Yesterday I was driving my 99.5 A41.8T QMS in the left-most lane on the Long Island Expressway, when a guy in an A4 2.8 came up very fast in the lane next to mine, seemingly wanting to pass me from the right, or at least saying "hey, I've got a 2.8". Instinctually, I dropped into 4th and punched the accelerator, and as I was coming up on another car in front of me, I changed into to lane to my right, not cutting the fellow A4er off, but definitely flexing some muscle.

Do you guys think that was rude of my given the fact that he was a fellow A4er?

That's what I would do if I was in the 2.8 and saw a fellow A4 (1.8T or 2.8) wanting to come over to the right to pass some left lane cruiser. I would back off allowing enough time for the other A4 to cut over and pass and I would follow.

Was that what happened? Or was this 2.8 driver bent on not letting you in? It sounds more like he/she should be the one posting here asking if he/she should of held back a little to let you in.

I don't know if I'd say a chipped 1.8T would "smoke" a 2.8 like a M3 would. It seems that it would be pretty close between the two vehicles. Unless you had a serious high-end chip and upgrade to say S4 level hp, then maybe the 1.8T would smoke a 2.8.

By speeding up, you allowed him to change to the left lane for passing the other cars. I think it's irrelevant that it was a fellow A4. Now, if you were just hanging out in the left lane for no good reason, it's a different story. (Please not that I don't know what the left-lane-bandit laws are like in NY.) :)

99.5 1.8TQM

If you're both stock, the 2.8 would take you if he/she really wanted to.

Nothing rude about it as long as you weren't being reckless.

give him the full brunt of all 10 driving lights, which you will install by then!!!! This is more effective at night BTW. (I have euros w/ driving lights on my 4000. It's almost like you have a weapon. "Flash responsibly!")

The 2.8 "initiated" the "exchange" by pulling up very fast on my right, seemingly wanting to pass me and then change into my lane. There were probably 4-5 car lengths in front of me in my lane, and the car in front of me was going relatively slowly so I would eventually have to change lanes at my then current speed. As a result, instead of probably getting cut off by the other A4, I essentially cut him off instead.

But you right Shabbis, the other A4 should have held back, allowing me in his lane so that we could then cruise together.

Or if he won't move over after numerous flashes and even possibly a friendly reminding horn blast. After that, nail it, get in front, and give the one digit salute - not the finger, but a thumb directing him to get into the right lane. (well, I guess a finger too, if you feel so inclined.)

Cheers,
Mark

First, you are blocking the left lane going speed slower than the right lane, you are wrong. He passed you on the right, he sucks either.
Secondly, most of the drivers in the area pass on the right (including myself) pass on the right because those goddamn elders driving their landyachts or trucks blocking the fast lane going 80 km/h while the speed limit is 90 km/h. That's very dangerous for yourself and other road users.
Thridly, you at least pull to the right in order to let him pass or you should start race his 2.8. I think that situation has a potential of road rage ready to happen.
Fourly, please respect each others on the road. As I remember, Long Island Expressway is an extremely fast freeway.
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0
00 (OR 01) NEW BEETLE GLS 1.9TDI (ON ORDER)
98.5 A4 1.8TQAS WETTED

Auto dimming mirrors or just a quick flip of the mirror tab if you don't have auto dimming mirrors. 10 driving lights? Why? Talk about an ungainly sight. Sell your Audi and get a F250 Super Duty with air in the box, then you could load up on all the lights you want. Or get a nice Civic with 5 sets of PIAAs across the bottom.

My friend has a Jeep Wrangler and he drives around all day with these ugly-a** KC daylighters with 8,000,000,000 candlepower turned on ALL DAY. Looks like a total fool. He actually thinks people care and get out of his way. Uh huh.

I was not going too slow for left lane -- the other A4 was going to fast for any lane.

Mike,

If the other A4 had to touch his brakes, then you cut him off. If he didn't then it's no big deal to him, but neither one of you should be passing on the right unless absolutely necessary. (However, if you're near a metropolitan area then this rule goes to **** 'cause noone knows how to drive anyway)

But the fact that you said he was going "too fast for any lane" makes me think that you wanted to "show him a lesson" or slow him down or something. It shouldn't matter how fast someone else is going, the only action that any interference will cause is anger and dangerous driving.

Nothing pisses me off more than some guy that wishes he went to Police Academy holding me up on the road because he thinks I am going "too fast."
However, since you're an A4.orger and own an A4, you don't fit the typical profile for this phenomenon (Usually Sport-utes, Lexuses, or Taurus/Caprice/Lumina/whatevergenericAmericancrapcar)

I assume had the car not been in front of you, you would have been in the right lane, right? (Keep right unless to pass - the golden rule) And if you were in the right lane, you would have let the A4 pass you on the left, and possibly played with him for a while, right?

C'est Bon.

Doesn't that make you the bigger reckless driver? Leave speed enforcement to the cops and stay right unless you're already passing someone. Everyone has different opinions about what is too fast (and in the end, only the cops can do something about it), so the easiest thing on everyone is if you keep right whenever possible. Cooperation is key to lessening road rage.

I think it is very distracting, and thus dangerous, to be singling out other drivers to play games with. If you are cruising beyond the speed limit and someone is going faster, why on earth would you want to be mixing things up with someone else at speeds like that. You say he was driving recklessly, but if you then pace him and change lanes, don't you think that now makes you reckless? Also, it should make no difference what he was driving, if he was in a Ferrari or a Semi would you have done that maneuver? Doubt it.

I hate when people play games on the road, it's not rude, IT FREAKS ME OUT MAN!

not in the US. No one knows what a flash means anymore and a horn blast on the highway is asking to be shot at :)

probably cuz to were going to slow for him. At least he didn't tail you and flash his headlights. But, racing him (just because you have the faster car) and taking his intended space is IMO CUTTING HIM OFF!!

And I'm sorry to say, that kind of attitude ticks me off. There are a few incidents that happened to me like this in the past where in I was passing a slower car on the left, they raced me and took my lane, I had to slow down, merge into their lane and worst, they would slow down back to their speed. I had chased the drivers off the road and even started fights. It takes me a while to get ticked off, as I am a normally a jolly person, but just as someone had pointed out, this is road rage starting to happen.

with your statement expressing that YOU were going fast enough, and therefore, HE needs to concede to your dictate. If anyone comes up behind you in the left/passing lane, THEY have teh right of way. Period. Use the lane for PASSING, then GET OUT. If you regularly "cruise" in the left lane, brain in neutral, then learn to think. IT AIN'T YER LANE, BUUUBBAH. What an embarrassment to those of us who drive A4s, and any other well-engineered car. It's not our priveledge to impose our self-important chosen limits upon others.

And before you even have to ask, Yes, I have yielded the passing lane to a faster car (and slowed to change into a slower lane, out of his/her way) several times, and well before they get to me and have to touch their brakes. They're not wanting to race, they just are traveling at a faster rate than I am at that time. Grow up, Studly.

You make it sound like it's their fault for enabling YOUR "road rage" problem. Road rage is a ridiculous media buzzword. Take responsibility for your own actions, and don't blame others for YOUR jekyll (jolly?!?!) hyde metamorphosis.

I think Mike was traveling faster than traffic, and was hoping to overtake the car in front of him. He got canned in by the other A4. The other A4 should have gotten in behind him in order to pass, and the car in front of Mike's should have pulled into the right lane. This entire discussion would be viewed as ridiculous in Europe - it's a problem with NA drivers (and I've noticed it is WAY worse in the US than in Canada)

Mark

PS See my post below

Probably the latter in the US

Your impression is EXACTLY RIGHT -- I did in fact get canned by the other A4. I guess I did'nt do a very good job explaining the situation. I fail to see why this discussion has evoked so much hostility directed toward me.

Thanks for you insight and support Mark.

I have never driven in Canada, but grew up (and got my driver's education) in Sweden. *Much* different from the US where I now live. The big issue here is (the lack of) education and proper attitudes. In Europe, if you get flashed for staying too long in the left lane, you'd feel dumb and move over quicker than a lubricated lightning bolt. Here, people think "f*ck off a**hole, it's my road" and pull their gun. Exaggerated, yes, but you get the point. I think the problems lie deeper than just driving skills, however.

Audiboy is 6'8" tall, weighs in at about 290 lbs...I don't know how he fits into his A4. :-)

Sorry...Audiboy is not exactly the road rage type....I know he doesn't make a habit
of it. I live in the same town as him....and in all the time I have driven around...I have
never seen him pulled over to the side of the road beating up on someone. (I think
he was exaggerating a bit)

Steve S.
97 2.8QM

BTW, auto-dimming mirrors won't help. :)

Unfortunately, I did a poor job accurately conveying the scenario. Mark's interpretation of what occured is accurate. Obviously, your capacity to process and assimilate complex situations is limited, and for this you cannot be faulted.

BTW, I do not appreciate your condescending, holier-than-thou attitude.

were lots of people in the left lane going below the limit on the inclines up to the passes in the Rockies. I would flash but they did not move over. Just did not care. If the US would institue laws to keep the left lane for passing like in Europe it would help a lot in cutting down the road rage. BTW in Denver they have just started a program to start ticketing drives in the fast (left) lane who are slowing down traffic.

Reggie
98.5 30vQMS

You just have to be good at adjusting the aim of the mirror to hit the other driver with the light. It works great when you master mirror movement, especially on those big rigs who tailgate with all the candlepower thinking they own the road.

... " or at least saying "hey, I've got a 2.8". ..."

It sounds more like you are the one with "small engine displacement envy". If you had to downshift to 4th to "smoke" em, you could have easily mantained your speed, waited for the other A4 to pass, then pursue. But NOOOO you had to"CUT HIM OFF. "..definitely flexing some muscle" does not belong on the public roads.

PS.. It would have been rude regardless of what kind of vehichle it was.

Drivers in this country are just ignorant and stupid. I hate drivers in this country. They pass where they want, they go whatever speeds they want in whatever lanes, when I'm in europe I take a nice long road trip on the highway every year and just marvel at the CONSIDERATION and COMMON COURTESY european drivers show by moving out of lanes and staying in the proper lanes according to the speed you are going. So much for that in this country.

Where's that top ten pet peeves list of mine, I wonder if this one was #2 or #3...

-mF

Yes, that was rude.

My advice, if you are going to road-race anyone on a public road (which I don't recommend, but sometimes the temptation is great), don't do it in heavy traffic for one.

Second, give a long look at the car you are about to try to race, smile politely, nod and see if the other driver is willing.

If you are rude, flash your lights, endanger someones life, flip someone off, are a sore loser, you are asking for road rage, and may end up losing your life, or spending a few nights in jail.

Best save it for the track, where you can meet your opponents, swap advice, and give speed a good name again.

Take care,

Michael

But I don't just beat people up. Well, back in my days of sparing as a kick boxer, that's normal, but after I've seen what my buddy had done years ago in one road rage incident, I have a lot of control to not get physical outside the ring. Let's just say, that the guy who cut him off (even took out my buddy's fender in doing so) probably can't walk straight anymore to this day, and my bud is also a kickboxer.

But I had people cut me off intentionally including a big pick up truck that took my fender off about 8 years ago in my little Mazda. Pulled over the guy, jumped out of my car, he stayed in his, lots of words flew out, and he put his truck in gear, and took off. Reflecting on that, I'm actually glad it ended that way. I just reported his liscense plate to the CHP.
On another incident a few years back, while driving on 580 around Hayward, I was going fast in my SUV, about 75mph or so, when I passed a slow going Civic on the left lane. I kept my middle lane, but next thing you know, this Civic with 2 young adults sped up, and cut in front of me and slowed down. I moved to the left lane, sped up and passed them. Minutes later, they speed up, cut me off - this time I was on the left lane, and slow down to 60ish. That really ticked me off. As tailing them made them laugh. But, my Montero had more getup and go power than that Civic, so, I sped up and bumped them. That caught their attention, they sped up, and never looked back.

Just as Steve said, I'm not the road rage type, specially here in trigger happy, road rage happy California freeways, but if I get ticked off by some A-hole, I become an A-hole myself and fight back.

I am happy to report that something like this has never happened to me while I had the A4 since 96. In fact the incidents are few and far in between. Point is, don't be a jerk with another guy as you don't know what could happen next.

Hey Mike:
Assume you were driving pretty fast on left lane on Long Island Expressway yesterday when the even faster A4 2.8 wanted to pass you on the right because "the other A4 was going to fast for any lane" means theroritcally and realistically YOU WAS DRIVING SLOWER THAN HIM? RIGHT? If you were slower than him, then you should know what to do! PULL TO THE RIGHT AND LET HIM PASS (THE BIG SIGN SAYS SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT). You are indeed slower than him on that situation. DID YOU LEARN WHEN YOU WERE GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENCE ON THE LECTURE TEST ASKED YOU "WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE IS SOME FASTER TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU?". That's the easiest question to answer "KEEP TO THE RIGHT".
My overall feeling is: YOU WANTED TO RACE HIM, RIGHT?
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0
00 (OR 01) NEW BEETLE GLS 1.9TDI (ON ORDER)
98.5 A4 1.8TQAS WETTED

officer last night. He was in his stickered Civic. Just a little bit, not too much, and no 'wing'. He pulled up and asked, is that a V6? hehe

I am curious though how you can "instinctually" do anything with a car? :)

Lastly, if you deliberately cut him off to be a buttwad, then that wasn't cool.

One last thing, I agree with Mark Bradford (no reference to you), I have a serious problem with people who try to "punish" other drivers for their driving. Just get out of the way of offensive drivers. I just wrote a guy a few tix the other night for doing just that.

And for those scoffaws, where that officer and I were, we were on a private road w/no traffic.
B P Y! <--for Steve S

Because this is truly what slower traffic keep right means. If you were not in the process of actually passing someone at that instant, you should have pulled to the right to let him pass. The fact that the other driver may have been going too fast is irrelevant -- all that means is that you and him were both speeding (if you weren't doing it initially then you were by the time you accelerated to race him) and that you refused to let yourself be passed by a car in the proper lane.

I have been doing 90 on the freeway, in mild traffic, passing lots of cars by driving constantly in the left lane and pulled to the right to let cars pass me before. The fact that they were doing 100 or so did not mean that I was going to not let them pass me (even if they were driving a car much slower than mine or if I would be scared to even drive a car like theirs at such a speed). Similarly, I have been the car doing 100 and come up on a car doing 90 that will usually pull to the right and let me pass. Really, his speed bears no relevance as to whether you should let him pass if the other driver is going faster than you.

If someone cuts me off, then tries to pull me over and start a fight, the only thing he's going to get is the business end of a .45. Continue, and he's just going to get some hot lead. Your kickboxer friends better not try this stuff in my neighborhood. You try this stuff with me and it'll be your last mistake.

Point is, it's not worth trying to start a fight over bad driving. Yes, some drivers are real jerks and some are really clueless. But if you try to get violent with someone, eventually, you'll pick on the wrong guy and you'll regret it.

I've had plenty of opportunities to get into fights over bad driving. I haven't done anything about it besides calling the police and reporting the guy because I have self-control and enough maturity to not descend to this kind of childish behavior. If someone decides to initiate without me being at any fault, I will defend myself by any means necessary.

Drive safe, stay safe,
TM

I visited Vancouver early this year. My impression was people were corteous and friendly.
I did get to drive around and it was rather pleasant.
However, I was disappointed not to see any A4's. I was there in January to go snowboarding in Whistler, and I expected to see some Quattro's around.

Unfortunately I'm a Silicon Valley geek so I live here and I stay away from trouble as much as I can and take my aggressive driving to the race track. AutoX this weekend Yeah!

Vancouver drivers are courteous and friendly? You must be kidding!:> I have been lived in Vancouver for over 6 years and every time my driving skills get better, I feel the driving behaviour here in Vancouver are getting worse each day.
There are lots of tailigating on major freeway and expressways. I hope you know how tailigating problem is horrible on freeway 99 from Peace Arch Border to Vancouver main area, also the Upper Level Freeway from North Vancouver to Whistler exit. You are probably stay away from as many poor Vancouver drivers.
There are really lots of A4s down here, especially those Aluminum Silver 1.8T. We have a lot more 1.8T than 2.8. Maybe you probably saw a lot of stupid useless vehicle on the way to Whistler in January. Over 80% of Audis here are Quattros!
I think we Vancouver drivers still drive better than Ontario ones. Remember to 20 car pile-up on 401 freeway during early summer?
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0
00 (OR 01) NEW BEETLE GLS 1.9TDI (ON ORDER)
98.5 A4 1.8TQAS WETTED

you should have moved right to allow him to pass on left.

"I was driving my 99.5 A41.8T QMS in the left-most lane "

Left lane for passing only. Slower traffic keep right. Dammit.

I will get out of it for a faster car. Oh, yeah, I already said that in my original post.

No appreciation needed for the holier-than-thou attitude, as I didn't impose my Holiest-Of-All speed limit on someone else - "I know I'M goin' really fast, and that's fast 'nuff fer HIM! I'LL slow him down to what's reasonable - to ME."
WHO has the HTT attitude? Don't forget that you supported this "lack of attitude" by SPEEDING UP. Holy Maturity, Batman!

Sincerely,
His Holiness, Cardinal Kurt
Bless you.

Yet you wouldn't move out of the fast lane for a car going faster than yours. where's your brain???

Sounds like you were the ass and he was just driving. Personally, I hate it when ANY car thinks that because I am passing, it means we are in a race and thinks I would actually react to such idiotic behavior.

You drive an A4, so do I, sometimes a pass is just a pass, so just get the f... out of the way politely.

Mike was coming up on a car in front of him, and got canned in by the other A4. The other A4 should have gotten in behind him, and they both should have waited for the slower car in front of Mike to move right. However, since this did not occur, yes, Mike should have stayed where he was, and proceeded to pass the slower car after the other A4 had passed.

The poor guy is on the cross here because no one's paying attention to the details of the story.