Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Comments
Anyway, the light turned green and everyone took off - I'm guessing the cop told them to get out of the road and into a McD's parking lot on the right. The minivan in front of me cut me off - no signal - close enough that I swerved into the left lane to keep from being hit. From there I checked the rear view - grandpa just about sideswiped two people - no signal - drifting from the left lane into the parking lot. Keep in mind there was a cop right behind both of them! If there was any justice, the cop would yank both their licenses right then and there and tell them to take the bus home, before they kill somebody.
-Jason
But, I suspect bad drivers are an equal opportunity event.
TB
We were all stopped at a red light, two lanes in each direction. There was a left turn coming up where you get onto the highway. In the left lane was an early '90's Continental, then a late '90's Trans Am, and then me. In the right lane was a Taurus, followed by some other cars.
Well, the Taurus revs his engine, and blows off the Continental. Predictably, the Trans Am driver takes this as a threat to his manhood, so he punches it, blows off the Continental on the right, and goes Taurus-hunting. Mind you, the Contintental's not exactly taking off like a snail, either, but then its driver punches it in an attempt to catch up with the Trans Am!
The Trans Am gets back into the left lane in front of the Lincoln, as we come up to the light where the left-turn lane is. The light's already red, when the Trans Am gets to the line, Lincoln behind it, and then me. Well, he didn't get there in time to trip the sensor, so we didn't get a left-turn arrow. However, that doesn't matter...driver punches it, and cuts off the oncoming traffic to go off onto the highway. That was bad enough, but at least he did it quickly enough to get out of the way. The really fun part was when the Continental did the same thing! I guess its driver was paying more attention to the Trans Am than the light, and failed to notice that he didn't have an arrow. He came very close to buying a few people some new cars.
Isn't it fun sometimes, how inconsiderate drivers seem to feed off each other? It's almost like some kind of aesexual breeding or something!!
I have a great-great Aunt who is nearly 102. She's not old yet 8^)
TB
-Jason
kinley. This is kind of second-guessing, but the truck probably didn't expect to find 2 deer and 2 cars stopped dead in the road in front of him, blocking both lanes. Seems like he did an excellent job of avoiding all the animals on the road when he took to the shoulder...
BTW when I am stopped for a school bus letting kids off, I put on my 4 way flashers .I really don't like the thought of being rear ended when I am stopped.
That's why I hate living in this part of the state; I go through this crap almost daily.
Harry
The old chap in front of me decides to pull into middle lane - he's weaving a little, but not going slow or anything. Teenager with REALLY stupid haircut alongside me gets annoyed because now he's stuck behind the old guy, and starts tailgating.
He's driving so close he doesn't see the cop come alongside on his right. If his LeBaron didn't have brown seats before, it does now! The nice policeman decided to have a little chat
... about 5 miles south of Chrysler HQ on I-75,
I'm doing a little above 75-76 mph (cooling my heels)
and changing lanes (always with blinker, always!) and
suddenly a silver BMW (could tell by headlamps) was
like right on top of my tail. No cars were around me
at all or in my mirror three seconds before. Split second
after I notice it, I see blinkers and then he executes his lane
change and he is next to me. Okay, now 0.75 seconds after I
first see him, he is in front of me and I see the M5 badge
on the trunk. One second later, he's around next bend
dodging a truck and ... maybe it was a ghost. Michigan is not Bavaria last time I checked, even though I am right near the DCX and VW-Audi North American HQs.
First one, an idiot in a new Audi A6 4.2 ($50k car). Light turns green, he's on his phone or diddling his passenger or SOMETHING too important to go through the light (at a six-way intersection, so time is of the essence). He's going about .6mph until the light turns yellow, at which point he finds the accelerator, guns it through the light, only to NARROWLY miss hitting a cab who jumped his green. Audi swerves and screeches. I'm behind him, of course stuck at the now-red light. This year, the Audi drivers in general are real morons here in Chicago. Too self-important to actually drive, usually on the phone, not paying attention, rolling through stop signs, barreling down side streets at 40mph with their xenons aglow. They're making the usual idiots (those considerate drivers of Jeep Grand Cherokees and BMWs) look absolutely skilled.
Second one, an '86-ish Accord with Indiana plates (which usually indicates to me that they're lost or at least unfamiliar). Light turns green, she's in BOTH lanes with no turn signal, driving .8 mph so I LAY ON the horn, she finally decides where she's going so I can go around her. I have no patience. Note to our friends who visit frequently from IN, MI, OH, MO, etc.: get a map, get accurate directions, get a nav system or at least get out of my way!!
Last, the everpresent dipsh... pedestrian. She's on her phone (as every human in Lakeview has one surgically implanted to their right ear at this point), I'm waiting to turn right (I have a red light, no turn on red). Light turns green, I await phone girl's movement. She's standing in my path, in the street, but not moving. 5 seconds later, I decide she must be waiting for a cab or something, so I proceed with my turn. Naturally, this is when she decides to walk in front of my car. Dammit, make a decision or get out of the street. Grrrr.
I can picture all of those incidents and you're right they all have cell phones. Aggressive drivers don't bother me because they are at least predictable. You know the guy who pulled next to you is going to gun it at the green, the car waiting at a stop sign will go if you dawdle during your time, etc. It's all the incredibly indecisive drivers that get my blood going. And Chicago seems to have more than its share of indecisive drivers especially when it comes to making a left turn. There are times when I simply can't believe I didn't get through a light when there are only one or 2 cars in front of me.
Minnesota case anyone cares
Never seen anyone in a Buick using a cellphone. I don't think they have discovered them yet...
Let's see, I'm from Illinois (way downstate), and drive a Buick M-F.
However, while I found the drivers on the interstate between Chicago and Detroit to be speedy, I didn't see them as any better or faster than the rest of our group.
We had the most problems with truck drivers who didn't want to wait as 20+ Contours passed at speeds between 80-85 MPH.
I have the video tape of some of the "professional drivers" just pulling out when they were tired of waiting.
TB
Who uses his cell phone with a hands free in his Buick
I think you are just biased, as it is impossible to tell whether or not somebody is a foreigner judging solely by appearance. That is, if your definitiion of a foreigner is someone who was not born in the US.
Heck, I wasn't even a host yet when I wrote this LOL
kcram
Host
Smart Shopper and FWI Message Boards
-------------------------------------
Since I have a dually pickup, on many roads I am subject to truck regulations and restrictions, and know first hand the frustration that truckers feel. Here are a few tips for hanging with the big rigs:
#1 - if there are three (or more) lanes per side of highway, trucks are 99% of the time banned from the farthest left lane. If you're one of those people who plants your car in the center lane at the speed limit and get both frightened and angry at the semi behind you, YOU'RE IN *HIS* PASSING LANE. By law, he cannot pass you on EITHER side, and would like you to move over so he can continue. (I do know female semi-drivers; not trying to be sexist here using he/his.)
I was amongst about 20 semis in this situation on I-78 here in NJ at around 2am one night last year. We had to somehow get around a limo who decided the center lane was his, and he wasn't budging. When 20 trucks flash their lights and then blow your doors off passing you illegally on the right (and left, by the more daring of us that night), you need to know you're in the wrong lane.
#2 - be aware of hills! All semis will pick up amazing amounts of speed downhill on any interstate. Even if your cruise control is set at something above the limit, get to the right and *stay*there* on an interstate downhill if it's a truck route, then on the uphill, let the trucks back over to the right and pass them on the left.
#3 - use your lights! Anyone who has paid attention to truck traffic has watched one semi kill his lights quickly to indicate to a passing semi that it's now clear to pull back over after passing. The passing trucker will then flash his lights "thank you". If you're a car jockey, do the same thing. As soon as the rear end of the trailer clears your hood, kill ALL your lights for about a half-second. Do make sure that the truck has enough room to safely continue in front of you first, otherwise the truck will continue passing until there is room to return to the right lane. A sudden shot of darkness in a trucker's right-hand view overrides any blind spot, and you too will get the "thank you" flash when the rig moves over. In daylight, use your HIGH beams (because they aim "upwards" into a truck's mirror) in the same fashion.
#4 - give a rig room to stop. Nothing is more infuriating than seeing an entire highway slowing for construction, an accident, etc., and having a car dart to change lanes cutting a truck's projected stopping distance in half. When a large vehicle prepares to stop, the driver's assuming the area in front will remain that distance and uses enough brake pressure to stop safely. Sliding into that gap with a car causes the truck to slam on the whoa pedal, and the possibility of trailer brake lockup (and the resulting jackknife) increases dramatically.
#5 - respect the trucker's workplace - the road! You may be on your way TO work, but the trucker is already AT work. If it's not going to cause a problem in your day, give the trucker the break on the road whenever possible. You will earn their respect as a courteous, attentive driver, and will often get a break in return.
My aunt says that Jeep Cherokee people are the worst drivers (a suspicion that personal observation hlds rather true)... but I think Ford pays her to say that! >:p
http://www.beach-net.com/directions/wvirginia.html
Use the directions from Wheeling. You will already be on I-76 (PA Turnpike if you can get that far without getting lost)
Bring lots of money, spend it in MD, then promply leave
Anyone seen an inconsiderate foo-el playing with a NAV system as he drives? I actually haven't, but it probably makes cellphone yakking look good in comparison, I would think.
Michigan is a mediocre 26th State. Actually the most famous aspect of MI was that it was signed into Statehood by Milliard Filmore. It was the only thing he apparently accomplished. How embarrassing for MI.
Watch out for those inconsiderate ("Filmorean?!") Michigan drivers this summer. Oh yeah.
PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
Of course, there are never any cops around for these morons.
Today: Was out to drive my aunt to a Dr's appointment when I nearly got rear ended by some upper middle adged ditz who was deeply immersed in a cell phone conversation who had to brake suddenly and veer onto the shoulder to keep from hitting me. OF course, though I use clear hand gestures to show all the things Id rather she do with her cell phone than talk on it while she drove, she gave me a dirty look as if I was the one who almost caused an accident and just continued as she was.
And does anybody else find it hilarious when people make some huge show of waving you through a stop sign ahead of them even though it's your right of way and you were planning on going anyway?
I wonder how they noticed those stop signs in the middle of their big, important conversations?