Bad attitude on the road....
 

Is it just my imagination? I've been in the 8 for about a week now, and yes, there are those that seem to really like the car, but it seems that there are drivers on the road that take exception my new car. My 8 - red GT - a bit flashy, I admit. My last car was a black 'stang GT convertible - I consider that car a bit showy as well but I never got the type of attitude that I'm seeing in my 8.

For instance, I'll be doing 100-120km/h in the left lane, and some road hog in front of me would absolutely REFUSE to move over. If I pass on the right, then I look like a jerk - if I stay behind, I start to feel the road rage building up. It's comical that these road hogs are resolute in not letting my 8 go by.

The other day, some idiot in a 50km/h zone driving a Pontiac GTO (I think) saw my 8 and sped up to catch me. We stopped at a red me in the left lane, the GTO in the right lane of a 2 lane right turn. Sure enough, when the light turned green, the GTO nails the throttle. I'm on the outside line and I must admit, I gave into emotion and just went full throttle. No clutch drop nothing, but I spanked the Pontiac. Then I just got mad at myself for being goaded into race.

Then there's the usual assortment of minivan drivers who tailgate me. The a$$hole in the Lexus ES300 that honked his horn at me just because I left 2 carlenghts in front of me in a TRAFFIC JAM!

I never used to get attitude like that in the 'stang, never in my Maxima, just in the 8. Anyone else get this or am I just overprotective of my new ride?

I also have a new (less than a month) Red GT here in Montreal. I must admit I haven't noticed your negative reaction.

You are probably just hyper-sensitive to all the idiots that are out there right now.

As far as getting goated into a race with a GTO (I'm assuming you mean a new Sunfire GTO), I hasn't happened to me yet. But I know some 16 year old in a Civic with a coffee can exhaust will pull up any day now.

Enjoy your new ride!

i drive a Red MT too, but i get quite the opposite reaction. over here, the overtaking lane is the right lane. and when i am cruising on the right lane about 5km above the limit (alot of ppl do that), everyone seems to just move to the left when ever i am on the right lane, even if i'm doing the same speed as them and not closing in on them. they seem to be trying to get the hell away from me even tho i'm driving conservatively. i cruise around the same speed in my civic.... and ppl always block my way even if i'm trying to pass them(in the civic tet is)....

so yeh, normally i get a lane to myself almost when driving the 8. quite a weird feeling

I've discovered that my car, just by virtue of being on the road, seems to be a personal insult to many other vehicles on the road. What's even worse is that I don't go out of my way to speed or even drive in the left lane, and when I do, I only stay in it long enough to pass. At lights, If I'm behind a semi-sporty vehicle, or next to one in the front of the pack, it's like an instant threat- I've NEVER raced anyone at a light (and I never will) in this car, yet they all take off like they have to get in front of me to prove something. Driving our pickup truck, I get ignored. Driving the 8, people are constantly accelerating the minute they see me, as though I care when they're going faster than I am. Are we supposed to be impressed? I just want to drive...

your my kinda woman elara- always so classy! ;)

I'm with Yanje. People get out of the left lane more now that I have an 8.

Of course, I used to have a Miata, talk about no respect on the freeway!

No, not Pontiac sunfire. Maybe it was a Grand Prix or something like that. But the point is irrelevant.

BTW, to the guy in the Lexus es300, if you are reading this thread, AT LEAST STOP YAPPING ON YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE YOU HONK AT ME!

I'm generalizing. Most drivers are courteous. It's just that I see a greater incidence of road stupidity since I got behind the wheel of the 8. Maybe it's a seasonal thing or it's a full moon or whatever......

BTW, this is happening under normal driving. I'm not speeding. In my neck of the woods, the speed limit is 100 km/h. The cops usually tolerate 110-115 km/h. Having a "ticket-me-red" color car, I take steps to really, really be on good behavior.

I get a lot of people who will drive along side me and if I speed up, they do to. If I slow down, they do the same. It's not a problem for me, but twice now I've had to turn to get into the lane the guy is in, and they're not letting me do it since they're shadowing my moves. I end up having to hit the brakes hard and going behind them.

I also drive about 3-4 seconds behind a car, I don't tail gate because I don't want more rocks in my front fender. I've already got 3 chips :(

Sounds like normal idiot drivers in AZ to me. I've had the same problems in my 93 escort, 99 matia and now the 8. I can't believe all these drivers can't read my mind and get outta my way! :D

hehe, i normally leave 3 car lengths or so from the car in front of me on a freeway/highway. abit closer on slow roads, but never within 1 car length (i know the danger of unexpected idiodic driving of some ppl, or even pedestrians or cats and dogs for that matter). but now with the 8, i increase the gap just slightly more coz i dun wanna see that beautiful front ruined.

and from experience, driving closely behind a truck or semi trailer is quite annoying. they tend to pick up the pieces on the road which lands right on ur bonet or windshield. hence i overtake them whenever possible even if they're not driving slow.

Re: Bad attitude on the road....
 

I've never been challenged in my Firebird but a few times in the RX-8, so I will agree on your observation.

Our car seems to bring something out in others.

About you "spanking the GTO".. I don't think that driver was giving "full throttle" as you believe. You'd only have seen his tail lights.

Or maybe it was not a GTO? The GTO looks a lot like GrandPrix; and an RX-8 could beat a GrandPrix.

-Peter

yes that means if you beat a GTO then you had a 3 second head start. Even us RX8 owners know you are full of sh!t.

yeah i get a little of this too, but it all becomes even when a chick whistles at ya :)

Pidge, why the nasty remark? Maybe it was a GTO maybe not... who cares really. And maybe the idiot in the GTO was a very bad driver !

It had to be a GTO. Its body looked smoother than a grand am or a grand prix. It looked new. Listen, I wasn't ahead by a car length or anything. but when I'm in the outside corner and the Pontiac had the inside line my half a carlength "win" after about 300 feet, I consider that a victory. I could tell he was trying - he hunted me down from a block and a half away.

Anyways, I'm probably just full of shit. BTW, were you that guy in the Lexus?

Did someone piss in Pidge's cornflakes today?

I thought a gto had a 0 to 60 of like 5.4? that is not THAT much faster than an 8 and if it is in the right range and he was a bad driver it is possible. jeez guys :) ALSO, it is hard to mistake the god-awful sheer ugliness of a GTO! ;) IMHO

God awful, sheer ugly=350z, not GTO.

Conservative and understated=GTO.

God I miss Montreal! You have some of the best roads for fast fun driving i've ever been on. 117 from Montreal to 113 up to Chibougamau and then back down 167 to Lac Saint-Jean is a blast! I've done that twice back in 1986 and 1987 when I had my Merkur XR4ti. Little to no traffic, no cops, no towns, nothing but open road, trees and lakes. I have to get back soon. Also that crepe restaurant on Rue Denis by the satute of the guy bent over holding his head is still fresh in my mind. Go to get back soon.

What do you mean "today"? He's always like that! ;)

Regards,
Gordon

ha

No big difference?

5.4s is a HELL lot faster!

Let's take 6.2s for the RX-8 (since he said he wasn't doing an 8k launch)

In the differencs of 0.8 seconds, at a speed of 60 mph a car travels 0.0133 miles that's over 70 feet or 21.5 meters.

We're talking 4 (four) car lengths!


Now let's assume the 8k clutch drop and Canzoomer's mod.

5.9 seconds. Difference 0.5s
Distance travelled @ 60 mph is.. 13 meters or 44 feet.
2 and a half car lengths.


I had an M5 take off on me the other day and I thought I was in neutral or in reverse or something.

-Peter

It sounds like they were on a curve. That being the case, it is very possible. The GTO won't be able to use all that go on a curve. (especially with an average driver)

I concur. I'll never understand what it is and I suppose it doesn't help that I'm a woman *shrugs* And I get a similiar reactions when driving in my 'stang.

But a 16 year old in an RX-7 is cool though... right? :D