I've had my first Porsche ('02 C2 coupe) for about two months now. I've noticed something odd (or at least a little unexpected): Every time I'm out on the highway, people seem to be making a point of trying to pass me or cut me off. I suppose it's jealousy (or a challenge), or an effort to say "my car's as fast as yours right now."

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm in the SF Bay Area, by the way.

It also seems like there ought to be a clever name for this behavior...

Bob

 

My experience in the New York area has been mainly people just trying to stay on my tail or SUV's refusing to move out of the left lane. (Although, since I traded in my '99 C2 for an '02 with the bi-xenon lights, a lot of SUV's move out of the way voluntarily at night. Maybe, finally, my lights are as disturbing as theirs.)

A name for this syndrome? How about "Porsche Envy"?

 

Same here in Ma. There seems to be a certain class of people that just love to make some sort of point by flying by you. I can't count the number of times this has happened: Minding my own business in the right or middle lane doing 70 or so. Aware of traffic, see Dodge Dakota, Honda Accord, Subura Outback or whatever ~500+ feet behind. Glance back, said Subie is now doing
90. Flys past. I yawn. Subie now 500+ feet ahead. Slows back down to 70. One of the treats of getting older is that I now realize that rather than dump it into third and blow'em off, the thing that pisses 'em off even more is if you just plain ignore them all together.

Interestingly, I rarely experience this sort of behaviour when I'm out in my old Ferrari. People tend to pull up side by side, gawk a bit and then just take off. I think that there are enough 911s around that the novelty has worn off in seeing them so the baser human emotions take over. Enjoy the car, pray for mankind.

 

Robert,

I've had my 2000 for for a year and a half. I have noticed the same thing. With the $1000 dollar deductible, I usually just let these idiots have their fun. I'm sure it makes their day. I suspect a lot of these people are taking their agressions out, because they are powerless at work or home and may have not participated in the good times the last few years.

Speaking of which, I have noticed this attitude get worse over the last six months as the Bay Area economy has ground to a halt.

However, every once in a while I do get a kick out of dropping down into 3rd gear on Hwy 280 and showing one of these guys just how awesome this car is.

Just enjoy yourself and be sure to wave to back when another Porsche owner waves at you. (Too many people bought Porsche in the Bay Area just to show they had stock options at a company that was doing well, not because they really love the brand.)

 

Porsche...
It is as common as the VW. Some days I pass more 911's than Golf's. Get near Stuttgart and everyone thinks that they should own a new turbo or RS. Also, everyone passes everyone and everyone rides your tail to make you get over. In Paris the freaks will bump your car to make the parking spot a little bigger. A little paint exchange... oh well.

 

Guys,

I don't even have a new 996, just my 88 S4 with 17 inch turbo twist rims and GTS( twin turbo brakes) and the behaviour you're talking about is constant down here in So Cal. There seems to be no ryhme or reason, no particular vehicle type though big engined SUV's and rice rockets are the more common culprits. If I'm cruising at around 90 or 100mph, suddenly there are cars all around me that are keeping up, or tailgating or staying conveniently in front of me. I slow down, they slow down, I gradually accelerate there they are too. I have found that on my longer roadtrips when I'm steady at 105 or so, these same knuckleheads will lose their stomach for the sustained velocity. (I call it clearing the baffles) I pay them no mind, and unless it's another Porsche owner, no eye contact. (well, maybe a 360 Modena or Diablo) I just keep an eye out for what they're doing in relation to me and that's it. Being ignored does upset the masses indeed.

K

 

I get challenged by SUV or pick-up truck owners all the time on the freeway and street. What's up with that?

And when I do drive my SUV or pick-up truck, no one challenges me.

Of course, there's one time a mini-van with full load of people wanna race me on the freeway.

Peace!
Ron

 

Just wondering,
are you all complaining, or just commenting. If you are complaining, you should have noticed in your contract when you bought your Porsche, that the car does draw some attention. Hello. Live with it or sell it, but don't keep yapping about how tough it is and all of the downsides of owning one of the finist automobiles in the world.

 

If I find someone willing to take the lead (and as a result - the ticket) I'll hang with him...its just a case of safety in numbers as long as everyone knows what they're doing however...
I think that the general trend around here is for everyone to drive like an a-hole. I get just as many people tailgating me in my POS as I do in my S or my pop's Carrera. People just don't know how to drive safely, because licenses are treated as a right not a privilege in this country. Until the standards are raised the driving will only get worse.

 

Once again, people do drive a lot faster here and there is more tail-gating. However, an average drivers liscense cost around $1500+ and takes a few months to get. You also have to be 18... Something to think about.

 

By no means am I complaining EC. When a similar car wants to run with me (not race) and takes lead or falls in behind, I'm fine with that. Long as he/she knows what they're doing. It's when some yahoo in an ill equipped car decides to run with me that problems abound. Usually they have to take all kinds of crazy risks to do things that are for me and my car, like turning left out of driveway.

Case in point was last Friday on a trip to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles. I was running with one of those new Triumph motorbikes. This person and I fell into a nice rythym, where if I was in front he stayed behind me where I could see him and not in my blind spot and when he took the lead, I gave him room for any mishaps if he started sliding without his bike. Then here comes this Honda Accord. Not even a "Fast and Furious" Honda Accord. Just a indescript, missing hubcaps on the stock steel rims Honda Accord. He gets near us and is just all over the place. Weaving but not overtaking anything to get clear of us and go on his way. No capability to brake hard or accelerate hard when necessary but boy was he trying. More importantly he was always trying within 3 or 4 car lengths of me. Now of course I can drop this car in a heart beat, but he's not running with me, he's not racing against me, he's just close to wrecking. I have no particular problem with that unless there's a shot you'll take me with you or I have to do all kinds of fancy stuff to avoid you taking me with you.

So, now fun is over and I run at 65mph or so while he pulls along side as if I'm supposed to acknowledge how cool he is. Thing is, he doens't get tired of me. Noooo. He runs right in front of me to my left, and keeps me in his blind spot. Lovely. All I was trying to do was get to my meeting at the Four Seasons Biltmore. Anyway, there is no downside to running around in a nice car, the downside would've been to any unfortunate individuals clowns like this wipe out.
Oh, and the Triumph motorbike? Well he did drop the hammer when this idiot tailgated about a foot off his back tire.

K

 

I guess ALL states have their share of these people. I have alos noticed it tends to be certain kinds of car owners. Top of the list seems to be SATURNS (yea, I can't explain it but they stand out the most to me for this type of behavior.) Then Vetts then all the US type "Pony" cars.

No joke, I have had (2) cars pull John Deere's on me as a result of trying to tail gate me through a very long decreasing radius sweeper on ramp to I-4 (Same ramp both times). And yes, the first one was a Saturn the other was a Vette.

Also get the low riders trying to drag at lights.....I don't bother with that any more...but when they ask me why I won't, all I say is..."My clutch cost more than your whole car" I many cases that puts things into context for Pancho (I'm hispanic so no crap about me using Pancho :-) )

I only take some of these clowns on when they are with there girlfriends.....then wait for them up ahead after you smoke'm and wink at her and blow her a kiss. Makes her whole day and she will continue to add insult to injury for the rest of the day and you don't even have to hang around.

 

It is called the " Porsche Effect "

 

Drop it into third for ME

 

remember what it was like when you didn't own one yourself and saw one on the road....tailgater!

but seriously, the bay area is nothing like driving on the autobahn (I worked in Germany for a year).....if you drive a Porsche or BMW over there you're expected to drive aggressively and fast and if you don't people get on your tail. Spend a week in Munich with a local license plate and drivers here in comparison won't bother you any more

Folks here are just looking. If you like it cruise along and enjoy the stares, if not that's why you paid the cash....drop a gear and take off........

....if you're crawling in your 996 in the fast lane and you see a blue cab bombing down on you......let me pass please :0)

ex-autobahner