Today I was driving my little Fiat home late at night on a 4 lane road. I was in the slow lane at a red light when some honda civic pulls up behind me. As soon as the light turns green I start going, but my car accelerates slowly and this guy was impatient and tailgating me. I was going the speed limit of 70km/h and the car in the passing isn't going much faster either. This guy kept tailgating me extremely close and then when he gets a chance to switch into the passing lane, he shines his high-beams and gives me the finger. Being in a car like that is a lot of fun, but it can be scary when there are so many aggressive douchebags on the road.

I really wasn't going that much slower than the cars in the passing lane, but my initial acceleration was slower and it ticked him off. Its not like I was just crawling along, he had no justification for what he did and I regret not getting his license plate and calling in a possible drunk driver.
/rant


On a separate note, earlier in the day I had approached a rail crossing and slowed down to avoid the bumps, but it was still apparently bumpy enough to cause the car to quit, so I pull over safely and have a look inside to see that my brand new condenser had its wire break off at the base where the wire meets the condenser. I have no idea how this broke off as I had not been flexing the wire when handling it, and it had plenty of slack. Fortunately I had kept the old condenser with me and swapped it out and was back on the road in short order, but now I'm seriously considering getting one of those hall effect sensor thingies to replace my points/condenser, and maybe add a 126 dual coil to avoid the breaker points also as I've seen other people have done on here...

christopholous said:

I really wasn't going that much slower than the cars in the passing lane, but my initial acceleration was slower and it ticked him off. Its not like I was just crawling along, he had no justification for what he did and I regret not getting his license plate and calling in a possible drunk driver.
/rant


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A broad grin - perfectly normal for a conductor of small Italian vehicles - usually does the job..!!, maybe not so effective in the DARK though

you are correct though it was THEIR problem..NOT yours,

Charlie

If you want to stay with 'points' ignition try fitting the new 'competition condenser' that SWIFTUNE have brought out. It is designed for use in classic competition cars that, due to the rules, have to retain their original ignition system--everything from minis to GT 40s. I have fitted 1 to my 500 (with a tuned 126 engine in the back) and have no problems at all. You may have to make up a short extension to the 'coil' wire and use a slightly longer screw to mount the condenser. It can be mounted in the same place as the original, with the 'earth' wire clamped between the 2 parts of the 'P' clip that holds the condenser.

For some reason most of the Scottish drivers are fairly patient with me, but then we don't have two lane highways for the most part, never mind 4 lane!
When I get the opportunity and see that it would be safe for the guy behind me to overtake I find that the tiny Fiat can easily pull over slightly to give lots of visibility and space for overtaking. That often gets a thumbs-up or a friendly toot.

Many people seem to enjoy the chance to overtake at a leisurely speed so they can get a good look at the Fiat. Grins always ensue

Same here - I usually get a friendly 'toot', a wave, big grin, a camera photo or the whole lot ...
We don't have yobs in Australia Everyone is always so courteous
Chris

I have been driving classic and sports cars for over 40 years now and there is definitely what I can only call some sort of syndrome with a few other drivers in that they feel that they have to overtake you at all costs regardless of speed limits and what speed you might be going. Sometimes with the added bonus of a nice bit of cutting up just to emphasise the manoeuvre . Just last week I took my 126 out for a run , enjoying the drive with the sunroof back, following the car in front at a reasonable stopping distance. The car behind took a different turn at a mini roundabout and the white Transit van behind immediately got on my tail as we headed out of town. The guy then decided to overtake in a stupid place on this minor two lane road then compounded his stupidity by deciding to take the car in front of me as well on the brow of a hill just managing to avoid a head on with the oncoming vehicles by inches .
Sadly it is something that happens every now and then but hardly ever when you are driving a modern euro-box. One of the guys on the 126 club forum was taking it steady on a country lane as it was icy and the guy behind was giving him real grief until he overtook. A few minutes later he rounded a bend and saw the offender in a ditch

fiat500 said:

For some reason most of the Scottish drivers are fairly patient with me, but then we don't have two lane highways for the most part, never mind 4 lane!
When I get the opportunity and see that it would be safe for the guy behind me to overtake I find that the tiny Fiat can easily pull over slightly to give lots of visibility and space for overtaking. That often gets a thumbs-up or a friendly toot.

Many people seem to enjoy the chance to overtake at a leisurely speed so they can get a good look at the Fiat. Grins always ensue

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Aye, I live 25 miles North of Nairn & in my neck of the woods classic cars of all description receive a good generous response up here. Obviously post code lottery plays a big part. We do tend to be more laid back & give classics the respect they deserve in the motor fraternity. Canada sadly has it's share of dicks, as some parts of the UK.