Unusual Aggression against my Beetle... Help!?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by SenileDavid

The BEST revenge was from a BMW Z4 that would speed up get in my lane and slam on the brakes.. this went on for miles. Knowing the area well and knowing where the speed traps were, (South I-45 in this small town called Ferris) I played along...I'd speed up and did the same... all the way till I was a 1/4 mile from where I knew a cop was. I slow way down... he floors it again and sure enough blue/red flashers appeared and he's busted! I tap my horn twice "Meep-Meep" laughing and waving at him as I pass by

I can only laugh because I've done the same thing northbound, and if you miss here, there's always Palmer to the south (both with reduced speed limits for just the purpose of speed traps), and DPD just inside I-20, to the north, through the lowlands where the speed limit drops to 60 for no reason. Pretty much set the cruise on "crawl" when I'm north of Ennis.

MORAV

[liz.hill]

Originally Posted by emma2049

Let's just say for the 5 minutes before that, I was TRYING to save them a ticket.

I just think the key is 'be respectful'. Wish other car drivers could be so.

Yes and no. This is a big problem in Washington, where I've actually been stopped in a center turn lane with my blinker on, just patiently waiting for traffic to pass so I can get in, and had someone stop dead in the middle of traffic to let me out. Being courteous is nice, but there's a limit. Keep in mind that what might be courteous to one driver could be rude and potentially dangerous to others around.

And as for the "trying to save them a ticket" thing, normally that's pretty rude, too. In a neighborhood it's a different story, but if someone's being rude like that I'll just let them pass rather than try to keep them from speeding, since that usually results in them trying to do something more dangerous to get around you. Same with on the highway, if you're in the left lane and doing 5 over the limit and someone comes up and wants to pass, I don't care that you're already speeding. If you can pull into the right lane and let them go by, DO IT.

It's the law in many states, regardless of how fast you're already going. If they're going to go faster, that's their business and one day the karma will catch up to them.

[Bustermadison]

I am sorry that you are experiencing this road rage with your Beetle. The world is becoming a very rude place indeed. I had a 2005 Porsche Boxster I sold in December and I can relate with what you are feeling. Everyone could not get close enough to my car and everyone wanted to race. They were very very aggresive around the car. I am a back road country driving kinda driver with the top down. I am on my 3rd new beetle now and I have never had any problems with the Beetles in traffic. I live in the Philadelphia PA area and unfortunatly we are known to be very agressive rude drivers (not everyone)
I don't know what to tell ya, Germany sounds good. I have never been and always wanted to go. Try and enjoy your car until you move back.

[LauraLadyBug]

Originally Posted by hcsberlin

*Edit: I live in San Jose, CA*

So I've had my beetle for about 6 months. This is my fourth car in 12 years and never have I felt such disregard and aggression towards me when I'm driving. I have to note that I'm a pretty passive driver and don't provoke other drivers.



Has anyone experienced this type of aggression towards them?
I've had imports and a raced out cougar in the past, I really expected this car to be the picture child of some more gentle driving times in my future, instead I'm like a driving road rage target.

Thanks

-Thomas

Sad to say, but I have had anti-Beetle aggression for several years now, and it has only gotten worse. When I first got Ladybug in '02 (she's a 2001), it wasn't too bad, most people were actually just admiring her, as they were still fairly new on the roads.
Lately it has gotten AWFUL. My husband thought I was making it up, so I made him drive the Bug for a couple of days. Now there are a couple roads around here even HE won't drive the bug on, due to the excessive speeding and dangerous tailgating.
Oddly, when we're in our Dodge Dually Diesel 4 x 4, we never have people try it!!
Still love my Bug, it's getting time to replace her but I don't think I can wait until the new edition.
Just try to drive safely and defensively.

[danndy]

Originally Posted by jason m

Maybe you ahve an evil twin that is pissing in peoples wheaties and you are catching the flack. Mistaken identity?

True MY TDI Beetle makes people complain about diesel emissions. My gasser Beetle is down with bent valves. Oh that timing belt, I should have put it on when I had the day off. I got twins, and love them both.

[danndy]

Originally Posted by LauraLadyBug

Sad to say, but I have had anti-Beetle aggression for several years now, and it has only gotten worse. When I first got Ladybug in '02 (she's a 2001), it wasn't too bad, most people were actually just admiring her, as they were still fairly new on the roads.
Lately it has gotten AWFUL. My husband thought I was making it up, so I made him drive the Bug for a couple of days. Now there are a couple roads around here even HE won't drive the bug on, due to the excessive speeding and dangerous tailgating.
Oddly, when we're in our Dodge Dually Diesel 4 x 4, we never have people try it!!
Still love my Bug, it's getting time to replace her but I don't think I can wait until the new edition.
Just try to drive safely and defensively.

I own two Beetles and was called Hitler by some old idiot with a broken down dodge truck. Two Honda Civics tried taking out my passenger side door on the interstate. I guess they were tojo savin gas. Gotta have endurance those jap car freaks hate us.

[beetlecrazy]

Hi, sad but I too have experienced horrible driving against my beetle convertible. Just yesterday I was overtaking somecars, then one speed up and wouldnt let me past? I have no idea why there are such idiots on the road, its just a car! Shame its the only thing thats off putting with beetles

[miiiintz]

I tell my boyfriend all the time that I want to mod my car to have an oil slick, machine gun turrets, laser guided missiles and a blinding rear-facing light to ward off tailgaters. He rolls his eyes...

All joking (half joking, I really want an oil slick) aside though, I live in Massachusetts and I get the occasional crazy drivers. People in Mass are naturally mASS-holes though, so I never thought it could be about my bug...

In Tewksbury, Ma. there was a guy (not in a beetle) driving on i93 when a man in a Honda Civic stared tailing him, the guy brake-checked the Civic and the Civic guy got ticked, followed the other guy to his job, stabbed him, drove off, and wasn't caught for like 2 weeks...

Can you imagine someone tailing YOU and THEY get mad because YOU didn't want THEM on YOUR arse?

Road rage FAIL.

Crap like that makes me weary of the other people on the road...

[woofster]

What I usually find when I'm driving the Beetle is that most people tend to just swerve around me or cut in front of me. Luckily, no personal attacks or anything of the sort.

I definitely notice a difference when I'm in my Audi A4, which is a lot more aggressive, low & squat, all-black with dark tinted windows where it's difficult to make out who's in the car. In the Audi, I tend to get more people who tailgate, expecting me to start racing and weaving around traffic with them, which I never do. This always ends in them giving up and driving off.

[miiiintz]

Until yesterday there was nothing that stood out in my mind as an attack...

Repeat, until yesterday.

Someone threw yogurt at my car!

[SenileDavid]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

I can only laugh because I've done the same thing northbound, and if you miss here, there's always Palmer to the south (both with reduced speed limits for just the purpose of speed traps), and DPD just inside I-20, to the north, through the lowlands where the speed limit drops to 60 for no reason. Pretty much set the cruise on "crawl" when I'm north of Ennis.

MORAV

Yep, Just as you pass Palmer they are always sitting on the overpass towards Ferris. Yea, I paid the Ferris Municipal Court PLENTY! I didn't stand a change having the only Orange Karmann Ghia, any of my other souped up beetles. There was once I tried to convince the judge that my little 67 beetle couldn't possibly go that fast.... I'm lucky he didn't throw me in jail for lying.



That was the good old days when I lived in Ennis

[hpc]

Just spotted this thread while searching for something
unrelated.

I, too, notice that drivers are definitely more aggressive
towards the "Bug".

The usual scenarios are:

a) cruise set at 3-5 MPH above. See either a SUV, pickup, or Minivan
in the right lane 1/2 mile or more ahead. Gradually pass
it; within 2-3 miles (usually less), they will zoom up
the right lane and pass me. A few miles later, I pass them
again - all the while cruising along on cruise control.

b) ricers are worst of the group. If it's a Honda/Toyota/Lexus/
Acura, you can bet they are NOT going to rest UNTIL they
pass the lowly Bug which just passed them - not shot by,
but just gradually pass while set on cruise.

These jerk-offs will zoom up behind you; ride your
bumper; etc. If they're in the righthand lane, they
will (almost, if not) deliberately cut over in front
causing me to brake (hard) or swerve.

One pickup ran me off the road onto the shoulder when he
cut over and I actually thought he side-swiped me. I
had to brake so hard and swerve that my carry-on bag
slammed forward onto the dash which caused me to think
I'd just been hit.

My wife didn't believe my stories about how people in
Japs/SUVs/Pickups/Minivans could be such arses until
she took a road trip with me in the Bug. Seeing is
believing.

If my Bug was lowered; had black window tint; black
wheels; etc. - I could understand the aggressive treatment
to some extent.

And, it seems that the arses acting like such are
fellow male drivers. I don't recall women being jerks
other than women driving SUVs while "yammering" on the
phone.

Missile launchers, supernova rear-facing lamps, etc. -
got a good chuckle from that as I have also voiced
the very same.

Sorry...gotta go, the game (Ravens vs. Patriots) is on.

[dnyed]

I don't get too much aggression from other motorists. But if I did, I would try to blow them off, and pity them. Since my divorce, I don't sweat the small stuff anymore.

But, a few weeks ago, I was making my way home after work, late at night, in my residential neighborhood, in the rain, when in my rearview, some jerk came up behind me. I only had a few blocks to go, and I wasn't going that slow, (30mph zone) but sped up a few mph's. He then speeds up, and passes me on the right, where cars would usually be parked, and at a cross street. I was flabbergasted, and stunned, and I flashed my highbeams at him, as he disappeared down the street. What balls that jerk had. Sheesh! It shook me a little, and it was about a half hour before I calmed down. I did nothing wrong. Nothing.

[PaliPrincess]

Originally Posted by dnyed

I don't get too much aggression from other motorists. But if I did, I would try to blow them off, and pity them. Since my divorce, I don't sweat the small stuff anymore.

But, a few weeks ago, I was making my way home after work, late at night, in my residential neighborhood, in the rain, when in my rearview, some jerk came up behind me. I only had a few blocks to go, and I wasn't going that slow, (30mph zone) but sped up a few mph's. He then speeds up, and passes me on the right, where cars would usually be parked, and at a cross street. I was flabbergasted, and stunned, and I flashed my highbeams at him, as he disappeared down the street. What balls that jerk had. Sheesh! It shook me a little, and it was about a half hour before I calmed down. I did nothing wrong. Nothing.

Awww I'm sorry Dnyed you had to experience that! It's funny though but I never dealt with any of these experiences, I get a lot of unwanted creepy smiles LOOL but I am very aggressive but safe driver. I will not let anyone tick me off while I drive or take advantage of my Beetle. When someone keeps sticking to my bumper I simply take my foot off the diesel pedal

@hpc, that drives me insane on the highway! Just keep a constant speed dude, no one cares who passes up who! Especially that driver who can't decide, one time they're slow and one time fast

[300exoh]

Funny everyone mentions the people in the japanese cars being aggressive. Just last night I was coming home from tgif with my wife and I was driving through my neighborhood. Its a 25mph zone and I was doing a little over that when a civic (I think...it was dark and rainy) came running up behind me. He rode my bumper and kept swerving left and right as if he was going to pass. He never did and when I approached my turn I slowed way down and took the turn at about 5mph. I'm sure he was pi$$ed. Funny thing is if I had wanted there is no way his POS civic would've kept up with my turbo bug.

[PaliPrincess]

Originally Posted by 300exoh

Funny everyone mentions the people in the japanese cars being aggressive. Just last night I was coming home from tgif with my wife and I was driving through my neighborhood. Its a 25mph zone and I was doing a little over that when a civic (I think...it was dark and rainy) came running up behind me. He rode my bumper and kept swerving left and right as if he was going to pass. He never did and when I approached my turn I slowed way down and took the turn at about 5mph. I'm sure he was pi$$ed. Funny thing is if I had wanted there is no way his POS civic would've kept up with my turbo bug.

LOOL Nice, sounds like something I would do.

[ChromaKelly]

The only thing I've ever had is I think people expect me to go slow, or to be slow to accelerate. I've been passed at intersections and given a look like "Yay, won't be stuck behind this freaking Beetle!" only to have me quickly accelerate and pass them, because I have a Turbo .
I've also experienced the drivers that seem to want to race me down an highway. It seems like they recognize the coolness of my car, and want to race me. I don't. OK maybe sometimes.