Here's the scenario. I follow a usual freeway route early in the morning, usually with no traffic around. The past two months, (4 times now) this guy with a similiar route and drivetime in a Lexus 4-door keeps pulling up next to me and then pulls up, pulls back, etc. He looks over at me. I've been ignoring him the entire time; I'll look over and wave him off. (maybe he thinks I'm flipping him off. I dunno)

It happened again Friday. Now, next time I see him, I want to teach him a lesson.

So if I'm doing about 60 miles mph, and he's doing about the same, do I downshift to 5th, give it the gas and c-ya later he's in my rearview for good? Or do I simply floor it from 6th gear?

Incidentally, the roads are empty at 5:30 AM, so it's not like there's any cars around. But if there was, I would need to wait for a morning with no traffic. I still want to be safe!

 

I'd imagine you need to downshift to 4th (or even 3rd) to have the desired effect if you're only doing 60mph.

 

if you are going 60, drop to third

 

I vote you ignore the idiot. There could be bad consequences.

 

3rd

 

Ya, ignore the twit unless you're prepared to assume the consequences. I've been tempted quite often by all the little rice boys but then I flash-forward to an image of me trying to explain to a judge what possessed me (at 42 years old) to endanger the folks around me (especially if it was against some dorky white kid pretending he's a gangsta). Don't become a statistic.

Otherwise, make it something formal at a pre-arranged safe area. Kids can get away with murder but we can't. For your own piece of mind, you should probably get to know your car better before you try racing. Find a nice out of the way spot to practice efficient shifting and steering with just your left. That's what I've been doing today in a large office building parking lot. I learned alot about the powerband today and am getting the heel/toe thing down pretty smooth. If you go through with it, you sure don't want to go in half-cocked and get smoked.

As far as gears (and mind you I'm still getting to know my way around), I generally cruise at a pretty high rpm so that I'm never far from VTEC if needed. If you just try to floor it in 6th, you're not going to accellerate very quickly.

Also, anyone know if there is a lockout of 1st above a certain speed? I haven't screwed it up yet but my worst nightmare is dropping to 3rd hard to get a good rolling launch and hitting 1st by accident. That would be both dangerous and mighty embarassing. :|

 

Challenge him to an AutoX for cash.... Nice, safe and cash back.

 

It's driving me crazy.

I know I'm a grown man with somewhat reasonable intelligence and just enough wisdom to know what's right from wrong. But there's this teeny-tiny little devil on my shoulder that's telling me "this boy has gotta learn." Probably because this stuff is new to me; I've never had to race before in any of my cars. I mean, just asking the shift question tells you I'm an amateur.

I'm going to give this subject some more thought. Writing it down here has taken the edge off somewhat. I enjoy taking risks, but I need to decide whether this is too risky, for my sake and my cars'. Plus, I've had no training in this arena, either.

I think I've answered my own question.

 

if it's THAT empty, come to a dead stop on the freeway just to see what he does.

 

if i were you and i really wanted to race (5am is pretty early and relatively safe in regards to traffic...better than in heavy traffic which is a total no no), i'd definitely pull it down to 3rd. anyways, be careful and dont' let the adrenaline get the best of you!