minivan drivers

[jwyshrek]

Have a question...been noticing something while driving my 4Runner...just curious to know if anyone else noticed the same or similar thing.

Now, I have nothing against minivans...I actually like them. If you are never going offroad and need something to haul many people or cargo...they are the best vehicles for that.

But here is the thing...I don't know if you want to call it resentment or jealousy...but I seem to be getting flack from people who drive minivans when I drive my 4Runner...but it is not just the 4Runner...any SUV (I've had the opportunity to drive other SUVs as well).

When I had my car or drive a car now, I don't see it as much.

I see things like...racing redlight to redlight...tailgating...cutting off...not yielding when they are suppose to...etc.

Has anyone else noticed being treated differently on the road when going from a car to 4Runner or any other SUV?

Just wondering...

 

[racedirt1]

Not really, but it was great when I drove my beat up old Dodge Dakota with a smashed up front end. You get close to the back of any nice car and they got out of my way instantly, not so much with the 4Runner.

 

[jharris2]

Not really, but it was great when I drove my beat up old Dodge Dakota with a smashed up front end. You get close to the back of any nice car and they got out of my way instantly

 

[dingo]

Haven't experienced anything like that personally. However, it might be a resentment as part of the "evil road hogging, gas guzzling SUV" stigma in general. That or the person in the mini-van is just stressed and badly needs to get laid.

 

[Thai]

Hey, be careful, i may ban you for saying shit about minivan drivers!! I may be a minivan driver soon....

I think that i get resentment from all sorts of people when i drive my box.

 

[TheBlueWave]

Hey, be careful, i may ban you for saying shit about minivan drivers!! I may be a minivan driver soon....

I think that i get resentment from all sorts of people when i drive my box.

But at least you use the box for cool stuff (I've seen your videos) and what it was built for. The same resenters probably used the G Wagon as a status symbol (celebs in Cali) and now drive Priuses so they think they're better than you and helping the environment .
You just gotta love the limo environmentalists, don't you :bash: .

 

[RamThis]

I dont really notice it much in the 4Runner, but I do in my Ram. I have people all the time try to race me in it. Of course, it is lowered, has Mopar SS/T rims and Toyo Proxes, dual exhaust that's pretty loud, and it just looks fast. My Acura Integra GSR had tons of people jacking with me, but no so much after the body work from getting rear ended and they left the DOHC VTEC badge off the rear. Noticed a significant reduction in punks messing with me after that badge was gone. Thought that was odd lol.

I have had a few folks though jack with me in the 4Runner. I quickly dash their hopes of cutting me off though, as I'm probably more agressive of a driver than most anyone around. I dont take any shit of anyone on the road LOL.

 

[jwyshrek]

You know what's even more strange...talk to a friend at work about this...even he noticed it as well...he drives a CR-V (from a Ford contour) now.

Of course, here in Cali, many SUV drivers are just down right inconsiderate, oblivious and stupid. I once saw a Excursion tailgating a Civic...obviously the Excursion driver doesn't understand physics.

So, maybe that's where some of the resentment comes from...who knows...

 

[jeober]

I find jerks driving all kinds of vehicles. I would expect the typical mini-van driver to be more on the sedate side.

Mini-vans are useful vehicles if interior space is a premium. I drove a number of these as company vehicles and liked them. Probably would have bought one instead of the 4runner if I didn't require some towing capacity.

Mini-van sales volume is declining dramatically - Perhaps the soccer mom image is hurting these.

 

[Jaebster]

haha, funny to see a post like this.
Whenever, I'm on my way from L.A. to Vegas (and back), I typically cruise at about 80-85 mph. The majority of cars that zoom past me are minivans, filled to the hilt with about 10 family members. And no, they're not rentals with college kids. I estimate that they're going 95-105 mph.

 

[broncosi]

i drive my moms mercedes sometimes and youd be suprised as to how many people hate seeing a younger person driving a nice car.


I tried to take an exit just the other day and a minivan wouldnt let me merge in, they would slow down and speed up with me. so finally i got in and once we were off the exit ramp onto the road, i pulled up next to him to see if it was intentional and hes flicking me off and rolls down the window shouting im calling the cops:awais: old people are odd??

 

[Thai]

This is why i drive my Corolla around...it's a dime a dozen and no one bothers you. My Corolla is about as stock as they come, so no one wants to race me.

 

[tomhaney1]

You know what's even more strange...talk to a friend at work about this...even he noticed it as well...he drives a CR-V (from a Ford contour) now.

Of course, here in Cali, many SUV drivers are just down right inconsiderate, oblivious and stupid. I once saw a Excursion tailgating a Civic...obviously the Excursion driver doesn't understand physics.

So, maybe that's where some of the resentment comes from...who knows...

Physics dictate that Excursion owner will more likely survive any dumbass maneuver on the Civic's part. I just got back this from the SoCal area this evening and I can say 2 things about this issue: 1) People in small cars like to cut in front of SUV's and expect they can slow down quickly, or expect they will actually slow down; 2) The 4Runner is still large enough to intimidate smaller vehicles, especially when you put the hi-beams on and ride their ass. I especially love it when everyone is doing 85 in the fast lane and someone doing 70 cuts in front of everybody and doesn't make an attempt to speed up. This is when #2 comes in handy

 

[tomhaney1]

haha, funny to see a post like this.
Whenever, I'm on my way from L.A. to Vegas (and back), I typically cruise at about 80-85 mph. The majority of cars that zoom past me are minivans, filled to the hilt with about 10 family members. And no, they're not rentals with college kids. I estimate that they're going 95-105 mph.

LOL Ya, that is SO TRUE! Except on my way into Vegas tonight there was some stupid woman from Canada driving a minivan 50 mph on the damn freeway!! Then all the cars swerved around her and started honking and like 5 kids woke up and started yelling at her. I'm surprised noone hit her. I almost did because I came up on her doing about 90 and had to swerve at the last minute. The kicker was she was riding the brakes too!

 

[peter78]

Now, I have nothing against minivans...

Heck I own a minivan and I hate them, go figure. 4Runner is better for towing compared to a minivan, better for carring more weight and for going on non-paved roads. My minivan can carry a 4X8 sheet of plywood and can hold a lot of stuff, handles like a drunken cow with poor handling.

One thing, I can get a new Toyota Van with a V6 cheaper than a small RAV4 with the I4, go figure. If you don't care about rear wheel drive and no frame, but wants lots of room, a boring minivan can be for you.

 

[RamThis]

Heck I own a minivan and I hate them, go figure. 4Runner is better for towing compared to a minivan, better for carring more weight and for going on non-paved roads. My minivan can carry a 4X8 sheet of plywood and can hold a lot of stuff, handles like a drunken cow with poor handling.

One thing, I can get a new Toyota Van with a V6 cheaper than a small RAV4 with the I4, go figure. If you don't care about rear wheel drive and no frame, but wants lots of room, a boring minivan can be for you.

Ha hearing all this reminds me of when the wife and I drove up to Colorado Springs for a vacation a few years ago. Saw a mini-van in the left lane, swerving all around, driving on the inside shoulder, etc. We got up next to it to see what was going on, and it was some old bitch, KNITTING while she was driving!!!! Phucking insane!!!! She had the knitting needles going, using her elbows up against the steering wheel to drive, just as casual as ever!! Wish I had the video camera up in the front with us so I could have gotten some video of it, but the camera was in the trunk. Hopefully she was knitting a cover for her casket because she's gonna need it soon :bash: