Do you get strange looks?

[TheFoX]

Even though I am almost 50 years of age, I don't look it. In fact, one of my colleagues actually thought I was in my early 30's, and used to call me 'nipper', when it turned out I was almost 10 years his senior. Last laugh on me. But this does beg the question...

Do you get strange looks or comments about the car you drive?

A few years back, when I was in my early to mid 40's, I used to drive a CLK500 convertible, and I remember pulling in to a garage to fill up. While filling my tank, an older gent filling his C class estate looked at me, then at my car, then shook his head. I really felt like going up to him and saying, 'Don't worry son. When you are old enough, you'll be able to afford one like that'. Of course, I didn't.

I do get strange looks though. It's as if they expect someone really old and decrepit to get out of such a smooth motor. Mercs can be driven by anyone, not just the retired elderly.

Today, while shopping at Tesco with my elderly mother in her B class, a guy parked next to us with his C class estate, then did the boot closing trick with the little button, then said, 'I bet you wish your car could do this?', to which my mother replied, 'His CLS can do that, and so much more.'

People should complement each other, not compete. I've had people come up and tell me what a lovely car I have, and I have shown them all those little features it has. I have even admired their own vehicles. Spite has no place in the modern world.

My best mate drives an Audi, and even though I don't like them, would never dream of running an Audi down in front of him. Then again, he does drive a powerful Audi, and not one of those wannabe fast Audis.

(Saw a nice S Line the other day that would be a desirable car).

So, have you had any run ins with people who have offended you, or made snide comments about your car, or just given you a disapproving look?

How have you responded? Did you give a witty retort? Did you just ignore them as if they mattered not?

I am sure that there are some gems of stories about your choice of car how others perceive it.

 

[renault12ts]

Not for a long time...but I'm that older guy now!!

 

[Deane x]

I am 36 and I got loads in my slk and chavs trying to race me but not as many as I did in my S500L , I think people thought I was a drug dealer tho , god knows what they will think when the C350e comes but I don't care ,people will always judge and be envious ..shame I like looking at nice cars and often give the thumbs up to the driver

 

[John Jones Jr]

I have a little Suzuki Ignis Sport, the kind of car most if not all would associate with apprentice Boy racers or possibly even more so with Girl racers for that matter. I get stared at all the time, at petrol stations and in car parks just like you mentioned. I've overheard derogatory comments from others that don't know me from Adam in relation to me 6ft/90kg and old enough to be the Dad of the expected driver of such a car.

I don't know the real issue people have, is it that I'm not acting my age, don't seem care or that I'm devoid of showing 'good' taste? Who knows...and that's the point, I know and that's all that counts!

So, I just get on with it, if I'm ridiculed or talked about for the car I decide to drive it's not my issue, it's an issue others have to deal with - their problem, created by them. When I get strange looks, ignore is rule number one, rule number two is to smile. Life's too short. Oh, and when I do get a chance to drive the little machine I love it, brings back my days of driving Alfa Suds and Gti's. I don't look any younger but I do feel it.

 

[renault12ts]

^ Probably amazed you can get 30 stone into such a small car!!

 

[John Jones Jr]

^ Probably amazed you can get 30 stone into such a small car!!

Ha, ha. Just copped that now. Edited to 90kg!

 

[John Jones Jr]

Not for a long time...but I'm that older guy now!!

It's all a state of mind...(I hope)

 

[jamesfuller]

I once had an 'encounter' with a friend of a friend, he hardly new me but judged me because I turned up in a Fiat Cinquecento.
He spent 20 odd minutes going into the finer points of his 400bhp Toyota Soarer while slipping in the usual digs about my little car.

I had guessed correctly that he was the straight line driver type and I just kept quiet. I left at the same time as him. Out onto the local country roads, he booted it, it varied between being unable to pull a gap to seriously holding me up on the turn ins.

Next time I saw him I simply complimented him on his cars performance and asked if he ever intended to learn how to use it! He took it quite well in front of his mates.

(I built the Fiat for road rallying and hill climbing btw)

 

[Charles Morgan]

One of the reasons I love classic cars is because I've never had anything other than positive reactions from others (hopefully if I run someone over because the brakes fail, they'll have a smile on their face as they expire). I don't hold back though if someone boxes in me or gets too close for my comfort.

 

[mat8n]

I get it all the time, i'm 43 but do actually look younger, I always wear shorts and flip flops with a t-shirt or skate shirt, I'm pretty much a typical xtreme sports guy with my sleeve tattoo and 'modern' hairstyle and bracelets......but my SL is nearly always immaculate, not like me! I see people admiring my car then do a double take when I walk up to it or ride up to it and put my bmx in the passenger seat with the roof down

 

[markjay]

I drive a black C-Class saloon. No one makes any comments. Apart from the odd car wash attendant that adds a Taxi discount to my bill. I never quite know if to protest or to accept.

 

[SpoonJar]

I've had a few strange looks from the sales reps in their diesel mercs at the petrol garage in the mornings when they hear the v8 come rumbling in and out steps this scruff bag, hole in my jumper sheet metal worker.

 

[John Jones Jr]

ride up to it and put my bmx in the passenger seat with the roof down

I like that.

 

[brucemillar]

I often get looked at if having a Tommy Tank in my car.

 

[developer]

I see people crossing themselves as I approach

 

[John Jones Jr]

I often get looked at if having a Tommy Tank in my car.

Modern medicine is marvelous. Definitely on the road (pun intended) to a full recovery. Good to hear

 

[daveenty]

Tend to get quizzical looks more than strange ones. People hear the noisy car and look beyond it expecting to see some sporty thing.

They don't expect the pops and bangs to be coming from the "German Taxi" driven by the old bloke.

Apart from the odd car wash attendant that adds a Taxi discount to my bill. I never quite know if to protest or to accept.

Always accept, better in your pocket than theirs.

 

[Giantvanman]

Been judged for riding bikes many times. Hooligan/criminal/Hells Angel…

I've had a car judged before the judge laid eyes on me, if that counts.

One example of this was back when my wife was my girlfriend and having a motorbike only then, I occasionally borrowed her Rover Metro, resplendent in Opalescent Turquoise metallic paint and adorned with little ribbon decals down the side.

I collected her from the train station one evening and was driving back to her house when I drew her attention to the mini-coach being us. It is no exaggeration to say that you would only just have been able to filter a bike through that gap had we been stationery but little else; we were doing 40-44mph in a forty limit.

Believing this not to be the way to behave, I gently reduced speed and came to a strategic halt in such a position that the bus was boxed in by a central island. The driver of said bus, who had previously been enacting some sort of puppet show or mime act, went into overdrive and his face turned very red, no doubt angry that his vehicle was not fitted with interior wipers for spittle removal.

I assumed from his manner that he was in fact lord of this particular stretch of road and being only a peasant in a small, effeminate car, I should have either driven as fast as was his pleasure or pulled over and bow as he passed.

Instead of that, I got out. The sight of me extricating myself from the pretty little car had a profound impact on him. I can only assume that he he assumed the driver was a small, timid lady instead of the very wide, lumpy guy with crew-cut hair…I had not long stopped weight training and was still quite a size.

As I sauntered towards the bus, he lost all colour and frantically started pushing buttons, locking the vehicle. "Please keep in mind that that you are driving a large vehicle and by driving so close to the rear of that tiny car over there, you are causing a great deal of consternation. Keep a reasonable distance, there's a good fellow."

I honestly thought I would need to call an ambulance because he had all the symptoms of shock but managed to contain my shoulders from giving the game away, saving the laugh until I was back in the car.

The following day I was on late shift when my girlfriend was visited by two members of the local constabulary looking for 'me' and who, on relaying their record of what the bus driver had alleged, were bemused when she burst out laughing. I should say that, despite being an Essex girl, she is well spoken, educated and not stereotypical at all.

She relayed the above and told them where I could be found at that very minute. My girlfriend, on my behalf, decided not to take the matter any further so the officers departed, returned to the lying, cowardly little toad's home and, err, had a word.
It was gratifying to hear that on finding out exactly how his malicious lies had been uncovered, he was, let us say, remorseful and apologetic in the extreme.

Hopefully, thereafter, he thought twice about attempting to bully the type of car (size wise) that elderly ladies often drive.

 

[regbuser]

I see people crossing themselves as I approach

it's your undertaker's demeanour john

 

[Deane x]

I often get looked at if having a Tommy Tank in my car.

That's what you get for parking in a dogging site