Abuse

[John Williams (Panda) - Joint Manchester AO]

I have had it.... but only very rarely

not nice.... but most of the time nods and smiles.... and lots of conversations at rounadbouts.. that normall follow the

q) is it a kit car

a) yes... a  westfield...

q) from that tv show

a) (older person) like the prisoner (younger person) racing car is born

q) what engine in it

a) 1.8

q) did you build it

a) yes 3 years

bye

cheers

john

[Howard]

Yep, I tend to get at least one display of the public's displeasure at my car or my driving every time I go out in the Westfield.  It's either dirty looks or flashing of headlights from self-righteous Daily Mail readers when you appear around a corner at anything more than walking pace.

One time, a lad of about 12 threw a large stone across a roundabout at me while I was waiting at some lights. It hit the car with quite a thump.

On another occasion, a guy cornered me as I was doing a three-point turn, blocking my way and launched into a tirade about the car, saying it had a 'funny, no doubt illegal' number plate (don't know where he got that idea, it's not personalised,  just the one DVLA issued me with), that I was probably not insured (I was), and that I was driving on a pedestrian area (don't know where he got that idea either, it was the normal tarmac public highway outside our house although it does end in a cul-de-sac.  He also lectured me on my driving because I had accelerated fairly briskly, demanding repeatedly "IS IT REALLY NECESSARY?"

I just sat there patiently and let him say his piece and blow the wind out of his sails. No point in aggravating the situation.

You can tell it still bugs me though.

I'm sure that people assume that seven-type cars are travelling more quickly (and therefore irresponsibly) than saloons.  I probably drive my Volvo V70 faster and more 'sportingly' than I do the Westfield on the road because it draws less attention to itself. Consequently, I never get any reaction in the Volvo.

The disapproving reactions do tend to put a dampener on things and curb one's enthusiasm.  When I was younger and rode motorbikes I got a lot of flashed headlights from irate motorists but I didn't care then.  Now I'm older I do care what other people think.

At the other end of the spectrum, if I'm driving through town, the peacock in me secretly gets annoyed when no-one looks at the bright orange Westfield passing by.

[brindle]

Glad its not just me.

On balance the majority of the attention the car gets is very positive, but on a couple of occasions I have had some 'discussions' with my fellow motorists.  I always ask them to explain exactly what the problem is but they never seem to have an answer that has more structure than your just a f***ing wa**er mate etc etc.

It annoys me as I quesiton what I have done wrong and the asnwer is always, either been going briskly (but always within the speed limit and in control of the car) or left them when they have sat up my backside (again always within the speed limit and in control of the car)

Bless them and their Zafiras.

[Asterix]

Bless them and their Zafiras.

I was right with you up to that pointed remark    

[Mid life crisis]

Yep, I tend to get at least one display of the public's displeasure at my car or my driving every time I go out in the Westfield.  It's either dirty looks or flashing of headlights from self-righteous Daily Mail readers when you appear around a corner at anything more than walking pace.

One time, a lad of about 12 threw a large stone across a roundabout at me while I was waiting at some lights. It hit the car with quite a thump.

On another occasion, a guy cornered me as I was doing a three-point turn, blocking my way and launched into a tirade about the car, saying it had a 'funny, no doubt illegal' number plate (don't know where he got that idea, it's not personalised,  just the one DVLA issued me with), that I was probably not insured (I was), and that I was driving on a pedestrian area (don't know where he got that idea either, it was the normal tarmac public highway outside our house although it does end in a cul-de-sac.  He also lectured me on my driving because I had accelerated fairly briskly, demanding repeatedly "IS IT REALLY NECESSARY?"

I just sat there patiently and let him say his piece and blow the wind out of his sails. No point in aggravating the situation.

You can tell it still bugs me though.

I'm sure that people assume that seven-type cars are travelling more quickly (and therefore irresponsibly) than saloons.  I probably drive my Volvo V70 faster and more 'sportingly' than I do the Westfield on the road because it draws less attention to itself. Consequently, I never get any reaction in the Volvo.

The disapproving reactions do tend to put a dampener on things and curb one's enthusiasm.  When I was younger and rode motorbikes I got a lot of flashed headlights from irate motorists but I didn't care then.  Now I'm older I do care what other people think.

At the other end of the spectrum, if I'm driving through town, the peacock in me secretly gets annoyed when no-one looks at the bright orange Westfield passing by.

I agree with you Howard normally positive, however the car is so b****y noisy even if it was negative I wouldn't hear them anyway        

I tend to drive the westy very defensively on the road, and don't take too many risks with other drivers on the basis in an accident I am likely to come off worse  

In my nearly 2 ton Volvo V70 I do have a tendency to make substantial  progress, always within the speed limits and in complete control of the car  

Howard tell the peacock to use a lower gear.

                 

[Nomexnomad]

Ive not had any negative responses...yet, but i have had a gang of 'Yoofs' surround me when i broke down, shouting all exicted and and asking stupid questions like 'can i have a go' a bit alarming but i tried to be 'down with the kidz'

It's best as Brindle says to just let them vent and move on..i feel a bit vunerable all strapped in and nowhere to go if someone decides to sharpen his fists on my face!!

[Bam]

Its nice to hear its not just me......

I have only had the car a couple of weeks and enjoyed every min, but the occasional shouts have put a little dampner on things , but it is from the minority so best ignored me thinks....

[chris7273]

Funny story (not from me) :

At a crosswalk, waiting for green light

P(edestrian) : it's noisy

W(estfield Driver) : What ?

P : I said "It's NOISY"

W : WHAT ?

P : IT'S NOISY !!!!

W : Ah... I don't care, I am deaf....  

Green : Vroaammmmmm....

[nikpro]

Being  a right fat fooker everyone takes the P**s when I drive it because it does look stupid! but .....hey, ho - that's my fault and not the cars.

[Nomexnomad]

Im pride of place on some chinamans wall as he thought i was a racing driver!! (as if)

Stopped at a garage on the way home from Stoneleigh, and was set upon by chinese tourists!! had my photo taken about a hundered times (no joke) and got asked for 'Autoglaph pleez'!!

[Fent]

Yep, have had it on several occasions. Once I was driving through a village (below the 30mph limit) and had some old git shaking his stick at me telling me to slow down. I have had a young lad see me coming and then step out infront of me causing me to swerve. He laughed as i drove off. I also regularly get kids laughing at it when at the lights as they think it is a vintage car (they stop when I leave em behind).

And on our club run on Sunday we were stuck behind a group of approx 15 cyclist riding 4 abreast blocking the whole side iof the road. They deliberatley blocked us and when i stopped to turn they surrounded my car to give me an earfull. I kept my calm, told them they were in the wrong and moved on. It spoilt my day for a while as I was fuming.

Yep there are moany people out there who really have a problem but keeping it in balance we also came across many people who waved as we passed, indicated to let us by and took photos etc.

Go out, have fun and if they have a problem with that f**k em

[KC7]

I suspect some of these individuals would always find something to moan about even if it wasn't directed at Westfield owners .  A couple of times recently I have just been walking down a street to witness motorists exchanging insults. I mean it's a war on London streets between cars, cyclists, white vans and pedestrians

Life is just too short sometimes.

[Jace]

Generally the reception is positive but the noise factor is key...

...when I had my standard exhaust and it was crying at 104db people would look at me and wave me to slow down even if I was only going 30mph (sometimes less)!

Not so bad since I replaced the system but still happens and I notice how much it happens to Motorbikes as well...

...I live right next to a main road with a 40mph speed limit and if a bike goes past in a low gear it can sound like he/she is going faster than the speed limit but I bet (for the best part at least) that there not.

[FW500]

In one word - Jealousy.

Poor people don't like to see wealthier people showing off their expensive toys.

Old people don't like seeing young people enjoying themselves.

My hobby is better than your hobby.

[combatsapph]

QUOTE

Stopped at a garage on the way home from Stoneleigh, and was set upon by chinese tourists!! had my photo taken about a hundered times (no joke) and got asked for 'Autoglaph pleez'!!

Haha - exactly the same happened to me on my way to SVA when I stop at the motorway services for petrol.  Bus load of Croations (I think) got out and asked me all kinds of questions and took loads of photos - nice bunch of chaps and it seemed to make their day :-)  They were off to a Loch Lomond on a canoeing trip.