The Invisible BRZ

[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?

[Grambi]

Not necessarily in the land of giant pickups but there are a ton around. I get cut off all the time. Just remember most people don't know how to adjust their side view mirrors and/or bother to look in them.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Boy

Do I need to put a big orange whip antennae and a flag on the car to keep from being run over?

People actually used to do that on the tiny British and Italian cars from the 60s. They made go-kart flags that would clamp onto the metal bumpers. A kid I went to school with had an orange go-kart flag on his Spitfire.

Welcome to the world of small cars. Yes, we are invisible, but it's been that way as long as there have been small cars. I learned to drive very defensively years ago when I had my Triumph.

It helps to have a brightly colored car. I have a feeling the black twins are not going to survive as long as the brighter colored ones. I ordered Lightning Red specifically for that purpose. It came down to LR or WRB, and as good as WRB looks, I figured LR would be more visible.

I have Hella Supertones on my to do list as well. Sometimes a horn will wake 'em up. Sometimes a louder horn will get their attention a little more abruptly.

Just learn to assume that all the drivers around you are idiots. You'll start to be able to sense when someone's about to do something stupid. You won't know how you know; you'll just know. Trust that feeling and don't challenge them, because even if they're at fault, you lose.

[AVodka14]

People pull in front of me all the time. We sit low to the ground and that is my only logical though as to the 'invisibility' of our cars. Realize, lots of people suck at driving no matter what car you're in. This will still happen.

[xmadror]

I havent felt that way, yet, with my BRZ.
But it was a HUGE issue when I had my MX-5, I used to drive that thing like I was invisible and it trained me on how to drive defensively.

[stugray]

Son son has heard me say on more than one occasion:
"WTF!!! I guess I should go rob a bank then!"

First time he said "What Dad"

I said "I might as well go rob a bank because I am obviously INVISIBLE!!"


It's just as bad (or worse) in my 914. It's even smaller than the BRZ.

[chas3wba0]

Just happened to me yesterday

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71087

[litemup]

Defensive Driving 101 - Pretend you're invisible.

[technoid]

Not just the small cars, but yes we are invisible. Me in my Blue SUV (guess I blend in with the sky) In my silver BRZ (guess I blend in with the faded pavement), dad in a 1 ton flatbed (who knows, but he's invisible too).

I think there is a magical reaction on a moving vehicle that turns them invisible. Either that or People just don't know how to be alert when driving anymore!

[dbrandt01]

I've had that happen one time with me, but it was a semi that I don't think saw me. I was coming up to an intersection with my light green. This semi just decided to do his wide turn in front of me even though there was no cars behind me in sight. I came sliding to a stop about 5 feet from his trailer. Going 58mph had he waited an extra second or two, I might've not been able to stop and went under his trailer. Luckily I was alone so no one to scream, but me being pissed off haha.

[Ganthrithor]

Its not your car: people just don't pay any goddamn attention to what they're doing while driving.

[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.

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

Its not your car: people just don't pay any goddamn attention to what they're doing while driving.

Too true, unfortunately. For all the reasons that Technoid posted plus a few more. I've been driving an MR2 for the last couple of years and generally drive pretty defensively because of that experience (with the top down, that thing really could slip under a semi) but for the first few months it did not seem so bad in the BRZ.

Since summer, though? I'm like Batman in a shadow even when I'm driving in broad daylight.

[Toca]

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?

That sucks when that happens! Get brighter lights/side markers?