While driving on the Freeway at night the other day, after passing a pick-up who must be suffering from MINI envy, the guy started to tail gate me even though I was back in the right lane and not going any slower than when I passed him...
Then it suddenly hit me (not the truck), why don't I just turn on my rear fog lights for 1-2 seconds...having an '03, the fog lights are on top of each rear light assembly, the idiot will surely think I'm hitting the brakes.
It worked
I also accelerated at the same time, so the truck disappeared in my rear view mirror in two seconds.

I love it, I'm now using my rear fog lights every time somebody is WAY to close, works like a charm.

Sorry if everybody else is already doing it, I just figured it out

 

Ha that's great...hit the rear fogs and accelerate!!! That'll leave 'em baffled!!!

 

This was my number 1 reason for getting the rear fog, communication. Number 2 is to fill the toggle bank. Number 3 is for fog, if it ever gets heavy enough.

 

I have been doing this on the rover for years. But since the MINI is an 05 with Fog it won't work the same!!

 

or you can left foot brake (lightly) and hit the gas! Older racer trick.

 

Does anyone know if you can still retrofit the foglight to an 04 car? Do dealers sell the kit for this this? I want one, so that I get full bank of switches.

 

I used to do this on my 96 Saab, it worked even better because the rear fogs were so insanely bright that it blinded the tailgater. Sure, a little dangerous, but tailgaters are spawn of the devil and they deserve it.

 

Dear Greatbear,

I constantly find myself getting blinded by people with rear fog light, while all I want to do is get a better look at their beautiful cars.

Please advise.

Dumbfound and blinded.

 

Certainly. You've got to purchase the full fog toggle rack (~$75 @ Classic)
Install is pretty easy, and dealer has to activate them. All the details (part numbers, instructions) are around here somewhere.

 

I never knew the rear fogs were in that position on the 03. You learn something new every day huh

 

I had a Rav 4? little SUV thing stuck to my back bumper the other day

I was coming up on a off/on ramp, so I hit the top of the ramp at 60mph, normal for me, and did not brake, also normal, the Rav tried to keep up.

Well as I dived down the ramp, that Rav tried to keep up, not seeing any brake lights from me, I guess he figured why should he, well lets just say keeping up was out of the question

 

Pretty good idea:smile:

 

I like it.

When I swapped my nova to a stick, I set up a switch with a lever that would be activated by having the stick in the reverse position. Thing is, it was pretty easy to poke my fingers into the right part of the shifter boot to trip the switch without necessarily being in reverse. I really miss seeign tailgaters nosedive as I accelerate away. It was almost as fun as downshifting and watching them *TRY* to keep up.

 

I used to put my Scirocco in reverse (with the clutch in, of course) to scare away tailgaters. I only did it a few times since I was always afraid my foot would slip off the clutch and I'd dump the transmission!

I later chose to adjust my rear wiper jet to spray the opposite way...kinda like peeing on the tailgater!

 

I have found that just using my windshield washers does the trick. For some reason tailgaters don't like getting washer fluid on their windshields. :smile:

 

Ha, that's funny. I used to have a 100w rear-mounted rally spotlight from the 1960s on my classic. Flick the switch and you blind the SOB who is on your ****. But it was illegal.

 

Tapping the emergency flasher for a second will do the trick. By the time they figure out it is the wrong color for a brake light, they are off your tail.

 

That is CLASSIC!

 

Rick Anderson: That is a BEAUTIFUL Mini!

When I have a tail-gator, I just jump into the number 1 lane and floor it, leaving them nothing to tail but dust!

 

That is the plan that works best for me.

As far as playing with tailgaters goes, I don't. Too many loose canons out there. Leave em in the dust!

Chuck