Guys: Since the story just happened here is S. Cal, I will post here too. It's Sunday 3:00 PM in Southern California, I decide to take my 360 for a spin. On a mild traffic light stop, I get myself in the #1 lane (slow lane), and notice theres a silver BMW M3 convertible (current E46 model) w/ 3 guys in it on #2 lane. I did not pay attention to the car nor the people in it, just sipping my coffee. However, when the traffic moves along, I was doing about 50mph (still on the slow lane). The M3 was far behind due to the mild traffic. I noticed that M3 gunned the throttle and moved behind me. And all in the sudden, it's like he is going to rear-end my 360 on purpose. Of course when he gets close to my rear end, the driver merges to #2 lane than cut off to my lane and fled. I would assume he was going at least 110mph when he was far ahead of me. I didn't slow down when the M3 passed by, just kept speed. I did down-shift a gear and slow down a bit after the M3 passed by to watch his success cutting off a Ferrari. Man if I was in my 540i, I might have gunned and eat that thing for lunch. I just don't have the mood for that car while driving the Ferrari. The Question is, what makes that M3 to do that? To show that he is outran the Ferrari? Or just simply to "REPRESENT"? I would just drive normal and compliment the car if I were him, it would easy since he drives a convertible and my window was down.... and I would give M3 driver a smile or a thumbs up. Like I said, this is really not a big deal, just a bit odd, please no negative comments, I was just wondering about the M3 driver's motivation. Your comments?
I think we all know the answer... drivers of certain cars equate their potency, their "manlihood" to their chosen car. They see a superior "competitor" as a threat to their self esteem and have to behave in an immature way. Even worse is when the superior competitor shows no interest, simply sipping his coffee! How infuriating! Just be glad our immature friend did not cause an accident! I do find it an interesting study to watch the behavior of young testosterone bound men when faced with a better established "competitor" especially when the competitor show little or no interest in them. If there is a young female in attendance, even better...
What makes stories even funnier, he'll tell his friends "I blew by a Ferrari and out ran him" when reality is much different. He'll never admit "yeah, I cut off a Ferrari in very slow bumper to bumper traffic" because that's just not impressive (and is down right stupid)
What sucks though is when these people decide to cut in front of you and it kicks up little stones. I try to drive just a bit faster then the flow to avoid these knuckleheads trying to cut in front(at the same time making sure I'm not sticking out like a sore thumb
I couldn't agree with you more! Once I was on the 605 freeway heading southbound at about 60-65 and a guy in a tuned Integra did the same thing, but he kept braking and pulling up next to me and revving and no doubt that his car was fast. He would accelerate at 60 mph and would just gun it and I could barely see his lights but he would take the effort to slow down and wait for me to catch up to him, when all along I was still crusing at 60(haha)! Then I noticed that he had a girl sitting next to him. So yea, I guess the testerone and inferiority complex has alot to do with the motivation in these incidences. And to be honest, I have no doubt that his Integra was fast, because I used to work on them myself back in the early 90's. Nice cars too, but don't really want to race them. If I wanted to race one, I would get a 92 Integra and tune it and go street racing. And the we will see who is a better tuner or INTEGRA racer. Basically what I'm tryin to say is, don't take it in a bad way. Everyone has their reasons and their way of putting their stories together, like" I whooped a Ferrari today or hey, this Ferrari revved on me and I whooped him man!" But to tell you the truth, I don't let it get to me and he himself knows the real truth behind it. Just take it as a compliment.
happened to me today in the 308QV...but with a honda civic, on the 605 fwy. It really has nothing to do with an M3 or Civic or any other car... it's more people being inappropriately stupid, trying to "egg" you on to "race them"...then they can say they raced a ferrari. I wonder how they would feel if you slammed on the brake and their insurance had to pay for a rear-ended 360! (not recommended, btw!! ) B.
I drive a beemer too and I'm sorry that the M3 was a butthead. I the same thing as F-passione. People like that make me mad. But what can do?
I dunno... but there are some real boneheads out there... when I was rear-ended, the driver came out and said to me, "why did you stop?" I, of course, answered "...because the rest of the traffic did - how come you didn't?" LOL I wouldn't risk it intentionally, though... btw, I also drive a M3 (E36) Byron
This kind of thing happens almost every time I have driven any of my Ferraris over the past 5 years! It goes with the territory. I don't know how long you have had your car but this is something you are just going to have to learn to deal with in L.A. or get rid of the car. Of course, the other alternative is to forget about doing only 50 (or 60 on the freeway), throw the latte out the window and abuse the little pecker! My "Idiot du jour", was a guy with a squeegee (in a gas station) who got irate over my not letting him clean my windscreen. His partner (with the shopping cart) wanted to race me for pinks! Get used to it or like you said... drive your BMW. DL
An M3 did that to My Brother in law and me about 5 mo. ago. I was driving his TR. SAME THING. But I had to go for it! DONE DEAL.... Need I say more. So yes, I've experienced it also. Always an M3
The best thing you can do with idiots like that is leave them alone or get off the freeway. I was driving my ZR1 on the 405 and a Mustang pulls up beside me. I figure OK well punch it up to 100 just for fun. I'm in the fast lane. So I pull on him a little and get off it because we are getting into traffic. There is a car in front of him in his lane. I can see this guy has to slow down or change lanes to the right. Instead, He doesn't slow down, he cuts in front of ME! I go to FULL BRAKE to give him an out and the guy just misses the car in his lane and just misses me. If I had been trying to race him still, there would have been a wreck. If anyone would have been hurt or killed by this guy, I would have been just as guilty in a court of law. A high price to pay "for a little fun" Bottom line, If I don't know the driver, I don't play......... Period. Rick
Jimmy... your timing couldn't be better.. I was going too vent my weekend frustrations on F-chat first thing this morning..!!!!! I'm just fed-up with all these jealous f*cking a-holes...!! and as much as I try and remain positive (while keeping my cool), these issues are ruining my F-car experience. #1. I'm doing 85 in the left lane, a pickup truck is riding 8 ft off my bumper, (I brake tap) then comes along side and tries side-swipe chicken with me .. #2 4am this morning I'm book-in on a winding dark road (76). Nobody on the road but some ****** 10ft off my bumper trying to keep up me thru the curves. (He almost lost it twice) I can list about a dozen other situations.. but these two issues this weekend really pissed me off.. It's getting real old...!! Patrick
M3 people that I have since on the road are arrogant. The need to learn they are not in a Ferrari Armen you should have said "want to for pinks!"
I think my next car will be an M3 I'll meet you guys at Crystal Cove. After eating dust trying to follow Jeffery.
It happens to me all the time, but usually it is guys in camero's that try to race me. most of the time i just let them by and when they pass me they have a big smile on thier face like they just accomplished something great. every once in a while ill put them in thier place but that just invites more people to try and race you.
As a former M3 owner, I must addmit that the majority of M3 owners are tools. They think that just because they can afford the payment on a M3, that makes them better then anyone else (including you F-Boys). It is sick. I sold my M3 to a 19 year old who took photos of himself and his friends thrashing the car (do burn-outs, dumping the clutch at 7,500 rpm and such). Then about two weeks after he sends me these photos, he calls me up and tells me that he is sueing me because the car broke on him! Well, to make a long story short I ended up buying him a Cat so that he would just leave me alone. Many BMW owners (not all) have this major "I'm better them everyone else just because I have a Roundel on my hood" stick up their respective butts and what happened to you just proves that money cannot buy class, nor taste.
I've owned (and still do) several M3s and even race one...overall fantastic car (no flames please!). In general, owners of M3s are young (and many times immature) individuals, who happen to be car fanatics. The sight of a Ferrari excites them and the "thought" that their $50k BMW can keep pace with one excites them even more. Still, I don't personally think it's an M3 thing...more so that whenever you're in a Ferrari (or exotic), everyone and their mother wants your attention. While some of us find that annoying, to others, that is the reason for buying a Ferrari (hmmm). Regardless, you have to accept (you don't have to tolerate) this unwarranted harassment when you decide to take the wheel of a prancing horse. I agree it's extremely annoying, though. Keep in mind, I'm sure they think us Ferrari owners are arrogant as well By the way, I've seen the way you drive your 540 on the freeway Jimmy...no comment
What about Benz owners too. I know one who thinks everyone is racing him if they go faster even if it's a mom in a minivan!
Man, it's not just limited to Ferrari's being victimized, I just bought a 1989 Porsche 928S4 and so far it seems I've been tailgated by every SUV in So Cal. Big BMW and Lexus sedans seem to be enraged by my existance as well. This behavior does not happen when I'm in the AudiS4. Last night on the 10 going west into Santa Monica I was zipping along in the fast lane with nothing ahead of me. As the 405/10 west merges I watched a Tahoe with a female driver coming over (not aggressively) but she held herself to the middle lane. Once past I increased speed to 95mph or so since it was clear ahead. In the mirror though I see the Tahoe hit the left lane and start making up ground. Anyway, coming up on Lincoln Blvd with traffic I start to slow and merge far right. Here comes the Tahoe, in an aggressive move she actually weaves between cars and puts herself in my rear trunk. At the slow speed I was going she could've easily passed on my left as it is a two lane exit. I didn't bother brake checking her, I just got on it again and took the next exit.
I am totally with you on this issue..People love ferraris and they wish they were driving one (especially M3 owners)...enough said....I wont have mine until the end of this month but I am sure the attention will get old really quick. I think I will limit my driving to strickly to the newport beach area (atleast that is my plan). But in support of the E46 M3.. that is one fast car, it will put a 348 to shame and run neck to neck with a 355 and costs about $50K new.
And my 14 year old Corrado which was $17k new with $29k into it will dust any stock E46 M3 and most mildly modified ones. But that's not the point. Which has more spirit, a really fast VW, BMW or a Ferrari? I mean, come on... which would you rather drive? Not a hard question. Anything can be made fast, with enough money into it. There is a chysler minivan that runs 11's in the quarter mile in stock trim, he just plumbed in a huge amount of nitrous. But even though it's fast in a straight line, I sure wouldn't care to tool around in it. Back to topic, I have to admit, I've egged on many cars in my time, only one Ferrari though... older 308 that I knew I could harass. Most of the time though, I just want to pull up and get a closer look at the Ferrari. The most frustrating drive I ever had was a few weeks ago, trying to get a closer look at a black Enzo.... I think the "boy racer" look my car has made its driver think I was egging him on, but all I wanted to do was drool glassy eyed, just a little closer. But every time I got within 5 cars (from the next lane over, mind you) he gunned it and put a few hundred yards between us, then slowed down. I never did get to see it from alongside, Grrrrrrr.....
"And my 14 year old Corrado which was $17k new with $29k into it will dust any stock E46 M3 and most mildly modified ones." I'm calling BS on this one. A front wheel drive VW cannot keep pace with a rear wheel drive E46 M3, even a stock one. Plus, 1/4 racing is for individuals who have no idea what they are doing behind the wheel of a car. Don't want to start a flame war, just stating a point.