Is the A2 a moving target for road abuse!?

I think it's more about some drivers need to be in front of older cars,with A2's being around 20 years old they are seen as old bangers that are about to breakdown in the next few seconds and are not worthy of being in front of a 50k Mercedes or BMW.My Audi V8 Quattro is 31 years old and it's even more important for some to overtake that old banger but it's 250bhp and 4 wheel drive and big,it's not so easy to get past
 
Not as much as my wife’s Smart Fortwo… people REALLY hate being overtaken by her car.

Joke’s on them. It’s a 103bhp turbocharged 1L in a half-sized car. Zooooom!


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We had a left hand drive Smart car back in the day when not many people had seen one. Fab little car, which I adored driving and it could fly :) . I have it's number plate on my A2 now.
 
Sometimes big cars get too close. Doesn't bother me they can wait, I'm normally at or slightly above the legal limit any way.

I also have a Porsche that I drive at exactly the same speeds and it never gets any hassle, I think the problem for those who would hassle is they know it would blow them away if I chose to, so they just wait.
Edit had a think about this, perhaps bully boy in 4 wheel drive on wheels thinks:
Small car, incompetent, can’t go any faster, get out of my way.
Fast car can go faster, but chose to drive at that speed. OK.
I'd agree about the bully boy drivers - all these Range Posers and similar trucks masquerading as cars, all 4WD but never ever go off road - they're the ones on the narrow country roads that force me off the road onto the verge and never go on the verge themselves.
 
I notice people pull out in front of the A2 much more than they do with my other cars, and try to push it out of way on motorway slip roads or dual carriageways. Nobody pulls out on the Macan or 911 and the little i3 leaves them for dust. However, people let me into traffic at junctions much more often with the A2, as they probably see it as small and unthreatening.
 
Will.always get the idiots... driving in Australia takes stupidity to a new level
It's not just the UK then? You'd think that 44T rolling towards you would make you think twice but no they still try and kill themselves?
 
Not at all, it's worth pointing out that Edinburgh is rich with bus lanes that are shared with traffic at certain hours, so effectively the left lane can become a secondary lane to ease pressure, which in turn can become a fast lane for taking off airport-style; clear as mud!? ?
Having said all that, I think the above is down to a few things: 1- Not being used to a small car (which I love!) 2- Driving (and parking) around Edinburgh has reached nightmare status, mixed with some individuals that shouldn't even be in charge of a bicycle 3- Corona frustration inducing a shot-er fuse 4- Relaxation of lockdown= the doors of the zoo have reopened!
I find Scotland (and Edinburgh) a more relaxed place to drive but perhaps this is due to Manchester and London experience? There is more traffic now but I suspect that is due to Covid and people using their cars rather than the poor and possibly infectious public transport.
I haven't noticed anything specific about attitudes towards the A2 except the occasional "I have a bigger and more expensive car than you, therefore my journey is more important" elitist attitude.
As a cyclist I even appreciate the 20mph zones. If I'm going to be hit by a 2 ton SUV then I'd much rather it was doing 22mph rather than 42mph.
 
Interesting discussion! Sometimes, people get close to see what Alison is; there are relatively few Audi A2 in this area; Rupert is a light metallic blue TDI that I've seen and I've chatted with his owner.

I've been running cars from E32 BMW 7 series to SEAT Ibiza Cupra Mk1 and I did notice a difference in the way some motorists treated me.

I seemed people wanted to goad me into racing them; tailgating etc; when in the Ibiza, yet on the very same roads in the 7, I'd be left alone. People appeared to be more courteous!

I do feel people in general appear to be much angrier of late.

As regards size of vehicle being a factor in being less vulnerable, I drive buses in Greater London. If I had a pound for each time a motorist cut me up or pulled out in front of me!

A memorable occasion was driving (a private) AEC RT through C. London. A motorist in a Porsche 911 pulled right out in front of us. I'd anticipated this- off the gas and I'd already covered the brake-however if I hadn't, he'd have ended up with a 9.6 litre engine and a pair of dumb irons nestled in the side of his car...

Thirties designed vehicles cannot move like modern ones and are much less forgiving in every way! ?

* Edit* Here's a picture of Alison next to a Leyland Titan RTW it looks similar to the AEC RT I mentioned. These were the first 2.5 Metre wide buses in London and possibly the UK. They had to have special dispensation to operate due to concerns about congestion. The Leyland is quite different to drive. Heavier steering and much more 'go'. This example is the second RTW I've driven...
 

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I think it's more about some drivers need to be in front of older cars,with A2's being around 20 years old they are seen as old bangers that are about to breakdown in the next few seconds and are not worthy of being in front of a 50k Mercedes or BMW.My Audi V8 Quattro is 31 years old and it's even more important for some to overtake that old banger but it's 250bhp and 4 wheel drive and big,it's not so easy to get past
Agreed. Only yesterday I was following a little BMW around country lanes for about 8 miles. He was loaded up with bedding and could only see behind with his wing mirrors. He dawdled all the way doing less than 25 in places, when we entered a dual carriageway, me still behind him, I went to overtake and guess what he tried to out pace me! He failed.
 
I find Scotland (and Edinburgh) a more relaxed place to drive but perhaps this is due to Manchester and London experience? There is more traffic now but I suspect that is due to Covid and people using their cars rather than the poor and possibly infectious public transport.
I haven't noticed anything specific about attitudes towards the A2 except the occasional "I have a bigger and more expensive car than you, therefore my journey is more important" elitist attitude.
As a cyclist I even appreciate the 20mph zones. If I'm going to be hit by a 2 ton SUV then I'd much rather it was doing 22mph rather than 42mph.
Driving around Edinburgh is certainly not as bad as other places, I do think too that the new 20mph has helped traffic sticking at no more than 30 which is a good thing, especially for cyclists (I am a former one too).
As far as some episodes when some boy racers or whoever thinks I am somewhat holding them up may be down to the fact that my A2 is de-bagged, as far as the 1.6fsi spec is missing; perhaps I should try to stick it on and see if there is any change in behaviour at all! ?
 
Driving around Edinburgh is certainly not as bad as other places, I do think too that the new 20mph has helped traffic sticking at no more than 30 which is a good thing, especially for cyclists (I am a former one too).
As far as some episodes when some boy racers or whoever thinks I am somewhat holding them up may be down to the fact that my A2 is de-bagged, as far as the 1.6fsi spec is missing; perhaps I should try to stick it on and see if there is any change in behaviour at all! ?

Better still, pop a 1.0L badge on, really surprise them.

My worst car ever for inviting tailgating was my scruffy old £175 106 (with dented tailgate): I used to punt it along pretty well but people loved being right up its chuff. If they got past they rarely actually put much distance between us. Obviously the principle of me being perfectly happy, warm and dry in something that owed half of their monthly PCP payment was upsetting. My Smart 4/2 collects the odd numpty and memorably I did re-take one BMW ex-tailgater who got past me and then dawdled the next few miles. I was as surprised as him frankly.

Not really noticed much with the A2's though to be fair.
 
Sorry just noticed this thread and can only agree with some of the sentiment in here based on my own experiences.

I do agree a number of people on the road look down their noses at the A2 - its old and a lot of the time I don't feel the car gets equal respect as say my other car - a 2018 TTRS. Indeed the experience can be pretty stark. People if I'm honest tend to try and get out of the way of the RS where thats definitely not the case with the A2.

It shouldnt be like this and for sure I would like to think I respect any road user in an equal manner but do think that sometimes my A2 is treated by some in the same way as a learner driver - something to get past in a hurry (not something I endorse in anyway incidentally - learner drivers need respected on the road like anyone else but again there is a number of people out there that dont give learners any degree of respect).
 
I find I get it the worst in my people carrier, my A2s rarely have anyone behind them …


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Sorry just noticed this thread and can only agree with some of the sentiment in here based on my own experiences.

I do agree a number of people on the road look down their noses at the A2 - its old and a lot of the time I don't feel the car gets equal respect as say my other car - a 2018 TTRS. Indeed the experience can be pretty stark. People if I'm honest tend to try and get out of the way of the RS where thats definitely not the case with the A2.

It shouldnt be like this and for sure I would like to think I respect any road user in an equal manner but do think that sometimes my A2 is treated by some in the same way as a learner driver - something to get past in a hurry (not something I endorse in anyway incidentally - learner drivers need respected on the road like anyone else but again there is a number of people out there that dont give learners any degree of respect).
Can't say I have noticed this, maybe because I drive my A2 like the TTRS ;).

However what I have noticed is that my A2 Storm is 3 x more likely to be let out of a turning than my TTRS. Being yellow and cute is clearly better than red and menacing!
 
Can't say I have noticed this, maybe because I drive my A2 like the TTRS ;).

However what I have noticed is that my A2 Storm is 3 x more likely to be let out of a turning than my TTRS. Being yellow and cute is clearly better than red and menacing!
Getting out of junctions is a different discussion! :)
 
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