Does the color of your P-Car result in idiocy of other drivers.

Thunder Punk · 05:33 PM

Well, it was Father's Day today. I kinda figured we'd be taking the 930 out for the day since the weather is fair so I detailed the car last night. She was looking mighty spiffy this morning when I walked out into the garage to fire her up.

My wife and I decided to go to Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport Mississippi along with my 5 year old son. We figured that a ride down the Gulf Coast beaches would be nice with the windows down and the sunroof open. It's about an 80 mile trip each way from where I live here in Louisiana. Really nice back roads through the marsh to get there. This was our first real outing in the car as a family. It's what I bought the car for. We were stoked this morning thinking about it.

It wasn't long before I began to realize that, for whatever reason, people (other drivers) seem to lose their ability to properly operate a motor vehicle whenever a Porsche is around.

We'd come up behind at least 5 drivers that were so busy looking into the mirror that they would go off the road and damn near into the shoulder spraying rocks everywhere trying to get a better look at what's in the rearview mirror. If that's not bad enough they'd continue to do it over and over again until I'd had enough and boost around them. I cannot tell you how many times my wife and I exclaimed, "Moron" today.

Then there were three idiots that felt that they MUST tailgate me. I could see them in the mirror speeding up 200 yards back to catch up. Once they got behind me they would ride my ass like a high school kid on Jenna Jameson. These aren't other sports car enthusiasts either. We're talking 1980 F-150 to Toyota Tercels here.

Of these three idiots the last really pissed me off. Two guys in a freakin Saturn had to come racing up to get a better look. Mind you, my 5 year old son is in the back of the car. I see them easily running about 90mph + in my rear view from 300 yards out. I'm getting nervous. I have every confidence in my skills as a driver. I run sportbikes on the weekends too but my confidence in anyone driving a Saturn at these speeds caused alarm for me to say the least. It wouldn't have bothered me if it were a Z06 or a Viper. What does a chump in a Saturn have to lose if he screws up? Nothing!

They crowd right up my butt no more than 3 feet off my tail and stayed there for 3 minutes or so. They were so damned close that i couldn't see their grill. Too close for my liking so I look into the left lane and nothing is coming. I downshift into boost and take off like a rocket. I pass two cars and begin to slow down merging back into my lane. At this piont I'm I'm atleast 200 yards ahead of these tards.

I look in my mirror and wouldn't you know it? This moron comes flying out and is struggling to pass the two cars traveling at approximately 60mph so I know he's pushing 85+ again. He makes it past and then comes rushing in behind me. I was taught not to accelerate in these situations when riding a bike because it may only entice a dangerous situation with an ******* like this. Well, I applied that theory here. I didn't speed up and I didn't touch the brakes. I kept a steady 65mph cruise even though I wanted to jam the hell out of my brakes I was so mad. This Jackass damn near clips my left rear bumper and comes flying up besides me at 90mph while I'm doing 65mph. Mind you, this road is posted at 55mph.

So, I let him go. What does this ass do? He cuts immediately in front of me and slams on his f*&^ing brakes. I mean hard. I'm on the horn and reaching for the gun in my glove box at the same time. I'm ready to kill this fu*&%er. Then without warning he cuts off into a side street and I go by shouting explitives out of the window. Talk about ruin the mood of the day. My wife had to rub her fingers through my hair for 15 minutes to calm me down.

I just wanted to share this story and find out if any of you had similar stories of idiocy on the road while driving your Porsche. I couldn't help but think that the color of my car has something to do with it. Red. For some reason cops hate red sports cars and now I'm finding out that if you own a red Porsche that people become idiots whenever one's around. Do you think the color of your Porsche entices moronic behavior from other drivers?

BTW.....Happy Father's Day peeps!

strother · 04:55 PM

I frankly don't have many people screw with me if I'm driving sedately -- that is, not continuously passing traffic, trying to get to the front, even if within the speed limit (or close to it.) It is only when i am driving fast and aggressive that other drivers start playing the games that you described in your post.

BRPORSCHE · 06-19-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thunder Punk

So, I let him go. What does this ass do? He cuts immediately in front of me and slams on his f*&^ing brakes. I mean hard.

I find myself in the same situation on I-10 everyday. No matter what I am in. p-car or chevy van. If they catch you going to fast or to slow the fuchers will try and get in front of you and slam on there brakes. Totally idiotic. darn rednecks...

randywebb · 06-19-2005, 04:47 PM

Well, we have two examples from Louisiana and a guy from Texas who doesn't have it happen.

Thunder Punk · 05:08 PM

Man I tell you what. I've had people racing up behind me on my sportbikes and it never made me this nervous. I guess I could always bolt away rather easily on a bike and have in the past. But it's different when your wife and child are with you. Makes you think about things a little differently I guess.

Even though I could have punished these guys with the Porsche it's just not safe. I'm just not comfortable running a 3000lb car down a two lane highway at 100+ mph when there are other drivers around.

For some reason the Porsche (930) makes you feel like your going a lot faster than a bike when you get into the throttle. The pull is about the same but the feedback from the chassis and suspension are immense compared to my bikes. I'm not used to the car yet and that has a lot to do with it. I wanted to but my mind kept saying, "Be cool man, your wife and kid are in the car. Just ignore them and everything will be fine." Not the case at all.

Even though the drivers down here are bad I've never experienced this in my other vehicles. There was a stark contrast in observable behavior of other drivers today.

Strother...I feel the same. There's no doubt that other drivers may interpret anyone driving a Porsche semi aggressively as an invitation for horseplay on the street. I am well aware of this fact and agree totally in your statement. That's why I was creeping around today at the speed limit. It didn't matter though. I guess that's what miffed me so much. I wasn't asking for it and hadn't been all day long.

randywebb · 06-19-2005, 04:59 PM

I grew up in BTR... it could have been a '43 pickup with the wheels shaking back & forth and he still would have goosed it up to 90...

strother · 06-19-2005, 05:04 PM

But, I'm in a gold-colored 911, not a red one. It also has no tail on it. A red 911 with a whaletail might be quicker to provoke.

Thunder Punk · 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strother
But, I'm in a gold-colored 911, not a red one. It also has no tail on it. A red 911 with a whaletail might be quicker to provoke.

That's what I'm thinking here. It will be interesting to hear from others and their experiences. I wanted a black or silver 930 but the price and condition of the red one were to darned good to pass up. I do like red but it's a favorite color to be targeted with by law enforcement down here. I had a red '85 Celica GTS and managed to get 7 tickets in 12 months with it even though my driving hasn't changed much over the years.

Next item on the upgrade list is a radar detector for sure. I told my wife that I'd like to install a paintball gun unseen under the rear bumper and fill the balls with paint stripper just for tards like these.

no substitute · 06-19-2005, 05:16 PM

Red does seem to have a psychological effect on people. It probably on ly exacerbates a given individuals behavior that might be close to the surface already. I once had an old truck with top heavy pipe racks (with pipe) try to race me while I'm driving the speed limit. It escapes me as to why, although I suspect jealousy comes into play.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

You're freaked out about them jacking with you with your kid in the car, and then you're going to pull a gun out on the goofballs? Is this a typical family outing for you?

I get my share of ricers trying to race me, and ignoring them makes them go away. I have my fun at the track.

sweet97m3 · 06-19-2005, 05:41 PM

Oh boy...gave the red '86 cab a 350 mile r/t to Williamsburg, Virginia to see dear old Dad this weekend. Took some nice backroads in order to stay off I-95 and was enjoying some of the finest weather I can remember. Quite a few open roads, two-laners mostly but light traffic...just what a 911 was built for! Was motoring along famously between 60-80 mph when some idiot in her Explorer thought she would roll up on my bumper at 85+...couldn't have been more than 23-24 years old. Couldn't drive for ****...was all over the road. I pass a couple of cars and pull way ahead and she has to practically run two cars off the road to try and stay with me. Needless to say she comes screaming up on the rear bumper barely able to stay in her lane. At that point I realize she is a freaking nut and I pull off on the shoulder to let her by...and she doesn't want to pass! I guess she thought she was having some sort of fun rather than being the road hazard that she was. I pull over and stop...only then does she go past. Of course she wasn't interested in careening along behind the other vehicles she encountered ahead...leaving me to fully realize it was the P-car all along.

Red or not...I think it brings the idiot out in some....like the guy in the silver Achieva who almost killed himself on the ramp trying to maintain the same speed as the 911...only to roar past a mile or so later down the road at over 100 mph...guess he won...good grief....

What really irritated me was not seeing another Porsche the entire trip...oh there was the Boxster that had no idea why I flashed my lights at him...he was sure that I was warning him of some sort of speed-trap ahead! LOL...

All-in-all a beautiful weekend for a drive in the next best thing to a bull-fighters cape...

Steve

Thunder Punk · 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by efhughes3
You're freaked out about them jacking with you with your kid in the car, and then you're going to pull a gun out on the goofballs? Is this a typical family outing for you?

I get my share of ricers trying to race me, and ignoring them makes them go away. I have my fun at the track.

Well, down here in LA it is legal to carry a concealed weapon if you have a license to do so. I honestly felt the safety of my family was in jeopardy. It was that bad. In fact, what had me reaching for the gun was the fact that for a split second, I thought this guy might try to run me off of the road. Or worse, try to get me to stop and jack my car at gunpoint. I was most certainly in fear of my family's and my safety. Well within my rights to shoot him if he would have attempted to run me off of the road or jack me. If you're not comfortable packing lead then that's ok. Me personally, I always pack. I've been around too long to know how stupid some people can be. They never saw the gun. There is a difference in being prepared and waving a gun around like a madman.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

I'll tell you what, I'm certainly not anti-gun, but I don't like what I'm hearing. I guess my point is I'm amazed about you talking about being afraid for your family, but then you're pulling a gun out. Talk about putting them in danger! I don't know how many freeway "road rage" shootings there've been in Dallas, but there's been a bunch, I'm guessing they start as you describe.

And to think in high school we were worried that someone may have a knife......

molsen · 06-19-2005, 05:52 PM

You....out of the genepool!

strother · 06-19-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by no substitute
Red does seem to have a psychological effect on people. It probably on ly exacerbates a given individuals behavior that might be close to the surface already. I once had an old truck with top heavy pipe racks (with pipe) try to race me while I'm driving the speed limit. It escapes me as to why, although I suspect jealousy comes into play.

The 997 in speed yellow in this months Panorama is pretty awesome, but I have a feeling that when it comes to attracting troopers, it would make a Guards Red 930 look like a wallflower on the highway.

rdane · rdane's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Thunder Punk
I was most certainly in fear of my family's and my safety. .

Text book answer as to why you justify the use of lethal force.
What needs to be added to actually justify use lethal force "is fear of imminent serious bodily harm or death to myself or other other innocents" . Sounds like that could have easily been the end result if things had gone just a tiny bit differently. justifing self defense first goes to your mindset and the level of perceived fear.

I can understand where Ed is coming from. But I worry less about only myself in that situation than I would with family in the car. In that situation, with family present, I would rather error on the side of caution. The guy who wins usually is the one who gets to the cell phone and 911 first. It is a more powerful tool. But a 1911 used wisely can pretty much solve anything else that is a problem.

No question the level of violent crime in the mid south is hard to believe unless you live there. As an aside your original statement could have just as easily buried you no matter the rest of the scenario or how justified you were. Civil liability can eat you alive.

Be careful to there

My last car was basic brown and even bone stock and no tail it would get similar reactions on occasion.

Thunder Punk · 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by efhughes3
I'll tell you what, I'm certainly not anti-gun, but I don't like what I'm hearing. I guess my point is I'm amazed about you talking about being afraid for your family, but then you're pulling a gun out. Talk about putting them in danger! I don't know how many freeway "road rage" shootings there've been in Dallas, but there's been a bunch, I'm guessing they start as you describe.

And to think in high school we were worried that someone may have a knife......

How exactly am I putting my family in danger by removing a gun from the glove box that is on safety without a round in the chamber and sitting it in my lap just in case? If I think my life is in danger then you can bet your sweet potato's that I will protect it.

I guess there are some that think because they have a gun they can wave it around or worse use it to level the playing field. If I wanted to lose my license to carry then all I would have to do would be wave it at these tards. It's not an ego thing for me. It's a matter of protection. New Orleans and the surrounding areas have the highest per capita murders in the nation. Please don't judge me for excersising my rights. Especially on the internet where too much can be left to your imagination. I can't blame you for not understanding what I did and why I did it because i didn't elaborate on it clearly enough. No biggie.

Thunder Punk · 06-19-2005, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strother
The 997 in speed yellow in this months Panorama is pretty awesome, but I have a feeling that when it comes to attracting troopers, it would make a Guards Red 930 look like a wallflower on the highway.

LOL...I concur. Yellow seems to bring the best out in the POPO as well.

sweet97m3 · 06-19-2005, 06:05 PM

The prospect of lead flying aside...a red Porsche with a tail on it has got to be the #1 speeding ticket bait on the road. That thought was never far from my mind this weekend...funny what getting older will do to you...

strother · 06-19-2005, 06:08 PM

This is certain to get moved to OT if we start debating handguns, but I can't help myself. I'm reasonably neutral to handguns. I don't like them, and I think the world would probably be better without them, but that ain't gonna happen.

My concern is that pulling out a gun seems to be an escalation, and if you're sitting it in your lap "just in case", it indicates you're nervous (maybe rightfully so) and people act weird when nervous. If the Saturn guys saw you go for your glovebox and they're armed as well, you've just unwittingly invited a shootout. The safer thing to do IMHO is have the wife call 911 while you exit and get away.