SO ready to quit!!!

[unstable bob]

I'm trying to stick to the mileage game...but it is turning out to be one of the hardest things I've ever tried, due to the scumbags I must share the roads with. My driving style has been to sticking to 55 MPH speed limits, and driving in the slow lane. I'm also on the road in what I think should be non-peak hours, due to the fact I work 2nd shift. Well, this armpit of a state seems to have an abundance of a-hole drivers polluting the roads 24-7, the lawlessness is something outa "Mad Max," and the police presence is pretty much non-existant. Last night I was coming home from work, doing 55 in the slow lane, on a road in which the limit is 55. Well, a mini van came blazing up behind me, and by the grace of God I don't know how his front end didn't end up in my front seat. I was thinking I had bought the farm. Somehow he slowed, and dumped over into the next lane, cutting someone off in the process, and then sped off. No offence to anyone with a mini van, but IMHO those things belong IN the slow lane, DOING the speed limit, not speeding around like a dayum Ferrari! And then today I was going to work, and pushing it a little more then I normally do, because I had to get to work to iron out a union issue. The speed limit on the road was 45, and traffic was flowing @ 50-55. All of a sudden a jagoff in a full size pick up glued himself to my bumper, and when I tried to move over to the right lane to let him pass he suddenly dumped over into the right lane to try and pass, and almost clipped me. I moved back into the left lane, and so did he, gluing himself to my azz again. Well, I had enough...I slammed on my brakes, and he did the same, which made him fishtail. Middle fingers were exchanged, words our mothers wouldn't approve of were yelled, and I grabbed the baseball bat I keep on the back floor...but something held me back and I just let him go on...But I spent the rest of the night fuming about it at work. And I'm still pizzed. I'm ready to return to the dark side. I'm tired of getting blown off the road by these jerks when I'm just doing the right thing. I'm not in anybodies way. And I also don't take kindly to people putting my life in jeopardy. When someone decides to use a vehicle as a weapon, I feel I have the right to defend myself. "Road Rage" my arse. I call it self defence...

[88HF]

Yup, you need a window stick that says "go around moron". Just make sure you keep your lane, and try to stay to the right. Its nice having a supermid or scanguage because you have an excuse to ignore ignorant wasteful drivers. My sister wrecked into a wall on the interstate because she let someone come over on her, best to keep your lane and take your chances than to change lanes and be at fault when the sucker sideswipes you.

[GasSavers_BIBI]

TOOOOOO many Michael Schumacher on the street. ANYWAY, why do the f*** are the auto makers make cars going more then 120km/h or 75mph. And why not put some radars (call it "photo radar" in french, don't know the therm in english sorry) at every half mile, every light, every interstate, and say to all those cops that you never see on the road : HAVE A NICE RETIREMENT. Still I do HATE to those big *** pick up that want to smell your *** by closing up so close on your rear end, and those jack a** who think that their car IS THE CAR and the earth is shaking when they accelerate. People are so proud of their damn cars they thing they are so cool, so powerfull now people define themself with these piece of metal, and plastic, and many other stuff, such gas. But dammit its just a car, a way to transport. Just like I shine my 26inch CHROME of my bicycle, HAHA.

Long life to those who drive 55mph, make it slowly to the red light, to those who are brillants...! And that all the eaters can ... u know what I mean...

[psyshack]

unstable bob

Its hard out there. I feel sorry for folks that live in certain parts of the country. Its rare that I get raged at by somebody with a Oklahoma plate on there car or truck. More times than not it will be a Texas, Cali or Yankee plate that gets all bent out of shape. If it is a Okie plate. Then its one thats recent tagged. A recent tag would be a transplant that hasn't learned our ways yet. Or a youngin that has balls so big he cant put his legs together.

Im due for a rage event. The last one was several weeks ago. A lady in a Corolla just had to honk and flip me off. Went out of her way to be a *itch. I saw her a few days later in a Wal-Mart. Walked up to her and asked her if her dog threw up while sniffing her nasty looking ***. Then turned and walked away. I see her now,, she keeps her eyes forward and moves on.

As much as I would like to ride share with my wife. I cant stand the area of Tulsa she works in. The traffic is just stupid. So when we ride share now I drive to my office. then she drives on to hers. Then comes and picks me up and I drive back home from my office. If we do it the other way. Im in a very bad mode. Real fast!!!

Chin Up. Its really just as bad if your the problem and not the solution....

psy

[Sludgy]

Last year, a woman chatting on a cell phone darted into my lane. She was in a small car, and I was in my 6000 pound Blue Beast. I locked all four tires when I stomped on the brakes, and barely missed her. She was totally oblivious that she nearly saw God that day. When I pulled up to a red light she was still talking. I tapped on her hood, and said, "Get off the phone and drive!" She flipped me off.

Don't stop hypermiling....... The idiots will always be out there.

[psyshack]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

Last year, a woman chatting on a cell phone darted into my lane. She was in a small car, and I was in my 6000 pound Blue Beast. I locked all four tires when I stomped on the brakes, and barely missed her. She was totally oblivious that she nearly saw God that day. When I pulled up to a red light she was still talking. I tapped on her hood, and said, "Get off the phone and drive!" She flipped me off.

Don't stop hypermiling....... The idiots will always be out there.

I think women will flip you off quicker than men will. They think a man will respect the pussy some and not be so quick to beat hell out of them. They believe in working chivalry for all its worth. We as men are taught they are special.

Now man on man,,, thats a diff. story. I think most men want to give the other a chance and really don't want confrontation over all. Cause when two men bow up,,, its going to get ugly. Men over all are kinda stupid that way. We start chest thumping. Its never good.

[brucepick]

Hey bob, hang in there.
I'm originally from NYC, drove plenty in NJ, also the whole DC-NY corridor. I know it's a pressure cooker.

For what it's worth, the more you succeed at depressurizing yourself the easier it will get - I think. There will always be plenty people on the road who think they have to get to the light before you do. So let 'em. No biggie.

I know that won't solve all the road stupdity you'll find. But staying cool yourself will go a long way.

If you really want to protect yourself drive a Volvo 850 or a 70 series from '96 or later. Earlier ones won't take a Scangauge. My car is a Volvo brick and even when rammed from behind by a GMC Savannah van (cable installer truck!), it got only a scratch on the bumper cover. OK, I was rolling, but even so, d**n that car is solid. You shoulda seen the van, towed away. POS.

[varg]

Keep on hypermiling bob. It is tough sometimes, but think of the money you're saving! Yes, a lot of drivers are total a**holes, but don't let them cost you money!

I know firsthand how bad drivers can be, I live in south Florida. You should visit sometime, especially the west palm beach area. People drive like there are no traffic laws here, blatantly blowing red lights, making u-turns on red, cutting across 2-3 lanes of traffic so they don't miss their turn, going 100+mph on the highway in everything from pickups to crotch rockets, etc. People here are very irresponsible and bad drivers, they never yield or give right of way and hit and runs are the norm here, well, when the cars can still be driven away that is...

Just this morning I had a close call. An impatient, cell phone using b**** on my tail while going 45mph down one of our major thoroughfares, flashing her high beams and getting closer and closer by the second, she was in for a big surprise when I had to hit my brakes pretty hard for a group of 10 or so migrant workers in a old Datsun cut me off. Even with her big, traction controlled Mercedes she still locked up her wheels and fishtailed onto the median. I wish the dumb b**** had totaled her $80,000 plaything because she could've cost my poor a** my transportation for the next 10 years and a serious medical bill!

[unstable bob]

Thanks for all the support, folks. Today is my day off, so I can cool down, and the only driving I have to do is to my Friday night "wings and beer" meeting with my buddies. And that drive is on a nice stretch of 1 lane road where 55 is prolly the tops yer gonna do anyways.
I really do enjoy the mileage foray. It appeals to my mechanical sense, and also makes me happy to know I am "doing my part" for conservation. Maybe I'll try altering my methods a bit and see what happens, like try 65 mph when necessary. I must realize it's not going to get any better out there. I just feel sorry for the people who do give a dayum and want to do the right thing, because they are at the mercy of the self centered, law braking, inconsiderate scumbags who think the highways are their personal arenas to do what the hell they want.

[GasSavers_BIBI]

Originally Posted by brucepick

Hey bob, hang in there.
If you really want to protect yourself drive a Volvo 850 or a 70 series from '96 or later. Earlier ones won't take a Scangauge. My car is a Volvo brick and even when rammed from behind by a GMC Savannah van (cable installer truck!), it got only a scratch on the bumper cover. OK, I was rolling, but even so, d**n that car is solid. You shoulda seen the van, towed away. POS.

I once did crashed the front end of my old dads volvo (s70 1999) in a old toyota van. Beleive it or not, the all front end was to change on my volvo, and the girl didnt even have a sratch on her rear bumper... I was just starting to accelerate (20 mph or so). Damage: 4000$. And the thing with those volvo, they are heavy, big cost to repair. Even if they are so confortable, great in winter, so safe but expensive to run.

No, what I'm going to do in my next car, cause after I will kill the Tercel of my cousine with like 55 000miles (1994) and my VX, I will installed a roll cage in my next car. Hopefully it will be a electric car (in 5-6 years or more) or I'm looking for a used toyota echo HATCHBACK. I don't know if you guys in USA got it on the market, but in Canada we had it for 2004-2005. Same MPG then a new yaris, but soooo much fun to drive, will probably rebuilt the motor one day, repaint it and maybe do like 400 000miles with it. Cheaper is better.

Still would like to have a volvo c30 from Europe, they got diesel engine and gas engine with like 110hp. Not like they only motor offered in North America, the 5 cylinder (168hp) same as my old dad s70... and yes the turbo version, but no good for mpg...