So freakin' sick of these !@#$ tailgaters!!!!!!!

[adamnitti]

What is it about a red 911 that attracts these morons that want to ride my bumper just inches away??????????? I can't tell you how many close calls I've had at R/R crossings, stop lights, even at steady speeds!!!!! Damn, they make me mad! Just got back from a drive that I was sure was going to result in my getting rear-ended. I truly believe I had some divine intervention with this one that kept me from getting hit. Usually it's a teen in a Mustang or Honda, but today it was some 40-something in a minivan. Geez!!!

Just had to vent a little.

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Adam Nitti
ajnitti@mindspring.com
www.adamnitti.com
'85 911 Carrera Coupe
PCA member, Peachstate region

[This message has been edited by adamnitti (edited 07-09-2001).]

[cegerer]

Adam, you must have seen me this weekend! I had a homeboy-wannabee in a semi-ricer Saturn following me at about 2 feet off my rear bumper guards (at 55MPH!!!!!!). The guy came flying out of a Burger King and accelerated right up to me for no apparent reason????????? It was on a 2-lane 55MPH road, so after about a mile of this nonsense, I slowed down to about 15MPH and cruised until I got to my turn-off point 2 miles down the road. Homeboy was not happy. -- Curt

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[Ted Stringer]

I feel your pain! For those of us in FL it is worst in winter with all of the old people that clog up the roads and can't see 50' in front of their nose. I am going to get the little gooseneck third brakelight that was on the later '80s cars and put it on my '84. It will mess up the looks of the older cars but it sure beats someone rearending you and then trying to say they couldn't see your brakelights. Darren at Pellican looked up the part number for me a while ago and I lost it. When I get the car on the road with out problems for about a month I will install one and write a tech artical (complete with spelling errors).

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Ted Stringer
nuke3@juno.com
'84 911 Targa aka pocketrocket

[Jerry Madderra]

You know I have just about come to the point where I don't care if I get rear ended by one of these idiots in a suv . I can't spend the rest of my life worring about it. Everyday its one numbskull after another following to close. I do notice its usually a car or truck that is taller than my SC so they can see over you and determine if you have too much room ahead of you , therefor making it necessory to give you a visual push. If it does happen I'll try to make sure the offending party has a BIG corp logo on the side , then I'll get that red 89 speedster I have my eye on + funds for a really nice trip
Jerry 911 SC

[Clark Griswald]

My favorite are the guys driving big SUVs and full size Pickups who derive some sense of power and invincibility by being at the wheel of a large and heavy vehicle.

You know the guys, usually the vehicle is jacked up. They drive them as if they were nimble sports cars. They ride your ass, do quick lane changes, and seem to be always at WOT if they are not on the brake.

But the height and weight of these vehicles (the very thing that seems to stimulate the small brains of their drivers into behaving this way) makes these things stop and turn worse than most any other vehicle on the road. They are danger to themselves and anyone who shares the road.
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Chuck Moreland '86 Cab - "Sparky", '77 Targa - "Sweet Pea"

[adamnitti]

There must definitely be some Porsche-envy or Porsche-hate factors at work here. Although I still sometimes get tailgated in my Grand Cherokee or wife's Acura, it doesn't even APPROACH the frequency of occurence in my Carrera. And yes, many of the SUV and big-a$$ trucks like my tail, too. Those guys in particular LOVE to inch up to my bumper guards while I am waiting for the light to change. What the !@#$ am I supposed to do???.... Drive into the car in front of me??? "Gee, Zeeke... Sorry I got in your way at the stoplight!!! I'll try to stay clear next time."

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Adam Nitti
ajnitti@mindspring.com
www.adamnitti.com
'85 911 Carrera Coupe
PCA member, Peachstate region

[Jdub]

What's interesting about the SUV crowd is that, if you ever get in one, you will notice that you view the road OVER the top of the car in front of you. Because of this, the human brain returns information that "it is OK to proceed" even though they have a 911 sitting under the grille height. I don't mean to pardon their stupidity, but I have noticed this in my friend's Pathfinder...the sense is that, somehow, someway, the car in front of you must be going slow or otherwise because "I can see the road; it's right there...get going!"

As to the rest who intentionally tailgate, you can't afford to get mad. Just pull over, give them a wave around, or whatever. They have a problem but you are not being paid psychiatrist's rates to fix it. DO NOT let your blood pressure build; you are better than that!

Jw

PS: Let me add that you can have huge fun "faking" a dead car at a stoplight. The SUV behind you begins to back up as you wave him around with the "Gosh I don't know why it won't go" look and then, just as they are maneuvering around, take off and act like it fixed itself. Then wave to them at the next light with the "Gosh I wonder how THAT happened look". It is critical to not let the other driver know that you faked him out; act like it just happened by itself.



[This message has been edited by Jdub (edited 07-09-2001).]

[Bill Verburg]

Early Thrs morn., 2 weeks ago, I 87 traffic very light in the southern Adirondacks, a brand new red Ferrari 360 Modena coupe and my 76 Carrera 3.6 not racing just playing, a little squirt of speed here and there while watching for troopers. A guy in a full size Dodge Ram pickup gets into the act, first a few feet off my rear, then a few feet behind the Ferrari, we slow he slows, always staying right behind he kept it up for ~50 miles. What an ass!!

[Jim T]

I actually never get tailgated.

If I see a car coming up behind me (rarely happens, but sometimes does), I immediately pull over and let them go by.

Is someone is tailgating, it means they want to go faster than I am going. Which usually means they want to go WAY faster than what is safe or reasonable. That's their problem, not mine, I'll just get out of their way and let them go.

[patalive]

Yeah - I'm with Jim T - - - in open traffic, I always let the *******s go by because they are moving REALLY faster than traffic and will attract the attention of any troopers up ahead - hopefully before I get there. It's always good to have a stupid rabbit out in front of you!
Chuck

[cegerer]

Hey now! Don't lump all SUV drivers together. My daily driver is a 2000 GMC Sierra AWD Extended Cab truck. Unfortunately, I need this monster vehicle for work and to pull my travel trailer. When I jump into it from the 911, it seems like I'm driving on top of a step ladder!

It is comical to note people's reactions when driving the 911. I don't drive any differently in the 911 then the truck. But for some reason, other drivers attempt to race along side of me, cut me off, tailgate me, and generally make asses of themselves. Strange. -- Curt

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[RarlyL8]

How 'bout this:

Mount a small windshield washer tank and pump in your rear fenderwell. Drill and tap a small hole in your exhaust pipe and run a line from the pump to it. Fill the reservoir with pepper spray. You can figure out the rest.

[Saffs]

adamnitti,
How are you doing

What is it about a red 911 that attracts these morons that want to ride my bumper just inches away?

Try driving a lime green one! People are thinking, "Why is it THAT colour?!" whilst driving 2 inchs away. Finally, someone rear-ended me at a crossing sometime ago...
I sure know what you mean.....
Anthony

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'75 911S Targa
'81 BMW Alpina C1 2.3

[stormcrow]

There are a lot of idiots out there and when they see you driving your P-car, have a notion that they're driving a sports car. I guess it's a male thing from watching all those nascar Dale Earnhardt races.

Anyway, the male race car hormone kicks in and their mind looses control. All they see before them is a threat and they need to challange it for if they don't I guess they think they might lose their manlyhood.

Just a thought

Steve

[RoninLB]

All you people have the wrong attitude. If someone is tailgating me I allow him/her to pass. I hope she is doing her makeup or he is on a cell phone or talking to someone in back seat. Meaning they are tasty bait for a hungry bear. I'll do whatever speed their doing, following about 1/8 mi. behind. My detector starts singing, my foot off gas, etc. Could happen 4-7 times a week on cross country rides. Relax, enjoy the entertainment, bears must be fed. Is't nature beautiful..........Ron

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RoninLB

[john walker's workshop]

time to install that flamethrower in the tailpipe. the 10 mph slow cruise usually makes them pass. you can also stop and walk back and tell them to get off your ass.

[Evans, Marv]

I've done what John Walker suggests a couple of times. Scared the hell out of the other driver, but I was madder than hell & wanted to kick some ass. Many years ago I gave up motorcycle riding for the same reason, but in those days I would carry a big rock with me.

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Marv Evans
'72 911E

[Dave951M]

A guy I knew years ago carried a coffee can full of old nuts and bolts for just this type of occasion. When they got too close, he'd use his thumb like flipping a coin to flip a nut up just over the convertible top. It would hit the grill or windshield of the guy behind and encourage him to maintain a discrete following distance. These days, it could get you shot. The scariest things on the road are a soccer mom with cell phone in a Suburban and a blue hair bingo addict looking under the wheel of a Buick.

Dave951M
PCA Carolinas Region

[911racer]

Aw, come-on all you wailing sissys. If you get tailgated by a SUV, then you are obviously snailing it and not driving fast enough!!! Porsche's inofficial motto is: What's in front must get behind, and what's behind must stay behind!

[rstoll]

It's the Dodge Ram Pickup tailgater down here in Louisiana. So I'm not just imagining these idiots in the rearview?? Thanks guys, I thought it was just me.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944