To many wrecks…

[SilverToy]

With Black Roadster being the latest in a long list of pile up’s this summer, I could not resist an observation. I recently read a post on aggressive drivers in the aria when you’re in a Miata. I don’t know what it’s about, other than the general mentality of whoever has the biggest truck, car, or minivan, wins. After my wreck back in March, I never got the full use of my hand back and ended up having hand surgery about a month and a half ago.
The interesting part was that for the last month or so, I was not able to drive my Miata and the wife and I switched cars. I have been driving a (Feels like) boat of a four door Pontiac Grand Prix. Same roads, same times, same days, same drivers on the road around me on the way to work, as every other day in the Miata. I have had, basically, nobody ride my bumper, cut me off, or drive in an aggressive manner towards me. Before you think I’m a little paranoid; without talking about it, after SWIMBO had been driving the Miata about three weeks, she walks in from work as asked if she looked like a human pincushion. She starts talking about how she has never had any trouble in her car, but now, driving the Miata, it’s like everybody is out to get her. She proceeds to talk about everything most of us know about: Being cut off, riding her bumper, all the usual stories.
I have been able to drive my car the last week and it all started back up on cue.
I will not give up my Toy, but I’m seriously debating getting a sedan or something I don't care about as a daily driver and keep my Toy for weekends, cruses, and general mischief.
I just had to vent a bit…

[POS Racing]

Ouch I was wondering where my car has been glad you're on the road to recovery.

My bitter 1/2 has temporarily discontinued driving the yellow Miata and has swiped my RAV4 and she has noted the exact same thing as you report. She said it was like the Miata had a target on it.

Since I lost the RAV4 and have been running the POSIV full time I am seeing that aggressive driving being directed at me. It was me who posted about the ass clown in the Cobalt. Keep in mind rather than just letting it pass as a responsible adult should I escalated the situation. But in hindsight I did that mainly because I am a jerk and enjoy pissing people off.

[Majik]

I don't get a lot of other car comparison, but I was about two feet from meeting a suburban the oher day as he decided to swerve over two lanes without looking to turn into a gas station. I got some good horn time in, but that wouldn't have helped had I not been a few feet closer.

[channelmaniac]

Yeah, it's a bitch at times with these morons on the road. I see it first hand every time I drive my car. I have to watch them because they are a bunch of distracted dipshits.

My other vehicle is a Ford F-150 pickup and when I drive it I don't have ANY problems with other vehicles on the road.

The Miata? I get tailgated, almost sideswiped, and bullied from some moron just about daily. It gets OLD... So old that if I have to go in the office during rush hour, I take the truck. I'd rather work from home a bit and go in after rush hour just so I can take the car and take advantage of the beautiful fall days. Well... If we had any that were rain free that is.

[motorollow]

+1 to all the comments above. You have to drive defensively 100% of the time! I have thought about buying another car just for commuting to work.

[cArAzzIE]

Since my accident on the 15th of September - my car is STILL in the shop! I am lucky my adjustor didn't total it. I've been driving an Impala rental and I've noticed all the things mentioned. Not much you can do when they come at you from behind and you're in traffic...glad I wasn't on a motorcycle. Seems to me Miata's are like motorcycles - people seem to "see through them" like they are ghost cars or something. I think this is "hit" #4 for me since I've gotten this car.

[MadMerv]

I really believe they are not seeing the Miatas in many cases. Since so many people drive UV's and pickups, they don't look down....even if it's a bright yellow Miata! Now don't get mad, but I believe that most Miata drivers push the envelope a bit more than "normal" drivers, and that might just aggrevate the situation. I know, I used to drive like that, or worse. I don't see near as much since I mostly drive in the right lane at the speed limit these days.

[Radio-Active]

Bah, It's the guys in the diesel pickups with the Nascar stickers that scare me.

[motorollow]

I really believe they are not seeing the Miatas in many cases. Since so many people drive UV's and pickups, they don't look down....even if it's a bright yellow Miata! Now don't get mad, but I believe that most Miata drivers push the envelope a bit more than "normal" drivers, and that might just aggrevate the situation. I know, I used to drive like that, or worse. I don't see near as much since I mostly drive in the right lane at the speed limit these days.

Wise words from Mad Merv.

[Jiggerachi]

Mainly I get bullied alot in the Miata, and those 'mad dog' stares, like you better know your place boy, from the big chevy trucks with the deer or fishing stickers. The 'normal' SUVs just don't see me. I am forced to drive aggressively or else i'd never get anywhere, and I don't really like to do that.

Then in the Element, I seem to get a reverse effect on road trips. Even if im driving over 75 or 80, I get these damn little sports cars (and sometimes other SUVs) whipping around and in front with the "Geeze...another soccer mom driving her SUV slow in the fast lane" look....sometimes im going 25 over when this happens, and it happens alot, im not kidding. Most of the time I pass them up again because they didn't realize they were going almost 90 to pass me. I think it must be the perception of the type of the car because I drive the Element the same way as the Miata, I don't granny drive it.

[SirHustlerEsq]

My problem is the confrontation crap, and why I drive a POS daily. Johnwag saw it last week when a car randomly decided to shit-talk me on the road. I rarely drive the miata because I've traveled so much but I've had people toss cigarrettes in my car at stop lights, throw hot coffee on me, been spit on, and most notably shot with a paintball gun.

With the car parked its been spray painted, keyed, door kicked in, tires stabbed, cigarette holes burned in the top, and antenna bent up.

In Austin, nothing bad happened and no one was "mean" to me. Its the redneck trash in DFW and Oklahoma with their bullshit superiority complex that comes with owning a truck and a sense of entitlement, regardless from the closeted interspecies homosexual fantasies of bovine and equine lust.

[cam76034]

My problem is the confrontation crap, and why I drive a POS daily. Johnwag saw it last week when a car randomly decided to shit-talk me on the road. I rarely drive the miata because I've traveled so much but I've had people toss cigarrettes in my car at stop lights, throw hot coffee on me, been spit on, and most notably shot with a paintball gun.

With the car parked its been spray painted, keyed, door kicked in, tires stabbed, cigarette holes burned in the top, and antenna bent up.

In Austin, nothing bad happened and no one was "mean" to me. Its the redneck trash in DFW and Oklahoma with their bullshit superiority complex that comes with owning a truck and a sense of entitlement, regardless from the closeted interspecies homosexual fantasies of bovine and equine lust.

I've never had anything like that happen to me before when driving one of my miatas, nor when they have been parked. Then again, maybe its because I also drive an F250 diesel and the sense of entitlement that comes with it protects me.

[CosmosMpower]

I never really noticed anyone driving like an ass to me when I had my Miata. I tend to stay as far away from other drivers as possible and always have a clear lane to either side to bail out to in case someone decides to cut me off etc. There are many people out there that think they don't have to pay attention because they drive a big suburban but I never saw anyone cut me off etc just because I was in a small car. The same applies for the S2000/Elise (in which case they REALLY can't see you)

[Jiggerachi]

My problem is the confrontation crap

+1

Couple weeks back I was driving on Loop 12 and suddenly I look in the mirror and only see a big GMC logo in my mirror, the guy was so close. I think he was trying to force me into the truck in front....this was targeted and deliberate, he came up FAST. I flash my brake lights to tell him to get back and he angerly whips beside me, rolls down his window and shouts and spits in a complete rage "F-- you you pice of sh-- im going to f--ing KILL you motherf--ker youre f--king DEAD you son of a b-tch" over and over and over...then I notice a big semi-truck beside me and saw this gleam in his eye...I then realize what's about to happen and slam the brakes just as he barrels into my lane...he really tried to push me under the truck! The asshole really did this. Finally he was so mad that he floored his truck and almost rearended the guy then swerved so hard he almost lost control. I have no idea what would make this guy so mad, I was just driving in traffic minding my own business.

He was a skinny guy his 20's in a white GMC truck with an oakley sticker.

This was so bad it actually made up my mind about getting a CHL. What if I didn't have the means of retreating...this guy was in a rage that would have gotten him shot if I had the means and couldn't reatreat. But I have gotten in similar situations at least 5 times that I can count, I don't know what the deal is with some people. I need to carry the pistol in my car, but I don't want to get it stolen or hassled by the cops. I know it's legal but apparently cops don't like it...in a bad way, my buddy got pulled out and searched for declaring a pistol in the car without a CHL...with his toddler in the truck.

So CHL with a holster it is.

[channelmaniac]

I've never had anything like that happen to me before when driving one of my miatas, nor when they have been parked. Then again, maybe its because I also drive an F250 diesel and the sense of entitlement that comes with it protects me.

Luckily I've never had cigarettes thrown at me or anything like that... but I have had an 18 wheeler driver dump a pee bottle's contents out the window as I passed. Smelled BAD. Asshole.

These angry drivers are the ones that piss me off the most. I have the pistol and everything I need but the CHL. I figure I'll get my CHL but never carry it in the Miata just to keep things from escalating beyond some douchebag trying to run me over.

[CosmosMpower]

+1

Couple weeks back I was driving on Loop 12 and suddenly I look in the mirror and only see a big GMC logo in my mirror, the guy was so close. I think he was trying to force me into the truck in front....this was targeted and deliberate, he came up FAST. I flash my brake lights to tell him to get back and he angerly whips beside me, rolls down his window and shouts and spits in a complete rage "F-- you you pice of sh-- im going to f--ing KILL you motherf--ker youre f--king DEAD you son of a b-tch" over and over and over...then I notice a big semi-truck beside me and saw this gleam in his eye...I then realize what's about to happen and slam the brakes just as he barrels into my lane...he really tried to push me under the truck! The asshole really did this. Finally he was so mad that he floored his truck and almost rearended the guy then swerved so hard he almost lost control. I have no idea what would make this guy so mad, I was just driving in traffic minding my own business.

He was a skinny guy his 20's in a white GMC truck with an oakley sticker.

This was so bad it actually made up my mind about getting a CHL. What if I didn't have the means of retreating...this guy was in a rage that would have gotten him shot if I had the means and couldn't reatreat. But I have gotten in similar situations at least 5 times that I can count, I don't know what the deal is with some people. I need to carry the pistol in my car, but I don't want to get it stolen or hassled by the cops. I know it's legal but apparently cops don't like it...in a bad way, my buddy got pulled out and searched for declaring a pistol in the car without a CHL...with his toddler in the truck.

So CHL with a holster it is.

Geez that is some crazy stuff, if something like that happened to me I would probably get the CHL and carry in the car. I don't think the cops have a problem if you get pulled over and declare you have the weapon on you and hand them the CHL with your license etc.

The problem is, most those A-holes in TX probably have a gun in the car as well and when guns start getting waved around bad stuff usually happens. Don't they teach you in CHL class if you have to pull a gun you better be ready to shoot someone?

[mk_slayr]

You have to treat the miata like you're driving a slightly safer motorcycle. I constantly look at all the drivers around me and try to predict what they're going to do based on their habits.

Speaking of accidents though, my wife got hit by someone running a redlight about 2 weeks ago and totalled her speed3.

Too many people just don't pay enough attention, too many members of the a2b club.

[driftdevil]

Cops won't give you much crap if when they come to the window you till them you have a CHL and that there is a pistol in the vehicle. And while you are giving them your license you give them your CHL one too. Besides if he wants to search the car you shouldn't have anything to hide if your not doing anything wrong. Just my 2 cents.

[trickyrix]

I've been cut off and almost run over a few times simply because other drivers can't see me. The only time I've ever had anyone fuck with me on the road was in California. I had two separate dipshits box me in and keep from passing them. They would hog the left lane at the speed limit, then the second I whipped out to pass on the right, they would pace me and keep me from getting around. After 10 miles of this, they got bored and got off the freeway. I used to be a little bit of a road rager - brake-checking people and crap like that. But I'm better now, and the Miata isn't fast enough to pull that shit any more. I drive fast and defensively - I figure I'm better off ahead of the rest of the morons. Also, I don't get pissed when people around me drive like asshats - well, not as much anyway... Really.

[Jiggerachi]

Cops won't give you much crap if when they come to the window you till them you have a CHL and that there is a pistol in the vehicle. And while you are giving them your license you give them your CHL one too. Besides if he wants to search the car you shouldn't have anything to hide if your not doing anything wrong. Just my 2 cents.

Right. I was referring to the castle law that allows you to carry inside the vehicle without a liscense. I think this law makes cops very nervous. My buddy didn't have his CHL but had a pistol in the car. He declared it but said he was not a CHL holder and they hassled him pretty badly about it. This is why I decline to carry in the car until I have a CHL. I'd rather take it with me when I exit the vehicle anyway.