Morris Minor Owners Club

Earlier today, there was a fairly typical comment about modern car drivers....

without every Audi and Tesla driver getting steamed up,

Just how big an issue is this?
Is it a rush hour problem only with people desperate to get to or from work?

Despite Basil having a 1098cc engine, the mismatch with a 948 gearbox and 803 Diff (8/43) means he sits comfortably at around 50mph, perhaps 55, if I turn the music up a bit to drown out the engine screaming...
Admittedly, he only gets used on the occasional evening and at weekends, but we don't get problems with 'flashy' car drivers getting uptight.
The biggest problem we have is the BMW/Audi/Merc types sitting behind us, instead of overtaking on straight clear sections of Single carriageway A Road to keep traffic flowing faster...

If there's more than just the driver in the car, I can imagine there might be some conversation going on, along the lines of 'What's that?' ...
Only a few weeks ago there had been a BMW SUV behind me for a couple of miles, with another car behind them. Then a white Audi SUV came haring past from behind everyone... which prompted the BMW to decide they would take off after them... unfortunately, the BMW wasn't an unmarked Cop Car, because the Audi was really shifting....

What are other people's typical experiences....

The biggest problem we have is the BMW/Audi/Merc types sitting behind us.................

My experience Berni, is something of the polar opposite.

I too keep to an orally comfortable 50/55mph, wherever legally possible and hold my own in commuter-type traffic but I find that (and I'll generalize here) any vehicle of German origin, will overtake me JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN. Often, said Teutonic barge will then just sit there, knowing full well that I'm hardly likely to 'have the drop' on them any time soon. I get the impression drivers of 'moderns' can't bear the thought being behind a 60-odd-year-old banger!

Interesting to see what other's experience is. Could possibly differ, according to regions of the UK.

Yes, I sometimes get the feeling that some drivers just have to overtake, simply because they can't bear to be behind an old car, even if it means breaking the speed limit in order to do so. On the other hand, I do get let out of junctions quite often with a wave and a smile - probably the equivalent of helping an old lady across the road!

I started driving my Morris in 1989. I was 17 and my Morris was 20. Back then my car was most definitely viewed as an "old banger". Everybody and anybody would try to overtake me regardless of the marque of car. It used to annoy me a lot. I could be driving at the speed limit but it seemed that other drivers just took offence at being behind an old car and so they would overtake anyway.

My experience these days is completely different. People tend to give me a wide berth. They seem positively nervous to be anywhere near an old car as if it might explode at any moment. People let me out at junctions when they really don't have to and even give way at roundabouts when not strictly necessary. This might be due to the fact that I drive with the top down at any and every opportunity and I usually have a very large German Shepherd Dog in the back.

On faster roads I too will only do 50/55 mph and I fully expect to be overtaken on dual carriageways and motorways.

As it happens my modern car is an Audi and a quick one too (S3 310hp). I would not tar all drivers of fast German cars with the same brush. I abide by the speed limits and I really don't mind sitting behind a slower vehicle. I certainly would not overtake just for the sake of the fact that I can.

Stephen

I think as there are so many cars on the road I makes people drive badly.And there seems to be so many people driving poorly I adds up to hard work to drive around today

So many accidents too!

I couldn't agree more about the BMW/Audi/mercedes/VW opinion. Like most of you fine people I drive my mogster in my leisure time,at my pace and the cars capability. I believe these drivers have probably had there brains removed before buying the car and have read the morons version of the Highway code. The most noticeable aspect I find is the driver is young, probably a drug dealer or something similar,being chased by the police and our disgusting little car ( in there eyes I hasten to add) is in there way. Remember one thing though, if there was a line up of these idiots cars and one moggie in between I can guarantee which car would get more attention.dont let them rind us down(hard I know),we are better than them. Happy motoring people.

I would just like to add to my last post that I wouldn't tar all German car owners with the same brush it's the minority of idiots that causes the headaches. I am also a motor cycle owner and have lost count of the times these type of people have been dangerously close to my bikes rear end and also the amount of times I have been carved up by them to only be laughed at and the v sign given. So to end nothing personal to any of our decent German owning moggie fans,all I will say is you know who you are.

I think it more to do with speed/driver rather than make. I live in an area where most villages are 20mph and open roads are 40mph or 50mph. I get just as many tailgate and stupid overtakes when in my mitsubishi or the minor.