don't cry about gas prices when you drive like an asshole

[Jim Ratto]

I don't know about other parts of the world, but here in northern LA most people drive like they're out to kill. I don't get it, the morning news always has interviews of people whining about $4.50/gallon and having to spend $150 a week on gas.... then you see all these people FLYING down the 118 freeway in their Escalades, Hummers, Mercedes G-Wagens.... and I am going 70mph and these guys are easily showing me a 20-30mph draft... not only that but they're running HUGE chrome 22"+ wheels.....naw those big anchors don't create any rolling resistance. CHP is so worried about people with cell phones stuck to their heads, have we forgotten that most people can't drive in the first place? I love how the slow lane has become a passing lane.... it's great when you try to merge onto freeway to have some asshole in a Hummer coming up on you in the slow lane @ 90+.

Note to Southern California asshole drivers: try something othr than full throttle and maybe you'll gain an mpg or two.

[kafercup]

That is why I HATE driving the SoCal freeways (not that the Bay Area is much better these days) 

[Jim Ratto]

That is why I HATE driving the SoCal freeways (not that the Bay Area is much better these days) 

I was just up there. problem there.... you are always getting 12mpg because you never MOVE. Man the traffic up there is frozen in time!!!! I was commuting from Napa to Union City and sometimes San Jose last week.... I needed a shave by the time I got to work.

[ESH]

The driving in the Los Angeles area is 'interesting' for sure but your roads seemed a little slow to me. Whatever though, if our gas was as cheap as yours I'd probably leave the car on overnight and keep the air conditioning going.

  

[Harry/FDK]

Were hitting 1.65 Euro per LITER soon. And still these assholes in their fat Audi's, Cayennes and all those other Fortresses are trying to roll over you. Than at work the same idiots are also crying about gasprices. Guess its a small world.

[kafercup]

The driving in the Los Angeles area is 'interesting' for sure but your roads seemed a little slow to me. Whatever though, if our gas was as cheap as yours I'd probably leave the car on overnight and keep the air conditioning going.

  

Gas is not any cheaper here, yesterday I paid $4.89 a stinking gallon (still cheaper than Europe though) to fill up the car.  Actually, outside of a few regularly clogged highway areas, Nor Cal has some of the finest driving routes on the West Coast.  Ratto can vouch for many of those

[Rune]

The driving in the Los Angeles area is 'interesting' for sure but your roads seemed a little slow to me. Whatever though, if our gas was as cheap as yours I'd probably leave the car on overnight and keep the air conditioning going.

  

Gas is not any cheaper here, yesterday I paid $4.89 a stinking gallon (still cheaper than Europe though) to fill up the car.

The gas in Norway is around $10 a gallon now.... So stop complaining guys 

[Jim Ratto]

I'm still going to bitch about how unsafe these pricks are.

[ESH]

... Actually, outside of a few regularly clogged highway areas, Nor Cal has some of the finest driving routes on the West Coast ...

Yeah, we're actually planning a trip that will include some of those for later in the year. Going to hire something stupid with a hemi in it, you'd be mad to have one here as we're now paying around $2.40 a litre. Not in the North and not on the coast but last year we did Sacramento, Tahoe, Yosemite and the desert and had a pretty good drive.

 

[Harry/FDK]

I'm still going to bitch about how unsafe these pricks are.

That's because with all the ESP's and ABS's and whatever BS electronics they have in their cars their main thing is not D.R.I.V.I.N.G. anymore, but like you mentioned cell phoning, and maybe an occasional turn at the steering wheel. You should experience some rain driving overhere....   " My electronics are taking care of me".  Can you believe that ?

[kafercup]

It is sad how the advance of electronics in cars is generally "dumbing down" the general public as far as knowing how to "really" control a car.

[Jim Ratto]

I'm still going to bitch about how unsafe these pricks are.

That's because with all the ESP's and ABS's and whatever BS electronics they have in their cars their main thing is not D.R.I.V.I.N.G. anymore, but like you mentioned cell phoning, and maybe an occasional turn at the steering wheel. You should experience some rain driving overhere....   " My electronics are taking care of me".  Can you believe that ?

yep.
The point is, there is a time and place for driving "fast." There's a good, remote country road that stretches a good 35 miles from Santa Paula, CA to Ojai, CA, and if you go out there at the right hour of the day, you can get away with some "fun." But to wring a 5000lb car's neck on a busy metropolitan interstate... you think these assholes have any consideration for others? It's amazing how "in a rush" and "important" they seem to think they are. I wonder if they'd pull the same shit standing in line at the bank?
Maybe I am getting to be an overprotective, grumpy old crochety hammerhead, but so be it. You want to drive pedal to the metal then stop bitching.

[kafercup]

Maybe Mr. Ratto can use some of his storytelling magic and tell the tale of 4 crazed road-dogs that spent a bit over 3 days travelling 1200+ miles of our fine state in the 2004 NorCal Rallye

Here's a place for him to start http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,5995.0.html

[kafercup]

I'm still going to bitch about how unsafe these pricks are.

That's because with all the ESP's and ABS's and whatever BS electronics they have in their cars their main thing is not D.R.I.V.I.N.G. anymore, but like you mentioned cell phoning, and maybe an occasional turn at the steering wheel. You should experience some rain driving overhere....   " My electronics are taking care of me".  Can you believe that ?

yep.
The point is, there is a time and place for driving "fast." There's a good, remote country road that stretches a good 35 miles from Santa Paula, CA to Ojai, CA, and if you go out there at the right hour of the day, you can get away with some "fun." But to wring a 5000lb car's neck on a busy metropolitan interstate... you think these assholes have any consideration for others? It's amazing how "in a rush" and "important" they seem to think they are. I wonder if they'd pull the same shit standing in line at the bank?
Maybe I am getting to be an overprotective, grumpy old crochety hammerhead, but so be it. You want to drive pedal to the metal then stop bitching.

I agree 100%.  Maybe we're both getting old 

[Rennsurfer]

I love how the slow lane has become a passing lane.... it's great when you try to merge onto freeway to have some asshole in a Hummer coming up on you in the slow lane @ 90+.

THAT'S the part that pisses me off. When and why did the slow lane become the haul ass lane? I don't get it. My Dad was a truck driver with a perfect driving record... he always told me that the left lane is either for hauling ass and/or to pass. That's it, period. In high school, back when they actually offered Driving Education, it was the same thing. You'd do all of the classwork, then they'd take you out in the cars that the school owned. On the freeway portion of the training they taught us the same theory pertaining to the far left lane. They said to stay out of the far right lane and leave it open for people wanting to exit and merge onto the freeway. Also, that the people on the freeway have the right of way compared to the people merging on. Plain and simple rules that (you'd think) everyone could follow.

WRONG!

Somewhere, in the sands of time, people became lazy and felt more important, like Jim posted. The end result is the current b.s. that we're seeing on the freeways. Especially in So Cal. Absolutely horrible road manners, these days, demonstrated by most motorists. I notice that as soon as I drive outside the busy parts of So Cal and get on the open highway... more people abide by the traditional left lane rules. Which is very refreshing. On my last few recent roadtrips, I'd be doing 80-90 mph. during zero traffic conditions. If I came up on someone, they'd automatically move over and I'd wave and flash my 4-way flashers to thank them. On rare occasions, I'd have have to blip my passing lights only once, then they'd get it and move over.

What I AM seeing more of on the open road, however, are very rude truck drivers. Sheesh! When I was younger, I'd drive to Nor Cal or Arizona to visit family, and every car, including truckers were very friendly. They'd move over, you'd both wave to each other, and life on the road was pleasant. NOT now. Out in the middle of the desert, during a recent trip, on I-10 going to my sister's house in Arizona, no one on the road. Just me... two big rigs off in the distance, and cactus as far as the eye can see. As I approach trucks, the further back one decides at the last minute, to pass. Not only is that dangerous and making me slam my brakes, but they stay in the lane and pace the other truck for a mile or two and THEN, slowly move back into the slow lane. This is a common thing now with truckers... I don't know why. They're younger and I guess they think it's funny/cool to mess with the cars. So, my girlfriend had a great idea. She crawled in the back of the car and grabbed my Nikon D70 camera. Handed it to me in case it happened again. Sure enough... same ol' crap. Made sure that my big Nikon Speedlight flash unit was attached and on... got behind the guy, took pic of the rear plate. Got up next to him... took a pic of the CA and DOT numbers. Then, one of the driver. The guy freaked out and slowed to a crawl. No more problems, now. Works like a charm. They must've gotten on the c.b. radio and told the others, because the rest of the trip was enjoyable and the remainder of 'em yielded to us.

When people mess with my safety, I'll mess with their livelihood. HAHAHA!!!

Now, if we could only have a refresher course on how to properly drive on the So Cal freeways for the dimwitted moronic feckless tools that are out there, every day. 

[John Rayburn]

Thank God for you Mark!

[Turtle001]

Were hitting 1.65 Euro per LITER soon. And still these assholes in their fat Audi's, Cayennes and all those other Fortresses are trying to roll over you. Than at work the same idiots are also crying about gasprices. Guess its a small world.

heeeeey! i'm driving one of those audis ;-)

[ian c]

in so-cal a beetle is no more than a mobile speed-bump .
you got 2 choices , go bigger or go faster

i looked at trading in for an escalade , but bought street elims and wisecos instead

[danny gabbard]

I agree with all of you, what the puck is everybodys hurry in ca. ? every time I come back from nevada off 395 and get on the 15 it's like a god dam indy car race getting home, even in the rain people are passing you at 90 miles a hour. And they wonder why there's so many wrecks.

[Russell]

Jim, I agree 100% about the go fast, dont care assholes.

However the fuel price, get it up, it makes the world go round and VW's head to Scotland !

Sorry.

[Harry/FDK]

in so-cal a beetle is no more than a mobile speed-bump .
you got 2 choices , go bigger or go faster

i looked at trading in for an escalade , but bought street elims and wisecos instead

Wise Man.