The Weenie-Mobile Syndrome

I got a rental car when I took my Explorer into the shop for repairs.  

It would be nice if they gave me something comparable to what I drive.  Some small to mid-sized SUV, like that awesome Jeep Grand Cherokee the rental company gave me for a week after the Alero got totaled.  That thing was NICE!  But, of course, the only reason they gave me such a nice rental that time around is that they made a mistake and upgraded me as an apology.  This time, since there were no mistakes, I got the cheap "weenie-mobile" rental that is covered by insurance.

Harrumph.

It is a Mazda2.  When Bill got home on the first night we had it, he laughingly pointed out that he'd had no idea that Mazda made anything smaller than the Mazda3.  He jokingly asked why I didn't just get the Mazda1.5?  Ha ha, funny man.

This car is seriously small.  It is rather ridiculous that it actually has 4 doors.  Looking at it, it doesn't look like there is enough room under the hood to actually house a motor, and the "boot" is nearly non-existent.  But it gets me from point A to point B, so I guess it will have to do until my car comes back home.

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon while driving it, however.  I call it "The Weenie-Mobile Syndrome".

I drive the same roads to and from work every day.  I drive the same speeds that I have been accustomed to driving in my Explorer, except now I am in a little fluff of a car.  The difference is, now everyone is blasting past me like I am some annoying little bug in their way!  When I am in my Explorer (going the exact same speeds on the exact same roads, mind you), no one tries to pass me... in fact, I am the one passing others right and left!  (I may have forgotten to mention that I drive on the fast side of the speed limit; just under the cop's "Holy Crap!  I've got to stop that maniac!" tolerance levels)

Since I have not changed my driving habits, I can only conclude that people react differently around "Weenie-Mobiles" than they do around SUVs.  I told Bill about this, and he said "Now you know how I feel!"

He drives a LARGE work truck.  Something in between a large dually and a semi tractor in size.

Think about your driving habits around large work trucks.  Don't you hustle to get in front of them in order to avoid having to stop behind them at a light?  I admit, I am guilty of it.  Bill says people cut him off ALL THE TIME.  But, I hadn't realized that people are contemptuous of little "weenie-mobiles" and it shows up in their driving.

It's a good thing this is temporary.  I can't wait to get my own car back!