Harrassed because I drive a BMW?

[Wolfus Aurelius]

It's not only car drivers. A motorcyclist cut in front of me on the bridge this morning; his rear wheel was probably not more than five feet in front of my bumper. He didn't signal, either. If I'd been accelerating when he suddenly whipped in front of me, I might have hit him. I gave him a long blast on the horn, and he turned in his saddle, looked at me (probably wondering "WTF?"), refrained from making a rude gesture, and accelerated away.

I saw him using his turn signal a moment later. so maybe he'd had a momentary lapse. But damn, to have one of those little vehicles appear in your headlights without warning --!

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by behindthen0thing

Frankfurt area.
I was told that this is a particularly rich/rude area.

I have had better luck when I venture out of here, like in the cologne area for example.
One thing that factors in is that Germans absolutely hate loud cars.
I have an AA midpipe and non catted downpipes with the stock rear end.
I generally don't drive in residential areas with the valves open because they just can't take it.

Interesting.
Did you know that it is illegal to mow your lawn on a Sunday? Because of the noise. That amused us no end when we visited Germany and learned that.

It would be a good rule here too.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

It is! Coming from San Diego to here in OH most cars are domestics. They really do frown upon anything imports or European. They really support Ford, Chevy, Dodge, ect.

I've found this sentiment is way less in Ohio than Michigan because several prominent "import" cars are assembled in Ohio.

[jjasonSU]

Originally Posted by Run Silent

When you meet an asshole who is a terrible driver, then congrats, you met an asshole today. When everyone you meet is an asshole and terrible then perhaps it's time to start looking in a mirror?

Common denominator is....

[behindthen0thing]

Originally Posted by natahoa

Interesting.
Did you know that it is illegal to mow your lawn on a Sunday? Because of the noise. That amused us no end when we visited Germany and learned that.

It would be a good rule here too.

omg yes.
They are obsessed with rules.
Yeah I went to vacuum my car at a gas station with a vac and they refused to give me change to use the machine because they said it was illegal to use on sunday.
It's also illegal to throw glass bottles away on sunday because it makes noise.
It's illegal to make noise in general after 8 or 9 pm ish i think.
They are taxed to death as well. 19% sales tax, with another 40-50% income tax. They pay taxes on their TV's and Radios.
They pay tax on their refrigerators, they pay tax on how much rain water their roof blocks from hitting the ground.
I downloaded a couple of movies online and I was sent an 800 euro bill for each one from a law firm. Very very oppressed society here.

Place isn't as great as people think it is. in my opinion.

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by behindthen0thing

omg yes.
They are obsessed with rules.
Yeah I went to vacuum my car at a gas station with a vac and they refused to give me change to use the machine because they said it was illegal to use on sunday.
It's also illegal to throw glass bottles away on sunday because it makes noise.
It's illegal to make noise in general after 8 or 9 pm ish i think.
They are taxed to death as well. 19% sales tax, with another 40-50% income tax. They pay taxes on their TV's and Radios.
They pay tax on their refrigerators, they pay tax on how much rain water their roof blocks from hitting the ground.
I downloaded a couple of movies online and I was sent an 800 euro bill for each one from a law firm. Very very oppressed society here.

Place isn't as great as people think it is. in my opinion.

I agree. I was only there for two weeks visiting my daughter, but I was SO surprised at how different everything was. I thought that being another wealthy western country it would be much like the US. Boy was I wrong.

My daughter lived in Germany for two separate years, and is heading back there with her husband for both to attend graduate school. They will be in Munich. The university is free.

It is very different than US!

[behindthen0thing]

Originally Posted by natahoa

I agree. I was only there for two weeks visiting my daughter, but I was SO surprised at how different everything was. I thought that being another wealthy western country it would be much like the US. Boy was I wrong.

My daughter lived in Germany for two separate years, and is heading back there with her husband for both to attend graduate school. They will be in Munich. The university is free.

It is very different than US!

yup, grass isn't always greener.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by natahoa

The university is free.

It is very different than US!

That aspect sounds pretty darn green to me. Just look at what college prices have done to poor old Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman . Tsk tsk. Its not so bad in Canada I think, but one still needs to stick away some serious coin for college tuition for the kids up here.

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

That aspect sounds pretty darn green to me. Just look at what college prices have done to poor old Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman . Tsk tsk. Its not so bad in Canada I think, but one still needs to stick away some serious coin for college tuition for the kids up here.

Yes, free college/university is huge. Right now, in the US, we are doing nothing but impoverishing our college kids and loading them up with staggering debt.

Those kids would otherwise be able to buy homes and cars, and contribute substantially to the economy. Instead they are living at home with parents and spending most of their meager income on their debt.

As it is right now, only banks benefit from the college farce.
I seriously hate banks.

[musa]

My car has been keyed, door dinged, and the BMW emblem yanked out .

[mjj]

Originally Posted by chassis

It is a rural thing.

It is a Midwest thing.

That is a ridiculous generalization. I live in the heart of corn country. I drive an individual green M4 comp with tinted windows. I have never been glared at, given the finger or shown hostility….ever.

Just the opposite.

[Joachim]

Originally Posted by musa

My car has been keyed, door dinged, and the BMW emblem yanked out .

Sorry for that, I feel you. It literally hurts, also because the money spent for your car wasn't stolen but acquired; i'm sure the hard way. So you have every right to enjoy it.

It's pure hate out of nothing. Let it all be fixed and enjoy your car and your life again. And park far away from the supermarket's entrance (no guarantee that a 30ish years old dirty pickup is parking next to you when you return).

Again: Don't let this bring you down forever!

[cooolone2]

5+ year old zombie thread revived!

Lol...

[Joachim]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

Lol...

You would be lolling as well if you experienced the same as user musa TODAY?

[cmyx6go]

Just the other day on my way home from work...

I come around the entrance ramp to the highway, traffic is backed up and moving at a crawl. Although there is running room left in the approach, a tractor trailer and straight truck are bumper to bumper in the right lane where the running room ends. I'm not going to squeeze in. There is a 2 car length gap behind the straight truck, so with blinker on I begin to roll into right lane. The asshole that was 2 lengths behind me proceeds to come up around me and block me, yelling at me that I'm an entitled f'ing bitch! To which I respond, it's a merge you dick. Chance a piece - they teach it in kindergarten. I hate people. 65ish year old man.

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have done that if I was driving a beater.

[musa]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

Just the other day on my way home from work...

I come around the entrance ramp to the highway, traffic is backed up and moving at a crawl. Although there is running room left in the approach, a tractor trailer and straight truck are bumper to bumper in the right lane where the running room ends. I'm not going to squeeze in. There is a 2 car length gap behind the straight truck, so with blinker on I begin to roll into right lane. The asshole that was 2 lengths behind me proceeds to come up around me and block me, yelling at me that I'm an entitled f'ing bitch! To which I respond, it's a merge you dick. Chance a piece - they teach it in kindergarten. I hate people. 65ish year old man.

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have done that if I was driving a beater.

Use "dick head" next time - the delivery is more biting

[No one]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I come around the entrance ramp to the highway, traffic is backed up and moving at a crawl. Although there is running room left in the approach, a tractor trailer and straight truck are bumper to bumper in the right lane where the running room ends. I'm not going to squeeze in. There is a 2 car length gap behind the straight truck, so with blinker on I begin to roll into right lane. The asshole that was 2 lengths behind me proceeds to come up around me and block me, yelling at me that I'm an entitled f'ing bitch! To which I respond, it's a merge you dick. Chance a piece - they teach it in kindergarten.

It's not exactly clear what you were doing he could find so wrong: if you were jumping the queue and trying to merge in front of those before you using the running room they were too dumb (as you found them) to use themselves, his discontent could be justified. They don't teach drivers in the kindergarten. Of course, you shouldn't drive where/when you are not supposed to, making the traffic even worse and insulting those who observe the rules. I hope you didn't, it just seems you might've from your description.

If you know the rules and observe them don't take any close those "f'ing bitch"es, who find themselves being "entitled" too wrongfully to discuss it with them. Just keep away ("What's wrong with Detroit cars?" there), "don't underestimate the predictability of stupidity". When I was in the US (in the 2000) they told me many drivers had no idea of the rules and only drove because of others' courtesy.

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have done that if I was driving a beater.

He must have been sure you wouldn't have done that if you were driving a beater.

[Tejas1836]

Probably more to do with the driver than the vehicle.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by No one

It's not exactly clear what you were doing he could find so wrong: if you were jumping the queue and trying to merge in front of those before you using the running room they were too dumb (as you found them) to use themselves, his discontent could be justified. They don't teach drivers in the kindergarten. Of course, you shouldn't drive where/when you are not supposed to, making the traffic even worse and insulting those who observe the rules. I hope you didn't, it just seems you might've from your description.

If you know the rules and observe them don't take any close those "f'ing bitch"es, who find themselves being "entitled" too wrongfully to discuss it with them. Just keep away ("What's wrong with Detroit cars?" there), "don't underestimate the predictability of stupidity". When I was in the US (in the 2000) they told me many drivers had no idea of the rules and only drove because of others' courtesy.

He must have been sure you wouldn't have done that if you were driving a beater.

I wasn't jumping the queue. I wasn't driving where I wasn't supposed to be. It was not safe nor appropriate to go to the end of the merge lane where I would be in a trucks blind spot or to try to squeeze in between two trucks. I know they don't teach drivers in kindergarten, but they do teach chance a piece.

[No one]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I wasn't jumping the queue. I wasn't driving where I wasn't supposed to be. It was not safe nor appropriate to go to the end of the merge lane where I would be in a trucks blind spot or to try to squeeze in between two trucks. I know they don't teach drivers in kindergarten, but they do teach chance a piece.

That's all right, but there still can be other useful skills too:

Originally Posted by Run Silent

When you meet an asshole who is a terrible driver, then congrats, you met an asshole today. When everyone you meet is an asshole and a terrible driver, then perhaps it's time to start looking in a mirror?

I am 40+ years old. I've never had an instance where I did a non-aggressive pass on a dotted yellow line where someone did what you are explaining happens to you all the time. Not once. Ever.

I also moved from a large city to a rural part of the country where everyone drives American. Still never had this happen.

.

He runs silent (not yelling "It's my BEATER, you dick!!!" ) and he runs deep. They probably just don't notice him (like "-What was that?!! -Where? -I don't know..."). Also, I recall he drove a Ferrari back then. You might want to try that too. Nobody harasses a Ferrari driver!