So I drove up to Napa this morning for breakfast (I know, I know - but it was a beautiful day and I felt like going for a drive). I know that some of you have posted about the dumb racers you attract - but I'd yet to experience this effect. Well... that changed today.

What is it about this car?

Here is the list of cars that wanted to race me (on the way up or on the way back):

- SLK230,
- Acura Legend with full lazy boy recliner seat treatment,
- beater older Mustang GT,
- Dodge Durango,
- ugly old Ford Astro minivan (!).

It was pathetic out there! I didn't even realize the Legend was trying to race (I thought he was just being a dick and refusing to move out of the left lane so I could pass [I hate passing on the right]. My girlfriend had to tell me, "I think he's trying to race you."). And a f**king minivan?!?! What's next? Will I be challenged by scooters and mopeds?

Meanwhile, the NICE cars I ran into out there today all treated the S2000 with respect (smiles and thumbs up from Jags, a Ferrari, a porsche or two).

So... the question is - what is it about this car that attracts these morons? I never got this reaction in the 911.

 

I'm getting the same thing! Everyone wants to race. DOn't they know my stook isn't broken in yet?

A guy in new C5 Corvette gave me the thumbs up yesterday - not too many Ferrari's or Porsches around here (MN)...

JT

 

Yeah I get that too sometimes it's nice to have the power to punish errr... (Pass) cars like the Legend. Most just want to see what the car is capable of. Maybe it's that most people figure you purchased a "sports car" so you need to have the "use it mentality."

Or they are jealous and figure you don't deserve it and want to be dicks. I had a teenager at a bus stop last May yelled at me while I was at the stoplight, I could tell his comments were directed towards my new S2K and me. And said,

 

I've definitely ruled out my imagination about the idiot-magnet thing. Its real.

I'll creep up on a tame-driving Mustang or Camaro, and after the few seconds where they figure out what car I am driving, they turn into raging a$$holes.

Its funny how you can measure the car-industry knowledge of other drivers and passersby by how long they look and/or their reaction.

A girl in a sweet Integra Type R looked PAST my car and it didn't even register on her. My assumption would be that the ITR driver would be interested, and probably friendly about it. No ricers have wanted to race yet, but I see them moving up from behind in traffic to just hang nearby and look.

I can attest to the respect factor from drivers of high-end autos -- there are a few Porsche drivers where I work, and they don't slag the car, so much as just have tons of questions about it, although they knew almost as much as I did about it.

 

You are exactly right about lots of people wanting to race. Friday evening I was driving on the service road of the freeway when an older BMW 3-series went flying by me. Luckily, I didn't rise to the bait, because a police cruiser was sitting on a side street just ahead of me and quickly pulled out to apprehend the young boy racer.

As the Bimmer maneuvered through slow-moving traffic trying to evade the cruiser, I could hear the booming of the loudspeaker on the cop car warning the driver that he'd better stop NOW! It was all over in a matter of seconds as the speeder complied. I cruised by, smiling at my good fortune for being a good boy that day. I went home, mixed myself an adult beverage and toasted to my luck.

 

I think every S2K driver can associate with this thread. Everybody and their mother wants to race a stook!! I especially identify with toewsj, I can't wait to have my stook broken in (300 miles to go).

Reading lvs2k's post helps to temper my enthusiasm from becoming self-destructive. Thanks.

THIS CAR ROCKS!!

 

Yeah...I know what you mean....I went to Gingerman Raceway yesterday and EVERYBODY wanted to race me!!!

Go figure?


But seriously, yep, I ALWAYS get at least one person a day who wants to give my Stook a run on the road. Had a guy in a SVT Contour (kid was so short he could hardly see over the wheel) want to run my friend and I on the way back from Gingerman yesterday. My friend Brian was driving at the time, and I guess that the SVT driver was humbled!! Last week I also had a guy in a Durango that wanted to race.

I had such an awsome time at Gingerman yesterday. This car is so freaking awesome!!

I love my Stook!

 

No doubt about it, the stook is a magnet for racing and morons.
I classify fellow motorists into 5 catagories.

1. no interest. drive right past me as though I were driving a taurus.

2. interested but don't go too far out of their way. point to the car and comment to passenger(s) as I drive by.

3. actively interested. includes weaving through traffic and sometimes extremely risky high speed maneuvers to catch up and get a good look from many angles.

4. the challenger. level up to my current speed, race the engine, attempt eye contact OR try to piss me off to see what the car can do (tailgating is the preferred method)

5. the a$$hole. includes a number of deviant actions to lessen my driving experience. real world example: yesterday this oil burning Jeep Cherokee comes flying up on my tail, weaves around and cuts me off just before a highway on ramp. My top is down and I get to enjoy his fumes. hits the highway at about 80 then levels off next to a minivan doing 55 in the fast lane for a few miles so I can not pass. Makes him feel good just f'ing with me. But at the end of the day, I have my beautiful red sports car and he still has his oil burning POS.
Drivers in this catagory have no intentions on racing, they just want to ruin a small piece of your day.

 

Perhaps people think this is a sports car they have a good chance of beating; the S2000 having a 4 cylinder nonboosted engine, a car they think has "no torque" at lower rpms, a car they think that one has to drive like they stole it, but looks really cool. Very tempting bait.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Prolene
[B]Perhaps people think this is a sports car they have a good chance of beating; the S2000 having a 4 cylinder nonboosted engine, a car they think has "no torque" at lower rpms, a car they think that one has to drive like they stole it, but looks really cool. Very tempting bait.