What makes someone a car enthusiast?

[TW]Fox · 28 May 2011 at 12:43

griffo_001 said:
Great answer, I can think of things you shouldn't be considering (Is it FWD? Is it by brand X? Etc.)

Are you seroiusly suggesting that drivetrain and brand should never be a consideration when purchasing a car?

nas · 28 May 2011 at 12:47

[TW]Fox;19242321 said:
Are you seroiusly suggesting that drivetrain and brand should never be a consideration when purchasing a car?

most people don't even know what this is for it to even be a consideration

Fr0dders · 28 May 2011 at 12:49

true enthusiast

Don't be snobby.

Yes we think the VAG scene with their car bras, stretched tyres and stupid roof racks are pillocks.

Doesn't stop them buying car enthusiasts.

You can still be a wine enthusiast and prefer and drink mostly .. say Australian wine for example.

[TW]Fox · 28 May 2011 at 12:49

nas said:
most people don't even know what this is for it to even be a consideration

This is a thread about car enthusiasts not most people.

griffo_001 · 28 May 2011 at 12:54

[TW]Fox;19242321 said:
Are you seroiusly suggesting that drivetrain and brand should never be a consideration when purchasing a car?

Did you read what I quoted? We're talking about how you form opinions on other peoples cars

I don't love or dislike your car because its a BMW for example.

As an aside when was the last time your car reminded you it was RWD?

MrLOL said:
Don't be snobby.

Yes we think the VAG scene with their car bras, stretched tyres and stupid roof racks are pillocks.

Doesn't stop them buying car enthusiasts.

You can still be a wine enthusiast and prefer and drink mostly .. say Australian wine for example.

I like lots of "scene-taxed" VAG cars and definitely see the attraction. I dislike the scenes attitude to other brands however.

[TW]Fox · 28 May 2011 at 12:57

griffo_001 said:
As an aside when was the last time your car reminded you it was RWD?

Yesterday when I accelerated and it didn't shake the dashboard with wheelspin or currupt the steering

Relentless81 · 28 May 2011 at 12:58

[TW]Fox;19242406 said:
Yesterday when I accelerated and it didn't shake the dashboard with wheelspin or currupt the steering

My FWD hatch never does this. Then again it has no torks worth mentioning

[TW]Fox · 28 May 2011 at 12:59

Relentless81 said:
My FWD hatch never does this. Then again it has no torks worth mentioning

It might be more tempted to do this if it had 230bhp

nas · 28 May 2011 at 13:06

[TW]Fox;19242360 said:
This is a thread about car enthusiasts not most people.

This is a thread about what makes someone a car enthusiast not car enthusiasts; therefore the considerations of an enthusiast and someone who isnt, is relevant.

Brian8bit · 28 May 2011 at 13:13

griffo_001 said:
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.

I think that's an old Toyota Corolla E20 coupe. Bonnet scoops. Rear side window shape and position of the filler cap. It's had a lot of body work done though. It's not square enough to be a Datsun 510 coupe and the rear side window is the wrong shape for a Datsun 120Y (which had a much fatter arse).

I love old Datsuns and Toyotas from the 70s. Especially with engine transplants. The SR20DET and 13B swap in the 510 and 120Y and my absolute favourite, the RB26DETT dropped into the old 240z.

griffo_001 · 28 May 2011 at 13:14

[TW]Fox;19242406 said:
Yesterday when I accelerated and it didn't shake the dashboard with wheelspin or currupt the steering

You're full of these stereotypes aren't you :eek:

The one about "being able to tell its a diesel" is another one you like to band about.

Did you see my point about narrow mindedness?

I take it you haven't driven a modern hot hatch or an XF diesel in anger? Both do a fairly good job of smashing those stereotypes. Yes you can tell the XF is a diesel from the outside, but inside it sounds smoother than many 4 cylinder petrols. Surely thats the important bit?

I bet you could get some nice shuddering of the dashboard from an old Mustang too

The point I'm trying to make is a car isn't automatically awful because it has a diesel engine driving the front wheels. It's also not automatically awesome for the same reasons - each car should be judged on its own merits.

burns · 28 May 2011 at 13:17

I don't think think it has anything to do with being a car enthusiast. I agree with Fox, the Golf enthusiast is a car enthusiast, just a rather closed minded/intensely focused one depending on how you want to look at it.

Some people for some reason treat a like for anything other than what they like as an attack on their opinion. That fiesta is kind of cool in it's own way any way, stainless body kit seems an unusual choice.

[TW]Fox · 28 May 2011 at 13:17

griffo_001 said:
The one about "being able to tell its a diesel" is another one you like to band about.

Becuase it's true, you can tell it's a diesel.

Did you see my point about narrow mindedness?

Thats not really narrow mindedness is it?

I take it you haven't driven a modern hot hatch

The most modern hot hatches I have driven are the Golf GTI, Astra VXR and Focus ST.

or an XF diesel in anger? Both do a fairly good job of smashing those stereotypes. Yes you can tell the XF is a diesel from the outside,

Not had the pleasure of an XF, though have the S-Type 2.7TT and of course the 5 Series etc.

but inside it sounds smoother than many 4 cylinder petrols. Surely thats the important bit?

Why is it important that a luxury car with a range of engines which does not include a single 4 cylinder petrol engine sounds smoother than... a 4 cylinder petrol engine? Not even sure you are right anyway - 4 cylinder petrol engines at idle make almost no noise at all inside the cabin.

The point I'm trying to make is a car isn't automatically awful because it has a diesel engine driving the front wheels. It's also not automatically awesome for the same reasons - each car should be judged on its own merits.

Thanks for that, sherlock.

Relentless81 · 28 May 2011 at 13:18

I was in an 11 plate 2.5 Volvo diesel the other day and erm, it sounded, urgh really dont want to say this but it did, it sounded quite nice for a diesel

griffo_001 · 28 May 2011 at 13:29

Fox this isn't really on topic anymore is it, so I'll leave it here, you're perfectly entitled to your opinion on the matter

Brian8bit said:
I think that's an old Toyota Corolla E20 coupe. Bonnet scoops. Rear side window shape and position of the filler cap. It's had a lot of body work done though. It's not square enough to be a Datsun 510 coupe and the rear side window is the wrong shape for a Datsun 120Y (which had a much fatter arse).

I love old Datsuns and Toyotas from the 70s. Especially with engine transplants. The SR20DET and 13B swap in the 510 and 120Y and my absolute favourite, the RB26DETT dropped into the old 240z.

I learn something new every day

70s Japanese cars look awesome, I've been saying for ages I need to look closer at them, they're not something I really grew up around, so I've never really experienced them

I've been meaning to go to a drift event for years too, looks like such good fun

Always love finding out about new cars, I only found out about that 780 this morning, and I think its awesome

[TW]Fox · 28 May 2011 at 13:30

griffo_001 said:
Fox this isn't really on topic anymore is it, so I'll leave it here, you're perfectly entitled to your opinion on the matter

You mean you were expecting me to admit that my opinion was based on having once driven a 1996 Passat diesel?

Housey · 28 May 2011 at 13:35

A car enthusiast is someone who finds cars interesting and likes to talk about and be around them, doesn't really matter what they are either.

Saytan · 28 May 2011 at 14:04

anyone for whom the car is more than a means of transport.

If i wasnt a car enthusiast, i wouldnt have the car i do.

griffo_001 · 28 May 2011 at 14:15

Out of interest how many people here feel some sort of emotional attachment to a car they own/have owned?

Gaygle · 28 May 2011 at 14:58

Housey said:
A car enthusiast is someone who finds cars interesting and likes to talk about and be around them, doesn't really matter what they are either.

This. And one who spends a large amount of time, effort and money on their car, whether it be cleaning it, maintaining it or simply driving it around without anywhere to ggo.