My ethics professor [too many years ago] related a story of someone in Indianapolis doing a cross town drive with two versions. First he drove it on a weekday rush hour in a friendly style, obeying limits and common safety. The next day at the same hour he did the same trip in an aggressive, take every possible chance to save a second, tail gate and 'win' style. The result was a trip that took 45 seconds less than the day before. That is one of the nice things about Jacksonville vs. S. Florida. The drivers are nice. In a year of turning left out of out road onto the main road we have yet to have to wait to be let out when traffic is slow. The 'record' for the year is two cars going by before one stopped to let us out. That would have been worth leaving S. Florida/Miami traffic for. BillR Jacksonville FL 1981 300SD EM 270072 miles [until I go to church this morning]
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Chase Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 1:47 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] 240 vs SD Go Tom, You're speaking my language. And LT Don, I know what you mean with the drivers nearly hitting ya due to their innatention/impatience/self-importance. I drive a standard shift, and most people are just not expecting that shift to come, and their headlights disappear behind my trunk. I know one day I'm going to get bumped and you better believe I will prosecute. Brain-dead behavior like that deserves punishment. While I haven't yet gotten to drive my 240D more than a few hundred miles (but will soon - the engine swap should be done next week), I know too well about this phenomenon simply because I choose to drive in what I consider a reasonable manner. I don't see the need to stand on the accelerator by default. Intead, I relinquish a few (often zero) seconds of my day in favor of saving fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle, and generally not behaving like a gibbon behind the wheel. It's funny to see people passing me with white-hot fury only to turn off in a few blocks. They have saved anywhere from 5 - 15 seconds and have shit on their fellow man in the process. Driving does funny things to people indeed. I agree with Tom. Let 'em suffer. If someone tailgates or otherwise intentionally disrespects me I will go out of my way to inconvenience them more. Conversely, if they show common courtesy and intelligence behind the wheel, I will actually spend some of my fuel to make their day a bit nicer. Brian 83 240D (fast enough) 84 Saab 900 (more than fast enough) 68 Dodge Coronet 500 (helps me speak softly) http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
