[Muppet]

My 718’s a Moron Magnet

I’ve owned my 718 Cayman for almost a year now.

This is the first Porsche I’ve owned.

The one thing I really don’t like about the car, is the way some other motorists treat you.

It seems almost every other time I go out in the car, I get some idiot who wants to race me.

Countless times I’ve stopped at traffic lights and the person in the next lane goes for it when the lights change.
I even had a guy in a beat up old Volvo Estate try to cut me off at a set of lights when the three lanes at the lights went down to two the other side, “Really ???”
I’ve been tailgated numerous times by everything from “White Van Man” to young idiots in ordinary hatchback cars.
I’ve had another guy with his Mrs in the passenger seat chase me down a duel carriageway in a Fiesta ST. Stupidly I accelerated and left him behind only to see him again soon after right on my bumper again. I overtook a couple of lorries and pulled off at a junction, there wasn’t much of a gap. But to my surprise he followed me, I don’t know how he missed the lorries.The junction slip road had a long sharp bend, the 718 took the bend at speed comfortably. The Fiesta ST tried to follow as quickly, I could see the drivers passenger giving him a real roasting for being a “Tool”.

After that escapade I try to avoid these Idiots.
I now just slow down and let them go past.
I stick to the lower speed limits and only enjoy my car on country roads when there’s little or no other traffic about.
I don’t have anything to prove, I know my cars faster than 99% of other vehicles on the road.

So if you’ve never owned a Porsche before and are thinking of buying a 718 you will have this problem.

I didn’t have this kind of trouble in any of my previous cars.

Be careful especially as a lot of other drivers have Dash Cam’s, you don’t want to end up on You Tube.

 

[Happy Days]

I know what you mean. Unfortunately, these cars aren't as fast at slower speeds as we would believe that they are - run of the mill diesel hatchbacks can be just as quick. However, get up to cruising speeds and when the arse who has been hogging the overtaking lane eventually decides to pull over as his junction is fast approaching, put your foot down and - whoosh - you see the STis etc disappear like dots in the rear view mirror.

When spotty youths attempt to race, I let them go.

 

[MikesGTS]

Could not agree more, have had nothing but tailgating since owning the car , white vans etc. Decided to show a cooper s , what fast is ... at double the speed limit I thought “What am I doing?”. Since then I’m very happy for them to pass me , white vans I just drive slower, but don’t decelerate round corners ?

 

[Porsche2018]

@Muppet reading your post it makes me feel like I am having deja vu.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

An aspiring 718 owner here (will happen in Spring of 2019 ), but did have a 93 RX-7 where I used to experience the same thing and my tact was just to ignore the people and go about my way. Used to have the same thing when I was on my sport bike as well, and again I ignored and went about my business.

 

[Scubaregs]

Just don't engage with them, simples.

 

[8833]

In the old days, I used to sink these guys with my 944 Turbo (modified). I even took on motorcycles. I've since mellowed and the 944 began attracting "loving" glances instead of challenges as it aged. So for the last 10 years or so I had no issues. I guess my new-found mellowness will be tested in May when my attention-getting Miami Blue GTS arrives.

First world problem

 

[RGM718]

Years ago, when I had my 2000 C5, my son and I were riding along and had something similar occur. I just turned to him and said...…….we are faster and can stop shorter than 95% + of the cars on the road. Nothing to prove...…..the one fun thing I indulge myself in is if someone is tail gating me on an entrance or exit ramp. You can leave them wallowing all over the road without even stressing the speed limit.

 

[Beardy]

i like accelerating as you are coming into bends when everyone else is braking, that is where you can show the vehicles superiority.
There are plenty of vehicles that are quick in a straight line, it is corners and braking that sets them apart.

 

[Semitone]

I’ve owned at least one Porsche sports car for over the past 15 years. I don’t have these problems. I get some thumbs up and stuff but nothing obnoxious.

A couple months ago, I was cruising along in my racing yelllow CGTS. Some guy in a pick up truck races up to my rear and then scoots along my right, then I pass by and he quickly scoots over along my left. It’s a little unnerving. He clearly has something on his mind.

We both stopped at a red light and he is just staring at me. I’m thinking what does this Ahole want. Then he frantically waives for me to lower my window. I hesitantly lower it. He yells out: “ That’s the most beautiful Porsche I have ever seen. What did you pay for it?” I told him and then laughed my ass off.

I can’t say I have ever really been harassed by anybody because I drive a Porsche.

 

[Viffermike]

See, half the time these scenarios are exactly as @Semitone describes: people who actually want a closer, or longer, or more detailed look at your car -- or who want to actually interact positively with you regarding it. They aren't trying to race you or get you to do something stupid. They are actually curious admirers.

To wit: I've lost track of how many vehicles have clamored to get past me somehow some way, only for me to realize that there are a couple of kids in the back who are looking at my car all googley-eyed, then who wave at me. For those of you who are parents with kids who like cars: haven't you done the exact same thing for your kids to get a better look at something they likely haven't seen before in the wild?

Keep that in mind, OP ... and (at least in the U.S.), that behavior is nothing compared to the attention one gets on an exotic sportbike. It may be different in Europe since motorcycles are more de rigeur ... but, I suspect, not that different.

Yes, there are nitwits who will try to race you. Yes, there are jealous types who lack the self confidence and self control to leave even a passive challenge be. Yes, there are wankers who are convinced their [insert sporty car or truck here] is cooler than our Porsches. But there are just as many folks -- if not more -- who are simply just admiring, and studying, and assessing, and maybe even salivating.

The key is to drive as you would normally drive. Always. Only react if you absolutely have to -- or, in the case of the aforementioned kids, wave back. You are helping to make Porsche fanatics if you do.

 

[Gtipirelli]

I must confess that in the 3 months of ownership and 2.5k miles, I have not had one single incident like any of what has been posted on this thread. I pretty much mind my own business and enjoy driving my car to my needs. I think if anything, I have become a more passive driver to other road users despite having a more capable car than most

 

[timlaw]

in the 911's I have owned yes I agree some shocking and aggressive driving has been experienced - usually by me - but other drivers can be jealous a-holes as well


in the 718 CGTS not so much - really only the thumbs up appreciative type stuff


I don't race fiesta ST drivers - they know as well as I do that I have way more car underneath me than they have and I drive to please me not the others on the road

 

[Muppet]

On the Flip Side.

I have had a couple of amusing encounters as well.

I was filling up at a petrol station recently when an old guy behind me who was filling up a Peugeot hatchback car shouted across asking if I would like to trade cars ?

His wife was sat in the passenger seat. I asked if she was part of the deal ?

He hesitated for a couple of seconds then said “Sure” he would throw her in as well !

Good job she didn’t hear us.

 

[wriggly]

I made the mistake of buying a Polaris Slingshot back in fall of 2014. It looked like it'd be a hoot and inexpensive to boot. I can't possibly relate how horrible it was getting chased by every dingbat and knucklehead on the road trying to get a look at it. Gas stations were the worst. It was so bad the first few months of ownership that I'd take four six gallon cans to the gas station in my truck and I started filling up the Slingshot at home.
I had the first one that was sold in Northern Illinois and it drew way too much attention.

 

[aeronca65tl]

Mostly positive.....and sometimes funny.

I was walking out to my car in a mall parking lot and I noticed a young guy walking passed my car and looking at it. He kept looking at it so long, he walked into another car.

Another time, I was walking into my dentist's office and I noticed an older couple sitting in a new-ish BMW wagon. As I walked passed the wagon, the smiling driver hopped out and in a strong, German accent, he pointed at my Cayman and told me: "I wanted one of those but she made me buy this (pointing at the BMW)". We both had a good laugh as we chatted about Porsches.

I did have a "spotty youth" in a WRX try to challenge me to a drag race when I was driving back from taking delivery at the Atlanta PEC. I've been wheel-to-wheel road racing for over 40 years. I couldn't lower myself enough to engage with someone like that.

 

[CDH]

i like accelerating as you are coming into bends when everyone else is braking, that is where you can show the vehicles superiority.
There are plenty of vehicles that are quick in a straight line, it is corners and braking that sets them apart.

Not much can touch a Cayman in the twisty stuff. A Caterham or an Ariel Atom perhaps.

 

[RandyAc]

Sometimes when I get pulled over for speeding, the cop hits me with an attitude like:
You’re driving a Porsche. That’s a fast car. You’re probably a habitual speeder.
Of course they’re right, but still...

 

[Porsche2018]

Sometimes when I get pulled over for speeding, the cop hits me with an attitude like:
You’re driving a Porsche. That’s a fast car. You’re probably a habitual speeder.
Of course they’re right, but still...

I fortunately have never been pulled over for speeding in my Porsches. I just stay on the backroads for spirited driving, and when I am on public highways I obey the speed limit.

 

[jimmuller]

I just discovered this thread, about a month late, I guess. It's still a good one though.

I've experienced much of what I've read here. But I'm not sure I'd interpret it the same way. Guys (almost never women, except sometimes on a commute) who tailgate or take pains to pass unnecessarily would probably do so regardless of what car I was driving.

A few drivers are obnoxious as if expecting I would be. I ignore them, just let them go, and sometimes that helps. When the roads are clear of ice and snow I usually ride a bicycle to work, round trip 35 miles, so I get to see lots of driver behavior. IMHO BMW drivers were possibly the most aggressive (if such generalizations can be made at all), but over the last year or so they have been overtaken by Tesla drivers. But Telsa drivers don't seem to want to challenge, they just want to go faster than everybody else. (Bye. Have a nice trip. Be careful.)

We get LOTS of compliments on the car. People just want to make conversation about it or wave and give it a thumbs-up. (Can't say I blame them!) Almost every trip. In the parking lot of a local wildlife sanctuary, or in a supermarket parking lot, cyclists, pedestrians, motorists. It happens all the time.

I consider all this a good reason to have such a car, not a reason not to, if you take my meaning. It's all part of the package.