BMW drivers really are jerks

[Don Vito Corleone]

I am between 35 and 50 and I drive two BMWs (one blue, one black). I always go out of my way to be a polite driver - I always yield to pedestrians, let others merge, etc. I am very fastidious about lane discipline and in general a very safe driver - I have only ever been in one accident in 26 years of driving, and it was a very minor fender-bender. That being said, I do sometimes drive much faster than traffic, particularly in my M3.

 

[Imp]

Given how cheap you can get a 3-Series, no. They're not much more expensive than the crossover SUVs every soccer mom has. However, I think people perceive themselves as higher status driving them. This is quite evident in the ATG board, where members get really butthurt if you bad mouth the Beemer. :sneaky:

The BMW drivers I know lease... One got one as a graduation gift from rich daddy.

 

[AMDZen]

I support this study and confirm it's findings

 

[lxskllr]

IME, it's riced Hondas that have the worst drivers.

 

[sdifox]

I drive a BMW, and I don't think I'm a jerk :'(

Most BMW drivers also don't consider themselves to be jersk :awe:

 

[Train]

Honestly it's the soccer moms in supped up grand caravans that do the most douche stuff to me.

BMW drivers may typically drive faster, but I don't mind that as they usually aren't blocking the lanes and will get out of the way.

 

[Fritzo]

Honestly it's the soccer moms in supped up grand caravans that do the most douche stuff to me.

BMW drivers may typically drive faster, but I don't mind that as they usually aren't blocking the lanes and will get out of the way.

How can they be driving faster and blocking lanes? :hmm:

 

[AdamK47]

This is from the study published by Paul Piff over a year ago called "Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior".

 

[Train]

How can they be driving faster and blocking lanes? :hmm:

They aren't. I mean they won't sit in the left lane going the same speed as the person in the right lane. Even if the person on the right is doing 85. Hence "going fast AND blocking", which can happen a lot on my drive.

 

[xanis]

I'd say more Honda drivers drive aggressively. Add in SUV/Big truck owners in second place.

I have to agree with Alky on this one. I see a lot of bad driving, and by far and away the biggest assholes drive Maximas, Accords, Tahoes, or RXes. Maximas are probably the most frequent offenders.

 

[gevorg]

 

[JulesMaximus]

There, there. It's not like they are saying all BMW drivers are jerks.
But if you have money and can afford "the ultimate driving machine", there's a good chance statistically that you will drive it aggressively because you can.

And when I say "you", I don't mean you specifically, just BMW owners in general. Which is why I pointed out the Audi thing, since Audi is the closest competitor to BMW model to model. Mercedes is another high-end German competitor to BMW, but they skew more luxury and aim at a different sort of driver, at least a bit.

Whoever coined that term obviously has never driven a Lotus Exige S.

 

[alkemyst]

Whoever coined that term obviously has never driven a Lotus Exige S.

ultimate driving machine <> gokart with air

 

[Childs]

hehe...during lunch this middle aged woman in a BMW was forcing her way in the right lane to make quick right turn and cut off this guy in a Jetta. He then went even wider and cut her off so she missed her turn off. They were flipping each off and acting like they were going to hit each other for like a 1/4 mile. Anyways, first thing I thought of was the article was validated! I wish I had one of those car cams so I could have posted it.

 

[chimaxi83]

IME, it's riced Hondas that have the worst drivers.

I confirm this. If I'm ever possibly running late to work, I drive my riced out Prelude like a jerk. However, residential areas are off limits to asshole driving, and before I cut you off, I signal

 

[ss284]

Must be pretty upsetting for BMW drivers to be compared to Prius drivers.

 

[Train]

Ooh come to think of it,

There aren't may of them, but those little ugly Mazda hatchbacks. 95% chance of douchery.

With a hood scoop? 100% chance.

 

[xanis]

Ooh come to think of it,

There aren't may of them, but those little ugly Mazda hatchbacks. 95% chance of douchery.

With a hood scoop? 100% chance.

Mazdaspeed 3?

 

[dud]

My M3 is sadly sold.

So what are you currently driving ... that (overpriced) Mazda that you've discussed in previous threads? If so, I can't see you in it.

You need to drive something more epic and awesome ...

 

[rh71]

You can having fun driving without being an absolute tool while doing it. Unless your definition of fun is weaving through heavy traffic, cutting people off to get one car ahead, etc.

aggressive driving can be described in more ways than cutting people off. Even if you floor it coming onto a highway, it's considered aggressive and doesn't affect anyone else. Being assertive in your actions is exactly the opposite of being timid on the road. Does being assertive mean you're an ass? Frankly, people use "cutting people off" way too often - I bet in most cases the person being "cut off" didn't even have to brake. See it from others doing it all the time. Sucky drivers overreact. Also, anyone who has to brake after performing an aggressive maneuver sucks at aggressive driving. Just don't do it until you actually have an opening.

 

[BladeVenom]

What's the difference between a BMW and a Cactus?

A cactus has the pricks on the outside.

 

[Puppies04]

Ban expensive cars and these people will just buy cheap ones and still drive like dickheads. It has nothing to do with the car, just the person driving it.

 

[raildogg]

Nothing to do with cars but rather the person - this is true with every other thing as well, not just driving. Maybe the person chooses BMW because of some reason and drives like that for some reason(s) as well. So something in him/her is the cause of it.

I've seen every make and model and every kind of person and all are capable of driving carelessly and recklessly. Maybe the people who have a lot going on in their lives and are too busy also might buy more fast luxury vehicles; that might also be part of the clue to why they're in such a hurry. On the other hand, someone with a relatively simple life probably also drives like he's in a hurry. So let's not blame the car.

 

[chimaxi83]

You know what I notice ALL THE TIME? Male minivan drivers who drive their pos like they have to prove that though they're in a soccer mom-mobile, they're as alpha as they come, and their van actually hits that 120mph limit. All over Chicago, never fails, unless they're senior citizens.

 

[Crono]

Whoever coined that term obviously has never driven a Lotus Exige S.

The Exige Scura is my dream car. Mmm, Exige.