Can The Car You Drive Potentially Mislead Other Road Users of How Fast You Are Going?

tomleonhart on 15/04/2015 - 09:04
Last edited 15/04/2015 - 10:01

Hi All,

I have an observation that I would like to share.

I moved far away from my work place and had been driving on the motorway quite a bit. Due to the nature of work, I leave home early and come home late when there isn't much traffic around.

I drive a tiny 1.4l Nissan Micra and admittedly I always drive 105-110km/h on a 100 road (please don't judge me).
I check my speedometer against my GPS and my partner's iPhone to ensure my speedometer was calibrated correctly. I always drive in the middle lane (3 lanes motorway) since i'm not exactly slow doing 10kms over the limit.

What I noticed is that almost every single car coming up behind will overtake me despite the speed that I'm driving at. A lot of them after overtaking would merge back in the middle lane and slow down to the speed limit.

Recently I bought a new G-TR, WRX, Mazda3 Sp25. Now although I drive at exactly the same time in the morning, same speed (check against speedometer, same GPS and same iPhone). Other drivers don't overtake anymore, they stay behind and follow at a safe distance. My partner whom drives the same car noticed it too.

So what do you guys think? Can the car you drive somehow mislead other road users how of fast you are going?

Automotive

Comments

  • poiuy1234 on 15/04/2015 - 09:24
    +18

    Yes :)

    • nikey2k27 on 20/04/2015 - 17:13
      +1

      YES YES YES i drive Yaris i find same problem but also cop leave me alone to.

    • QuickToThePointless on 21/04/2015 - 19:20

      Agreed. People are always overtaking me on my penny-farthing - its rocket powered but they are stealthily mounted in the pannier bags so as not to attract the police. Go figure

  • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2015 - 09:35

    Why do you drive in the middle lane?

    • swiggity swag on 15/04/2015 - 12:35

      Just to break even more road rules.

      • mskeggs on 15/04/2015 - 12:39
        +18

        This is pretty reasonable if the OP is slightly over the posted limit and is over taking slower vehicles in the left most lane. I think the idea is it is a 3-lanes each way road.

        • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2015 - 12:55
          -3

          I prefer Kados's explanation; it sounds more believable.
          There seems to be a misunderstanding that the three lanes are 'slow, medium and fast'.
          "Keep left unless overtaking" seems to be forgotten by the majority of basic drivers.

        • tomleonhart on 15/04/2015 - 13:06
          +20

          @Ninjastud: I might be ignorant but where does it say "keep to the most left lane unless overtaking"? Genuine question.

          As far as i'm concerned i'm keeping left to the most right lane.

          And I drive pass a high way patrol car almost everyday (He's always in the same spot). I would have thought I would get booked by now.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/04/2015 - 08:59

          @tomleonhart:
          It is not for me to comment upon whether you are ignorant or not, but here is a useful article: http://www.smh.com.au/drive/the-10-most-misunderstood-road-r…
          And here is the actual reg: AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES - REG 130
          130—Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
          (1) This rule applies to a driver driving on a multi-lane road if—
          (a) the speed limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour; OR
          (b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where the driver is driving.

        • tomleonhart on 16/04/2015 - 09:16
          +5

          @Ninjastud: that doesn't really answer my first question though.

        • Euphemistic on 16/04/2015 - 09:56
          -3

          @tomleonhart:

          If you are in the middle lane, you are not keeping left. If there is a space to your left you should be moving left.

        • tomleonhart on 16/04/2015 - 10:04
          +8

          @Euphemistic: then who drives in the middle lane ?

        • Euphemistic on 16/04/2015 - 10:06
          +3

          @tomleonhart:
          Three lane roads are there for when there is lots of traffic. Trucks in the left being overtaken by speed limit drivers in the middle being overtaken by speeders in the right.

          If no one is around you should be in the left.

        • tomleonhart on 16/04/2015 - 10:17
          +32

          @Euphemistic:
          IF(keyword) No one is around.

          I drive from home to work without changing lane once by sticking in in the middle lane when I start the journey. The far left lane eventually ends and my middle lane becomes the far left lane.

          I don't see how that is more dangerous than weaving in the far left lane every time there's a gap to "keep left".

          Fact of the matter is:

          We all know the rules, but others don't know the traffic conditions that an individual drive in, so all the other reader can do is to assume based on what they know about the rule.

          Plus it isn't the point of the post anyway.

        • brazen00 on 17/04/2015 - 20:28
          +17

          @Ninjastud: Sorry but that's not right. The actual rule is "must not drive in the right lane". So on a 3+ lane road, the middle lane is just fine under all circumstances.

          See page 9:
          http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/safety-rules/nsw-r…

        • pangwen on 18/04/2015 - 05:54
          +7

          @brazen00:

          brazen00 is correct. For those who want a link that not from NSW (RMS), then just search for the Australian Road Rule that @Ninjastud selectively quoted out of, and actually read past the first clause.

          AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES - REG 130
          130—Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
          (2) The driver must not drive in the right lane unless—

                  (a)         the driver is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, and is giving a right change of direction signal; or 
        (b)         the driver is overtaking; or 
        (c)         a left lane must turn left sign or left traffic lane arrows apply to any other lane and the driver is not turning left; or 
        (d)         the driver is required to drive in the right lane under rule 159; or 
        (e)         the driver is avoiding an obstruction; or 
        (f)         the traffic in each other lane is congested; or 
        (g)         the traffic in every lane is congested; or 
        (h)         the right lane is a special purpose lane in which the driver, under another provision of the Australian Road Rules , is permitted to drive; or 
        (i)         there are only 2 marked lanes and the left lane is a slow vehicle turn out lane.
        • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2015 - 12:05
          -7

          @pangwen: I did not 'selectively quote", I was indicating the rule that says you should keep left. I did not mention anyone driving in the right hand lane and neither did the original poster. He said he likes to drive in the middle lane.
          @brazen00 is not correct; he is wrong.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2015 - 12:09
          -7

          @tomleonhart: OK, If you really want to know, then technically you are ignorant.

        • RockyRaccoon on 19/04/2015 - 12:56
          -1

          @Euphemistic:

          being overtaken by speeders in the right

          Left Lane: Truck
          Middle lane: P plater
          Right lane: Speed limit driver.

          Assumptions always lead to trouble.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2015 - 10:08

          @Ninjastud:
          If you've drive on a freeway before you would know that the left lane is filled with trucks and driving a tiny car in that lane can be incredibly hazardous.

        • lemc6125 on 21/04/2015 - 00:25

          @tomleonhart:
          There are a number of highways near where I live (2 lane and 3 lane) which have very big signs saying "keep left unless overtaking".
          May as well say "free money" because no one pays attention to them.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2015 - 08:42
          -1

          @brentman1: I drive the Pacific highway most days and the trucks rarely stay in the left lane. Most sit in lanes 2 or 3. The cops have a blitz every so often and ticket them, but it makes little difference.

  • npc on 15/04/2015 - 09:59
    +4

    Brain is very interesting thing. I have the same observation switching between XR6 and Aurion. Despite the fact that both cars are quite potent and my behavior on the road is exactly the same - people tend to overtake Aurion more.

    • Jackson on 18/04/2015 - 09:43

      I think the reason for this (even though it may be subconscious) is that the person overtaking does a few things:

      A) they understand that what they are doing is a former of queue jumping
      B) They also are sizing up how much this might piss you off, and the chance of you reacting and cutting them off.
      C) regarding B) they probably are making the decision that you are more likely to be a "hoon" if you drive a WRX or XR6 or other more obvious sports car, and cut them off on purpose when you try to get back in
      D) there also could be an expectation that because you drive the sports car you won't settle for a certain speed unless attempting to go faster is futile

      What we really need to to find an experiment by a behavioural economist that shows these things

    • eediot on 19/04/2015 - 16:27
      -2

      People probably assume slow asian driver in the Aurion.

    • Eddie8 on 21/04/2015 - 11:20

      If i'm approaching a red light behind other cars i will definitely tend to line up behind a car i believe wont be a slower than average driver.

      But if its down the highway ill not really judge the car by its looks, it really depends how fast they are going.

    • rmamila on 22/04/2015 - 15:25

      I have observed very slow cars on road at the peak time which are Nissan Skylines. The car is super but I don't understand why most of them pick up far slower than the semi trailers.
      This is my daily observation on Springvale Road at peak hours. This is a 3 lane road to one side and 80 kmph for most of the parts. This road moves lots of traffic however the speed is far below the allowed max limit due to few drivers behaviors.
      Drivers brain says semi trailers are very slow to pickup. So I have seen very small cars move to the right most lane at the traffic lights when 2 left lanes are occupied by trucks. To my surprise the small car picks up far slower than those semi trailers and just drive parallel to the trucks for next few lights / kms to come. This blocks the whole road and create a massive traffic during peak. Most of the time it's drivers mind set which plays the bigger part not the vehicle.

  • Euphemistic on 15/04/2015 - 11:36
    +8

    I drive most freeways with cruise control engaged. Mostly it is funny, sometimes frustrating how many cars approach slowly behind, then accelerate to pass quickly and slow to below the speed they were doing behind me once in front as I start to catch them. There is something in a lot of drivers that means they need to pass whoever is in front so they subconsciously speed up to pass, then once in front look at the speedo and realise they need to slow down.

    I haven't noticed the difference in cars, mine aren't at all sporty (any more)

    • mskeggs on 15/04/2015 - 12:16
      +8

      This is why my partner won't let me get a bull bar.

      • tomleonhart on 15/04/2015 - 13:07
        +1

        lol mskeggs. Whatever you're thinking of is not a very good idea.

    • x d on 18/04/2015 - 23:45

      That would be frustrating.

      I hate having to adjust my speed all the time according to the car in front (never have had a car with active cruise so couldn't comment how good they are).

      However, funny enough if I am on a 110km/hr stretch of freeway for a fair bit of time, I actually look for a large SUV that is traveling slightly faster than the traffic and tuck behind them to reduce the fuel economy. I have noticed that the economy of my car does drop by about 1 L/100km if I do this even if this is not right up their backside (not a lot I know given that it only drops from about mid 7s to mid 6s-I'd have to drive 100 km to save $1.50).

      The behaviour that I then sometime notice as I follow them on the right most lane, switch back to the left lane when they do, is that after a while, they slow (!) down below the speed limit, forcing me to overtake. I think in this scenerio, they must be worried about being followed by a stalker or something!!! Once I do they speed up again, or if they don't I just put my cruise on, until another large SUV comes past on the right :-)

      Cheers.

      • RockyRaccoon on 19/04/2015 - 04:57
        +4

        they must be worried about being followed by a stalker or something!!!

        No its just standard practice.

        If someone is sitting up your bum - which is often seen as an indication they want to pass.

        Then

        1. You move over so they can do this.
        2. If they dont then you force them to by slowing down
        3. If they really get the shits then they tailgate you in return.

        Why?

        Because sitting up someone's bum on the road is Dangerous. And as such very unnerving for the driver.

        Is driving dangerously really worth the small saving in fuel?

      • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2015 - 06:55
        +2

        Yeah don't do that. There's a reserved place in hell for tailgaters.

        • x d on 19/04/2015 - 13:00
          +1

          Thanks rocky and voolish. What I have tried to write is that I follow the SUV in front without being too close to be tailgating, moving back to the middle lane behind them when they move back to the middle lane before me. Definitely I hate tailgaters and would not be in that territory (believe me my wife would tell me to drop back if I was too close).

          The fuel saving is still obtained when you are behind someone at high speed. The only thing then is that you can't use your cruise control unless you have one of those active units, and you don't get fresh air into your cabin compared to having no one in front of you (so you have to put your air intake to recirculation if its a diesel in front of you).

          And because I am far enough back, I can't see why they would read it that I want to overtake when we are both in the middle lane.

          Cheers.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2015 - 18:34

          @x d: Sorry I jumped the gun there.

        • FirstNameLastName on 19/04/2015 - 22:29

          There's a reserved place in hell for tailgaters.

          So long as Jesus adjusts for objects in the mirror being even closer than they appear.

          And, when we have automated cars that can travel within .5 seconds of each other, I hope he remembers to pull back on the hell-sending.

  • xsacha on 15/04/2015 - 13:18
    +5

    Seems like it's nothing to do with what speed you're doing (the person could confirm it on their own speedo). It seems more that they want to overtake that car for some subconscious reason. They have a feeling that the Micra can't possibly be in front of them, so they must overtake it.
    However, these people are perfectly fine with a sports version Mazda 3 being in front of them.

    I drive the speed limit and notice that almost everyone overtakes me (probably 5-10km/h over, like you). Like you, I have confirmed my speed with GPS and smartphones. I guess most people just like speeding.

  • endotherm on 15/04/2015 - 14:12
    +19

    I get pretty pissed off when I'm behind just about any SUV. They are usually black and have blacked out windows and I can't see the road conditions and traffic beyond them. It was easier years ago when everyone drove a sedan like a Falcon or Commodore and you could see through their windows, and it was just the odd slow-moving truck to deal with. Now I feel compelled to overtake them just so I can actually see the traffic in front. Typically the road is clear and they are doing 10-20km/h under the limit because they are on the phone or driving a few km/h under the limit "just to be safe", despite most modern speedos being deliberately calibrated with up to 10% error on the slow side.

      • endotherm on 16/04/2015 - 21:27
        +12

        I believe the ADR's (Australian Design Rules) allow a 4% error in speedometers (which are not even legally required to be fitted to cars!). This is greater than the 2-3% leeway the police apply to detected speeds. I spent a lot of time years ago being involved in speedo testing, and in my experience the speeds were either reasonably accurate or invariably indicated on the slow side. The majority were wrong. The only time it showed over was when the owner messed around changing wheel/tyre sizes without changing the speedo sender gear. I know with my car a single tooth extra on the speedo sender can change the indicated speed by 4% or 4km/h @ 100km/h. The real speed is somewhere in the middle so the best I can achieve is either 2km/h over or under the indicated speed. That can be the difference between a traffic ticket or not. I like the idea of confirming speeds using GPS but domestic units suffer from rounding errors and poor sample rates, and don't always show a constant speed reading, again within 2-4 km/h of real speed. The best way to confirm your speed is to drive on the freeway at precisely 100km/h and using a stopwatch to time the difference between two kilometer sign posts. It should take exactly 36 seconds. You'll be surprised how many vehicles are displaying inaccurate speeds. When I bought my motorcycle, it was exactly 10km/h out and I had to take it up with Yamaha to have it rectified. It was necessary to fit an aftermarket device which intercepts the speedo pulses and regenerates them at the proper rate in order to show the right speed. The worst one I saw was on a Toyota ute, which just happened to be a police vehicle. It was 13% out. Fortunately it was also fitted with a super-accurate speed detection device which displayed the right speed. Toyota refused to acknowledge it was a problem as it was according to their build specifications!

        • nsm on 18/04/2015 - 02:50

          Thanks for this informative post.

        • AlexD on 19/04/2015 - 08:29
          +2

          You're almost there. The legal requirement for speedos is now +10% +4km/h, so if I were doing 100km/h, my speedo would have to show between 100km/h and 114km/h. I believe that before mid-2006, cars were legally allowed to show between 90km/h and 110km/h, though as far as I understand, every manufacturer defaulted to a safer reading that showed above the speed that you were travelling.

          While the wheel sizes make a small difference, it's typically not enough to notice - up to around 4km/h.

          Additionally, I believe that more expensive/sportier cars are usually configured to be more accurate - I've heard mixed reports about the speedos in small Hyundais being way out - in my own experience, mine would show 109 when I was doing 100, as verified by overhead speed check signs on the Hume, with others almost as bad.
          In many of the Euros, though, they tend to show around 102-103 when doing 100 - this may contribute to the overtaking, as it may also be accurate for 'sportier' vehicles.

        • endotherm on 19/04/2015 - 12:12

          @AlexD: Yes, you're right. As I said it was some years ago that I was involved in this. I know they changed the rules in 2006, in a nutshell there is zero tolerance for errors over (could not show a slower than actual speed) but could display an error the other way as you stated. As a manufacturer, I doubt they wanted to push their luck and take the chance it might accidentally go over. As a simple error of a couple of km/h could develop as tyres wore etc. they tend to be overly conservative to start with. The circumference of a tyre changes as it wears, a centimeter or so across the diameter). It also gets messy when you change the tyre width and profile from original, it introduces a lot of unexpected results. Not to mention air pressures, heat, expansion from rotational speeds…

  • RockyRaccoon on 15/04/2015 - 21:02
    +57

    You ever driven behind a Nissan Micra? They are butt ugly.

    Maybe they just want to get it out of their sight… LOL

    • tomleonhart on 16/04/2015 - 08:54
      +1

      Hey, it used to be my baby. Don't call them butt ugly :)

      • mafmouf on 17/04/2015 - 00:06
        +8

        But as the driver, you were never looking at its rear while driving…

  • BobD on 16/04/2015 - 09:59
    +2

    I don't like to travel behind small cars on freeways (I drive an XR6) because mostly they are driven by people who drive lower than the speed limit. I put my cruise control exactly on 100 and let it run.
    Like the OP mentioned, I also do not like to drive in the far left lane. In VIC they are always closing off that lane so you forever have to move to the right and you have to run the gauntlet of merging cars driven by idiots who don't know how to join a freeway. It's just not safe to be there.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/04/2015 - 22:39
      +2

      I've experienced plenty of hoons swerving in and out of lanes in their hyundai getz, honda jazz and nissan micras.

  • Speckled Jim on 16/04/2015 - 11:52
    +5

    Yeah, they have a problem with a micro-car on the highway. How dare such a tiny thing move at such speeds?!

    I've driven an even smaller car (88 CRX) coast-to-coast (4200km) on four occasions — twice in 93, once in 95 and once in 07. I stayed slightly above the limit most of the time because I was most fearful of stray wildlife vs. such a small car.
    So I'd regularly get Falcodores and the odd six cylinder SUV rushing up and overtaking asap. As I'd be averaging 6.5l/100km, I'd often pass them at the next roadhouse servo.

    I did the same trip in an 86 Celica in 2002. Nobody hassled me in that. Ironically, it was less potent and less fuel efficient (2.0l/1240kg vs. 1.6l/930kg). The Celica was also an auto, and even when it kicked down to 2nd it just didn't have the pick-up of the Honda.

    But at the time, I always thought it was motorsport related. In the 90s, there was much resentment of Jap cars thanks to the Nissan GTR.
    In 1991, CAMS outlawed the MR2 and CRX from Group E production racing. The Supra turbos of the day were dominating and the Hondas were nipping at their heels. The V8 and 6 cylinder locals were nowhere.

    • AlanHB on 20/04/2015 - 18:50
      +1

      Why would you stay slightly above the speed limit for fear of smashing wildlife with a small car? You'd just have less time to react and hit them faster.

      • Speckled Jim on 22/04/2015 - 14:50

        Because it's safer than going 180-210, which I also used to do, quite often :)

        • AlanHB on 22/04/2015 - 18:06

          Wow how awesome.

  • AMLagonda on 16/04/2015 - 22:50
    +4

    Try pulling a trailer, everyone "thinks" your gonna go slow, not me lol but they always want to overtake and pass you…

    • Charity on 17/04/2015 - 03:53
      +2

      His Micra couldn't put a trailer. lol

      • Speckled Jim on 18/04/2015 - 11:23
        +1

        Our fully-loaded-to-the-gunwales, two-up + dog in passenger footwell 1.6l Honda towed an FJ40 Landcruiser on the Eyre Hwy during our 1993 drive to Sydney. They were also fully loaded, two-up and a dog.

        We only towed them for 42km, just to the Nullabor roadhouse. The little Honda used more fuel (obviously) and was topping out at 95km/h in 4th. It felt nervous at that speed, so I stayed between 85-90.
        I tried 5th early on, but quickly realised it couldn't do it.

        Fella gave me a hearty thanks and $20 for petrol. I'd NEVER do such a thing again; I was in my early 20s at the time.

        No pics = BS? Yeah. We had a 35mm camera back then, but it was packed in the back, under a load of stuff. So no pics. Pretty sure my sister is a member here, she knows all about it. So does my ex as she was my passenger, but hopefully she's still burning in hell.

  • rapoot6 on 16/04/2015 - 23:07
    -6

    I definitely think there is a subconscious like that. I drive a 3.5l Nissan Murano and once a 90s corolla was impatient on a 40 km/h roadworks which ended in 100m to 80km/h and pulled out into the opposite lane and just for laughs I gently matched his acceleration. His bogan girlfriend wanted to race at the next lights going into a form 1 lane and I let them have a 5 second head-start before zooming by. How dare he mess with superiority.

    • RockyRaccoon on 16/04/2015 - 23:41
      +2

      Ah the old (and illegal) speed up when being passed trick. Just the thing that can end up as a road rage case, bogans are known for that.

      If they want to speed let them go.

      • rapoot6 on 17/04/2015 - 01:06

        Haha, didn't mean to be annoying or anything but I was speeding up for the return to 80 anyway.

    • meantolive on 17/04/2015 - 09:38
      +1

      I had a similar experience but instead, I was the victim.
      I was new to the area. 4 lanes turning left, immediately after the left turn, the 2 leftest lanes (3 & 4) go straight and the 2 rightest lanes turn right (1 & 2).

      Being new to the area I didn't know lanes 1 & 2 would turn right after the initial left turn. I was on lane 2, turned left, realised I needed to go straight, signaled left to enter lane 3. I noticed another car slightly behind me on lane 3, so I accelerated hard while keeping my left signal.
      Guess what? That a55h4t driver accelerated as well and didn't let me change lanes. I was forced to turn right and had to make this massive detour which pissed me off.

      Anyway, I'm sure your circumstances were different than mine which could have justified you blocking his overtake.

      • schwinn on 18/04/2015 - 01:04

        Generally you should slow down when trying to change lanes. I normally slow down, with my indicators on, and it's obvious I'm trying to get somewhere without cutting in front of someone. Then a courteous conscientious driver will let me in.

        • meantolive on 20/04/2015 - 14:51

          I most circumstances I will slow down.
          In this case the car was half a car's length behind me in the lane I wanted to switch to and there was another car right behind me.

  • mafmouf on 17/04/2015 - 00:12

    I think some people would be more confident in overtaking a poor, conservative little micra than a "faster" looking car whose driver may be more hot-blooded.

    Overtaking a "faster" car could induce a street race or road rage. Beats me.

    • ganymede on 17/04/2015 - 20:46
      -1

      Small d*ck syndrome ;)

  • AG_ACT on 17/04/2015 - 01:12

    Lots of bends in that highway? Maybe you don't notice, but your micra probably slowed down during bends and hills without you intending it.

    I've been driving on the same highway for 8 years. Love the people who speed up to get ahead of you, then slow down., intentionally or otherwise

  • This Guy on 17/04/2015 - 01:43

    Smaller cars tend to slow down for hills. Many drivers are worried about reving their engine. Others don't drop down a gear early enough to maintain speed.

    I don't want to be stuck behind someone doing 10 to 20kmph under.

    I have a small car too. The worst for me is roundabouts. I can be in the roundabout, indicating right and I'll still get a big car pull out in front of me (they don't even go fast) atleast once a week.

    • mattgt on 17/04/2015 - 05:50
      +2

      P plater?

    • tomleonhart on 17/04/2015 - 07:13
      +7

      Haha. I think you're reading too much into that joke.

      It's quiet the opposite of what you said, I'm not trying to be cool and in fact I'm possibly the most uncool person. You know, being a dad, working two jobs, paying mortgage, don't snoke, don't gamble etc etc.

      Since we have been saving and driving a 1.4l car for the last 8 years, we would like something with a bit of grunt. My wife likes the wrx. Don't know why.

      I enjoy driving and riding so the GTR is my dream car and once my fund isn't going to my daughter anymore I would be able to buy and maintain. :-) had a bachelor successful mate who owns one and let me drive in it once. My heart set on it since.

      • John Dough on 17/04/2015 - 09:34

        Drove one for 10 laps on a track in Vegas. I too will one day own one. It's hard to explain but for some people when you drive it, you just know you have to have one. Best of luck to you mate I hope you get your dream :)

      • TheOneWhoKnocks on 17/04/2015 - 20:18

        Dat JDM RWD feel is what drives (pun intended) every day.

        • schwinn on 18/04/2015 - 01:06
          +1

          Erm GTR's are 4WD.

        • TheOneWhoKnocks on 18/04/2015 - 06:21

          @schwinn: Yes I figured that out a few moments after I published that comment but it was too late to edit.

          Dat Skyline n/a feel. 😂

        • tohara on 20/04/2015 - 07:59

          @TheOneWhoKnocks:

          i don't know if you're joking or not but a) the GTR doesn't have skyline anywhere in its name or development/in-house codes names etc. Its just the Nissan R-35 GTR. b) The GTR is a twin turbo v6

        • TheOneWhoKnocks on 20/04/2015 - 08:44

          @tohara: I wasn't talking about the R35 GTR nor did I say anything about its engine …

        • tohara on 20/04/2015 - 09:29

          @TheOneWhoKnocks:

          n/a? Normally aspirated?

        • TheOneWhoKnocks on 20/04/2015 - 09:31

          @tohara: Was talking about the R34 Skyline which is RWD and gave me that JDM feel when I was younger. There that's settled lol.

  • jimmej on 17/04/2015 - 08:41
    +1

    I used to get this when I drove a 76 VW Kombi. People would sometimes put their lives at risk to make sure they got in front of me. I would then often overtake them at the next overtaking lane. Used to really annoy me as cars that age don't have much in the way of safety features.

    No different to how we often treat trucks!

  • frostman on 17/04/2015 - 08:54
    +4

    The answer is that the Nissan Micro is seen as sluggish car with potential to slow down, there's also a slight assumption it's dirven by a like-minded driver. The logic is that, no car/speed enthusiast will drive a micra.

    Now despite your speed, people still wouldnt want to drive behind you. Now consider a Nissan GT-R or Holden R8 in the same manner, people will be less tempted to over-take in fear of the driver actually stepping it up and leaving them behind

  • John Dough on 17/04/2015 - 09:32

    I too have this observation driving a small car, people just can't stand being behind you.
    They will tailgate and try get in front then just slow down exactly as you described.
    Its a mentality, not a speed thing.

    Get a big 4 X 4 with lift kit, bullbar and a large 'I hunt, I vote' sticker on the back bumper and see how often it happens.

  • singlemalt72 on 17/04/2015 - 09:46

    Because people like to overtake shitty little cars?

  • xyron on 17/04/2015 - 10:06
    -4

    I had a 1.4L micra when I was last in Sydney (rental) and I don't know how anyone can drive one of those absolute buckets of shite around - I was pissing a lot of people off on the Lane Cove freeway (whatever it is called) because it couldn't keep to the posted limit up the (not even that big) hills on the motorway…anyone who even thinks about buying a car that terrible should have their licence taken away.

  • DealzEddy123 on 17/04/2015 - 10:40
    +2

    people just want to have more space. by overtaking u, they have more freedom to speed / accelerate / merge if they wish to.

    no-one likes being stuck behind anything… they rather u be stuck behind them.

    but yes, since you have a small car being pushed to it's limits, it feels like you're limiting them even more holding them back even more

  • kelvinate on 17/04/2015 - 10:50
    +2

    I always think my best friend on a highway is the person who drive the exact same speed as me. that way we can always have a constant gap and I dont have to adjust the cruise control every 5 seconds. To me it doesnt matter what type of car that is, as long as they can match my speed and give me a constant gap, I dont care.

  • lysp on 17/04/2015 - 13:55
    +14

    When pulling up to cars stopped at traffic lights I do a similar thing.

    I take a guess (based on what type of car it is), as to which driver will be more likely to accelerate first from the set of lights and I'll pull behind them.

    Will guess correctly more often than not.

    • rapoot6 on 17/04/2015 - 14:40

      YES.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2015 - 07:38

      When you see Jed Clampett's truck in the left lane, with granny on her rocker on top, and a 350ZX revin' in the right lane. Which lane to pick?

  • JayM on 17/04/2015 - 14:08

    Bloody caravaners. Dat ad……

  • goraygo on 17/04/2015 - 14:25

    I used to drive a Nissan 200SX with a big spoiler, so people think I am a crazy driver. Most cars wouldn't overtake me excepts those fast ones like WRX, GTi, GTR, etc but they also seems to want to have a go at racing (that's how I thought anyway and my partner told me it's all in my head).

    Now I am driving a Mercedes 4 doors, still the same driver, same driving speed and same driving behaviour, every bloody single person is overtaking me. So there you go. it is car related :)

    • tohara on 20/04/2015 - 08:01
      -2

      lol how did that spoiler go for you? Any real downforce onto those rear wheels when of course they're fwd?

      • timohill on 20/04/2015 - 10:37
        +2

        Before you insult someone, try not to look so dumb. 200s are RWD.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2015 - 08:51

          Not all 200s were RWD. Some of the American ones were re-badged 2 door Sentras and they were FWD.

        • goraygo on 21/04/2015 - 17:11
          +1

          @Ninjastud: the American one is called 240SX. When we talk about 200SX it is the one delivered in Australia or the privately imported Silvia which are RWD.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2015 - 12:23

          @goraygo: This should explain it for you. It was produced in front and rear wheel drive depending on year, model and origin. http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-d1083_ds481906

        • MementoMori on 22/04/2015 - 12:44

          @Ninjastud:

          When 99.9% of Australian's talk about '200SX's' they are referring to Australian delivered 200SX's (and perhaps Japanese imported Silvia's) all of which are turbo RWDs in Australia.

          The yanks had a FWD '200SX' which was something else altogether (and referred to what we know as 200SX as 240SX's).

          That's what's causing the confusion on that international car forum you posted.

      • goraygo on 20/04/2015 - 19:11
        -2

        @tohara: you don't know much about cars I guess. 200SX is a rear wheel drive car and it is a pretty famous one too.

        btw, most Mercedes C class upwards are mostly rear wheel drive too. I only buy rear wheel drive cars.

        • tohara on 21/04/2015 - 10:57

          i know plenty about cars, i just got it mixed up with other rice burners. Still half of my sarcastic statement re downforce stands true. Its a pet hate of mine

        • goraygo on 21/04/2015 - 17:14
          -1

          @tohara: if you put your car on the track on a RWD, the spoiler is good to provide down force. If you are as good as you claim you know cars, you should've known.

          the 200SX with a big spoiler in the rear and a spoiler in the front works really well over 240km/hr on a track if you must know. And yes, the spoiler is very important in the rear to keep the car on the ground at that speed.

        • tohara on 21/04/2015 - 19:30
          -1

          @goraygo:

          ahahahahahah oh god what a hilarious reply. Tell me more about how you race your 200sx 'well over 240km/hr' and the downforce from your 'front spoiler'. Downforce is the least of your worries when you're driving a shitbox that fast which i highly doubt is true. Plus 95% of cars with spoilers on public roads will never see a race track during their lives

        • goraygo on 21/04/2015 - 20:01
          -1

          @tohara: so you know nothing about cars. End of story. Thanks for clarifying.

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