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?
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 :}
Cars are like big, greasy legos
That are rusted together and impossible to detach
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.
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 🤣
Motor vehicles are one of the very few things in this world that are simultaneously beautiful, useful, and fascinating
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
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.
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.
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.
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Look at this person, keeping all the little dick car guys to themselves.
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.
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…
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.
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.
I like all kinds of tech, gadgets, tools and machinery. Cars are just one part of that. I’d like to have an excavator too if I could afford one and justify buing it, but I don’t. Car however, I have need for so why not go and buy one that you actually enjoy driving and looking at rather than something that just gets the job done. I don’t really spend a huge amount of money on it. My truck cost me 10k€ and the maintenance + fuel + insurance costs for the 7 years I’ve had it are around 350€/month. I can imagine myself spending more on offroad mods and such but I just have no need for that currently.
I-I’m not? Am I? Oh god what kind of car am I?
holds up a mirror and to your horror you see… You are a cybertruck
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