All I can say is, to the many contributors whose driving experiences have been so sad...

Come to Massachusetts!

All the drivers in Massachusetts are tranquil, generous, cheerful and highly skilled individuals who abide by all traffic laws and stop for squirrels, turtles, and pedestrians.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

all the time! specially guys with their ladies whos admiring cute mcs.

 

I don't think I've noticed other drivers being more aggressive toward the MINI than my previous vehicles, but from the moment I got it, other cars have been driving up close behind me and hanging there for maybe 15-30 seconds before backing off. At first I thought it was aggression, but now I think they're just trying to get a good look at the car and figure out what it is. Once their curiosity is satisfied, they drop back.

 

This pretty much sums up the scene in the SF Bay Area.

Driving is a contact sport up here especially since the roads became a bit slick once again.

It would be cool to aggregate all public traffic cams and charge admission!

 

I'm in SoCal and Since I got my Mini 2 months ago, I've encountered someone in a brotruck at least once a week who feels it's his job to aggressively swerve into my lane to stop me from passing, and then 100 yards later go back into their original lane to make a turn.

It's bad enough that I'm running a dashcam now for the inevitable accident.

 

I could go on for ages....It happens to me quite a lot here in socal. My biggest pet peeve is the tailgating, and I first thought it must be because the car was so small, that it just looked like people were right on my behind. Not the case!

And then there's that mentally challenged person in the giant truck with noisy tires, weaving between lanes without using their turn signals, trying to make a move until I put my foot down. Same thing with Irvine soccer moms in their Range Rovers. I don't think people realize just how fast these cars are, it's like they were expecting a Prius. But I'm not going to slam on my brakes just to let you get in front of everyone, if I'm already doing 60 in a 40 zone. Just chill.

But I have to say, most BMW's are surprisingly nice. Oddly enough, I've had quite a few M car drivers try to initiate eye contact, which is rather flattering Maybe they have a MINI in the garage at home.

 

Ahhh yes....the brotruck

 

Other than obvious small care issues, haven't been challenged much (except by other Minis and that's OK - fun.). Did have huge problem with being tail gated everywhere. Read about third brake light flasher on this site as a cure. Didn't believe it, but thought, what the heck, I'll try it. Amazing change. Get one:


http://www.minimania.com/part/NMA250...52-53-55-56-57

 

This was the second mod for my MCS (Light In Sight was the first), and it really works. I have it set for the longer flash, just to make sure that no-one misses it.

 

Been there and it wasn't fun haha besides the mountains. Drivers are just idiots there IMO.

 

Oh speaking of overly aggressive drivers...

Last night I'm driving in Woodhaven, and I was trying to get on this road but cops had it blocked off so I turned around trying to get back onto the street I came from. I USED my TURN SIGNAL going about 47mph in a 45mph zone to the middle lane, and this white 2013-2014 'V6' Mustang comes speeding like crazy and then gets mad cause proceeding to get in the middle lane since I was in front of him lol. Then I use the turn to my advantage so he could get off rear bumper tailgating me. After he turns too, he comes right beside me and downshifts to race me going 25mph...at that point I just showed this fool the deal by leaving him behind me getting on the interstate after that.

I swear, it's not just the dumb drivers, it's the young teenagers and adults who are the worst that don't use proper driving skills learned in drivers ed classes.

 

I constantly have this problem and have wondered the same thing, my MINI does have a nice exhaust tone and lowered stance and that Liquid yellow and black color must just look aggressive

 

I don't know how many of you would agree with me, but I've always thought (and I've been driving for a LONG time) that the timid drivers are usually much more annoying than aggressive ones.

 

And so friendly too. When I was last there I saw all those kind citizens of the commonwealth waving to everyone else. Strange that they only used one finger.

You know what we call folks driving through our state with MA license plates?

"Mass****s".

Yeah... I have noticed agressive driving towards me in my MINI. And to be sure it's not me, I have seen it as a passenger in the "Ol' Lady's" MINI. It is typically men in plus-sized, lifted pickups. I guess the pint-sized car reminds them of their... umm... shortcomings.

They tend to either do the swoop and squat, showing us the chrome ********* hanging from the hitch (class with a capital, "***"), or tailgate. We wave bye-bye to them on the next curve.

 

I think our society in General is just running out of patience. Everyone is in such an all fired hurry. The older I get, the earlier I leave so I can take my time.

 

I prowl in mine...I sneak up on other "tuned" vehicle and then blast past them...I get that "Dude is that a Mini look" #Priceless

 

Yep M******* is the term of reverence and respect that we special souls aspire to, and the uni-digital salute is the sign of our order.

And thanks for calling me out on that - I thought no one was going to!

Cheers,

Charlie

 

+1

 

Pick up trucks are on my rear bumper all the time

 

+1 Pickup trucks and lots of tailgaters when I'm in my Clubman.

A couple of months ago, some old guy in a Verano was driving very slowly, and I was stuck behind him for a couple of miles. At the first redlight, I pulled up next to him, so I could pass him. I never made any eye contact with the guy or did anything aggressive. The light turns green, and he decides to gun it. I had to switch lanes (due to parked cars), so I am behind him, and what does he do? He brake checks me, and then as I swerve to the other lane he starts swerving into my lane (multiple times to make it worse). I was so mad! After I cooled off, I decided it wasn't worth getting into a potential accident with this yahoo.

 

I've been to Massachusetts. Worst drivers ever. They even call themselves "M*******s".

 

How about a jacked up pickup truck with a LED light bar in the grill that was brighter than any high beams I have ever seen. These lights hurt my eyes in the day time (he was going the other direction from me). Fortunately it wasn't behind me as it looked like it was place so it would shine in the rear window of the cars in front of him and, I can only guess, to help "push" those cars out from in front him.

In general, that about sums it up around here. Either they don't have a clue (talking on their cell phone, texting, whatever) or they are aggressive like this guy, aiming at no one in particular.

Can't say it is any worse around here with our MINIs than it was with our Jeep. Now I can say, hardly anyone messed with me when I was driving my 1980 Chevy HD 3/4T rusted out pickup. No, this wasn't an "aggressive" truck (or driver); it was just built big to carry a camper and the rust made it look like I might care less about it than other people did about their vehicles.

 

Charlie,
Now you knew your post wouldn't stand on its own for long , but it was good for a laugh.... Having just gone through Mass into CT, I can say that Mass doesn't stand alone with the general excellent quality of its drivers...

 

I don't know if the standard psychology applies, but it does seem drivers of larger cars feel they can easily "bully" a smaller car like the Mini. I've had my share of overly aggressive jerks this past year. I just let them go, smiling and nodding as they pass. I wasnt always this Zen about being cut off but hey, as long as they get far enough ahead that I dont need to see them ever again, I let it go as best I can.

 

Well, I have to admit I'm a bit bummed out by this thread. We're about to pick up our 2010 MCS next Wednesday (our first Mini), and have really been looking forward to it.

We also own two BMW Z3s and pretty regularly get flak from other drivers when trying to pass. Several times I've had drivers in the right lane swerve left to try to keep me from passing. It's sad to think I'll be dealing with that behavior in the Mini as well.