Car Enthusiast?

[Johnnyvav]

I was driving to work yesterday morning and my mind started to wander off in my thoughts (no, not about Hooters Girls). I looked around all the cars driving on 495 and realized the obvious, the overwhelming majority of personal vehicles are just a means or a tool for their owners to get from point A to point B. I could not see any obvious signs of "pride of ownership".

Out of nowhere I notice a cute girl, (stop the porno music, this isn't that kind of story) in a mini cooper S driving along side of me. The car was very clean, armoral on the tires, it looked great. So I think to myself, this girl really values her car and appreciates a fine automobile.

But then I wonder ..... How many mini cooper forums does she belong to? How many car shows has she entered her car in? How many times has she brought her "supercharged" mini to the track? How many mini cooper Meet & Greets has she been to? How often does she spend on the internet sharing performance & cosmetic tips with her fellow mini cooper buddies? How many times does she smoke the crap out of her tires simply because she can? I am afraid the answer to all of those questions is NONE.

After pondering these questions I realized their is still a major difference between those who have "pride of ownership" & Appreciation of fine automobiles verse the members of this forum.

We are Car Enthusiasts. Do we have appreciation for fine automobiles? Sure but it is much more than that. Whether we are ready to admit it or not, nice cars are part of our lifestyle & can partially define who we are. Think of all the questions I pondered above about the mini cooper girl. Think of how much time you spend in car related activities. We are car enthusiasts & we are a rare breed.

Is this a flaw or a gift?

[Hemi31]

a sickness.

[JarZ]

Yes Erik - or maybe an addiction

Good post Johnny. I don't know - I love cars and always have and I admire people who take their car a step further and even if I'll never reach the same point, I enjoy now doing a few things to make the car "my own" and no longer how it came from the factory. I do think it's important to not let it take over your life as it's such a minor thing in the grand scheme of things. But for a hobby, it's pretty dang great.

[MagnumRT2SRT8]

I will always feel that some people are "maintainers" and some people are " buy a new one" in their mentality. I will always feel that car enthusiasts think about cars as much as they do sex.......every 4-5 seconds

[bklynmag]

What I find funny are the non-enthusiasts that just don't get it!

[Eagle3t]

That is why we are all here. We have the pride, joy and admiration of ours and each others rides... Fortunately, we are all gifted flaws....

[curlie39]

That is why we are all here. We have the pride, joy and admiration of ours and each others rides... Fortunately, we are all gifted flaws....

X2 Not only do I enjoy working on my car it brings back alot of great memories for me. And to know and hangout with people with the same passion as me is great

[moparknighthawk]

What I find funny are the non-enthusiasts that just don't get it!

Non-enthusiasts make up 80-90% of the car buying public. Us enthusiasts are a minority. Too bad for the others, they don't know what they are missing.

[SublimeTime]

Great post Johnny. I think we have all witnessed this at some point or another. Great examples are when we go to any M&G where there are a mix of old and new and our LX's draw so much interest. Questions after questions. Then they realize they perform as well as they look and really open there eyes and ears. Perfect example was yesterday at Staples c ruise here in VT. Lots of questions from all types of people.

Hawk was right: They don't know what they are missing.

Erik says "sickness"? Yep, i've been "sick" since I met you guys. lol

Jarz says addiction. Yep, right there too.

This forum has been an awesome tool thanks to all the people and their knowledge. I know I have bent quite a few ears with all my ?'s. Thanks to all. PEACE\/

Gary N

[Mach1Racer]

My wife and I have four cars. I think we have the sickness expecially as my cars are under covers everyday, they are overly maintained and I wash my SRT8 daily driver at minimum 3-4 times a week because I can't stand my car with a spot of dirt. People don't understand when I tell them I spend all kinds of cash to lower my car and now I have to be super careful with it everywhere I drive it, people don't understand why I bought a brand new Mustang GT to gut the interior, add a cage, a trick suspension and huge brakes to drive around a road coarse with a bunch of other guys/girls, as fast as I can, over and over and over and not take home any kind of cash prizes. Why I need a truck and a trailer to tow my brand new car to the track just in case I break it while senslessly driving it around over and over and over....People just don't understand our sickness and I am really sick!

[curlie39]

What really get's me is when you start talking about your car and what youve done to it with someone who doesnt get it and you get that I have no clue what your talking about look Sad very very sad I tell you

[MikeEast]

Yup, the 'appliance-drivers' outnumber us by a huuuge margin indeed. It's pretty sad.

My CNL's Mom exemplifies the genre to a 't' - after I got my Zoomers on - "Why did you do that? It's sounds like an old truck now!" (Does NOT either! ) I just smile and say "Yup, and I paid extra for that too!"

Turn it on and steer, never read the manual, only get oil changes when reminded, drive it through the car wash and then bitch about the swirl marks. She treats a car pretty much the same as her toaster.

Thanks to LXForums and it's members I know way more about this car than any other car I've ever had, ever - and it's turned out quite nice I think, it handles way better than stock, has a LOT more power than stock, sounds way better than stock - and it's MINE!

How's that go? "This is my Magnum, there are many others like her, but this one is mine."

And as far as I know, it's the only Magnum in the country (world?) running Redline tires.

Mike