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- Joined
- 4 Jun 2009
- Posts
- 1,675
- Location
- Solihull/Cardiff
It's raining here so I can't tinker outside, so instead I've got a philosophical question for you: What makes someone a true car enthusiast?
I have friends who love watching F1, talking about cars, tinkering with cars and playing racing games, but have no driving licences, but on the flip-side I have friends who enjoy a drive almost as much as I do, but wouldn't have a clue how to top up the oil in their cars.
Personally I would suggest that no-one who likes only one brand or scene and "knows" everything else is inferior could possibly be a true enthusiast. I fully admit I don't understand the appeal of some cars, but I'd never hate/abuse you for owning a car I don't see the appeal of.
This Datsun(?), for example:
I have no idea what model it is, but I have a huge amount of respect for the effort that's been put into it.
To me the acid test is your reaction to a thread on a car you're not familiar with: Someone wedging a Jag V12 in an MGB, a V8 into a W115, a hot-rod, a completely standard, brown Austin Princess or a brand new Insignia VXR. You may not want to own one yourself, but if you can see why someone would, and appreciate the car for that then to me, you are a car enthusiast.
An example: Someone who collects priceless Ferrari's isn't necessarily a car enthusiast, but Jay Leno does, and is. Each of his cars is equally valuable to him, some he was given/saved from the scrappy and have little "real" worth, and some cost millions.
Top Gear insists it's that you have to have owned an Alfa Romeo, but does that mean I'm not a car enthusiast because I haven't gotten round to ticking that box yet? (It's on the list, don't worry)
I've also noticed that, despite it being rubbish in very, very many ways, I still smile every time I catch a glimpse of my car on the drive.
So what do the fine guys and girls of motors think? What makes a car enthusiast?
I have friends who love watching F1, talking about cars, tinkering with cars and playing racing games, but have no driving licences, but on the flip-side I have friends who enjoy a drive almost as much as I do, but wouldn't have a clue how to top up the oil in their cars.
Personally I would suggest that no-one who likes only one brand or scene and "knows" everything else is inferior could possibly be a true enthusiast. I fully admit I don't understand the appeal of some cars, but I'd never hate/abuse you for owning a car I don't see the appeal of.
This Datsun(?), for example:
I have no idea what model it is, but I have a huge amount of respect for the effort that's been put into it.
To me the acid test is your reaction to a thread on a car you're not familiar with: Someone wedging a Jag V12 in an MGB, a V8 into a W115, a hot-rod, a completely standard, brown Austin Princess or a brand new Insignia VXR. You may not want to own one yourself, but if you can see why someone would, and appreciate the car for that then to me, you are a car enthusiast.
An example: Someone who collects priceless Ferrari's isn't necessarily a car enthusiast, but Jay Leno does, and is. Each of his cars is equally valuable to him, some he was given/saved from the scrappy and have little "real" worth, and some cost millions.
Top Gear insists it's that you have to have owned an Alfa Romeo, but does that mean I'm not a car enthusiast because I haven't gotten round to ticking that box yet? (It's on the list, don't worry)
I've also noticed that, despite it being rubbish in very, very many ways, I still smile every time I catch a glimpse of my car on the drive.
So what do the fine guys and girls of motors think? What makes a car enthusiast?
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
