Does driving a BMW attract more road ragers??

StanF18 · #1 04-21-2009, 10:47 AM

I've attracted a fair amount of "road-ragers", the latest one being this morning in a VW Passat (or was it a Jetta). I seriously do NOT consider myself an aggressive driver. I NEVER tailgate, I never cut anyone off, and I always use my signals. The only thing is, I do like to go somwhat fast occasionally, but I stay in my lane and try never to tangle with anyone. Nevertheless, these guys know how to find me, not sure if they despise BMWs in general, or X5s in particular??

Anyway, this morning it was me and another E53 (3.0i) peacefully driving side by side. I'm on the left of the other X5. This A-hole in a Passat comes flying in from behind me....He is 1 inch from my ass, and he is weaving left to right to show how pissed off he is. So I speed up quite a bit to allow him to fill his "need for speed", but I don't much feel like changing lanes since the right lane is ending soon anyway. The Passat speeds up too, but he is furious that I am still faster than him. So he switches to the right lane to try and outgun me. Mind you, I am in no way impeding him, or preventing him from going fast. I am just staying in my lane going pretty fast. Well, sure enough, he is unable to gain enough speed to pass me on the right, and then his lane ends....he is forced to shuffle back into line behind me. This pisses him off to no end. When it becomes 2 lanes again, he revs up like a madman, gets in front of me, and purposefully cuts me off AND BRAKES at the same time. If I did not brake really hard I would have flown straight into his right rear fender.

Who ARE these people? I guess my only consolation is that the folks who do this stuff must engage in this tailgating/cutting off behaviour pretty consistently. Which means that the Law of Probability will eventually catch up to them, and they will meet their Maker sooner than they bargained for.

And the final aspect of this is that I'm obviously dreaming of an X5///M, as I'm sure many of us are. But I'm afraid if I ever do get one, I will only attract more a-holes like this one, trying to show me up.

E61Silver · #2 04-21-2009, 11:11 AM

Simple way to drive keep the fast lane open, it is supposed to be a passing lane.

X5rolls · #3 04-21-2009, 11:29 AM

Not sure how long you were next to the other X or how long that right lane was open but that sounds like that might be part of the reason that other driver was upset. There is no excuse for his cutting in and braking, none.

cmyX6go · #4 04-21-2009, 11:38 AM

I definitely think driving a BMW attracts the a-holes. Everyone always wants to screw with me; cut me off, not let me merge in. I just laugh it off. I think alot of it is jealousy.

Michelle · #5 04-21-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

I definitely think driving a BMW attracts the a-holes. Everyone always wants to screw with me; cut me off, not let me merge in. I just laugh it off. I think alot if it is jealousy.

Same here.

When I drove my Grand Cherokee, people let me merge all of the time. Ever since I got the X5, I pray I find another Bimmer to let me in, because no one else will. Jealous fvckers.

E61Silver · #6 04-21-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle

Same here.

When I drove my Grand Cherokee, people let me merge all of the time. Ever since I got the X5, I pray I find another Bimmer to let me in, because no one else will. Jealous fvckers.

I never had much of a issue with my X5 it was big enough that most people gave you room. Maybe men are threaten by good looking ladies driving a X5.

noncom23 · #7 04-21-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

I definitely think driving a BMW attracts the a-holes. Everyone always wants to screw with me; cut me off, not let me merge in. I just laugh it off. I think alot of it is jealousy.

generx · #8 04-21-2009, 07:26 PM

The type of car has nothing to do with it, not sure where everyone is from but X5s are as common as any domestic SUV where I live. Unless you're driving a 599 or any $250K+ automobile, you won't even get a second glance let alone generate any jealousy. I was just looking at the pic of the Audi vs. BMW billboards and noticed no less than:

4 Lexus (possibly 2 more in the opposing traffic)
2 Benzes (possibly a 3rd silver CLS in the far right lane)
1 BMW (possibly 2 more 5 series in the far left)

That's just one intersection in SoCal:
Autoblog

My .02 cents about the road rage incident:

You were in the left lane in an SUV (sorry, SAV) and some people in normal cars (i.e. subcompacts, sedans) just hate SUVs and minivans because they are tall and block forward vision, and the fact that a lot of clueless Moms driving them while gabbing on their cellphone impede traffic.

Regardless of the fact that you sped up, the guy behind you was already percolating for reasons that likely had nothing to do with you (this shitty economy has a lot of people on edge) I just get out of the way when I see people coming up behind me quickly and always hope that they do the same when I'm in a hurry (no such luck though)

It's best to just let it go.

X Foomph · #9 04-21-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

I definitely think driving a BMW attracts the a-holes. Everyone always wants to screw with me; cut me off, not let me merge in. I just laugh it off. I think alot of it is jealousy.

+1

Some days I'd swear I've got a 'Pick Me' sticker on my forehead, 'cause if there are aggressive, arrogant, rude arsholes driving within 10k's of me they seem to zero in on me from either in front, rear or the side and just make life (and driving) a lot harder than what it's supposed to be.

I too try and laugh it off but more often than not I just grit my teeth and say or do nothing (my fighting days are way behind me) and then calmly go about watching them in the rear view mirror preferably with a car or two between us.

Road rage and car parking rage is on the increase big time here on the GC as I'm sure it is everywhere.

E61Silver · #10 04-21-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5rolls

Not sure how long you were next to the other X or how long that right lane was open but that sounds like that might be part of the reason that other driver was upset. There is no excuse for his cutting in and braking, none.

I think that everyone needs to drive safe but most of the problems come from slow drivers in the fast lane.

Left-lane law amounts to double jeopardy for non-speeders - NJ.com: NJ Voices Public Blog