I'm wondering if others have experienced an odd behavior that is really beginning to perplex me. I've had my '06 MCS for about 2.5 years now (love it) and I usually keep it within the posted speed limits when I'm in and around town. At least 4-5 times - that I've noticed - concerned citizens have gone out of their way to shout "slow down!" to me as I pass them walking down the street. In each case I was within a few miles of the speed limit at least - e.g. going 28mph in a 25mph zone. Hardly warrants a public berating IMHO.

Do our cars seem to be going faster than they are? Maybe because of their size and the burble exhaust do people think we're hot-rodding when we're not? Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing?

 

Could be, when going through work sites I am very conscious of my speed and go even slower than one normally would, but every once in a while I seem to get more waving of arms by detail officers to slow while passing through........

 

Ya ask around on NAM, most everyone will tell you ANYTHING over the posted speed limit is TOO fast and worthy of flame . To answer your question, I dont think so....however I dont really care what people shout at me anyways. If they tell me to slow down...(only 1 time and I was below speed limit) I make sure to give them a VERY good show, an encore of sorts. It usually ends with them covering their ears. Childish yes, growing old is an option I do not elect to participate in.

 

Do Our Cars Look Like They're Going Faster Than They Are?

I can not explain it, but smaller objects look as though they are going faster.
If you were to watch a Gulf-Stream jet and a 747 at the same altitude and same speed at a different time the Gulf-Stream would look as if it covered the distance faster.

 

I don't go over the speed limit either, but I've been shouted at myself.
I think it's just the way the MINI takes corners. Just makes everyone
else look slower I guess

 

I have to say that more times than I care to count I have had someone in my
community tell me to slow down when I come around the corner at 15mph
and the posted speed limit is 25mph so go figure..
I guess they just think that because it looks fast that I must be going fast..

 

That'd be because you'd measure the speed in body lengths. If you're going 25 in a MINI, you're doing 3 body lengths per second. If you did 25 in, say, a Suburban, you're doing 2 body lengths per second. The MINI looks like its going 50% faster.

 

I never go the speed limit, only get shouted at rural but developed (housing) areas, never get shouted at in the city or really rural areas. No matter how much I pay for tickets, accidents or threat of losing license I can't get myself to drive slow, even before MINI. Ever since my first car at 15, a 75 Monte Carlo (not Mini but GM) I would drive it fast on mountain roads. That was scary.

 

It's just jealousy

 

I've noticed the same thing. Sometimes I follow my wife home from work (we own a business together, not stalking her) and she drives the Mini and I driver her SUV I just start laghing because it looks like it's going so fast, even though it's not and I'm going the same speed. Just because it's so small I guess. But I also noticed that since they can take corners so much faster than other cars that it enhances that illusion. I guess when most people take a corner at 5-10 mph and you see a mini taking it at 20 mph, even though it's still under the speed limit, it looks reckless and dangerous.

 

Wow- I just realized it's true - I've been "waved" to slow a few times since I got my Clubbie but never had been before. Had one State cop on the interstate wave me to slow, even thought I was doing 60 in a 70 zone - no accident around or anything, he was just by the side, giving a ticket. At first I wondered if he wanted me to stop too, but when I went by, he made no further effort. I've also been stopped 3 times in 3 months even though I was under the limit & got no tickets...hmmm

 

Yelling slow down warrants a quick stop and reverse, to ask the "expert" do they own a radar gun.... no? SHUT THE F--- UP. I don't get yelled at anymore... BTW I don't speed in the 'hood... too many kids with no common sense are busy playing in the street. Might have to see how Mojo does on sidewalks.

 

Even more interesting is the 5mph difference between your actual speed and what your speedometer reads in a lot of the Minis. My 06 has a 5mph difference, says I'm doing 5mph faster than I really am. So let them yell!!!

 

Yes I've been told to slow down but only after the cop hands me my drivers license and my ticket to me.

 

I was motioned to slow down once in a neighborhood, but I probably deserved it.

 

>>That'd be because you'd measure the speed in body lengths. If you're going 25 in a MINI, you're doing 3 body lengths per second. If you did 25 in, say, a Suburban, you're doing 2 body lengths per second. The MINI looks like its going 50% faster.<<

Very interesting idea! This "illusion" makes sense! Good. I like it! :-) Damn the SUVs. ;-)

 

Minis just attract attention where ever they go.

How fast could you be going to have a bicycle cop pull you over?

 

I had a women act like she was going to jump out in front of me one morning as i was driving through a residential street. I'd have loved to back up and yell at her but I was late and didn't think of it.

 

I was at redline in reverse when I bicycle cop got me.

 

you rock!

 

Same here. I was passing this woman that was working the edge of her yard. I was doing 25 in a 30 zone. She dropped her rake and ran out into the street ...waving her arms and yelling for me to slow down.

Not sure what the hell that was all about ...but I tooted my horn and gave her a wave and a big smile.

 

To be fair you'd have to ask the same question of any owner of a fairly small nimble and adequately powered car.

You probably do drive a bit quicker with a MINI than with most larger cars you've owned before. Larger sedans and SUVs/Minivans are not agile so even if they did have power, you're tempered by more weight.

Do they look faster than they really are? Maybe a little. Not much.

I watch cars at autocross and at the track all the time and the MINIs are OK.
The rear wheel drive two seat sports cars look faster to me. Mid engine all wheel drive look pretty good too.

 

It's probably as much about the car as anything else. People always yelled / motioned / gave dirty looks at me when I was in my 944, regardless of speed. At the same time, I've NEVER had one such incident in any of my family's "non sports cars", despite the fact that I drive them similarly. I think it's just that when people see a racy-looking car, they just sort of automatically assume you're driving aggressively. As a result, I usually just slow down if I see pedestrians ahead.

 

The only time that I have had a person yell to slow down was when I was on a run (I honestly can't remember which it was) but a woman came up along the side of the road waving a branch yelling at us to slow down...

She didn't really look the soundest of mind though.

-Chase

 

Yeah... J turns in a university parking lot. Fun, but not the best idea. The cop did give me props for not driving off and only gave me a warning.