Do running lights cause road rage?

[once&futureaudi]

I have a new (March delivery) S5. I don't think I drive the car particularly aggressively. However, the car seems to provoke road rage in otherwise normal drivers, particularly when you come up behind them/pass them. I wonder if it is the rather intense running lights, which create kind of a menacing look (car is gunmetal grey). This includes regular soccer moms in minivans (or so it seems). I could have alreadly paid for the car if I had $1 for every raised middle finger. Also every kid in a hopped-up honda etc wants to race me, which I guess is more understandable. Anyone having the same experience? I thought about turning off the running lights (per a british car mag, which similarly considered them over the top and rather garish) but an experienced race driver friend said they are bright for a purpose, ie, so they can see you coming. Thoughts? PS I LOVE the car. No, really, I LOOVVVEE the car.

[quattro.it]

That's interesting I never thought of that. I guess they might though since the front end of an S5 (or A5 S-Line) is pretty mean looking. BMW's have halo's which probably have a similar effect. I think it's just that they are new and people aren't used to seeing them. What are these called anyway beside's DRL's? They might even think you did this ligth treatment to your car yourself to be a pr**k. Tough s**t, I'd leave them on. There will be a lot more of these on the road once the B8 A4 hits the ground.

[phEight]

Leave them on! All of those people must be jealous or something. I remember crusing with my freind in his m3 and we didn't even do anything. We were driving normal and I think just cause we were young people would flick us off for no good reason. Anyways the DRL look amazing on the S5. Congrats

[Tiesto]

With all the SUVs sitting up way too high and morons mounting HIDs in Halogen housing with no vertical cutoff I don't see how they can't be used to it by now.

Btw if they give you the finger flash your highbeams, give them a taste of some real brightness.

[switchface]

Ah, the power of the eyes!! Seriously, this is one of my favorite things. Was always jealous of how the halo eyes look on BMWs, now the im obsessed with this look on the s5.

<--- (see avatar)

[marcus1701]

there's no reason for that....if it becomes a problem you should just tint your windows. Don't opt to disable the lights....I think more people will give you funny looks if you do so.

[1000songs]

It's not your running lights, unless you have your brights on! I only get:

1. Nice car
2. Thumbs up
3. Passengers breaking their necks to take a look
4. Two thumbs up

[A4_Mike]

Please leave them on. I have seen an S5 once or twice on the highway and I must say they look menacing, but those DRL's make the car so unique and fresh. Like already alluded to before, the DRL's actually play a safety role in that people are more aware that you are behind them.

If someone gives you the bird, it more than likely is not directly due to the DRL's but more of a gesture to indicate how much they hate you for having such an elegant, classy, yet bada$$ of a car.

[Coderedpl]

When I see an S5 or A5 or just those LIGHTS, i slow down and move to the next lane if the car is behind me, next thing you will see from me is a thumbs up :)

[Overboostin]

Keep the lights on, they're so fly.

[Louis J.]

It has absolutely nothing to do with your lights, unfortunately, it's the car. This is just what happens when you drive a not-so-common performance car. I've experienced this with a few cars in the past and yes, it particularly attracts soccer moms, ricers and North American beaters that are falling apart. I bet if you visit Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo etc. forums there will be at least one or two threads about the subject. Just be happy that at some point your car will become more common and this will probably become less prevalent. Your problem right now is that the car is very new and somewhat "exotic".