Attention small car drivers

[PhoKingGuy]

I went from a decent sized small sedan (chevy cobalt) to a VW GTI recently, and while I love getting 25mpg while beating the snot out of it I'm starting to notice a disturbing trend of drivers of other cars swerving into my lanes all the time, often very close of even when they're along side me.

Maybe this just has to do with the fact I live in South Orange County in California and no one here knows how to drive as it is, but I've counted at least 5-6 times since sunday that someones tried to switch into my lane without signaling or looking in their blind spot. I really do try not to drive in blind spots and I don't weave in and out of lanes excessively either. This never happened with my cobalt, or when I drive any other car, just mine. Could it really be this thing is too small to be seen in someones rearview mirrors?? In fact just last night someone cut in front of me while crossing 3 lanes of traffic to make a left turn and stopped in about 20 feet infront of me while I was going about 45-50 mph. Is it really how small my car is or do i just suck at bad luck?

 

[ayabe]

You're probably just unlucky.

I know you mentioned this, but I don't sit along side someone or in their blindspot for more than a second or two and always expect the person next to me to swerve over.

I see stuff like this all the time on my drive to work, 85mph, talking on the cell phone, passing on the right, never heard of a turn signal.

No joke, two weeks ago, some guy in an SUV blew by me at more than 90mph in the right lane, then cut two more people off swerving over to the left lane. There is almost always a cop a few more miles down the road, so I curse him quietly and hope that some karma kicks in and he gets busted.

About 5 minutes later, I see FHP on the right median lights flashing, and I'm thinking - yes finally one of these people is gonna get reamed. As I get closer, I don't see any other car, just the cruiser sitting there with the cop inside on the radio.

About 20 yds off in the bushes, was the SUV that blew by me, upside down, and pretty flat. Looked like a one car accident, not sure if the driver survived. It looked bad...

Then I felt a little guilty for being pissed at the guy. I hope he survived/will survive, I couldn't find any info in the local news.

It just amazes me everyday how people just flat out do not take driving seriously.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: ayabe
You're probably just unlucky.

I know you mentioned this, but I don't sit along side someone or in their blindspot for more than a second or two and always expect the person next to me to swerve over.

This

I'm a very defensive driver and I never think, Oh they won't come into my lane. I am very careful and never drive beside another car. I never trust other cars and always yield the right of way even if I have it. I'm too careful when I drive but I don't want to lose the car I bust my ass to keep. I'm pretty sure this has helped attribute to me not being in an accident so far.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Only 25mpg? I'm averaging better than that with the V6 Fusion I have as a rental this week and I'm certainly not going easy on it. Shouldn't a car as small as the GTI be getting 30+ mpg without difficulty?

In any case, I don't notice this issue with my 951, which is smaller than a GTI, but it's also bright red, so that may make it easier to see. I do, however, notice these things a lot with my motorcycle. Still, with properly adjusted mirrors, even a motorcycle is large enough to be visible. The problem is that idiots just don't set their mirrors properly and then, compounding it, they don't even bother to check their mirrors.

Here's something that I have found helpful: When driving, try to imagine the dumbest possible thing that another driver can do and assume they will do that. It's accurate often enough to make one depressed.

ZV

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Only 25mpg? I'm averaging better than that with the V6 Fusion I have as a rental this week and I'm certainly not going easy on it. Shouldn't a car as small as the GTI be getting 30+ mpg without difficulty?

In any case, I don't notice this issue with my 951, which is smaller than a GTI, but it's also bright red, so that may make it easier to see. I do, however, notice these things a lot with my motorcycle. Still, with properly adjusted mirrors, even a motorcycle is large enough to be visible. The problem is that idiots just don't set their mirrors properly and then, compounding it, they don't even bother to check their mirrors.

Here's something that I have found helpful: When driving, try to imagine the dumbest possible thing that another driver can do and assume they will do that. It's accurate often enough to make one depressed.

ZV

This is probably true, my car is black and most of these occur at dusk/night so thats probably whats doing it to me. I guess I just have to be more careful on that end. The GTI does have HID headlights as DRL though so I would assume that would help with that. Even in the day they are quite bright.

I get 25mpg on 95% city driving with about 3-4 mile trips once or twice a day. I usually bike to school so on the off day I occasionally drive to school, or go to the grocery store I don't have too many qualms about putting it into sport mode and using the paddle shifters. My tank of gas still lasts 2-3 weeks regardless.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I ride a motorcycle so I just assume that everyone around me is blissfully unaware of my presence and/or is actively trying to kill me.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
or is actively trying to kill me.

Only the SUV drivers

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
or is actively trying to kill me.

Only the SUV drivers

Nah, they don't know of my ATOT alter-ego.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt


Here's something that I have found helpful: When driving, try to imagine the dumbest possible thing that another driver can do and assume they will do that. It's accurate often enough to make one depressed.

ZV

That doesn't always work. Even when you think you have decided upon the stupidest thing they could do, the inventive idiots come up with some completely unfathomable movement, and pull that on you.

It's really sad the amount the amount of imbeciles on the road.

 

[rdp6]

As PhoKing posted, 25mpg means likely never getting beyond 4th gear. I get 31mpg at 80mph with a heavier Passat with the same engine, likely same gear ratios. Hell, I averaged 27mpg on OH-26 last fall.

On topic, I don't often get cut off, but then again I am usually moving a little bit faster than traffic so I have plenty of time to spot trouble ahead. In heavy traffic, I look a few cars ahead for knuckleheads and that works well for predicting sudden braking.

I can only imagine you really like the GTI.