This is not really a C55-specific question but I have an honest question I'm curious about.

The C55 is the first car I've had that has ever had any potential of smokin another car outright, and frankly, I've been having fun doing it. Previously, I had a BMW 740iL which is a nice big heavy car, but not exactly a racing machine.

Anyways, ever since I purchased my C55, I've noticed that I do get some attention on the freeway from other cars. I live in LA, so there's no shortage of new, nice and/or fast cars. But, what most frequently tries to race me are Subaru WRX Imprezas (both STi and non-STi), EVO's and the occassional BMW. Each time, they've either just hovered next to me, sort of indirectly lookin for a race, or been rude about it by tailgating me.

Needless to say, it didn't take much to blow any of them away. But, what I'd find myself doing is taking off to clearly blow them away and then slowing down after i felt like I was either going too fast, or made my point.. Then, I see them blow past me at some obscene speed as if to say "ha! you're not so fast afterall!"

My question is, do you guys have this happen to you? I mean, at what point do you back down and say enough is enough? I personally don't like tearing it up weaving through tons of cars.. i'd only chance it when the road was clear (usually late at night).

The reason I ask is that this weekend, I was driving up the grapevine on the 5 Fwy and had this guy in an old E36 M3 pull in front of me, wave at me and take off. It was actually more of a taunt than anything as he waved goodbye to me... There were definitely some cars on the road, and in my opinion, it was too congested to really go fast, but I caught up to him and passed him at a pretty good speed and held my distance for awhile until I just said "enough," thinking about the CHP that usually patrol that particular area. . Of course, he catches up after i slow down and again he blazes past me.. i suppose we could have gone at it all day, but to get a fair race, do u guys pull up side by side, or...?

anyways, i'm just seriously not in the mood to work this monday so i'm pondering...

 

I personally feel that if you don't both start at the same time, like with the 3 honk roll, it isn't an actual race.

 

i usually don't stay in it long, just long enough to see who is faster...and only when there is no traffic around...

to me it is pointless to stay in it way past the point of sanity...you will know pretty quick who is faster...

 

I've only had my C55 3 weeks - but no one seems to notice yet except some guy in a new sporty looking acura T-Something who waved.

I pulled up next to a kid today in a Mustang and he didn't even flinch. Nor did I.

Kind of boring so far.

 

that's called the ricer fly bye....anyone who pulls that crap is a retard, nothing less. It's obvious wen a car is beating you in a race....and if you're behind, and see someone hit the brakes, then that's a clear indication that the race is OVER....not an invitation to keep going until you're in front and flip on the flashers. Stupid people **** me off....sorry for the rant.

 

use to make me mad as well, but now i just laugh...i know who is faster, and that is all that matters...

 

I don't know why you are so anxious racing other car. Yes I know its fun when I had my WS6 Firebird 5 yrs ago. Was it fun? Heck yea it was . All I am saying is you have a great car (C55). Take care of it but just be careful out there especially in the busy freeways in Pasadena.

 

i don't see that many ppl that actually want to race me for whatever the reason is.

 

Slap a V8 badge onto the side. Then you'll get more people looking over!

 

I rarely get anyone who wants to run, oddly. I think the C32 is not boy-racer enough to get that kind of attention This is fine I guess, since that stuff belongs on a track. Regardless, I say +1 to 1FASTC32's comments - once you pull away handily, it's clear who is faster and any ricer fly-by after the fact is just that. Besides, many of those kids just want to have fun and would give you a thumbs up when they went by if they weren't
A) Still in need of growing up; and
B) Too busy weaving through traffic to take their attention off the road in front of them

 

well i think everyone has there own limits, and they own way of racing.
But what i do is, when someone wants to race me and if there is an open road and there is not much traffic on the road, i will light the car up and just take off up to where i have a good 5 car lead and then pull off let them catch up and then take another 5 car lead again. in my opinion that will help they get the point that my car is faster at point.
and if i'm in the city and someone wants to race i do the same thing but i keep the speed blow 120 km/h and i just race them get a head of them put about one or 2 car lengths between me and them. and then let off and do it all over again if they really still think they can beat me.
But usually after you do something like this 2-3 times to a person they just get embarrassed and pull back. and if they don't i just let them go because i know i have proven my point.
Like some dude on the weekend want to race me with is new BMW 530i, when i drove past him once, he comes up to me on the next set of lights and say "you know I'd kill you in a race" all i said was "hahah-- man u really don't know your cars, but you are more then welcome to try your luck" and then we took off the line and i left him in the dust, the next set of lights he just would not even pull up next to me, and then tried to get a running start. after that did not work he just turned off. and i stayed under the 120 km/h speed.

try that you'll have more fun with this, and ppl will get the point.

 

1. In 2+ years of ownership, I've never had anyone spot me on the road and even suggest a race. 99% of the people on the road think it's just another silver "C" class.

2. I'm always up for a redlight run if the other guy is willing, and in 2 years, I think that's been once or twice. But I do not go beyond the speed limit (much) under any circumstances, and never "weave".

3. Go to a high performance driver education event (HPDE) at a good racetrack, or even a local drag strip, and it will cure you of any desire to street race.

Streets are for transportation and are full of minivans with innocent kids in them (including mine), and it's just stupid to turn those streets into a personal racetrack.

 

agreed, u should always know your limits. and should stay in ur limits. but the occasional speed is not so bad either. i'm not saying that one should make the day to day roads a race track. just use the power u have wisely. thats all.

 

yes, i agree.. no doubt, it's dangerous to be tearing it up on the streets in traffic, etc.. and it's not that I'm eager to race these guys, but driving L.A., u really do get a lot of people trying to mess with you and I dont' pay attention to most of them.. but like I was saying, sometimes they get behind me and tailgate me, or more recently, taunt me so it becomes more difficult to resist the temptation... =) I've even had guys in bigger AMG's and CLS500's lookin for a race.. a lot of times it's on the 110, which is curvy as hell and becomes racer city at night it seems.

I admit i got some road rage to begin with, but i keep it safe out there.. just wondering if there were some basic understandings I wasn't aware of and apparently there are..

 

Whoa there bro, whereabouts in Pasadena are you located? We just had a "Meet Crasher" easter party at PCC:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/189242-easter-party-crashing-galleria-mini-c-vs-m-meet-pics-56kdie.html

You're invited for the next one!

 

so when you race its over in 2.45 seconds assuming the speed limit is 30 mph? If it's posted 55 then your done at 4.7 seconds?

Just jabbing at ya and agreed take it to the track and don't endanger others with stupidity.

 

lol, i live in sf, and i get a lot of looks and rice flybys . But i dont really want to waste gas and time racing them !