I have driven just about everything, 18 wheelers to motorcycles and everything inbetween. Evertime I'm out in the Mini someone has to mess with me in one way or another. Some is just in fun but some people are down right mean. What is it? Is is because its a small car or because its an import? I think their all jealous

 

Umm.where do you live? Could be a factor.

 

I usually get 'ricers' that always want to fly past me and switch into my lane right in front of me to 'prove a point'.

I've also had a ford f-150 try to keep up with me on a really windy road by my place (yeah, he slammed on his break after the 2nd set of "s" curves like a fat man seeing a donut on the track in a 100m sprint.

I wouldnt worry about the haters. For the amount of 'hate' you'll get on the road, you'll get 10 times more LOVE from other drivers admiring your ride. Oddly enough, its always the really expensive car owners in porsches, MBs, etc that always make a point to give a big THUMBS UP.

 

Puff yourself up so you look bigger- that might help.

It would be worse if you drove a classic mini. Probably same deal in a new Smart car.

Until more people get smaller cars, big cars will be "getting in the way".

What are they doing to "mess with you"??????

 

YES, i get cut off, and tailgated on the freeway all the time. especially by pickup trucks. it sucks. and when i floor it and take off to try and get away they try and keep up sometimes almost to 100mph. its quite annoying.

 

You need to get a big a** bumper sticker that says "LOGO'S AND STICKERS DON'T ADD HORSEPOWER"

 

Lol. I asked an owner of a ricer once why he added a monster wail tale of a wing to the back of his front wheel drive car.

me: "good thing you got that increased downforce on the rear of a front wheel drive car"

him: "yeah it really helps"

 

That's funny. I haven't had any of that. Yet. Bam, where do you live?

Of course, there is one way where I feel as though other drivers are "messing" with me: When they drive reeeeeeaaaaaalllllll ssssllllllloooooooowwww on the twisty back roads. I'm getting so frustrated by this that I am starting to drive VERY slow myself--like at least five mph under the speed limit. Once the line of SUVs and mini-vans behind me has stacked up nicely, I take off (as there is now a good "cushion" between me and the slugs in front of me). It's hilarious because they just can't keep up though the turns.

Ah, the joys of MINI ownership!

 

Whew! I though it was just me. Thank you for this post... because I have noticed the VERY same thing. Many people ride up on my tail - and I am usually not moving slow. Like in San Diego - if your not going 90 on the freeway everyone is passing you by. But the number of a-holes out there are unreal. And I also find at stop lights, some people are right up on my tail. That's when I like to roll back a few inches and get even closer to them... or I rock back and forth to mess with them.

But when I am on the freeway, minding my own... people honk... cut me off... tail gate etc. I too just think they have Mini envy. There are jealous.

 

I live up in Minnesota. After thinking about it its mostly the SUVs and Pickups. I have nothing against them but its like they see me as easy prey. Its like they have to be in front no matter what it takes to get there. They have to prove their the king of the road and want to make sure everyone knows it. I'm not going slow either, I pretty much drive 70 or more on all the freeways and I am not one of those people who block the road. I am never in the way unlike most people. It doesn't bother me, I just try to figure out what goes on in people heads. As far as the ricers go, they amuse me with their ridiculous wings and their primer colored body kits that are falling off or even dragging on the ground.

 

thanks wildone you made me laugh out loud
but in response to this thread it's usually me trying to be the bad-a$$ is my car becuase i'm certain i could beat anyone (ha) but i never have problems except with people not waving when i wave that pi$$es me off

 

Well I guess I'm lucky because in over two years of ownership I never have had this happen to me. The whole "mine is bigger than yours" thing sickens me anyway.

 

Note my license plate...

I realize I'm kinda setting myself up there too - the Washington D.C. area has a VERY high percentage of SUVs (and pickups), and everybody here seems to think they are incredibly self-important.

Now, I plan on adding the sticker "I drive a MINI. What are you compensating for?" on the back as well. I'm definitely curious to see what kind of reaction it creates... if it gets way too hot (serious road rage), I may have to remove it, but we'll see.

The final curious addition in the same vein would be the "Kill your SUV" sticker, but I think that I'll leave that one off, and stick to the "Actual Size" and "1:1 ratio" type of thing.

 

I have gotten tailgated in the last two months since I picked up mu Mini, than in the last 25 years combined!!! It started day ONE and happens almost every single time I go out. The worst is at a top light - I SWEAR the average stopping distance to my bumber is under a foot - and I'm not exagerating! There have been a couple times I got OUT and walked to the back of the car. I said What the FARK to ***** behind me who gave me a snotty look. I have no idea what is in peoples minds but it is DEFINITELY something with the Mini. On days I drive the Grand Prix, everythign is normal. I don't get it! I'm going to lose it the first time someone tags my back end! I'm glad my Glock 37 doesn't live in the glovebox because I would be in jail for sure!

 

You have a Grand Prix too huh?

I gotta believe people, not all, think that if their in a bigger car then they are somehow better then the guy in the smaller car and deserve special treatment out on the road and if they don't get it they get mad

 

I get it all the time and it's always from some meathead in a pickup or giant SUV (although big BMW drivers are just as bad most of the time.) I drive the same routes all the time and I know where all the speed traps are so I like to let the idiot get past me and display their manhood at the most opportune times - in front of cops. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the moron who was just tailgating me get pulled over! I once stopped and asked the police officer to arrest the driver for reckless endangerment. Not sure if he arrested the guy but he did take a statement from me. But with all the road-rage shootings in LA and OC over the past few months - one of which I witnessed - I have become much more mellow.

 

I think it all relates to ***** size, quite frankly.

The sticker below is sitting on my fridge waiting for MCS April to arrive. Should be fun here in New York...

>>>Now, I plan on adding the sticker "I drive a MINI. What are you compensating for?" on the back as well. I'm definitely curious to see what kind of reaction it creates... if it gets way too hot (serious road rage), I may have to remove it, but we'll see.<<<

Dave in NY

 

That seems to be a common encounter for me as well, mostly Hondas and occasionally oversized SUV and trucks. Usually, I just mind my own business to avoid any unnecessary road rage.

 

I blame it on Starbucks and cellphones.

 

I have the "I drive a MINI. What are you compensating for?" bumper sticker and don't have any problem...

I also have the T-shirt with that same quote, which I enjoy wearing at the gym....I just love the expression of those college kids who drive those HUGE pick-ups on lift kits when they read it ....the beauty of that statement is if it makes you mad, well then it's true
I also have a lot of compliments from that T-shirt (mainly from girls).

 

I've kinda embraced the whole "let's put away the middle finger" thing around here. I am patient, let other drivers in front of me, let pedestrians pass, and basically threaten no one. Kinda builds some good will for the brand and I think people notice and appreciate it. To me motoring, either in a Mini or a MINI, is not about speed or testosterone but about good cheeky fun and extreme drivability. Seriously, no matter how aggresively you appoint a MINI, the car is still basically cute...best to just embrace that fact. If others want to play boy games with their cars, let them. I think we can do better. That's the view from here anyway.:smile:

 

Yeah, JDS, there is something to be said for Karma, here. Today, I pulled up to a stop light where a Honda S2000 was waiting. I gave him a friendly nod, and "Nice car," lip message.

Admittedly, the adolescent side of me had wanted to give him the ol' six-gun solute, but, I figured, "What would that accomplish?" He'd probably just begin to develop a negative opinion of MINI owners in general. We certainly don't need any of that!

I figure that the MINI is a special car, so I ought to just bask in its glory every time I'm in it. Let's spread the love, I say! If there are those who can't share in the joy, it's just their loss.

 

Today a guy in an explorer pulls out in front of me then drives below the speedlimit, I go to pass him and he cans it. I got around him then he passes me back and goes slow again. I don't get it. I swear to god these people think they are better then everyone else. Im really starting to hate any form of an american made truck/suv.

 

Hell, I just hate people!

 

^^^Yeah, that is pretty blatant.