planman_RENAMED

I've been driving my TL for a grand total of three days now and have had two separate instances where G35 drivers have either sped up in order to pass me once I passed them or started weaving their way through traffic to catch up once they saw me in front of them. In both cases, it was in fairly heavy city street traffic, so it wasn't like we were going to race or anything. Besides, with 100 miles on my car I'm not racing anyone.

Maybe I'm delusional and they weren't acting like this just because of the TL...but both of these guys suddenly started driving differently.

coop1018

Yea I find that often. I use to get the same situation when I drove a Prelude, but they would be civics, celicas, and sentras driving insane to catch up to me. Now it is BMW's, Nissans, and Infinity's that try to catch our attention...so stupid.

NightRider

You never know. They could be jealous, they could want to have a good ol race, they may have not even seen you. It seems people do that a couple times a week here to me in Denver, maybe it's just us?

Aegir

I had it happen with a new 350Z this week. It's nice to see how broad the appeal is for the TL - quite a range of drivers want to check it out and take a shot at it!

coop1018

I never understood the point of racing in traffic though??? Is it worth it?

NightRider

Racing? Yes. Traffic? No.

Aegir

In traffic - no. A quick romp with open road ahead - yes, it can be a lot of fun - especially when both drivers stop to shoot the breeze a bit and both come away smiling from it.

VOdoc

Just this morning, a girl in a BMW sped up very aggressively to try to prevent me from completing a signaled lane change on a freeway transition ramp. Fortunately I had 270 hp and she didn't...

NightRider

One thing I have noticed is that people will sometimes tailgate you or pull acts deliberately to try and provoke you to show them what the TL is about. I hope they enjoy the show...

boltjames

The worst are the Gen 2 TL owners. I see at least 5 per day and they either ingore me or do everything they can to box me in so I can't pass 'em.

I guess that if my younger sister got a nose job, a body tuck, and breast implants and was the spitting image of Carmen Electra I'd be jealous too, but I'd never risk her life in traffic.

BJ

shady1

or she was just a girl driving..



sorry couldn't resist. i was just kiding.

criss

Had that happen twice. Yesterday, I had a Vette do that on the way home Like I'm that stupid! It's a freaking Vette

Last month on the way back from getting my windows tinting, i'm driving on the Interstate and a 350Z came on to the road from an exit and just jumps on my butt so i slide over a lane and he takes off like a rocket. Meanwhile the unmarked cop behind us (he had been there for about 5 miles and was the reason we were all going 65) just lights him up. Made my day!

mobilezen

... that's the good thing of having a publicdata account. Whenever someone does stupid stuff to me in traffic I can get their license plate number and go over to their house and pay them a visit. I thought the information I received was outdated until one of my friends got involed in a hit and run incident and we found the car at the residents' house, the rest is history.

MSF2

I had the G35 thing happen to me on Tuesday night. We acted like nothing was happening but we took turns passing each other....acting like we weren't trying.

Fun! That NEVER happened with my 93 Accord.

Nodoze2004

I just took delivery of my TL today and already had this happen twice. The first time was with a Lexus IS300 (um can you spell owned..I think he can as all he saw were 2 letters TL as I pulled away). The other was a Civic, so I didn't bother :fingerfawk:

I have a buddy with a G35 Coupe that I took for a spin today....He loved the Navi and the bluetooth!! :P

I LOVE this car First day and I already have 100 miles on her

Rcat

Raced my wife..does that count, She was in the TL,I was in the "Hemi Ram"..guess who won..

Xpditor

I give up. Who? What circumstances? A stop light drag or thru the twisties?

XP

Nodoze2004

The TL of course

digital_b

I am guessing the most of these incidents involve people under 30 or who are just idiots. or likely both.

NOX 3.2

what's publicdata account ?
a service ?

how much?

NOX 3.2

sorry for your loss...

Michaelvg1

Here is a funny story. This probably happened to you. You are on a highway, in my case the NYS Thruway yesterday. I am in the fast lane doing 75 and a car is riding my ass. Telling me to speed up so he can pass me. I sped up a little to see if he would continue to ride close and he did. This time I punched it. Redlined it in 3rd to well over 100. He was way behind. I cooled off and slowed back down to 75. A minute later, he finally blew by me. I stayed at 75. That's the only way he thought he could beat me. Funny...
It was a Saab BTW... I hate Saabs

BarryH

I think it's less "G35" vs. "TL", than it is car buffs with competitive cars wanting to play a bit. Hell, I get G35's, 3er's, and A4's that want to play with my R all the time - and it's a wagon. I think they just want to see what it can do, not that they want one or are in any way jealous. I also second the above post about the twisties. I just drove through the Cascade Mountains at speeds of up to 100MPH, there’s no way a FWD car could have kept up.

dcarlinf1

One question. Were you passing anyone at the time? If not, why were you in the "fast" lane? If you were, great, no problem. But, it's not really the fast lane, it's the passing lane. Once you pass you should get over and stay over to the right unless you need to pass again. Not trying to flame you personally. Just a pet peave of mine. Please don't drive in the "passing" lane if you aren't passing anyone regardless how "fast" you are going. Fast is all relative. I may want to go 80 and you 75. We are both going fast. But, a considerate driver doing 75 would move over for another considerate driver (not tailgating) doing 80...in a perfect world.

Sorry, just go back from a 1000 mile trip. So many people don't understand this simple concept. I always want to ask people "why were roads increased to 2 instead of 1 lane in the first place?". The answer is so faster traffic can pass slower traffic. That is the only reason. Not so people can lollygag in the passing lane not passing anyone.

Remember...it's not the fast lane, it's the passing lane.

Michaelvg1

I guess I should have been more specific for those techies. Yes, you are correct... excuse me, it was the passing lane. And yes there were many cars in the right lane I was passing. Just not passing them at 100. When I finally had room to move to the right, I did.

Hope this is OK.

dcarlinf1

Cool. Glad to hear it.

999999

Dcarlin,

Unfortunately, that door swings both ways. A ver high percentage of drivers in the "passing lane" won't let a considerate driver back in the passing lane when they come upon a really slow vehicle. No good answer, really except to recuce traffic. I know that I never shed a tear if someone going 90-100 has to slow down.

dcarlinf1

I disagree somewhat. The cars in the right/slow lane must yeild to those in the passing/fast lane. Those in the fast lane are under no obligation to allow someone to merge into the passing lane. You are right that it is considerate to do do. Same goes for people on the on-ramp. They must yield to the cars in the right/slow lane. Simple really. It is considerate to let someone over, but you are not required to do so. In fact, in my state, KY, you are required to get out of the passing lane if not passing. Unfortunately, they don't enforce it.

NightRider

I second this! I hate when I am going 80 in the open stretch of fast/passing lane and come upon a car going 55 and they will not change lanes most of the time. On the other hand, I don't appreciate when I'm going 80 in the fast/passing lane and someone is riding me. Usually I go a little faster, if that doesn't work, buh bye I pull into the next lane - in hopes of seeing their car plus a white car pulled over ahead....

999999

Dcarlin,


That is all fine, but you are just assuring the status quo with that attitude. Happy motoring!

Aquineas

SmokeTL

Just turned 30...i see the light!

Xpditor

Barry, I feel I'm missing part of a puzzle. What is it you are driving through the Cascades? What is an "R" wagon?

Do you really think FWD has anything to do with cornering ability rather than handling characteristics? Do you think the individual tires, the only contact with the ground, know whether it's FWD or RWD? Are you aware that, in testing in Road and Track in April of this year, a base TL with HPT got better skid pad AND slalom numbers than an '04 BMW 530i with a Sport Package (wheels, tires, suspension)? The same testers gave a subjective rating for skid pad balance on BOTH cars as "moderate understeer". For slalom balance, they rated the TL as "moderate understeer" and the BMW as "mild understeer".

In professional testing, the TL gets through the twisties faster than a BMW 530i especially with more power and acceleration and better braking 80-0. The testers noted: "In the slalom, the TL threads through the cones with utmost agility, giving the car a bit of on-throttle oversteer character, thanks to its rear suspension geometry..." That suspension, BTW, is double wishbone at the four corners just like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Corvette.

Other than pre-conception, why would you think a FWD TL would not be able to keep up with your wagon (not sure what it is) when it beats a RWD BMW handling icon?

I used to be prejudiced against FWD too until I started putting the TL through its paces. I suggest, if you haven't done so already, that you do the same. Give it a chance to show you what it can do.

Keep in mind: I also have a BMW and I know the difference.

Cheers,
XP

MSF2

I saw three TL's on the NYS Thruway yesterday-two Silver, one Anthracite. All were headed East either between Syracuse and Utica, or Rochester and Utica. I was headed West and appreciated the TL "look" while going in the opposite direction. It is a great cruising car!

BarryH

Volvo V70R. (http://vcc.volvocars.se/r/chassiframe.asp?which=signal)

Simple physics of weight distribution and transference of weight under extreme conditions. In a high-speed corner, nothing's going to overcome the fact that the majority of the car's weight is over the wheels that are driving it. Driving through pre-set cones equal distances apart on flat smooth asphalt isn’t the same as canyon carving at high speeds.


I had a non-A-Spec TL overnight. I wasn't wowed by its handling on roads I was pretty familiar with (not that it wasn't competent, just not a great handler).

Me too. I have a '04 325cic w/Sport and 18" wheels

Xpditor

...and weight transfer on braking to the steering and driving wheels is a bad thing? I don't think so. On acceleration, there is still weight on the steering wheels more than on a RWD. I know all these theories that you are sharing with me. I'm not talking theories. I am talking about actual performance and objective testing. There are many, many, factors. You are reciting the well worn dogma that we enthusiasts have been telling each other for years.

I read up on your Volvo and it sounds very good in the promotional material. I bet you have fun with it!


I agree that the "feel" is different. In other words, I wasn't used to the subjective feedback. But, it handled like it was on rails- only in a different way. Kind of like a Porsche is much different from Corvette. Different balance. It took me a while to get used to the Porsche, but once I did.... Look out! It took me longer than overnight to adapt to the different feel. Same with the TL. But that's me.

XP

dcarlinf1

I'm just saying that people should yeild properly. The slow lane yeilds to the passing lane, period. If everyone would adopt this simple approach, many traffic problems would be solved. I for one do not expect people to slow down and let me over simply because I put on my turn signal. It is my responsibility to wait until it's clear. Once I am there, I expect those in the slow lane to yeild to me just like I had to. It should be common sense. But, as we all know, you don't need common sense to get a license.

Aegir

The V70R is an impressive piece of machinery. A lot of cookies in that cookie jar. Not many RWD cars would keep up with you either! I'd give it a shot though. FWD can be quicker than many give it credit for with the right setup. As long as traffic is light, the scenery is good, and the lunch is better, it's hard to lose in a run through the twisties!

takuyaah

totally agree man...it is one of my pet peeve as well...i actually don't mind people hogging up the passing lane forever..as long as they are doing a considerable speed without anyone behind them...sometimes i do that as well..i would be crusing on the passing lane driving 80-85 mph...and the moment i see someone closing up on me in my lane..i will switch out of it and let them pass....

i have honked/flashed couple drivers to get their attention to get out of the way before...not my preferenece..i hope people would just yield...

i also notice a significant amount of big SUV/TRUCKS are blocking the passing lane...with like 75mph....and they would not yield...and i couldn't do anything....i flashed them..they can't even see my flash..and i honked for like 10 secs..and they wouldn't move...so i had to pass them on the SLOW LANE...they always give me the angry look or finger or something..for something wrong that they did...so stupid

my other pet peeve is that..when i am merging onto a freeway....when i see that i am clear to merge into the first lane...with a considerable amount of space until the car comes by (i would be building up speed around 60mph) and the car in the slow lane would like to speed up to like 80mph...and get behind my ass..and honk and stuff just show that i had cut them off...its like.."shouldn't you slow down instead of speeding up to let me in??"

Xpditor

I hesitate to tell this story, but it's topical.

In one of my incarnations, I was working for the gov't in a law enforcement capacity and had an unmarked car. Traffic enforcement was NOT my area of concern. I had a beautiful Trans Am equipped with (apparently) white driving lights. Actually, behind the white lens, one had a blue strobe and the other a red strobe. I also had a siren.

I was southbound on Florida's Turnpike when I got a call to proceed with all due haste to a Miami location. It didn't call for lights and siren as it was not a dire emergency although that was totally up to me.

I came up behind a new Town Car in the passing lane. I was doing about 75 or 80. The Town Car didn't move over. I braked and flashed my headlights. It still didn't move. I could see the car was full of passengers. I flashed again and blew my horn. Nothing.

I was determined not to pass on the right. If I did that, and got into an accident, it would be my head.

Needless to say, I was very annoyed (which is cop talk for: blue-in-the-face pissed).

I decided to use the lights and siren. I did. Still nothing. This Town Car was not going to move over for anything. Finally, she pulled over and stopped in front of me. I was so angry at this point, I decided that it would be best to just get her papers and go sit in my car until I settled down before I talked to/with/at her.

She was a well-preserved woman with expensive dress, dyed black hair, Gucci accessories, a couple of face-lifts, plenty of bling-bling, and was accompanied by her frumpy, unpretentious girl friend and two teenaged kids in the back seat.

When I showed her my badge (I was in street clothes), she said, "Oh. I thought you were just some speeder wanting to get by."

I said, "Madame- I AM a speeder trying to get by. Why aren't you driving to the right as the law requires? We really don't need your help enforcing speed laws."

After initially refusing to give me her license while telling me her husband was a lawyer... and after I told her she was about to get a ride to jail if she couldn't come up with a license, she took it out and threw it at me saying, "Here. Stick it!"

Now, mind you... as I said, traffic was not my area of concern and, although I did have the authority, I should not have been wasting my time in this manner- nor exposing my identity to the public. My supervisor would not have been pleased. I SOOOOO wanted to tell her off but couldn't. So I took her license back to my car and thought a bit.

I returned to her car knowing I don't have a ticket book. I have to let her go and I have to be polite. So, I held the license up in front of her face and said, "Are you sure this is your license?"

She looked shocked and said, "Of course it's my license. Why do you ask?"

"Because it says you're only 50 and that you only weigh 150 pounds!"

I thought her girl friend (who obviously didn't know those facts) and the two kids in the back were going to kill themselves stifling their laughter while she turned red as a beet.

I handed her back the license and reminded her to stay to the right, that it is safer for someone her age.

Then I got back in my car and waited for her to pull out. I wasn't going to go first so she could get my tag number and tell her husband.

I have a different job now (not because of that, BTW)

XP