I recognize appreciating cool machines, I really do. I’ve just never been able to wrap my head around being a car guy. Spending huge chunks of change on a car, consistently modifying it, watching car shows all the time. I just dont get it. What’s the big draw for you?
I-I’m not? Am I? Oh god what kind of car am I?
Childhood.
Hi, car gal here with other car gal friends. My uncle (mechanic) was my main babysitter when I was a kid. I used to watch him overhaul a clutch as he said each procedure out loud to see if I was paying attention and encouraged me to ask questions.
He would take me and my cousins to car shows, tire shops and car dealerships (when they’re closed). We learned to appreciate different types of vehicles and languages from him; it’s kinda hard to read a manual if you don’t know German.Also, my uncle kept plenty of Legos and Matchbox cars in his shop for us to play with – they were my favorite toys.
Then one day, I discovered boys.
Oil changes and smelling like Lava soap with a hint of sweat weren’t my thing anymore. My first purchase was with my first boyfriend, we bought a beat up old boat for $500.
Today, I still prefer cars with the best turning radius. I will never underestimate an I4 or choose a V6 over it without careful consideration; I do love being behind the wheel of an I6. Some people will pay an extra $4,000 for Vrooom (PSE system) while others like me would rather spend the money on Kevlar tires and strict scheduled maintenance.
Different strokes for different folks – that’s what personalization is about.
When I was a kid, I watched Ayrton Senna drive a McLaren F1 car. Not long after that, my dad showed me an AC Cobra.
I just think they’re neat honestly. feel similarly about boats and trains and well executed meals and nice interior design.
That’s a pretty reasonable answer haha.
Personally it’s the apperciation of design, craftsmanship, the mechanics, and the fun that cars can create. Modification is a form of self expression for me. Building and racing machines that dominate their rivals scratches a competitive itch. Then there’s the primal enjoyment of having something powerful as a car under your direct command that’s intoxicating.
And of course watching shows for inspiration, or entertainment watching others achieve what I personally cannot.
The competition aspect makes alot of sense. Especially when I consider both the preparation and execution go into it. I think if I was the builder I’d HAVE to be the driver/racer too though.
I thought that when I got started, but I really enjoy the building and briefly enjoy the results. Then I’m happy for the owner to take it away while I cross my fingers that it all keeps working.
It’s equal parts problem solving, fine motor skills, and perseverance that keep me working on old cars. That’s why I’m not at a dealership or quick turnaround repair place.
It’s also why I’m poor
Its a pretty broad question, like asking why you like video games or shows. Different people like different aspects of cars. Some use cars as a canvas to shape their car in a specific way that expresses their tastes. Others for their mechanical abilities.
Personally I like the driving experience. I appreciate a built up car, more then just a car bought with huge chunks of money. It shows more effort and personality of the owner tuning their car for a specific purpose. I also like a nice show car. Its like an art piece.
I do enjoy going to car shows actually. I can agree that its usually more impressive to see something built up than something expensive from the dealer. I guess I recognize its a hobby as any other, just most curious about the draw to that specific hobby. Good response!
I used to be kinda into cars, and am friends with other car guys. The draw oftentimes is being exposed to them at a young age via someone they’re close to. As others have stated the reasons for being drawn to them vary greatly. They may appreciate the mechanical nature, the power they can create, the driving experience, the community, travel, the satisfaction from building and/or maintaining your own vehicle, etc.
I used to have a 2015 Camaro, which wasn’t a supercar by any means, but still decently sporty. I forget the trim package, but it had a V6 and 6spd manual, but that was enough for me. It wasn’t until I drove it around a while (the crafty salesperson let me take it home and drive it around over a holiday), but I truly understood the appeal. At least in my car, it felt like sitting in a race cockpit, rather than a regular driver’s seat. It’s not just about fast, either. The way the car handled was much different than other vehicles I had driven. It hugged the road much better and even just taking banked bends and interchanges on highways felt much smoother. The manual transmission also helped with the experience, as it gives you greater control over the speed and acceleration (I know modern automatics are faster, but manual is still more fun). Seeing and hearing a cool car is fun and all, but driving a car meant for performance is an experience in itself. Also, my Camaro had a HUD projected onto the windshield, which 100% sold me on it, lol.
It’s a blend of art and engineering. I don’t appreciate a lot of traditional art. Music, movies and TV, but not theater or paintings or most sculpture. But a good looking car just draws your eyes to it like an attractive person, but it’s rude to stare at people. It’s almost rude to NOT stare at a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
Then there’s the beauty of the engineering. Thousands of parts working together to make one beautiful machine do what it’s supposed to do. It’s like how society is supposed to work. But instead of a GT3 RS, we’ve got a '96 Dodge neon with no working starter, only two working forward gears, a door that won’t open and electrical issues.
In today’s world it’s harder and harder to justify being a car guy, but I’ve loved em since I can remember.
Edit: I would add to that, the same feelings I have about cars being a blend of art and engineering, is the same reason I have a great respect for architecture. True great architecture is also a blend of art and engineering. You can replace the Porsche with Notre Dame, while the F-150 can be replaced with a modern factory. Utilitarian garbage.
That’s an excellent answer I respect the engineering a ton as well.
There was one time I almost got in trouble with a gf at the time. I was driving and I saw an F430 driving the opposite direction, and I said “oh fuck, I’d kill to be inside you.” Apparently there was an attractive woman on the sidewalk at the same time, but on the opposite side. She said “EXCUSE ME?!?” Then as I looked at her from the opposite direction, she realized I didn’t notice the attractive girl, “you were talking about a car, huh?” I hadn’t noticed the girl, and she hadn’t noticed the car. I’ve never seen eyes roll harder than that.
Not a car guy, but it makes more sense to me than people who collect expensive watches. At least a car is fun to drive and goes vroom. A rolex is just some jewelery for guys.
That’s true, both can be used as status symbols. At least with a watch, once you buy it, mission complete. No need to go throwing new gears in it to make it tick louder.
But still kind the same…the guys i know that are into watches dont buy just one and done. They are collectors. Like one for each type of outfit almost. So this could compare to buying numerous car parts. And there’s always the unobtainable dream watch that probably costs as much as a nice car…
I don’t collect watches, but I appreciate really well designed mechanical/analog devices. I think spending money on brand names is stupid, but I honestly would love an intricate self winding watch.
Not a watch, but check out the mechanics in this cassette player. I love anything like this.
Wow, thats pretty sweet.
Just another form of expression and status. Think of it like fashion. We “wear” our cars for a big chunk of our lives.
Yeah, thats the main understanding I have of it. Just seems like an odd way to express your personality.
Just wait til we’re cyborgs. How do you express your personality?
Hopefully with a metal back that doesn’t hurt all the time.
Don’t forget to upgrade to the “shiny metal ass” package while you’re at it. You’ll thank me later.
I’ve been into cars as art from the moment I saw a Lamborghini. I view the mechanical work/modifications as a means to an end rather than the fun part.
I’ve not done a ton of performance upgrades, but I’ve upgraded my clutch to a ceramic and now, every time I shift, I get a more satisfying feel. It’s even better knowing I made that improvement myself.
Most of it comes down to the sense of pride and accomplishment I get from the finished result.
Why do you like your hobbies? I am not a car guy but talk to me about hunting rifles and I’ll never shut up.
I get the question is kind of nebulous. I’ve gotten some great answers though!
When I was young I enjoyed working on cars because they were complex enough to be interesting and affordable enough to do as a hobby. Like my first car in the 90s was a beat up 280z I bought for $500 and I spent a few hundred bucks making it slightly less beat up plus a new radio and speakers! Lived a few miles out of town, and connected with my first long term girlfriend by giving her rides home.
As time went on I had some other fun csr projects, including painting up the car I bought from an old lady who drove it to church on Sundays like a dairy cow while using it for deliveries. Eventually bought an 8 year old Honda Civic Si and did the sound system swap again and worked on that too. Again, didn’t poor a lot of money into it but loved working on it to improve some things and might have if I had more money available.
Now I have a three year old vehicle that is super reliable and complex enough that I don’t plan on doing anything to it beyond attaching stuff to make it useful. I would love to buy a 20+ year old model vehicle and convert it to electric but that kind of stuff is way beyond my resources and paying someone to do it wouldn’t be as fun. There is just something really satisfying about maintaining complex machinery that I use almost every day.
I should get an e bike but I am afraid of other drivers.
Car go VROOOOOOM. But also points at name. A family member was an accident reconstructist. I attended both public car shows and private car crash tests as a kid. My name was proudly created by me at 6 years old when I had to come up with a unique username for AOL. The two Z’s are symbols of two mangled, wrecked… carzz.
VROOOOOOM!
I like hearing them purr and watching their zoomies
Do you like to drive?
For the most part yes. But when I didn’t have much money cars were like my enemy.
I can totally understand that, it’s not cheap to drive a car. I really don’t consider myself a ‘car guy’ but I do like to go for a drive. I like to go around corners fast, I like to find an empty country road and see where it ends. I don’t think working on cars is fun, most of the time. But I do most of the work on my vehicles to save money, rarely do I add anything aftermarket.
