[ATCJDS]

Everyone, thanks for the replys:thanks:. I’m glad to hear that this isn’t isolated to just me. I really don’t think this will be common, but it made me take note. For those that thought that I might have brought this on myself with “Aggressive Driving,” rest assured that every time I noticed this I/we were driving calmly with traffic. I really try not to bring attention to myself. I don’t use the horn unless I absolutely need to and I don’t fight over parking spaces. It’s also a racing yellow car, so it attracts enough attention just sitting still. The last thing I want is to give the CHP a reason to stop me. California is broke and the cops are looking for revenue. I save most of my aggressions for the track.
I do live in SoCal, but in the Inland Empire. Porsches are not common and you’re more likely to see a lower Civic.
It’s just sad to see people acting this way. Thanks for all the feedback!
:thanks:

 

[Santa Fe]

I just don't buy it. After owning these beauties since 1965 the ONLY time I've witnessed any abuse is after some Porsche owner made an idiot of themselves usually when they had their head on a "look at me" swivel or were driving stupid. Granted there are more horse's ***'s than horses and that is true with Porsche owners as well and all of us get painted with the bad behavior of those that buy the car for the ego they think it brings. True is respect the other guy and leave the ego at home.

By the way this topic has come up several times and I believe it was started every time by first time Porsche owners which has to say something about personal behavior and not the car and others.

 

[carsteve]

I just don't buy it. After owning these beauties since 1965 the ONLY time I've witnessed any abuse is after some Porsche owner made an idiot of themselves usually when they had their head on a "look at me" swivel or were driving stupid. Granted there are more horse's ***'s than horses and that is true with Porsche owners as well and all of us get painted with the bad behavior of those that buy the car for the ego they think it brings. True is respect the other guy and leave the ego at home.

I think it's one of those things where it happens to some people, and others it doesn't. While I'm sure some Porsche drivers deserve the bird just like any other car does when it's driver do something stupid, unwarranted gestures do occur. In my 5 months of Cayman ownership I was cursed at twice, UNWARRANTED, and heckled at a stop light once. People can be idiots. I think being young and driving a nice Porsche, like myself, increases the probability of being harassed heckled for no reason other than you're young in a nice car and some idiot doesn't think you deserve it because they have no clue about your real life situation.

 

[Santa Fe]

Really do doubt that given my 44 years of Porsche ownership and observation of Porsche owners. I really wish that new owners could get a video of the way they look around to see who is looking at them and their new Porsche. That ego that Porsche drivers don't know they are projecting irritates the hell out of people. Me included. It isn't the car it is almost always the owner/lessor or infrequently the previous Porsche driver someone observed.

Experiences related here about perceived abuse just confirm the ego needs to me.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

True is respect the other guy and leave the ego at home.

I've never had anything but compliments and thumbs up, any aggression has been from cars attempting to lure me into a street race. But I take that as a compliment from another car enthusiast saying "hey I think your car is fast". And here's where I agree with Santa Fe, the best way I've found to get those guys to move on is give them a thumbs up and acknowledge that they have a nice car as well (there’s the respect part), wave goodbye, break eye contact and carry on at the same speed.

Since I'm a first time owner some of these "its a first time owner complex" comments are starting to wear on me, especially since my ownership experience has been nothing short of amazing. Fact is every one of us was a first time owner at some point in time. I would wager it has less to do with being a first time owner than the personality of the individual and the motivations for buying the car.

 

[Santa Fe]

Agree with that last comment. Probably should be inscribed on a pyramid or maybe in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

 

[gtscayman]

All I can say is that I get positive, flattering comments all the time. And sometimes that happens when I'm with the CS.:taunt:

 

[Dunebasher]

Like the majority who've posted all I have had is positives, but then living here in Dubai there are plenty of sports, exotic and luxury cars so attention is normally a combination of young(ish) guy and nice car in my case.

Although it is not my experience in the CS I still think that in certain areas you can find people who act out for no reason without provocation.....just think back to your school days and you'll find some guys have still not grown up and act the same way as they did then.

 

[Gator Bite]

I think being young and driving a nice Porsche, like myself, increases the probability of being harassed heckled for no reason other than you're young in a nice car and some idiot doesn't think you deserve it because they have no clue about your real life situation.

I was 21 when I bought my first Porsche. It was a 944 Turbo that I drove for 10 years. Now I wish I could say that in that time I never received any negativity in that car. I did. But I can tell you this. Every time I did, I had brought it on myself by doing something stupid and it had nothing to do with the brand on the hood emblem.

 

[Anders2727]

I agree with Mr. Bite. I think reactions are driven mostly by your driving style. If you drive courteously and are not showing up others, you should rarely get any negativity.

I live in Colorado, and the people who tend to try and race me are Evos, STIs and those huge Pickup trucks with the large engines. I let them win by ignoring them or just waving and smiling when they try to get my attention.

Kids really love the car.

 

[Stephen_the_Red]

...It’s also a racing yellow car...

I think part of the reaction you are receiving, ATCJDS, is specifically because you have this color. Even standing still, you are shouting to everyone "Look at me. Look what I'm driving."

I get glares (and some really, really puzzled looks) when I am driving my 1975 914. It is Signal Orange, so even though I can't drive it aggressively (90 hp 1.8 l !), it stands out.

 

[LA Boy]

I'm not sure it is fair to say that if/when a first time Porsche owner gets negative attention, it is probably something they did to tick the other person off that they may not have even been aware of. Truth is, we encounter many strangers during the day, and luckily, most are going to be pretty much normal. But, there are folks walking around out there who would just as soon look at you as kill you, even if they project a normal facade. Thankfully there aren't that many, but they are there. Also, and particularly in this economy, there are a lot of angry folks out there because they are in a very bad spot at the moment, and the sight of somebody who might be doing well just ellicits intense anger in them, and they react without thinking. It is similar to fans on the loosing end of a football game who walk around after the game just looking for somebody to look at them the wrong way so they can act aggressively toward them. I am a mental health professional who works with severely emotionally distraught individuals so I feel I know something of what I'm talking about. You never know who you are going to encounter in life and how they will react. We shouldn't assume that the first time Porsche owner brought it upon themselves.

 

[shakeypics]

Where I live there can't be more than 10-12 PCars in town, just guessing. But every single time I venture out, there it is, the almighty 1 finger salute. Azzhole, and a slew of unkind words /gestures tossed my way. I don't drive like a idiot, don't look for any kind of trouble but it's there. I am a first time owner as well, no Linda Blair moves while stopped in traffic either, don't get it. Must be total jealously is all I can say.

If only my wife would only listen to me and get her drivers licence, the cussing might stop and things might not be so bad for her when I'm rollin out the driveway time after time, weather permitting....so far only one hater have I encountered, but hey, she still likes me..

As far as the rest of the world goes, nothin but full compliments and questions, all good.

And the little gal loves it too, just being a smart azz, but she really dosen't have a licence, whoooo hooo.....

 

[samwY]

It's foolish to accuse the driver and assume they are "asking for it."

Both times people have messed with me on the road all I was doing was driving normally.

The environment has all to do with it. If you live in a big city, or driving through a club street downtown, or through a college campus, chances increase that people will hate on you. Some of you guys are in the suburbs and boondocks, of course nothing happens out there. Get over yourselves.

 

[caySman]

threadstarter, exhaust too loud maybe?

 

[bccars]

I get two kinds of reactions:

-1- kids: enthousiastic, pointing, staring, waving

-2- grownups: waving their fist, giving me the finger, flashing lights in anger, shouting nasties at me

Very strange. Didn't have one single exception to this rule to date (oh yes I did actually, one porsche owner reciprocated my wave).

 

[LA Boy]

I get two kinds of reactions:

-1- kids: enthousiastic, pointing, staring, waving

-2- grownups: waving their fist, giving me the finger, flashing lights in anger, shouting nasties at me

Very strange. Didn't have one single exception to this rule to date (oh yes I did actually, one porsche owner reciprocated my wave).

Perhaps the grownups think the Cayman is a $250,000 plus Ferrari or some other gas guzzling two-seat supercar and think those driving them are being environmentally irresponsible and arrogant in a time of fiscal downturn. If so, they are showing their ignorance of the car and it's somewhat frugal nature. I've never gotten a negative response while driving my CS, but back in the mid to early 80's when I was driving a 1969 Porsche 912 I did get the finger twice, both times while I was sitting still at a stop light minding my own business. I was looking straight ahead (not doing the arrogant "head swivel" as others refer to it) and the drivers went out of their way to make sure I saw the gesture, sticking their arm way out the window of their car at me. It doesn't bother me in the least, because I realize that it is a problem they are having, most likely an issue of low self-esteem. I ignore it and wish for them better days.

 

[Gearwrench]

I don't think people hate Porsche drivers. If you drive like an asshat of course you should expect people to yell at you. Sure everyone thinks they drive properly but most often not, especially with the kind ease the Cayman S is to drive at high speed. The Cayman is...sooo easy and predictable that it'll turn even a bad driver into an ok one..LOL. Maybe you're tailgating too much and not letting other people change lane in front of you, that's a pretty common thing no matter what kind of car you drive. If you drive with an attitude like "I don't need to worry, they've got brakes" style then yea..it's definitely not the car and would be your driving style that's the causing the hostility. Try leaving 30 to 45 minutes earlier so you don't have to drive so aggressively? Also maybe you're too distracted with talking on the cellphone that you don't notice cutting other people off?

gw

 

[ATCJDS]

For all those that somehow thought I brought this on myself, please recall that on two occasions I was the passenger in two different Porsches. Also for two of those occasions the persons doing the finger waving were actually walking not driving, so following too close wasn’t the issue. And lastly, being a new Porsche owner has noting to do with it. I’m in my mid-forties and mature enough to know the difference. It seems that some that have owned these cars for many years feel that they can somehow pass judgment on others.
The tread started as a question and I appreciate the feedback, since I can now see that many urban area owners have experienced similar results. Lets just leave it at that and move one.

 

[Santa Fe]

Don't take offense. The question asked "is it just me" got some answers that it could very well be. Based on calling your car color "racing yellow", looking at pedestrians to see if they noticed you and so on are clues that it could have been the "new Porsche" syndrome. Respect in life, including driving Porsches, has to be earned with one's behavior which includes responsibility and accountability. Responsible driving and being accountable to one's self about the image they project are good starts to respect.

The observations of abuse sure don't happen to everyone and maybe your supposition of urban areas is the reason. At any rate answering your question wasn't meant to offend but provide an experienced response. I'll be happy to close the thread if you wish.