interpret this, and sorry if YOU are frequently in a hurry....
Sorry for using the road also...lol, my bad, i'll return it to it's rightfull owner :)

No I actually just want to go to work also, the guy (or gal) behind me on the cell phone needs to drive, not talk while attempting to drive 75mph right over my hhr (breaking the law). :)
If a couple of semi's were trying to get over (exit on right) while i was trying to merge on (merging left), I would have to come to a complete stop (thats a battle i would lose). Think about who would be doing the justifying to the insurance company, paying my "neck brace bills", those couple of points on the liscense and the ticket.

So to make thing crystal clear,
I was talking about a Specific Entrance ramp i use everyday. The key to merging here is to go slow enough to see if someone is trying to get off. The room you have here to let cars off and let other on is less than 300 feet. Might be the shortest combination entrance exit ramp the state. The right lane is on the down slope after a bridge, and the ramp on is an incline, so it is IMPOSSIBLE to see what is coming from the right, 8 feet up in the air at 55mph, until you are in the "merge zone". The car coming d0wnn teh bridge ramp cannot seeyou until you reach the merge point, they have teh right of way, so if your doing 75 you will cut off the exiting drivers, you will not just be the "poor" guy late for work, you will be the aye hole who cause a horrific accident. I have seen the car parts and black tire marks from two such incident this year. Im sure the "late" driver has more to worry about now than being late to work eh???

#4 Then, when the guy finally has room to go around you, you spoil your hypermiling so he "gets it."

:) A little acceleration for a half mile or so does not spoil a 550 mile tank of gas. Moreover if you want to do 75 you can freely do that, behind me doin 80 for a few thousand feet before i head back over to "my" righthand lane. :)



#5 My interpretation is this. In reality the only person getting anything is you,

Yes im getting to merge safely, THEN and only then take off like I'm in a hurry...... not be harrassed into driving like I'm an obstacle.

#6 because you apparently get off on being rude to someone who's not doing anything wrong. You're not hypermiling, you're trying to feed your ego.

No, correction, I am simply NOT allowing someone to be rude to me.

Thats a first, someone declaring I'm !NOT! hypermiling....lol

Cars have zero effect on my ego. It's just a car that I love. My son can make me feel larger than life when his only spoke word is dada repeatedly when i enter the house...hehehehe....and what my newest GF wispered in my ear last night did too...... Levity people...levity

And your last paragraph.
I have always stated that i live in the right lane. However when there is only one, and i am doing the legal limit, go around or cope. If you cant catch me after I merge, get a faster car ...about $30,000 should make that happen for ya :0~

Hope this clears everything up Aaron, and good luck with those tire spikes.

In cleveland the "caps" usually come in greater number than 1 or 2 :) And now with th CCL, the "good guys" can have all the fun that the criminals were having.
Tire spikes and caps, what next ...nukes? Ebola?

In cleveland the "caps" usually come in greater number than 1 or 2 :) And now with th CCL, the "good guys" can have all the fun that the criminals were having.
Tire spikes and caps, what next ...nukes? Ebola?


I want to make this perfectly clear because I have been misunderstood previously....

I did not say (nor did you....you only hinted) that I would bust a cap. Your situation, as you originally wrote it, is similiar to those experienced here in AZ, where people shoot people over such behavior (whether you carry legally or illegally does little good IF they are the first to burst....I know, I know....everybody thinks they're John Wayne, if they have a gun and can out shoot, out spit, out piss the next guy).:D

Your second post and explanation, clears up my misunderstanding of your original. Thank you. :thumb:

Sigh,

I'll correct you line by line.

#1-You go extra slow on a long entrance ramp?

#2 and justify it by saying you're hypermiling

I have no reason to justify getting on the highway and obeying all traffic laws (or hypermiling..lol).
I did not say (nor was I) travelling above or below a resonable speed to merge IE 0mph at the light, 55mph by the time I need to merge.


If you're on a "very long" entrance ramp, and you don't reach 55 until you get to the end of it, there's not much to interpret here about your speed. Yes, you were going extra slow. Obeying all traffic laws has nothing to do with whether or not you were being rude to someone and getting off on it.


#3 when in reality you're just doing it to piss off the guy behind you who is probably just late for work.

Feel free to interpret this, and sorry if YOU are frequently in a hurry....
Sorry for using the road also...lol, my bad, i'll return it to it's rightfull owner :)


It's common courtesy in traffic to yield to or get out of the way of a car moving faster than you, and I make darn sure I do it when I'm out for a lazy cruise. It has nothing to do with owning the road, and everything to do with being polite. It's simple. If there's a faster car behind you and he has no way to pass, you get the hell out of the way.

Also, in the first sentence of your story, you stated that you enjoy hypermiling "AND letting the yoyo..." You didn't say that you don't like being tailgated, you said that you enjoy being in someone else's way.


No I actually just want to go to work also, the guy (or gal) behind me on the cell phone needs to drive, not talk while attempting to drive 75mph right over my hhr (breaking the law).

And it's your job to block the road to slow him down, and instigate aggressive driving when he tries to pass? Funny how you're preaching about going 75 here, then bragging about how you're going 80 later.

If a couple of semi's were trying to get over (exit on right) while i was trying to merge on (merging left), I would have to come to a complete stop (thats a battle i would lose).

Think about who would be doing the justifying to the insurance company, paying my "neck brace bills", those couple of points on the liscense and the ticket.



Well, it would probably help if you weren't so concerned with reaching the speed limit (or whatever 55mph is) as slowly as possible. Instead of fixating yourself on the instant MPG, watch the flow of traffic and match speed so that you easily fit into the space in front, back, or between the trucks, then you wouldn't have a problem. In essence, merge with the gas instead of the brake.

So to make thing crystal clear,
I was talking about a Specific Entrance ramp i use everyday. The key to merging here is to go slow enough to see if someone is trying to get off. The room you have here to let cars off and let other on is less than 300 feet. Might be the shortest combination entrance exit ramp the state. The right lane is on the down slope after a bridge, and the ramp on is an incline, so it is IMPOSSIBLE to see what is coming from the right, 8 feet up in the air at 55mph, until you are in the "merge zone". The car coming d0wnn teh bridge ramp cannot seeyou until you reach the merge point, they have teh right of way, so if your doing 75 you will cut off the exiting drivers, you will not just be the "poor" guy late for work, you will be the aye hole who cause a horrific accident. I have seen the car parts and black tire marks from two such incident this year. Im sure the "late" driver has more to worry about now than being late to work eh???



Yeah, we have those here, and I see wrecks there all the time too. They're caused by indecisive people who are afraid to drive their cars, match speed, and zipper in properly.


#4 Then, when the guy finally has room to go around you, you spoil your hypermiling so he "gets it."

:) A little acceleration for a half mile or so does not spoil a 550 mile tank of gas. Moreover if you want to do 75 you can freely do that, behind me doin 80 for a few thousand feet before i head back over to "my" righthand lane. :)



No, but it spoils the hypermiling you did on the on ramp. Let me throw you a different scenario that will yield the same gas mileage and help everyone have a good day.

1. You drive on the on ramp just like everyone else, and don't hold up anyone because you're hypermiling. You don't have to go 75, but you don't have to hold up a whole line of cars either.

2. Nobody is pissed off.

3. You don't feel the need to help someone "get it," so you continue doing the speed limit instead of going to "ramming speed" and breaking the law like you preached about the SUV driver doing earlier.

4. You get the same gas mileage overall, and no one hopes you die on the way to work.


#5 My interpretation is this. In reality the only person getting anything is you,


Yes im getting to merge safely, THEN and only then take off like I'm in a hurry...... not be harrassed into driving like I'm an obstacle.

#6 because you apparently get off on being rude to someone who's not doing anything wrong. You're not hypermiling, you're trying to feed your ego.

No, correction, I am simply NOT allowing someone to be rude to me.


You're gonna get rearended one day by someone who knows how to zipper into traffic and is trying to match speed, while you slam on your brakes because you're afraid of big rigs. SO much for merging safely. Yes, I realize rear impact is automatically the fault of the person in the back LEGALLY, but in reality that's not always the case.

Harassed, seriously? Get a clue man. You ARE an obstacle, because you make yourself one. You're not stopping anyone from being rude to you, because you're not practicing common traffic courtesy in the first place.

I always drive like an Italian race car driver, "Whats-a behind me don't-a-matter!" (Gumball rally movie)

Winter drivers of SUV's really bother me in this way. they don't seem to understand that 4800-6000 pounds takes a really long time to stop sliding, and also slide from speeds as low a 15mph. I understand that with the weight and the 4wd you can accelerate great. But that is half (actually less than) the battle.

I prefer to get on very long entrance ramps (in summer btw), and while hypermiling up to 55mph , let the yo-yo on the cell phone ride right up on my bumper. When they put on their blinker and try to pass on the right, i say to my self

Full sail!! Ramming speed!!!!

After a mile of 11-13mpg consumption and a little work on the clutch, I neutral coat back down to 55. A few seconds later i see them flooring their gas guzzler or pitiful 1.nothing liter honda trying to pass me on the left.

I leave it in 5th and speed up ever so slightly to make them feel like they are standing still.

once they "get it", Ill neutral-coast back down to 55ish at 40mpg inst.

What are they getting? That you drive like a tool?

i understand, cleveland. they have merge lanes like that in montreal, and they are really adrenalin pumping machines. you have about .5 seconds to decide whether you should speed up or slow down to merge, and some a-hole breathing down your back and trying to 'push' you is a fair target for blowing off steam.

going the speed limit is not a crime. tailgating is.
there are no unspoken rules of the road like 'all drivers must yield to impatient a-holes who can't tell their gas pedal from their dick'.

some people would have slammed on the brakes to warn off tailgaters. i've done it(it's dicey, but i have skills. i wouldn't recommend it to anyone, as it is extremely likely you will be rear ended). should add, now that i'm older gradually slowing down to well under the speed limit is even more effective. slow down until they "GET IT', lol, and then proceed a tempo.

i understand, cleveland. they have merge lanes like that in montreal, and they are really adrenalin pumping machines. you have about .5 seconds to decide whether you should speed up or slow down to merge, and some a-hole breathing down your back and trying to 'push' you is a fair target for blowing off steam.

going the speed limit is not a crime. tailgating is.
there are no unspoken rules of the road like 'all drivers must yield to impatient a-holes who can't tell their gas pedal from their dick'.

some people would have slammed on the brakes to warn off tailgaters. i've done it(it's dicey, but i have skills. i wouldn't recommend it to anyone, as it is extremely likely you will be rear ended). should add, now that i'm older gradually slowing down to well under the speed limit is even more effective. slow down until they "GET IT', lol, and then proceed a tempo.

:one: You summed it up. I'm glad someone here understands the law and safe driving.

I always drive like an Italian race car driver, "Whats-a behind me don't-a-matter!" (Gumball rally movie)

:one: lol

some people would have slammed on the brakes to warn off tailgaters. i've done it(it's dicey, but i have skills. i wouldn't recommend it to anyone, as it is extremely likely you will be rear ended). should add, now that i'm older gradually slowing down to well under the speed limit is even more effective. slow down until they "GET IT', lol, and then proceed a tempo.

Using your left foot to lightly tap your brake pedal enough to illuminate the brake lights while still maintaining your speed with your right foot on the gas pedal will accomplish the same thing and you won't get rear ended.

I often wondered if hooking up a switch to toggle on and off the reverse lights would be a deterrent for tailgaters!

If they're really being tailgated....really close.....simply turn your lights on momentarily. With the driver behind, concentrating on you, the flash of rear tail lights is unexpected and he/she will react to the impression the brakes are applied.

It's an old "Cat & Mouse" trick from the 60's.;)

If it doesn't work....nothing lost. You're open for other tactics.

EDIT....just thought of this........wasn't available in the 60's. Press the button for the Hazard Lights. I believe they illuminate with brake light intensity:D

If worst comes to worst...rig your rear washer nozzle to squirt backwards and fill er up with cat pee..may take a second for the full effect..but the reaction is pricelessssssssssss

I often wondered if hooking up a switch to toggle on and off the reverse lights would be a deterrent for tailgaters!

LOL I'm already wiring this into my HHR. I need this since coasting into driveways is dangerous since i don't hit the brakes, and my turn signal is a decent warning but not a true way to determine when i'm actually going to turn. This will allow me to warn the person behind me without using extra fuel.

Since I feel everyone has equal rights to be safe on the road, i DO care about those that may not notice that i am coasting. People like aaron can use my fake rear brake lights to drive around me to get to the red light as fast as possible, without being hindered by my iceoff coasting :)
Your welcome aarons of the world.

You're gonna get rearended one day by someone who knows how to zipper into traffic and is trying to match speed, while you slam on your brakes because you're afraid of big rigs.

SO much for merging safely. Yes, I realize rear impact is automatically the fault of the person in the back LEGALLY, but in reality that's not always the case.

Harassed, seriously? Get a clue man. You ARE an obstacle, because you make yourself one. You're not stopping anyone from being rude to you, because you're not practicing

common traffic courtesy in the first place.

Interesting set of statements. There is a conflict above.......

Just to disclaimer right off the bat. I do not intend to escalate this thread into a fight.

I actually (no sarcasm..really) just wanted to clarify what my mindset was, and not have it MISinterpreted by aaaron.
I have no beef with you aaron. However I do believe that your not looking at this in the most logical way and legal way.

So to further explain my feelings.

My beloved s-10 was rearended. The lady talking on the phone behind me was merging as I was comming from work. This was in oct 2005. The traffic was stop and go, we sped up and

slowed down twice. the third time she was talking to her passenger (i dont trust s&g highway drivers), head turned 90 degrees to where she was going. hit me at 40, I was completly stopped. she never hit the brakes, the passenger wasnt looking at me either. My neck and back were fd up, my rearend crushed, her car totaled (alfa romeo), and a (at fault also for not maintaining a safe distance) poor s10 blazer hit the alfa since they had no warning.

So lets see here, two citations, two tickets, 2 damaged cars, 1 totaled, 1 fd up neck and back (this cost her also). this is the type of thing I hate. i won't allow your hurry to endanger me. You don't matter if my safety is at stake. i'll merge when I feel like, at what speed i feel like without regard for your intentions. I still don't have a single moving violation in the past 8 years. I'd like to keep it that way. I am not an obstacle, I am a driver. You need to accept that REALITY.

What are they getting? That you drive like a tool?

I don't understand...care to elaborate?

I do not intend to escalate this thread into a fight.

I seems that has already happened.

I'm with Snoopy, I don't mess with other drivers anymore even when they totally piss me off. And I try not to get them pissed at me. Too many guns our there in the hands of people who could give a rats ass about me and my life.

Too many guns our there in the hands of people who could give a rats ass about me and my life.

Or their own.
True True

I seems that has already happened.


No way man. Like Cleveland said, no personal beef. I was careful to word my thread such that there were no personal attacks or name calling. I don't intend to turn this into a fight either.

Cleveland, I see why you're concerned about being rear ended, and I commisserate with you on your accident. However, you should think about the fact that your driving habits only increase the likelihood of that happening again. Speed doesn't cause wrecks. Speed differential between cars in traffic does, be it someone going much faster or much slower than the flow of traffic.

Also, I want to make it clear that I said I have THOUGHT about buying tire spikes when I was angry, but I'd never actually do it. I can't believe there are people here encouraging things like brake checking,turning on reverse lights in close quarters, and spraying cat pee. If that ever happened, anything large and heavy I had in the car would end up coming through the spraying drivers windshield.

The only warnings or weapons I have or will ever use in traffic unprovoked are the horn, my middle finger, or my bare ass on occasion. :nuts:

No way man. Like Cleveland said, no personal beef. I was careful to word my thread such that there were no personal attacks or name calling. I don't intend to turn this into a fight either.

Cleveland, I see why you're concerned about being rear ended, and I commisserate with you on your accident. However, you should think about the fact that your driving habits only increase the likelihood of that happening again. Speed doesn't cause wrecks. Speed differential between cars in traffic does, be it someone going much faster or much slower than the flow of traffic.

Also, I want to make it clear that I said I have THOUGHT about buying tire spikes when I was angry, but I'd never actually do it. I can't believe there are people here encouraging things like brake checking,turning on reverse lights in close quarters, and spraying cat pee. If that ever happened, anything large and heavy I had in the car would end up coming through the spraying drivers windshield.

The only warnings or weapons I have or will ever use in traffic unprovoked are the horn, my middle finger, or my bare ass on occasion. :nuts:

My bare azz would be one hell of a deterent!:lol:

I seems that has already happened.

I'm with Snoopy, I don't mess with other drivers anymore even when they totally piss me off. And I try not to get them pissed at me. Too many guns our there in the hands of people who could give a rats ass about me and my life.

I am an older driver that has always had a gun with me on most occasions. This fact alone is enough to make me fearful of pissing the other guy off. I'm a semi-sane Viet Nam vet and I wouldn't want me or some other crazy sob pissed at me. :lol: Lots of crazys out there these days!! But, of course, I'm NOT one of them. hehehe.....cut me off again......

Recent news here in Philly...
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/30555904.html
There are wackos out there who won't think twice about shooting... The guy that got shot had his 8 year old daughter in the back seat.

Wow, insanity!

Some people don't belong in the general population. No justification, but seems that the hand jesture put that dude over the top. I hope the shooter is identified, and loses his freedom FOREVER.

As a matter of fact, they did catch him...
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/33206959.html

If you go to philly.com and do a search for Timko, you will come up with the string of articles about this story. The one above is the latest.