I've noticed this a lot more than I did in my last car (blue Focus ST), other drivers trying to push me to go faster (tailgating) when I'm already at the speed limit. Is this a 'red car' thing or do the other colours suffer the same thing?
Most enjoyable when they try it just before an NSL road though
Doesn't matter what the colour of car at all or even the make and model.
Some idiots on the road will try to race anyone they perceive to be a "worthy" target.
It's absolute BS and is best ignored completely, ...they'll get bored eventually and back off or zoom past you like they're getting somewhere before you even though you're going to different places.
I've had it lots of times over the years in lots of different cars that I've been driving.
Not sure it's anything to do with the car being red. When I was 21 I had a red Seat Leon Cupra R and at that age I wanted to race with everything but it never really happened, apart from on the odd occasion.
Everyone wanted to race my last car or get right up my arse. That was a standard looking grey Audi A5 (with a Revo remap). I suspected that most people thought it would be a slow car for what it was and thought it might be an Audi they could bully (a lot of hate for Audi, and BMW for that matter).
I now have a black M140i and I find what you're describing happens a lot in this car too. Maybe people just don't realise how much power these particular 1 series' have?! I've considered that people maybe think I've stuck the 'M' badge on the back myself, which in itself is enough to make people dislike you and want to annoy you/overtake you. Perhaps they think it's a 1 series with average power and an M badge on the back and fancy their chances if you were to rise to it?
Mines de-badged too, although not by choice (dealer messed up).
Yes, I tend to ignore them or slow down if I think that extra reaction time is needed. I would rather have someone like that in front of me than behind, so have occasionally stopped to let them past.
Those who don't, still wouldn't even if you'd left the badges on.
I never used to get much attention in mine, if I did it was usually from people in Fiesta STs. Then obviously Insignia/Mondeo and Audi drivers on the motorway, interestingly it was rarely other BMW drivers as I think they know it's something different from the naming convention.
I wouldn't stop to let them past. A little tap on the brakes usually does the trick 😉
After buying an M235i i haven't had that much attention to be honest that was part of the attraction, unlike my last car a TTRS that was constant tailgaters/boy racers and gets boring quick.
If you're on the right lane driving at the speed limit, you'll always find people tailgating you.
I'm always at 70 on motorways and get taken over by myriads of rubbish cars driven by idiots who seem in a hurry. They do that to all the cars.
So far I think the biggest idiots drive some sort of Ford SUV .
It's not the car. I get the same with my 130i and a mighty Kia Rio at work. It's just people being impatient or not allowing a suitable gap, 9/10 of the time
That's my perception as well. As sexist has it might sound, they don't seem to understand the possible harm they are putting both drivers in.
More generally, on being challenged to race, I wonder if it's a case of consciously or subconsciously looking for it (the challenge, not necessary the race). It's happen to me once: an A3 that was ahead of me on the outer lane of a 40mph dual carriageway (me on the inner), dropped back purposefully to have a little dual: got bored and sped off when I simply carried on chatting to my passenger.
Worst I ever had it was when I had a Tornado Red MK5 GTI a while ago. Every arsehole on the road wanted to take me on.
My 140 is Sunset Orange and can't say I've noticed many people trying it. I deliberately ordered it debadged, rear and sides, specifically to avoid any hassle.
Doesn't matter what the colour of car at all or even the make and model.
Some idiots on the road will try to race anyone they perceive to be a "worthy" target.
It's absolute BS and is best ignored completely, ...they'll get bored eventually and back off or zoom past you like they're getting somewhere before you even though you're going to different places.
I've had it lots of times over the years in lots of different cars that I've been driving.
The number of people on the road who push their way in front and then I find myself pulling up behind them at the next roundabout / junction never ceases to surprise me.
BMW does have the stigma of being known as a bit of a cocks car, so thats probs why, I had an st focus chasing me the other day in this ****e and icey weather, yet i'm the one in the alleged cocks car that does want to race in in these conditions with my wife and son in there
I tend to get a few boy racers in corsas and fiestas getting up my arse. I have nothing to prove to them so let them crack on and overtake me - it probably makes their day! Haha. I'm not prepared to lose my license just to prove my car is scarily fast.
Try living with an old Evo [emoji57].....I have had literally everyone try it on from hot hatches looking to prove themselves all the way up to Range Rovers, 911's and Astons displaying petty behaviour to get "one up" on me.
I don't think colour has anything to do with it, any prestige and/or high performance car will always be like a red rag to a bull for certain people.
My advice is to completely ignore it and not lower yourself to that level.
I find that type of thing so bizarre it's unreal.
Some people are so stupid it mentally hurts me to even try and conceive what goes on in their tiny little brains.
So far I've owned; a Nissan Micra GSX, Seat Ibiza SXI, Rover 214SI, Vauxhall Corsa Sport, Ford Mondeo ST24, VW Golf VR6, JDM Subaru Impreza WRX, Honda Civic Type R (EP3), Nissan 350Z GT coupe, Honda Civic Type R (FN2), Audi S3 and now a BMW M135i.
By their logic does this mean I was okay when I had my first car the Nissan Micra but then decades later am a **** driver now when I had the Audi or BM??
If I buy a Vauxhall VXR/Zafira or similar next am I a good driver again then compared to now? :?
Totally insane of "them" to think it makes any difference to what sort of person you are in general or behind the wheel dependent on the manufacturer of the car/vehicle you drive imho.
First car was a 1l corsa, so I had the regular cars in my 'class' trying it on. Saxo's, Clios, etc. Never really rose to the bait.
Then had an MX5, which everyone wanted to race
Then my 118d was left alone most of the time
Now my M140i seems to attract all the morons, all the time. People sitting right up behind me, pushing me to go faster etc. Don't understand it. Seems to always be RX8s aswell that sit at traffic lights revving at me for a traffic light gp near me too no idea why, they've got less torque than a lawnmower
I have a feeling that the faster car I have the less people want to race ... I guess it has a certain intimidation factor (at least around here, Ive only seen 2 140s in the last year, and maybe 1 135).
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