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?
Driving is fun. Driving events are even more fun. It gets me out of the house even on rainy crappy days.
I like Driving scenic roads.
I love mechanical things that give feedback. Since everything like that has been removed now because of technology ( no vcrs. No reel to reels, no projectors. Heck mosy people type on an ipad now so keyboards are becomibg less of a thing for normal people) its one of the last remaining visceral mechanical experiences.
It also helps i mostly only drive manual rwd cars.
Now do I like traffic or ever expanding suburban nightmare roads designed for Karen that drives her $100k escalade around? No. Ban that shit.
I’m not. I don’t drive and never want to drive. I hate it.
Here’s one who always liked customising the daily driver computers - Sway, custom configs, painting the laptop cover with very permanent enamel paint. Reasons are to make it run reliably, serving my preferences and looking nice and cared for.
Similar reasons apply with the car and motorcycle, only with the car it’s not cheap fun (bike stuff is actually very reasonably priced). But I figured since I get paid every month, I’m going to use money on what sparks joy. And I’m keeping it sensible, only one car and bike at a time :}
After working on them professionally I stopped liking them. I don’t even really like driving anymore. Everything about a car is a scam.
I always say “I love driving which is why I hate driving anywhere.” I would love to have a fleet of vehicles I could really drive but laws, traffic, maintenance, etc. Driving isn’t fun in the same way other things are because you need a lot of space or a lot of money to enjoy it. Drawing? I can do that with a No. 2 I swiped from IKEA. Can’t exactly take my commuter to Monza without running up a bill.
Can you elaborate on the scam part? I have my own ideas, but I don’t work on them professionally.
They’re built so that they can’t easily be repaired cheaply so that you have to buy a new one. The dealership makes all their money off of predatory financing. They pay mechanics on “flat rate” so there’s a gross incentive to recommend work that isn’t necessary. Then there’s the insurance industry. Then of course police use minor driving infractions to hassle people and generate revenue. The whole industry could just not exist and the world would be better for it. People spend half their salary just to have a car, it’s ridiculous.
This isn’t the cars fault. Its capitalism my friend.
Ah. Yeah, I’ve run into some issues where I gladly paid to have it repaired, I sure as hell wasn’t doing it. I do most of my own stuff, so the repair prices always shock me. $1700 bucks to replace two front struts and 2 rear shocks on a 3rd gen Ford escape. I found a second mechanic that did them with my parts (OEM from rockauto, nothing fancy) plus top engine mount for $1200 which was more reasonable to me. The struts required the whole lower knuckle to come out, not just bolts like normal. If I had a garage, maybe, but hard for me to do in a parking lot.
I’ve always felt like insurance was a scam, it’s “required” and fucks you every which way.
And I absolutely hate cops lol.
I thought we were just talking about automobiles haha.
Seeing new car videos makes me want to drive mine until the wheels fall off then I’ll just replace the wheel hubs 🤣
My goal is to pretty much put all my money into older cars because all the new ones besides being rolling spyware are also impossible to work on.
Cars really were better in ye olden days(as kids would think the 90s are). 1990-2005 was the perfect spot for cars.
What I don’t understand is how you could not be into cars. There are few things more thrilling than driving a proper sports car the way it was designed to be driven.
It surely doesn’t hurt that I’m a geek, so I’m naturally attracted to anything electronic or mechanical. The inner workings of a vehicle are beyond fascinating.
If you don’t enjoy driving, part of it might have to be due to the fact that you’ve only ever been behind the wheel of boring commuter cars. Take a manual Supra or 400Z for a test drive sometime, and tell me it doesn’t change your opinion of cars. If that doesn’t work for you, then I don’t know what to tell you. To each their own.
Sitting behind the wheel of something belching gas that requires full concentration just isn’t that interesting. Biking is a much more enjoyable activity.
What are your thoughts on EV and Hydrogen-powered sports cars? They don’t exist (yet), but if they did, would that help change your mind?
No. I prefer my appliances functional ;sports cars exchange function for form. Morehowever, the wasted created per is still disproportionate to what is reasonable
And there’s your problem, you see cars as an appliance.
Why even bother driving if you’re going to have that attitude? Just take public transport if you really hate cars that much.
Cars are an appliance. And I have two, a daily and a special.
Both are appliances.I have two superbikes. They are useless for anything other than being shiny, making noise, and putting a smile on my face. They are also just appliances.
I have a mountain bike and an eMTB. I have fun on them and they keep me fit but, guess what…? Yep, appliances!
I don’t drive.
Cars are an appliance. Your problem is that you don’t see them as such
I gotta say, it’s wild behaviour to come into a vehicle appreciation post and call them toasters hahaha.
Your bike is an egg timer, but if you’re passionate about egg timers then so be it, enjoy that countdown. When you find yourself in an artisanal grandfather clock festival, keep the egg timer in your pannier.
I’m going to shit on people who actively make my life worse. Cars are regressive.
Alao, I didn’t call them a toaster lmfao
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
Just another form of expression and status. Think of it like fashion. We “wear” our cars for a big chunk of our lives.
Do you have a long commute or take road trips often? I ask because I used to have an hour commute. I enjoyed my car, but to your example, I enjoyed it only when I ‘wore’ it.
After I realised I didn’t enjoy the car when I wasn’t driving it, I realised something else. 90% of it’s life, 85% of my waking life, and 95% of my time away from work, it was just sitting somewhere waiting to driven again - not being ‘worn’. So I sold it and got something much cheaper in every way; to purchase, maintain, insure, refuel, etc.
Once I’d downgraded, it was funny to me how many people I knew were asking me if I were okay, as if I lost the nice car in a divorce or something haha.
Yeah I used to have a long commute, and had a Q50. I was leasing my car so didn’t want to take it to the track, nor did I have the money at the time to race it, so it was just vehicle to get me around. Definitely had fun with it, but when I started working from home it just sat there a lot. Got an old SUV for other purposes and had to run it just so the battery didn’t die. Eventually sold it for a newer SUV.
I get it tho. Don’t need a fancy car. Funny people associate downgrading your car with hard times. I wish my new car was paid off, but I use every bit of it.
Yeah, thats the main understanding I have of it. Just seems like an odd way to express your personality.
It is one of the few things you can take to work and be conversational about. You cant to that with a lot of other hobbies (im not going to take my tube amp collection or gaming pc into work for example)
Just wait til we’re cyborgs. How do you express your personality?
Hopefully with a metal back that doesn’t hurt all the time.
It’ll just be easier to replace
Don’t forget to upgrade to the “shiny metal ass” package while you’re at it. You’ll thank me later.
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.
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.
Hell yes, this is art. Just like how to me some cars are art (240z with itbs…hnnnng).
Most cars are boring toasters that society is over reliant on. I myself dont own a boring car since i enjoy driving so I can’t speak to that.
My new rule for myself is everything I bring into my house has to be art. I got this beautiful hand made cutting board the other day. Anything can be art, and it doesn’t all have to be pricy. I threw some pathos I propagated into a soup can the other day. Boom art!
This is mostly me trying to cope with all the AI slop that is slowly eating digital and physical art forms. For me, art is anything human made, and I want to surround myself with it.
Im the same way.
Everything is losing its human and visceral-Ness. Im convinced its a big reason there’s so much depression- people dont feel any more.
Yeah, its sad the age of any computer produced art (graphics, electronic music, coding) is over because of corpo ai slop. But all the more reason to go outside and build something real in the workshop or put on a folk concert.
Yeah. Though I don’t think coding will be tapped out for awhile. I’m a little biasses as that’s what I do for work. Tech Twitter is full of people claiming AI is going to replace engineers. I work on a very successful team of very talented engineers, and if I told them AI is going to replace them, they would laugh. But I would be lying if said I didn’t fantasize about switching to a job where I get to build something with my hands.
that’s a cool hobby! I used to love watching the parts of my tape deck move as a kid. Te parts clunking into pace, the gentle pace of the rotation. That’s a very nice player you’ve got!
Wow, thats pretty sweet.
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’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.
The mechanical feel is a big part for me.
Driving a rental 2025 legacy, made me hate cars in about 30 seconds. So if thats your car experience i see why people hate it.
Driving a 99 miata: permanent smile.
What about an ‘03?
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 can start by saying that I’m a tech “guy”. The evolution was simple: Puzzles, Lego, bikes, model R/C cars/planes, computers, motorcycles then cars. Add to that motorcycles and cars give you freedom of movement to go anywhere anytime in a whim, it is difficult to not geek about them.
Then, during a brief period of my life I lived in a big (for me) city and had to use the public transport and it was horrible. This only exacerbated my dreams of owning a motor vehicle. Car magazines helped fuel these dreams.
My dad loved sports cars, that didn’t help the addiction ;)
Sounds like you lived in a bad city.
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.
I-I’m not? Am I? Oh god what kind of car am I?
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.
