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Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:31 am

Surface streets are a different story, lots of thumbs up, but the freeways are like the autobahn when they are not stop and go.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:38 am

hey man i totally know what you're talking about. even in the slow lane, i'll be behind someone doing 50 or 55 (when even MY can can top that by 20 mph) and some moron will come up from behind me, cuz me off, and end up doing 50 just like before. i dunno what it is, i dont have any problems driving the same freeways at the same time in my sisters subaru... morons.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:49 am

I've never really noticed. I live in a part of L.A. that has surreal traffic levels. I'm a seasoned urban driver and can get through dense traffic quickly. People are rude drivers. It's dog eat dog. I can leave most in the dust, with a stock engine, because of my skills. I like driving through Beverly Hills, feeling original. Every other car is a Mercedes or BMW. Weak. :)

Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:11 am

Oh yes. I notice this all the time driving around Houston. I'll be driving the speed limit or a smidge above, and I still get these people who not only pass me but actually seem to be making a big show about it, as well.

Usually it's guys driving 80s model Mustangs or other so-called "muscle cars" -- you know the guys. They think they're really sitting on some serious horsepower, and they have to really show off that basically stock or even somewhat tired old V-8.

Then I get the folks who pull out in front of me, and I'm thinking, "That's right, pull out in front of the old jalopy with rather questionable brakes." :lol: ..."Yup, there you go..."

And I don't get any of that driving a big red pickup truck. Part of me thinks other drivers have this idea in there heads that a person driving an old Volkswagen won't totally get out and kick their ass! :lol:

I wouldn't, of course. I'm a pacifist. And it's probably people like me who have created that stereotype in their heads of the tree-hugging pansy driving his classically -- or at one time relatively -- eco-friendly automobile.

But driving a classic does cut both ways. You do get a lot of people who are fairly understanding of the fact that you like to slow down a little more than usual when you're crossing those craptacularly maintained railroad tracks. And you do get the big thumbs up upon occasion, as well.

And you gotta love when heads turn. I get that a lot, too. Kids a lot. Sometimes everyone in the car has to look over and start buzzing about your vintage old jalopy. That's cool. 8)

Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:37 am

On the surface streets I get lots of smiles, waves, thumbs up etc; only occasional idiots. On the freeways, seems everyone is an a$$hole. Doesn't matter if I'm in the Beetle or in the Jeep. I can be cruising at 80mph in a 55 zone and still some unfortunate moron, short-changed at birth both above the neck and below the belt, driving a BMW or Lexus or similar such overpriced & overrated yuppiemobile in an attempt to make up for said short-changing, will be just itching to get around me. Gotta be careful in Atlanta though...anger a driver here and they will shoot you in the head.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:08 am

on my baja, i have these really bright dust fog lights, so i can see whats going on behind me when i need to.. those really piss poeple off to the point where they stop when their tail gating me. the flick of a switch, will make the ass riders be gone.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:16 am

el loco kingo wrote: on my baja, i have these really bright dust fog lights, so i can see whats going on behind me when i need to.. those really piss poeple off to the point where they stop when their tail gating me. the flick of a switch, will make the ass riders be gone.

That's awesome.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:18 am

Besides my '74 Super, I have a Eurovan Weekender. I have found that people (especially truckers) HATE the thought of being passed by a VW van. I have had them speed up to cut me off more times than I care to remember. But I always get the last laugh when I simply blow by them and leave them behind. The joys of 200 horesepower!

I have found that people don't mind following a slow-moving beetle nearly as much as they hate being behind the van. In the bug, I get smiles and waves. Maybe it's because there simply are not very many vintage bugs on the road in Minneapolis anymore.

Basil
'02 Eurovan weekender
'74 Super Beetle Sun Bug

Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:10 am

Although I haven't taken my 73 SB on the interstate yet, I can say that people in my area are appreciative of the bug. Case in point... one rainy afternoon I was driving across the bridge on the Ohio river when I spotted a lone jogger on the sidewalk. This was just a few weeks ago and the guy had to be miserable-- cold and wet. He was all smiles and waving when I passed him, and not the kind of waving that says "HEY! gimme a ride home, I'm miserable". As for the state highways (got a 15 minute ride to work) the old bug easily does 75-80mph in stock trim and I end up passing other cars... they treat me no differently than when I'm driving my 2000 Tacoma.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:41 am

al_atl wrote: On the surface streets I get lots of smiles, waves, thumbs up etc; only occasional idiots. On the freeways, seems everyone is an a$$hole. Doesn't matter if I'm in the Beetle or in the Jeep. I can be cruising at 80mph in a 55 zone and still some unfortunate moron, short-changed at birth both above the neck and below the belt, driving a BMW or Lexus or similar such overpriced & overrated yuppiemobile in an attempt to make up for said short-changing, will be just itching to get around me. Gotta be careful in Atlanta though...anger a driver here and they will shoot you in the head.

Atlanta is insane. It doesn't matter if you are running 90 on 285 somebody is going to pass you like you are sitting still even though the speed limit is 55. It seems like everytime I go through there I see at least two cars racing down the highway, and it seems like I'm usually near The Varsity on 85.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:48 am

RemcoW wrote:
When I had a sun roof, if they were close enough I used to flip pennies on their hood and windshield - it would scare the crap out of them :twisted:

felony charges here in VA for trowing something from or at a moving vehicle....

Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:36 am

Around DC is insane. Gotta have something with some power beacuse you never know when you may have to run...or give chase.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:50 am

I dont realy care that the big suvs cut me off all the time. Its just great when you see some kids in the back of the passing car, they look at you, then one turns and punches the other! Ha ha SLUG BUG! :lol:

Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:04 am

I get the same crap in Maryland. On city streets I get looks and thumbs up but on the highway people tailgate and use their horn. It changes when I drive my 300M and I am going the same speed as I did in my Beetle. Everyone then becomes polite and calm. In the beetle I could go 10-15 miles over the speed limit and still people pass me in the right lane. I just play it cool and drive the way I want to in my bug. Screw those people.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:16 am

I get the thumbs up nearly everytime I drive on the freeway. It's probably the engine though, engine roaring and the turbo whistling. If I'm in the right mood and someone tries to pass me, I'll speed up and leave them behind, then let them catch up with me and then speed up again. Great fun! I have been ran off the road by 18 wheelers, and when driving around town people always pull out in front of me. I'm used to it though.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:35 am

Fun with tailgaters, I like it when when I'm cruising along about 70-75 and an impatient muscle car or the like pulls up on my bumper like I'm going too slow. I back out of the throttle as I'm downshifting and flip on the parking lights then dump the clutch :lol: They are scrambling for the brakes while I blast away. It makes the bug look even faster than it is.

Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:43 am

just now i had another great one. i was driving (surface street, mind you) on a 3 lane, and some moron in a lifted bronco comes up from behind, cuts me off, and is going at least 10 slower than i was. i ended up passing him on both sides :D the beauties of bay area drivers. then some kid in a honda tried to drag race me. love it

Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:23 pm

Ya guys, I love messin around with tailgaters and all too. What i love to do: When you see a "fast looking car" come up from behind wanting to pass you up and get in front of you, slow down a bit so he catches up and start slowly acclerating. So then as he's trying to pass you in the lane to your side you speed up and get in front of him. Sucka!

Question: Who gives a friendly toot to passing Volkswagens?

If you see a black bug with a roof rack cruizin around san jose who give you a friendly honk...ya thats me

Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:45 pm

People in my area love beetles, they seem to go kinda in a dream land when they see one...waving, punching, thumbs up, clapping...stuff like that.

I do not plan to drive mine much on our freeways though unless it had a full rollcage and 20ft spikes all around. :shock:

Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:00 pm

I get tailgated all the time. Even if I am doing 65 I think they assume my car is slow and just want to get around me. And most people follow close no matter what your driving. On most freeways you can see packs of cars all driving really close to each other... I just try and get in between 2 packs and stay there.

And yeah, I used to slam the brakes on tailgaters... Until some maniac took it personally. He followed me for miles and when I had to stop at a light he got out and started to approach my car. He was quite a bit bigger and meaner looking than me so I high tailed it out of there!

Now I just slow down below 45 or until they decide to pass. Much safer for everyone.