BMW X5 vs Citroen C1 - What would you have done?

[PpPete]

[alert - not bike related]
Suburban street, just about three cars width.
Nice Area, Private School on one side.
School run time so there is a long line of Chelsea tractors parked along one side of road.

I'm approaching along the side with no parked cars - a couple of vehicles engaged in overtaking the row of parked cars, so I slow down almost to a standstill to let them through and get a polite wave, then accelerate again as my side of the road is now clear. Except Mr 4x4 coming the other way decides he can get through too. Comes right down the middle of the remaining two thirds of the road - seemingly intent on intimidating me in my tiny Citroen into backing up. No attempt to squeeze in close to the parked cars, not much reduction in speed until we are nose to nose.

I stand my ground - so does he, for a while. Finally he gets out of his car, and asks me to pull over onto grass verge between road and pavement so he can get past.

I'm thinking ....
a) my right of way
b) he hasn't even tried to squeeze into left so we can creep past each other (although it would be awfully "tight")
c) the "grass" verge is terribly muddy (probably chewed up by all the other chelsea tractors) and might swallow my 13" wheels
d) pulling on to the pavement, outside a school, when there might be kids running around, mums with pushchairs (actually there weren't, all the kids at that school are safely delivered encased in gas guzzling two ton steel and glass boxes) seems not a safe thing to do - and probably illegal.

on the other hand..... he's now got a row of cars behind him.

So what would YOU do.

 

[swee'pea99]

Tricky one. The row of cars behind him makes it near-impossible for you to tough it out. What an arse. If I wasn't in a hurry, I might well just sit on my bonnet and leave the ball in his court. Chances are, plod would end up coming, and when you explain the situation (which he could hardly dispute, given the position of your vehicles) give him a little instruction in when he gets/doesn't get to use 'your' side of the road.

 

[Crackle]

I voted stand my ground but I'm ever the practicalist so I'd have probably made my point, then reversed as I didn't have any cars behind me and he did, then flicked the V's as he went past

If he had no cars behind I might have waited him out and if I had cars behind and he didn't I definitely would. Depends on my mood really. A wry smile and a resigned shake of the head would be my reaction most of the time.

 

[fossyant]

He's got the car for grass, tell him to do it ! I'm assuming he is on the wrong side of the road. Grass might be a little struggle for an X5 though !

TBH I'd tell him to feck off. I'd also tell him I'm not getting my 'road' tyres muddy, nor am I bumping my alloys with low profiles up a curb.

 

[Markymark]

I stood my ground once, we waited for 10 minutes. I decided to be the bigger man.

 

[Brandane]

I try to avoid confrontation most of the time, but similar situations happen around here all the time due to the narrow streets. I spend 3 days a week driving a taxi around said streets, so I can confidently say I have to deal with this multiple times per day.
I voted for standing your ground. I would (and have - in similar circumstances) asked him where he got his driving licence from, and remind him that as the obstruction is on HIS side of the road and I have already given way to several other cars, that perhaps it might be courteous of him to take his BMW and shove it where the sun don't shine. I would then probably just tell him that I will do the reversing, as clearly his driving skills are limited and I wouldn't like to see him having to try and do it backwards.
These drivers of BMW X5s and similar overgrown Tonka toys really do seem to be full of attitude and lacking in driving skills. Pointless badges of wealth for the stupidly rich to wear with pride.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

We have parking space wars at my daughters School

The other day (Monday) I saw one parent in Bentley Continental GT (the VW derivative, not the 'proper' 90s Conti) try to get into a parking space that one of the mums was reversing into in a Audi Q7
There was some real hand gestures, & facial gestures going off

I was in the Panda, that day, so can get into most spaces (far prefer the Octavia though)

However, I really want a 101FC to do the school-run in
Nice grumbly V8, looks huge, but is shorter/narrower than a Mondeos, just tall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_101_Forward_Control


A friend used to have one, & they're shall we say 'interestning' to drive, with that gear shifter position.
The lack of power steering (& 9.00 x 16 tyres) makes parking a bit of a workout

 

[Fab Foodie]

As a fellow C1 driver ... I'd have stood my ground, (assuming I wasn't in a hurry). I expect the X5 driver was. There's no place for the bullying I'm bigger than you carp on the road.

 

[Koga]

[alert - not bike related]
Suburban street, just about three cars width.
Nice Area, Private School on one side.
School run time so there is a long line of Chelsea tractors parked along one side of road.

I'm approaching along the side with no parked cars - a couple of vehicles engaged in overtaking the row of parked cars, so I slow down almost to a standstill to let them through and get a polite wave, then accelerate again as my side of the road is now clear. Except Mr 4x4 coming the other way decides he can get through too. Comes right down the middle of the remaining two thirds of the road - seemingly intent on intimidating me in my tiny Citroen into backing up. No attempt to squeeze in close to the parked cars, not much reduction in speed until we are nose to nose.

I stand my ground - so does he, for a while. Finally he gets out of his car, and asks me to pull over onto grass verge between road and pavement so he can get past.

I'm thinking ....
a) my right of way
b) he hasn't even tried to squeeze into left so we can creep past each other (although it would be awfully "tight")
c) the "grass" verge is terribly muddy (probably chewed up by all the other chelsea tractors) and might swallow my 13" wheels
d) pulling on to the pavement, outside a school, when there might be kids running around, mums with pushchairs (actually there weren't, all the kids at that school are safely delivered encased in gas guzzling two ton steel and glass boxes) seems not a safe thing to do - and probably illegal.

on the other hand..... he's now got a row of cars behind him.

So what would YOU do.

Wait for a queue behind me !

What did you do in the end ?

 

[sheddy]

I think you did very well just to make him stop.

 

[Noodley]

I'd have called him a nobber.

 

[400bhp]

He's got the car for grass, tell him to do it ! I'm assuming he is on the wrong side of the road.

Shhh, don't tell em foss, 18 incher low profile tryes....mwuahaha....

 

[tyred]

It's at times like these that I wish I commute using a JCB

 

[XRHYSX]

I voted stand my ground but I'm ever the practicalist so I'd have probably made my point, then reversed as I didn't have any cars behind me and he did, then flicked the V's as he went past

If he had no cars behind I might have waited him out and if I had cars behind and he didn't I definitely would. Depends on my mood really. A wry smile and a resigned shake of the head would be my reaction most of the time.

He's got the car for grass, tell him to do it ! I'm assuming he is on the wrong side of the road. Grass might be a little struggle for an X5 though !

TBH I'd tell him to feck off. I'd also tell him I'm not getting my 'road' tyres muddy, nor am I bumping my alloys with low profiles up a curb.

I like these, may have to remember this if/when I get in to this situation, I don't drive the car much these days, I don't get many stand offs when I'm in my lorry

 

[400bhp]

In a perfect world I wouldn't budge.

But the world isn't perfect and unfortunately proving a point means inconveniencing other drivers that are waiting behind you/him.

I am a really stubborn plank at times though....