Other Drivers Attitude Towards Z4 Drivers?
- Thread starter harrycodlife
- Start date
i must be invisible as I haven,t noticed tailgaters or big looks, i had more attention in my beach buggies and the one I just sold a 57 porsche speedster rep. To me its just a bm cruiser with the top off however I love it as it reminds me of driving my cobra 20yrs back .big bonnet and lovely sounding engine what i dont understand is I,m cruisin at 55mph but is is derbyshire roads. 
and a lot older :thumbsdown:
and a lot older :thumbsdown:
I don't know if I've noticed people tailgating etc any more than usual, I've always had that though, I sometimes wonder if it's become I'm a little 5ft girl who can barely see over the steering wheel in some cars though 
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I do, however, get quite a few of falkirk's little boyracers wanting to race, I generally just leave them to it, have a little laugh and carry on enjoying my drive
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. I do, however, get quite a few of falkirk's little boyracers wanting to race, I generally just leave them to it, have a little laugh and carry on enjoying my drive
.Interesting read. I've observed the following over many years of the Zed:
You really do get tailgaters. I think it's because the Zed is low they see the next car ahead and thus drive to that one's speed and brake lights, not mine
Few clowns at traffic lights, but get just the same in the Jag. (difference is the Jag surprises them if I do choose to rarely floor it)
2 types of folks on the road - those that like sports cars and let you out, allow you to pass, move in on motorways and the others that hell will freeze over before you pass, exit the junction, etc. Seems to polarise opinions.
Realistically though very few issues, unlike from some mates who drive serious Italian exotic metal and live a life of hell on roads with kn*b head drivers, keying, spitting and next minute acclaim, photographs of the car, etc..
You really do get tailgaters. I think it's because the Zed is low they see the next car ahead and thus drive to that one's speed and brake lights, not mine
Few clowns at traffic lights, but get just the same in the Jag. (difference is the Jag surprises them if I do choose to rarely floor it)
2 types of folks on the road - those that like sports cars and let you out, allow you to pass, move in on motorways and the others that hell will freeze over before you pass, exit the junction, etc. Seems to polarise opinions.
Realistically though very few issues, unlike from some mates who drive serious Italian exotic metal and live a life of hell on roads with kn*b head drivers, keying, spitting and next minute acclaim, photographs of the car, etc..
Lovely day today so wife and I went to a NT property - roof down etc and passing in the opposite direction at traffic lights were two other Z4s. Flashed the headlights and gave them a wave but all I got back was a stony stare as if I had just dropped out of a dogs backside. Strange people us Z4 owners.
Had a very odd experience tonight on the drive to work.
Sitting at 70mph with the cruise control on (major A road into London, 3 lanes) and up ahead is a silver BMW X3 in the middle lane. I went past without issue.
About 3 miles up the road, the absolute bell sniffer comes flying up on the outside of me (by this point I was in the middle lane and ready to exit) and he sits there, prodding the throttle so his car kept lurching forwards. I ignored him at first, then I looked across and see him grinning, obviously trying to get me to race him.
I laughed, gave him a friendly ''wave'' and indicated off, leaving him to speed down the road. Absolute pillock.
Seems Z4's attract all kinds of morons.
Sitting at 70mph with the cruise control on (major A road into London, 3 lanes) and up ahead is a silver BMW X3 in the middle lane. I went past without issue.
About 3 miles up the road, the absolute bell sniffer comes flying up on the outside of me (by this point I was in the middle lane and ready to exit) and he sits there, prodding the throttle so his car kept lurching forwards. I ignored him at first, then I looked across and see him grinning, obviously trying to get me to race him.
I laughed, gave him a friendly ''wave'' and indicated off, leaving him to speed down the road. Absolute pillock.
Seems Z4's attract all kinds of morons.
Perhaps i can offer a different perspective on this as i regularly drive 5-10 different cars in a typical week for various reasons.
I think we all get sucked into these stereotypes and quite simply bellends are bellends whether your driving an inoffensive runaround like a VW Polo or something a bit more prestigious like an Audi A5 or 3 series. I don't really notice any increase/decrease in idiots up my arse, lane hogging or not letting me out etc. I dont really agree that BMW drivers are worse or other brands such as Audi drivers are particularly bad etc some of the worst idiots I've had have been in the likes of 10 year old fiestas and been middle aged!
I think if your an A hole your an A hole regardless of what car your finances will stretch to, there probably worse when their stuck in a run of the mill car as their envy really kicks in.
Boy racer wise this is definately more of a factor when i have been driving a VW Golf GTI or Renault Sport Megane etc than when i'm in my Z4 but i suppose that's to be expected. Somtimes when i'm out with the wife in her Scirocco it almost seems everyone wants to race her! Cant really say the same in the Z4, i don't know if its because shes a girl or its just a White Scirocco just attracts them, didnt happen in her X5 though, which in the grand scheme of things was a flasher vehicle.
Envy is the thing that really gets me, i noticed a week ago someone has tried to burn a hole through my roof with i suspect a fag. I've only had the car a couple of months and really hope its not a sign of things to come. In 20+ years of driving I have never had anything like this happen before and in that time have owned plenty of convertibles over the years including some £50-60k brand new Porsches etc where you might be expecting some sort of vandalism. Yet this happened on a ten year old £5k BMW, its not even an M just a run of the mill 3.0i SE.
I think it just goes to show its not what they actually cost, how fast they go etc its what people perceive to be expensive/flash/fast etc.
Sorry, rant over!
I think we all get sucked into these stereotypes and quite simply bellends are bellends whether your driving an inoffensive runaround like a VW Polo or something a bit more prestigious like an Audi A5 or 3 series. I don't really notice any increase/decrease in idiots up my arse, lane hogging or not letting me out etc. I dont really agree that BMW drivers are worse or other brands such as Audi drivers are particularly bad etc some of the worst idiots I've had have been in the likes of 10 year old fiestas and been middle aged!
I think if your an A hole your an A hole regardless of what car your finances will stretch to, there probably worse when their stuck in a run of the mill car as their envy really kicks in.
Boy racer wise this is definately more of a factor when i have been driving a VW Golf GTI or Renault Sport Megane etc than when i'm in my Z4 but i suppose that's to be expected. Somtimes when i'm out with the wife in her Scirocco it almost seems everyone wants to race her! Cant really say the same in the Z4, i don't know if its because shes a girl or its just a White Scirocco just attracts them, didnt happen in her X5 though, which in the grand scheme of things was a flasher vehicle.
Envy is the thing that really gets me, i noticed a week ago someone has tried to burn a hole through my roof with i suspect a fag. I've only had the car a couple of months and really hope its not a sign of things to come. In 20+ years of driving I have never had anything like this happen before and in that time have owned plenty of convertibles over the years including some £50-60k brand new Porsches etc where you might be expecting some sort of vandalism. Yet this happened on a ten year old £5k BMW, its not even an M just a run of the mill 3.0i SE.
I think it just goes to show its not what they actually cost, how fast they go etc its what people perceive to be expensive/flash/fast etc.
Sorry, rant over!
A good rant, and well said 
Most drivers on the roads are not bellends, however I do think that most drivers will respond negatively to poor driving or negative behaviour on the part of other road users (not just car drivers). It's weird, and I've experienced it myself - rage seems to be that much more instant in a car as opposed to walking around or being in a public place on foot. I'm sure a psychologist would have a more educated analysis, but being in / on a vehicle appears to bring out the worst in people, no matter how chilled they are normally.
Most drivers on the roads are not bellends, however I do think that most drivers will respond negatively to poor driving or negative behaviour on the part of other road users (not just car drivers). It's weird, and I've experienced it myself - rage seems to be that much more instant in a car as opposed to walking around or being in a public place on foot. I'm sure a psychologist would have a more educated analysis, but being in / on a vehicle appears to bring out the worst in people, no matter how chilled they are normally.
Don't know if it's just me but I tend to drive quite slowly in the Z -
I think it's probably because I have nothing to prove even when some dick head's trying to race me I just let them go they soon look stupid !!!!!
I am also very cortieus if someone cuts me up just let them go...... can't be arsed !!!
I know I can beat 95% of what I come across on the road so what is there to prove ?
Top down - chilled out - yeah
I think it's probably because I have nothing to prove even when some dick head's trying to race me I just let them go they soon look stupid !!!!!
I am also very cortieus if someone cuts me up just let them go...... can't be arsed !!!
I know I can beat 95% of what I come across on the road so what is there to prove ?
Top down - chilled out - yeah
I don't bother trying to race anymore : I get caught up when I hit slow traffic and then I feel like a penisharrycodlife said:
Marlon said:MACK said:
seriously though - like you said, most people don't know the difference between a 2.0 and an ///M - its just a flash 2-seater sports car. Hope you don't have any more trouble with idiots messing with your P&J - makes my blood boil
Thanks and i have to agree. Perhaps the most pleasantly surprising thing i have noticed since getting my Z4 a few months back is the positive comments from friends/neighbours and the even the general public. I have been getting just as many nice remarks as i did when i had £50-60k sports cars in the past. like you say most people just see a flash 2- seater sports car not the age of the plate or indeed have any notion of what they cost. Obviously it probably does help that 10-12 year old Z4s look quite fresh still in the looks department. One retired chap on my road who has never driven (although his children are car buffs) always stops and comments on the Z4 (5K car) yet two of my other neighbours who he knows equally well, (we have all lived on the same cul de sac 20+ years and are a reasonably friendly bunch) he makes no mention of their cars to them. Both have year old cars, ones a £25k Audi A3 and the others got £20k worth of Ford Focus. Hes also never mentioned anything when i have had £20-30k+ BMW/Audi/Mercedes saloons on the drive but my cheap sport car gets his attention. Does make me chuckle!
I've found i get loads of tailgaters in my Z4MC. i was complaining to my g/f the other week after one 15-mile trip back from Nottingham was littered with various idiots doing it. I don't really get it anywhere near as much in my Civic. I'm about to swap it for a Countryman soon, so it will be interesting to see if that makes any difference or not.
I'm pretty new to Zed ownership but cant say I've noticed any extra tailgaiting. I think I definately get more looks, either appreciative or envious? Most of my friends assume I'm minted even though my Zed (6K) cost less than many of my other cars.
A phycologist friend of mine said road rage/ poor behaviour/ bad manners in cars can be mainly down to it being the only truly private/solitary place where people can truly vent anger. They may not even mean it but life constricts extreme emotions in many normal conditions and they are just letting loose. After the initial anger has passed its normally embarrassment that perpetuates the behaviour.
If any of that is true, that'll be why he earns 60k a year more than me.
As too original post saying bad behaviour towards Range Rover drivers is understandable, now I'm really confused as i have one of those too, and a Discovery. Its all my fault!!!!
A phycologist friend of mine said road rage/ poor behaviour/ bad manners in cars can be mainly down to it being the only truly private/solitary place where people can truly vent anger. They may not even mean it but life constricts extreme emotions in many normal conditions and they are just letting loose. After the initial anger has passed its normally embarrassment that perpetuates the behaviour.
If any of that is true, that'll be why he earns 60k a year more than me.
As too original post saying bad behaviour towards Range Rover drivers is understandable, now I'm really confused as i have one of those too, and a Discovery. Its all my fault!!!!
I like to put tailgaters in their place, where appropriate/possible. :lol:
Advantages of driving a Z4... You can go round corners pretty damn quick!
I've caught an X5 out before. He was sitting on my bumper for miles on end, with no attempt to pass me - just deliberately trying to irritate me. It was working and I got to a point where I had enough and put my foot down just as the road begins to go into a sharpish bend. Knowing the Z4 could handle it at higher speeds than I was going, I thought nothing of it. Little did I realise the tit behind me (who must've been twice my age) was still trying to stay on my bumper, in a 4x4...
A further 10 yards round the bend and I hear tires screeching. The tits had to slam his brakes on and nearly gone straight into the crash barrier. After that, he vanished from sight.
Tailgaters always learn their lesson the hard way.. Eventually.
Advantages of driving a Z4... You can go round corners pretty damn quick!
I've caught an X5 out before. He was sitting on my bumper for miles on end, with no attempt to pass me - just deliberately trying to irritate me. It was working and I got to a point where I had enough and put my foot down just as the road begins to go into a sharpish bend. Knowing the Z4 could handle it at higher speeds than I was going, I thought nothing of it. Little did I realise the tit behind me (who must've been twice my age) was still trying to stay on my bumper, in a 4x4...
A further 10 yards round the bend and I hear tires screeching. The tits had to slam his brakes on and nearly gone straight into the crash barrier. After that, he vanished from sight.
Tailgaters always learn their lesson the hard way.. Eventually.