The Invisible BRZ

[Speed2th]

Loud pipe save life. And stay away from drivers blind spot

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Boy

It may be a symptom of living in the Land of Giant Pickups, but I've had several occasions where people switch lanes or turn from a stop without appearing to see me in my WRB BRZ.

Last night I was stopped at an intersection with a big Ford 350 on my left. Both of us should have pulled forward and to the left, keeping in our lanes as we turned. Instead, as we went round the corner, the truck started sliding my way. My wife made a little uncomfortable warning cry as I edged away and started braking. That quickly progressed to laying on the horn and a louder "look out!" from her as I realized he wasn't drifting into us from inattention--he was coming into my lane with a purpose! The curb and concrete wall on my right was coming up fast.

We weren't going very fast, but the ABS chirped as I stomped down. The truck slid by, millimeters from my front fender and then jerked back and forth across both lanes as the driver reacted to the honk and tire squeal from underneath his passenger window. I cringed as I heard my new allows scrape on the curb to my right as we came to an abrupt stop.

The truck straightened up and drove away, one arm out the window in a "sorry!" gesture as he disappeared into traffic. When I got to our destination and got a chance to look, the damage was minimal. Nothing on the fender--just a bit of curb rash and scuffed paint on the right front wheel.

Glad it wasn't worse, but WTF? Do I need to put a big orange whip antennae and a flag on the car to keep from being run over? The car is small, but it seems to be invisible sometimes.

Anyone else had encounters like that?

you know what i do in that situation. if we are both first at the light for the turn i use my cars awesome handling and just use a bit more gas and sling around the corner faster than the truck. i normally speed or brake so im not in people's blind spots

you think life i tough in the BRZ thin about the lotus guys!

my friend has an exige and he was parked in a parking garage near the entrance an SVU accidentally parked over him when hail came down and the SUV reversed out of natures destructive path... lol lotus is so low you would barley see it in the rear view mirror of a chevy suburban or a truck

[dpesce]

SUV and Pickup drivers definitely don't see us. I always try to stay out of the side/ rear third of another car and if I'm there, I have an escape plan in my mind (ie speed up, slow down, do I have room to pull off etc). The ills of a tiny car in a big world...

[DarkSunrise]

I almost got sideswiped by an inattentive SUV driver yesterday as I was accelerating through his blind spot. The one thing he did right was signal. As soon as I saw the turn signal and his SUV come into my lane, I locked up my ABS. Thank God for summer tires and Stoptech brake pads (and no one being behind me). He missed clipping my hood by about 6".

Other drivers need to check their blind spots and be more attentive, but I think it's also important we be aware that we're driving low/small cars, and be alert.

This might sound stupid, but it's one of the reasons I like having the Perrin CBE. It's loud enough where those around me are usually aware of me, but not loud enough to be annoying for them.

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

...Thank God for summer tires and Stoptech brake pads (and no one being behind me). He missed clipping my hood by about 6".

Other drivers need to check their blind spots and be more attentive, but I think it's also important we be aware that we're driving low/small cars, and be alert.

This might sound stupid, but it's one of the reasons I like having the Perrin CBE. It's loud enough where those around me are usually aware of me, but not loud enough to be annoying for them.

Yeah, with the factory HP Primacy's, I'd have probably been sandwiched between the pickup and the wall. Pilot SS ftw!

And now I have a good excuse to go ahead and upgrade the exhaust. Thank you, FT86Club!

The odd part is that I both of us were stopped, side-by-side, for a good 90 seconds waiting for the light to change. How unaware of your surroundings do you have to be to not notice the car NEXT to you? I guess I should have revved the engine or cranked the stereo...

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Boy

The odd part is that I both of us were stopped, side-by-side, for a good 90 seconds waiting for the light to change. How unaware of your surroundings do you have to be to not notice the car NEXT to you? I guess I should have revved the engine or cranked the stereo...

People are seriously distracted when they drive. It honestly doesn't surprise me that you can sit next to someone at a red light and they not notice you there.

People also seem to think that if they can't see/hear you anymore, it means you're no longer there. No my car did not magically disappear, it's probably in your gigantic blind spot which you can't be bothered to check.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by technoid

There needs to be a multitask test, to the driving course.
Driving and

Eating
Talking on Cell Phone
Singing to Radio
Painting Fingernails
Painting Toenails
Reading Newspaper
Texting on cellphone
Yelling at kids in car
Yelling at husband in car

I've seen it all! Sad part is when they can't drive and breath at the same time.

you forgot:
USING AN EYELASH STRAIGHTENER!!

I actually saw this. If you have ever used or even seen one of these things, it is fairly difficult to use standing still while doing nothing else.

I yelled at the lady to put the makeup down and drive the car, and of course I get the finger and a cussing out (like I am the one being stupid...)

[CarzCarzCarz]

Originally Posted by carbonBLUE

you know what i do in that situation. if we are both first at the light for the turn i use my cars awesome handling and just use a bit more gas and sling around the corner faster than the truck. i normally speed or brake so im not in people's blind spots

you think life i tough in the BRZ thin about the lotus guys!

my friend has an exige and he was parked in a parking garage near the entrance an SVU accidentally parked over him when hail came down and the SUV reversed out of natures destructive path... lol lotus is so low you would barley see it in the rear view mirror of a chevy suburban or a truck

HA, try riding a motorcycle and see how invisible you really are. That really teaches you how to pay attention to everything and everybody around you, and how to be aggressive/defensive when needed.

I've had a few close calls in the car before too, but being aware of surroundings and acting accordingly has kept me out of many many more.