Chasing "better" cars...
 

Why is it that 'tards in cars that are at least three times the cost of an FR-S can't drive? I have a local road to me that is an awesome little stretch of road. Every now and then I get behind someone in a much better car than my little FR-S, and they are either interested in (or engaged in) "spirited" driving. I'll be happy to tag along. They seem surprised that I don't fall too far behind on the limited straight sections (odd, I know the road and plan ahead) and then angry that I'm on their ass in the corner. Watching them jet away on the short straight and then panic brake into a corner I'm waiting for is funny. Fucking driving while dead Zombie's. At least do the posted speed limit.

Because people are stupid.

Maybe they just bought /leased the car and are getting used to it.
In aus ppl buy/lease expensive cars to gain a tax benifit and not for the "fun factor".

Tailgating someone you don't know doing spirited driving can end badly pretty quick.

Half the people in the world are below average drivers, though it seems like the vast majority of people out there think they are above average (I'll happily admit that I'm at least in the bottom 20% of drivers if not worse, but recognizing that I don't speed, don't try to drift, don't auto cross, don't track, etc.).


Something to easily lose sight of is how often do you come up behind someone "in a much better car than your little FR-S" do they just ignore you and keep doing what they are doing? Probably the majority of the time, but those times likely don't really register.


Personally I try to just shrug it off and let people do what they will. My actions are the only ones I can control. What other people choose to do is their own prerogative =)

What I find even funnier is when that big Ford truck with the giant V8 comes flying up behind me and tailgates me at 60mph in the straight. Then we hit a curve and I don't slow down. And he doesn't either. And he shits his pants because he's sliding sideways into the other lane and doesn't know what to do.

I actually had a guy in a Grand Cherokee run off the road pacing me into a curve. He recovered, but he kept a respectable distance after that and certainly didn't try to keep up with me on the turns.

You state there are better cars out there than the FRS.

Where oh where did you get that cockamamie idea ?

No such thing !


Let's look inside: A perfectly sized and shaped steering wheel, E-brake handle right next to the thigh, loves 7500 rpm, easily viewable tach, brake and accelerator pedals perfect for heel and toeing, cup holder in driver's door, padded area for elbow top of driver's door, back hugging seats, nothing left out, we got it all...and for just a blue collar wage to buy it. We're smarter than they are.

They probably see you as just some guy challenging them!
My father in law (I am 55 so do the math) has leased nothing but fully loaded Audi A5s for years. He takes great delight in constantly telling me how bad his car can kick my butt.
The great part is his cars have never got up to the speed limit in the city, much less the highway. He would be your worst nightmare to get stuck behind on a nice twisty road. He would go very slow but would be guaranteed to hug the center if he thought you might even try to pass his "race car".

Money doesn't buy skills (unless you're spending it on track days/autocross). And if you're in a place like Vancouver, a good chunk of exotics and Euro sports cars are driven by new drivers/teenagers.

Which is why I don't do that.

I'm sure you don't.

Actually many people buy sporty luxury cars and sports cars just to show off their status of being rich and successful. They have no intention of driving for fun and yes they are mostly very egocentric.

Had this happen a bunch of times when I had my Miata and drove a twisty back road every day. The Miata was set up with ultra sticky tires and lowering springs and cornered like a cat on Velcro. Typically guys in late model Mustangs and Chargers, but occasionally a goofball in a pickup truck. They'd overcook a corner trying to keep up, then back way off after being smoked by a "chick car". It was funny.

This jacks up my blood pressure just thinking about it. Arrrrgh!