Okay, before I begin, let me say that I hate tailgaters, whether they are in motion or stopped behind you. I especially get annoyed by people who just have to stop (what appears to be) inches behind you while at a stop light. If I can't see their headlights in my rearview mirror, then they are too close. I do not understand what kind of advantage these people think they are gaining by inching forward toward my rear bumper--makes me paranoid. There have been cases where I feel they have tapped my bumper because they are freaking so close to me. One case in particular I had to pull over to see if my bumper was touched--that's how close I felt they were to me! Anyhow, here is my question. If, say, you are at a stoplight and you feel the car is too close on your rear. In fact, it's inching forward, as if to express impatience with the redlight. If that person even slightly (key word is "slightly") taps your rear bumper, would you be able to notice it. By that, I mean feel it or hear it? (Suppose this car you're driving in is an 89 245.) I guess I'm trying to figure out if people can actually hit you and you not being aware of it.

On a slightly different note. I know when driving a sedan or any car with a trunk, an object behind the car may seem closer than it actually is. But is that the same for a wagon? I figure since that the wagon has a flat back, objects that seem close are in fact too damn close. Is that true?