What makes a true car enthusiast?

[sleeper15]

This question, or more of an argument, came up in my area between "car clubs".

Here are 3 different people, all who are car enthusiasts:

1. Buys a stock car, can't turn a wrench, but still loves cars, going to shows and racing events. He orders parts, and either has a shop put them in, or has friends put them in for him.

2. Guy can do basic bolt ons for a car, and knows the basics of auto maintance. But will still take his car to a shop when major things need work on.

3. Guy does everything himself. Won't let his car touch a shop floor unless its his own garage.

The argument here is, some people say guy number 3 is the only real car enthusiast, because his car is "built"

and guy 1 and guy 2 arn't, because their cars are "bought".

Also, after that started, the whole argument of what is the true definition of "built not bought" started up as well.

what do you guys think? I want some opinions from outside my area, since alot of people are biased to one "club" or the other.

[SHOdude]

A car enthusiast doesnt even have to own a car, to me a "real" enthusiast is someone who can appreciate every and any car for what it is. Not the one with he biggest pocket that can throw their money at a shop and have a cool car built or build their own. Honestly the question your asking has no true answer, because everyone has different standards I dont track my car often, Its mostly stock and I would keep it that way if I didn't need coil overs to participate in any drift event. So basically the definition is different to everyone.

[mckpat03]

I think you can be a true enthusiast and be passionate about automobiles and motorsports without ever turning a wrench for yourself. However, with that said, I feel that to truly get the full experience of being an enthusiast, you have to get some wrench time under your belt.

[x03_EVOx]

Originally Posted by mckpat03

I think you can be a true enthusiast and be passionate about automobiles and motorsports without ever turning a wrench for yourself. However, with that said, I feel that to truly get the full experience of being an enthusiast, you have to get some wrench time under your belt.

Agreed! Well said....

[Bates]

If 3 were the only true example, then performance shops would be out of business and be shunned lol. I can do a decent amount of work myself, but because I don't always have the time, or tools, I am more prone to let a shop do the work, that way I know it is done right.

[GTurner598]

Just because you can't work on a car doesnt mean he isn't one. I have done all my work on my own. Only thing I didn't do was tune it because Saab's ecu can't be tuned without really expensive software. We both have the same appreciation for cars


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[sleeper15]

Yo, please take his name off your post. I was trying to get opinions from other people man to make a point.

[Ying]

In your scenarios there isn't a place for "Guy who buys an already built car." In my experience there's a lot of that going on out there as well, but maybe I'm the only one that sees that. Regardless, I agree with the common theme above that a car enthusiast comes in all shapes and wallet sizes. If you're into cars to the point that you make a concerted effort to educate yourself about them, whether it's a particular brand or racing style, or even wrenching on any car, you're an enthusiast.

[TNTramair]

a true car enthusiast appreciates all car brands and what they have to offer, not just the one he/she drives. i dont think it perticulerly has anything to do with how much one works on his own car. there are plenty of people that work on cars for a living and hate it.

[TNTramair]

Originally Posted by Ying

In your scenarios there isn't a place for "Guy who buys an already built car." In my experience there's a lot of that going on out there as well, but maybe I'm the only one that sees that. Regardless, I agree with the common theme above that a car enthusiast comes in all shapes and wallet sizes. If you're into cars to the point that you make a concerted effort to educate yourself about them, whether it's a particular brand or racing style, or even wrenching on any car, you're an enthusiast.

i dont understand why people get so bent out of shape when they hear someone bought a car allready modded. why is that? b/c they didnt spend the money on the mods himself? should they feel less of a man b/c he bought someone else's modded car? what if the car has the exact same mods that the new owner was gonna do anyway...what differance does it make? and why should it bother you if it doesnt bother him?

let give you an example...Vettes. pricey sons of bitches to mod...headers and exhaust alone cost well over $2500...so if i can spend $20k on a car that allready has them installed or $20k on a car thats stock...im gonna opt for the one that allready has them...i dont care that im buying a modded car...****s expensive now a days..ya gotta save money wherever you can.

[lownslow95]

Originally Posted by mckpat03

I think you can be a true enthusiast and be passionate about automobiles and motorsports without ever turning a wrench for yourself. However, with that said, I feel that to truly get the full experience of being an enthusiast, you have to get some wrench time under your belt.

This. There are somethings I will install myself, like minor bolt ons, but when it comes to something like coilovers, I'd probably pay a shop to install it, knowing that it will be done right. With that said, I'm not going to take it to some shop that doesn't have a good rating, I'll take it to a place like R/T tuning or some other reputable shop.

[mcperson2k]

Car enthusiast = Anybody who is enthusiastic about cars. There is no standard of knowledge or skills to achieve this feeling.

[jpalamar]

Far to many enthusiasts and not enough nice cars.

[Khellen]

Originally Posted by sleeper15

This question, or more of an argument, came up in my area between "car clubs".

Here are 3 different people, all who are car enthusiasts:

1. Buys a stock car, can't turn a wrench, but still loves cars, going to shows and racing events. He orders parts, and either has a shop put them in, or has friends put them in for him.

2. Guy can do basic bolt ons for a car, and knows the basics of auto maintance. But will still take his car to a shop when major things need work on.

3. Guy does everything himself. Won't let his car touch a shop floor unless its his own garage.

The argument here is, some people say guy number 3 is the only real car enthusiast, because his car is "built"

and guy 1 and guy 2 arn't, because their cars are "bought".

Also, after that started, the whole argument of what is the true definition of "built not bought" started up as well.

what do you guys think? I want some opinions from outside my area, since alot of people are biased to one "club" or the other.

Built not bought is just a way to take a stab at posers who buy previously built cars and try to take credit for someone else's hard work.

If you bought your car pre-modded or had a shop mod it that's perfectly fine as long as you don't take credit for their work. Always give credit where it's due. Your pride of ownership shouldn't be diminished by the fact that you may not have had the tools, work space, knowledge, or time to install parts yourself. You're no less of an enthusiast being hindered by your physical ability or financial situation.

That said, I don't think anyone who didn't put in at least a moderate amount of wrench time on their car should ever be claiming they "built" their car. You may have envisioned it but someone else's blood, sweat, and tears are in the car. Be happy you're the owner of a spectacular machine and leave it at that.

[ToyotaTat]

Originally Posted by mcperson2k

Car enthusiast = Anybody who is enthusiastic about cars. There is no standard of knowledge or skills to achieve this feeling.

enthusiasm about any topic whether it be cars or guns isn't based on knowledge, but enthusiasm. if you like cars, and spend any amount of time looking at them, driving them, fixing them, thinking about them..i consider you an enthusiast. i don't care if you buy your parts, make your parts, or even know what parts your car has. if your into it, you're an enthusiast. i drive a '99 rolla with only cosmetic mods and can't do much more than change my oil and wiper blades but i consider myself an enthusiast.

[sleeper15]

thank you everyone for your answers.

i hated to ask this, but, i seriously wanted to prove a point. though, i doubt any of the people who started this whole argument will read this.

[mcperson2k]

I think people who point fingers at others, and say they aren't "enthusiasts" because "you don't know how to do, what I know how to do" are just using cars, as a way to distinguish themselves from others because they haven't yet found another way to do so. So in their eyes, the less others can be considered "enthusiasts" the better they think they look.

[mckpat03]

Originally Posted by SHOdude

A car enthusiast doesnt even have to own a car, to me a "real" enthusiast is someone who can appreciate every and any car for what it is.

Originally Posted by TNTramair

a true car enthusiast appreciates all car brands and what they have to offer, not just the one he/she drives.

+1. Forgot to add that point. I back this thinking 100%

[Ying]

Originally Posted by TNTramair

i dont understand why people get so bent out of shape when they hear someone bought a car allready modded. why is that? b/c they didnt spend the money on the mods himself? should they feel less of a man b/c he bought someone else's modded car? what if the car has the exact same mods that the new owner was gonna do anyway...what differance does it make? and why should it bother you if it doesnt bother him?

let give you an example...Vettes. pricey sons of bitches to mod...headers and exhaust alone cost well over $2500...so if i can spend $20k on a car that allready has them installed or $20k on a car thats stock...im gonna opt for the one that allready has them...i dont care that im buying a modded car...****s expensive now a days..ya gotta save money wherever you can.

Not at all saying it bothers me one bit, just citing it as another scenario for the purpose of this discussion. What other people do with their money has nothing to do with me.

FWIW, I fit in scenario 2. I can do exhaust work and suspension if I need to but at the end of the day I end up too busy to get some of the things I want done so I throw money at it to make it go away.

[AutobahnRacer]

True car enthusiasts do not post in the General Section asking which car to buy.