People are stalking me when driving the Evora.

[Allan Gibbs]

I live in Gilbert, Arizona which is about 30 miles east of downtown Phoenix. It’s not a small city. It’s predominantly middle class, upper middle class, and upper class. Cars are usually domestic cars, pick trucks, and SUVs. Recently, I think I may have attracted a stalker or stalkers who’ve tried to follow me home. Not being born yesterday, I tend to be aware of what’s going on around me and:

On Friday, January 25th around 4:00 p.m., I notice a red Mustang GT following me but keeping way back. Usually, far back given the 45 mph speed limit. Instead of going home, I had to another housing community opposite of where I live. About 300 yards after I turn, I see the Mustang turn. So, I make another right turn off the semi-main street into some housing communities. A cul-de-sac actually. I make a U-turn and wait. Sure enough the Mustang turns into the cul-de-sac as I start to leave. (Basically, faked him out). I pull right next to him and he doesn’t look my way but appears to be on a cell phone. I cross the semi-main street into another housing community and wait again. He never passed by. I figure he knows he was caught and left.

On Saturday, February 2nd, a white pickup truck is following me. Again, instead of heading into my own housing community, I go towards another. Again, I see him following me. I lose him but as I come up to another street. A white pickup truck either blocks the street or is trying to make a bad 3 point turn. It didn’t occur to me this was the same person (I mean, how many white pickup trucks are there in Arizona). So, after about 5 seconds with him standing there, I squeeze around him. I see him following me so I turn into the same housing community here the Mustang incident happened. Pick up speed, pull into more housing communities, and loose him permenantly.

Turns out exclusivity is a double edged sword. Ironically, I was one of the first Lotus Elise owners in Arizona in 2004 and lived about 2 miles from where I do now and never had a problem like this. Since the Evora came out, I’ve only seen one which was near Galpin (probably for a test ride). So, my concern is that the local community knows the routes I’m traveling and when. My Evora’s usually my daily driver. It’s one thing to admire a car but I’m going to draw the line with people following me to see where I live…and probably throw rocks or something.

Call me paranoid but now I NEVER pull into my garage if there’s a car that’s driving by.

So, if anything ever happens to me, avenge me my Lotus brothers.

[zachlantow]

This sort of thing happens to me every once in a while. I'm sure most people are just following to check out the car, maybe take pictures, or ask me questions when I pull into a store or something. If I'm headed home, I usually keep an eye out for people following me. I only do this because I keep the Elise in a very small (12x16) exterior garage/workshop. I've since added a lock to the garage door, and a deadbolt on the side door. I also added a new camera to my security system located inside the shop. I also re-aimed one of my other cameras that usually covers my greenhouse/side entrance to cover part of the shop.

I'm sure most of the cars I see following me are not planning to do anything negative, but I live in an area that is not the greatest - and I've had my run-ins/issues with people breaking into other cars, or even threatening my family. Nothing has happened to the Elise, but I like to keep the car on the down-low (even if it is Krypton Green and I daily drove it for two years up until I got my other car).

[JohnnySniper]

I've had a few people follow me around, mostly in very red-neck pickup trucks. I'll usually stop in a busy parking lot and they drive away.

One time a guy followed me to my uncle's house. That was very awkward.

[driftwood]

i had someone follow me home as well (& normally i'm pretty observant of that stuff now with the lotus)

he was on a motorcycle & when i pulled in he sort of pulled in with me...

first thing he said was 'sorry, i'm not trying to be a stalker'... so at least he acknowledged that it was weird

he told me him & his little boy (who wasn't riding with him at the time) always get excited when they saw the Elise around town since they never get to see those & he just wanted to tell me that he really liked my car & that it was cool to see it cruising around town... really harmless stuff in the end

but i live very close to a high school so any time I see students walking near my place on the way to/from school ill usually roll by & take a detour till they are a ways away before i pull into the garage (I just don't trust kids that age at all)

[Secret Chimp]

That is scary! Someone could be planning to steal your car. Or, you are being surveilled by a govt agency. Or, maybe you are imagining things? Could be any of the above!

The first thing you should do is change your daily path to/from work. Perhaps make a stop at a Starbucks or a grocery store before you go home each day for the next week or two. If you still notice people following you, you should most certainly alert the authorities.

I've been followed a few times over the years. One time, when I noticed I was being followed, I drove to the local PD and parked my car in their lot. The guy following me didn't have the guts to follow me into that lot! The other time (or series of times), I noticed some kids in a lowered Civic following me around. I was driving an Integra Type R and it was a huge theft magnet at the time (back in 2001). I did the same sort of thing you described in your message. But one day, I drove home from work, got out of my car, and the kids drove right by my house. So i decided to store my car at my parents place for a little while. My parents thought I was crazy! After a few days, I decided it was ok to bring the car back to my place. Wouldn't you know it, that same night, it was broken into and someone tried to steal it! Good thing I had a manual kill wired to the fuel pump! They still managed to steal $15k worth of parts though!

[driftwood]

Originally Posted by Secret Chimp

I've been followed a few times over the years. One time, when I noticed I was being followed, I drove to the local PD and parked my car in their lot. The guy following me didn't have the guts to follow me into that lot! The other time (or series of times), I noticed some kids in a lowered Civic following me around. I was driving an Integra Type R and it was a huge theft magnet at the time. I did the same sort of thing you described in your message. But one day, I drove home from work, got out of my car, and the kids drove right by my house. So i decided to store my car at my parents place for a little while. My parents thought I was crazy! After a few days, I decided it was ok to bring the car back to my place. Wouldn't you know it, that same night, it was broken into and someone tried to steal it! Good thing I had a manual kill wired to the fuel pump! They still managed to steal $15k worth of parts though!

yeah that Honda scene is littered with scumbags... funny enough, the civic I own now had been stolen from the previous owner. bone stock without a hint of modifications & they still took the CAT & stock stereo/speakers before the cops were able to find the car it & return it

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by Secret Chimp

That is scary! Someone could be planning to steal your car. Or, you are being surveilled by a govt agency. Or, maybe you are imagining things? Could be any of the above!

You know, ever time I go to my son's football games and one of the teams goes into a huddle and I'm sure they're talking about me. I'm not paranoid am I?

I suspect they think the Evora is a Ferrari or something mega expensive and just want to see where the guy live - which I find offensive if they're stalking me. Or, on top of that, maybe they want to throw rocks or something like that when they do find out where I live. I doubt it's car theft. It's not like there's a huge market for Evora parts. And, the guy who blocked the road had the chance to carjack me. Hey, they can have it. Just don't bring it back.

Oh, I'll be using my motorcycle for the next few weeks just to break my usual pattern. It's prime motorcycle weather here and in a few months, it will be too hot.

[David Craig]

I sometimes notice a car following me. I'm not too concerned about it.

If I am about to pull into my driveway though I will usually go around the block once or twice to lose them.

Once while travelling in the US, some young guys pulled into a Walmart parking lot beside me. They immediately said that they were "sort of stalking me". After a short conversation I could see that they were harmless so I let them sit in the car and take some photos.

[RENDERMAN]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

I live in Gilbert, Arizona which is about 30 miles east of downtown Phoenix. It’s not a small city. It’s predominantly middle class, upper middle class, and upper class. Cars are usually domestic cars, pick trucks, and SUVs. Recently, I think I may have attracted a stalker or stalkers who’ve tried to follow me home. Not being born yesterday, I tend to be aware of what’s going on around me and:

On Friday, January 25th around 4:00 p.m., I notice a red Mustang GT following me but keeping way back. Usually, far back given the 45 mph speed limit. Instead of going home, I had to another housing community opposite of where I live. About 300 yards after I turn, I see the Mustang turn. So, I make another right turn off the semi-main street into some housing communities. A cul-de-sac actually. I make a U-turn and wait. Sure enough the Mustang turns into the cul-de-sac as I start to leave. (Basically, faked him out). I pull right next to him and he doesn’t look my way but appears to be on a cell phone. I cross the semi-main street into another housing community and wait again. He never passed by. I figure he knows he was caught and left.

On Saturday, February 2nd, a white pickup truck is following me. Again, instead of heading into my own housing community, I go towards another. Again, I see him following me. I lose him but as I come up to another street. A white pickup truck either blocks the street or is trying to make a bad 3 point turn. It didn’t occur to me this was the same person (I mean, how many white pickup trucks are there in Arizona). So, after about 5 seconds with him standing there, I squeeze around him. I see him following me so I turn into the same housing community here the Mustang incident happened. Pick up speed, pull into more housing communities, and loose him permenantly.

Turns out exclusivity is a double edged sword. Ironically, I was one of the first Lotus Elise owners in Arizona in 2004 and lived about 2 miles from where I do now and never had a problem like this. Since the Evora came out, I’ve only seen one which was near Galpin (probably for a test ride). So, my concern is that the local community knows the routes I’m traveling and when. My Evora’s usually my daily driver. It’s one thing to admire a car but I’m going to draw the line with people following me to see where I live…and probably throw rocks or something.

Call me paranoid but now I NEVER pull into my garage if there’s a car that’s driving by.

So, if anything ever happens to me, avenge me my Lotus brothers.

I got you covered bro!!

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by RENDERMAN

I got you covered bro!!

Thanks. I often think that if I installed the gun rack, I'd blend in better.

[El Dude]

That's creepy man, I'm usually aware of my surroundings as well and will take extra turns to see if people follow. They assume we're rich and are probably trying to find the next home to burgalarize. Check out, what's going on in your area in terms of crime.

http://www.crimemapping.com/map.aspx

Stay aware!

[squidward]

I don't have this problem because I've got a home/office in a ghetto@ss part of town literally one street over from skid row here so they stop following as I navigate the smaller streets and alleys between warehouses and factories. But I know what you mean people usually are just curious and want to get close to the car to read the name so by trying to get away from them you are inadvertly influence their "following" behavior. Offer them a good view then you'll know if they're really following you or not by how they respond.


Sent from AutoGuide.com App

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

Thanks. I often think that if I installed the gun rack, I'd blend in better.

[happy2behere]

In my chrome elise, I really hated individuals taking pics, following me, or the worst asking how much the vehicle cost. It really did not bother me as much as my wife but she hates individuals doing acts like that, due to the fact she is a government employ and she did not want her co workers think she was high budget. I hate when individuals have the impression that a lotus is a lambo or judge individuals for the vehicles they drive.
Sorry, but for your post either your worried which can be true with individuals following you or try stopping at safe location and just say hi to them with a 40 on the side just to make sure ur safe.

[happy2behere]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

what mag is that>

[addertooth]

Happy2behere,
That is called the "highschoolbullybuster" mag.

Down in my part of Arizona I have only seen one (Storm Titanium) Evora. I saw it on HW90 about a week ago at 7:15 A.M.; even I almost did a U-turn to get a better look.
People are curious, the car is unusual; being gawked at and even followed is expected.
I can't count how many times the car has been approached in a parking lot, or photographed and videod on the road. I read the "exotic car code of conduct" shortly after the car was purchased. Although not all the "codes" click with me, I try to be approachable and friendly. I don't want the public to think Lotus owners are pricks. Thankfully, my GF kinda digs the attention. When I ask her which car she wants to go out in, she will frequently say "Let's take the Lotus, I feel like being a movie star today".
The attention the car gets is just another of it's quirks/charms.

[Drew09]

Originally Posted by addertooth

When I ask her which car she wants to go out in, she will frequently say "Let's take the Lotus, I feel like being a movie star today".

My wife doesn't want to take anything but the Lotus. I always ask what car she wants to take and she always replies: "That's a stupid question"

[Allan Gibbs]

Thanks. Having an Elise when it first arrived in the State, I'm use to the attention, people hovering in your blind spot, circling around your car when park, and/or taking pictures. It's just I draw the line when people try to find out where I live. I mean, if it were a hot-looking, twenty-something year old girl and my wife and son weren't home, I'd probably make an exception. But, there were guys in their late 20s to mid-30s and, I'm sorry, but that's not the type of stalker I'm looking for.

[Vulcan Grey]

Originally Posted by Secret Chimp

I was driving an Integra Type R and it was a huge theft magnet at the time (back in 2001). I did the same sort of thing you described in your message. But one day, I drove home from work, got out of my car, and the kids drove right by my house. So i decided to store my car at my parents place for a little while. My parents thought I was crazy! After a few days, I decided it was ok to bring the car back to my place. Wouldn't you know it, that same night, it was broken into and someone tried to steal it! Good thing I had a manual kill wired to the fuel pump! They still managed to steal $15k worth of parts though!

Back in '97 when the Integra Type-R first came out and nobody, except the Gran Turismo gamers, knew what it was, I saw one while driving my 89 Integra with a friend. We actually followed him to his house and had a nice conversation, he showed us the car, and was definitely knowledgeable about it. I'm glad he didn't run and grab a gun!

I often have people follow the Esprit, or stop me in parking lots and gas stations to ask all kinds of questions. All of them have been friendly, probably because I am friendly too, and not standoffish.

If someone is following me home I try to loose them before pulling in the garage.

I have had some really sketchy people ring my doorbell when I left the garage open for a few min. They probably saw the car driving by my cul-de-sac and a few have tried to "sell me something" to get a look inside the house

[komiko]

Hmmmm... not the type of stalker you are looking for...? shoot me a PM. I run a business that matches sociopathic maniacs to their CORRECT type victims. "The right stalker for you!" (is our motto).
Just kidding.