Car Guy Mini-Rant / My Dream Scenario

[sik68]

I’m really into cars. So into cars, in fact, that I have long stopped calling myself a “car guy” because every enthusiast knows a “car guy” is a poseur (and thus very likely, a d-bag). Except that I’ll still call myself a car guy around the poseurs, so as to keep my status as a gearhead all very hush hush.

I think we all know the car guys. It’s your neighbor 2 doors down, whose uncle had an all-original Hemi Camaro that ‘got so many girls’…or the guy with the Infiniti G35 who insists that there is no greater exhaust sound than the mooing from his v6. Or it could even be someone who does own a cool car (like a doctor I met with 09 Z06) but is a complete d-bag about it. If you don’t know any car guys, and would like to meet some, just visit your local cruise night.



What we all know here at pro-touring.com, is that the enthusiast is knows what he knows, knows what he doesn’t know, and is respectful of the hobby; whilst the car guy got car-guy points for checking “sport seats” option.

I have to admit that, part of the reason I am building my 68 Camaro (shameless plug) is as an “actions speak louder than words” lessen to the poseurs. Which brings me to my dream scenario of inviting the poseurs into the passenger seat of my 68, giving them the ride of their lives, hopefully to shake the living foolishness out of them. I could imagine it playing out like this short film with Clive Owen and Madonna from several years back

(Me = Clive)
(Madonna = Car Guys)


PS: Sorry for the rant. I’m getting really antsy to finish my car, and there seem to be an inordinate amount of d-bag car guys I’m encountering lately.

[79-TA]

I have no idea of where your driving abilities are, but your scenario will require some good car control, hopefully in a safe and controlled environment. Make sure to get some track time with that thing (for a car called "trackday" I'm sure that will be the case.) The feedback I got from my NASA instructor was invaluable and I highly recommend that sort of event (HPDE 1.)

[novaderrik]

i consider myself to be a "car guy", and i'm definitely not one of those poseurs you despise so much.
i just drive what i want, and don't really care what anyone thinks.

[formula]

I don't really think it's fair to associate "car guy" directly with "d-bag".

Take my dad, for example. He's wanted a 911 for at least 30 years. Been working hard, saving, waiting until the right time to pick one up. Finally has the chance, finds a gorgeous 97 993 cabriolet, 6 speed, 18s, new top, freshly rebuilt top end to clear the SAI issue, last of the air-cooled engines, obviously loved and cared for. He drives that car every day, rain or shine, as hard as he can, and has been known to drive top-down on near-rainy days, just because he'd rather get wet than not enjoy his car. He doesn't track the car, doesn't show the car, doesn't know every inch of the drive train...but he still loves it, still gets up every saturday and details it with me, still is trying to learn how everything works and how similar it is to the old super beetle he had 15 years ago. Is he really an "enthusiast"? I'd say no. It's not an obsession for him, not really even a hobby. Just something he enjoys a lot. Is he a "car guy"? Yes. He appreciates nice cars of all sorts, from muscle to modern sports cars, from any continent. Does that make him a d-bag automatically? I certainly hope not.

I think it's better to just say that anywhere you go, no matter what your level of enthusiasm or expertise, you will find people who completely suck. I've been in situations where everybody around was driving a store-bought hot-rod, and some of them pissed me off to no end. I've been in situations where everybody around had built their car from the ground up, and some of them pissed me off to no end.

Just my 2 cents.

[ZuperZport]

It’s your neighbor 2 doors down, whose uncle had an all-original Hemi Camaro that ‘got so many girls’…

Hemi Camaro??

Car Guy, Car Enthusiast, Car Affictionado, etc, etc,................Meet a lot of people at Car Shows & Cruises.......if you like cars and are sincere and polite I will talk all day about them....................as far as the "nay-sayers", I just smile and move on......no need to get aggravated by them.

[sik68]

Boy oh boy I was pissy yesterday.

[67SSDan]

Hemi Camaro??

LOL That was his point.

I also consider myself a "car guy" ... probably "gear head" in your book. Something I've noticed as of late is that we seem to be a bit of a dying breed. It could just be the industry I'm in (technology), but it seems more and more if I bring up cars and specifically 60's era muscle cars, I'm met with blank stares.

Me: "Ah hey man, nice car (referring to his new Audi)"
Him: "Thanks!"
Me: "What made you decide on that one? What do you like about it?"
Him: "Um, I don't know. I've always wanted a silver car"
Me: " Oh right. *uncomfortable pause* Well, it's definitely that."

Dan