The Evolution of a Car Enthusiast

[SamIam13]

Where are you in your evolution?

[NickyC]

Personally, becoming disillusioned with any new vehicle and seriously considering going back to the 2000s/earlier for my next car or at least the toy/fun car. The new cars these days are just nowhere near enough fun for me to justify their insane prices. I've had more fun in cars that cost 3-4 times less than what I've owned for the past decade or so. Modern cars are too fast to enjoy on the street to their full potential. I much prefer a lighter, low tech, N/A car with 300hp (or less) that you can just ream through the gears and unwind at all times.

The older I get, I really struggle to think of things that have gotten better over time. I don't mean better from a performance standpoint, I just mean BETTER. Cars are just one example.

[Efthreeoh]

I'm just a plain 'ole car guy. I like cars and have since I was 5 years old (probably younger, I just don't remember that far back). I just do my own thing, enthusiastically.

I'm none of those things in the video.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Personally, becoming disillusioned with any new vehicle and seriously considering going back to the 2000s/earlier for my next car or at least the toy/fun car. The new cars these days are just nowhere near enough fun for me to justify their insane prices. I've had more fun in cars that cost 3-4 times less than what I've owned for the past decade or so. Modern cars are too fast to enjoy on the street to their full potential. I much prefer a lighter, low tech, N/A car with 300hp (or less) that you can just ream through the gears and unwind at all times.

The older I get, I really struggle to think of things that have gotten better over time. I don't mean better from a performance standpoint, I just mean BETTER. Cars are just one example.

Yeah, me too. I have to say my wife's 28 year old Z3 with the M44 is becoming my favorite in the fleet. It's simple, lightweight, fast enough, rides and handles surpurbly (Bilstien/H&R), no screen, and the check engine light never comes on.

It just dances so well.

[erickonphoenix]

That's a tough call. I got interested in cars when my uncle was delivering a 71 Corvette to Louisiana (yeah, back in the day they didn't flatbed them here, you hired a driver). He stopped by my parents house for a beer and I fell in love with it. Ever since I could afford it I always drove something interesting even if not that fast.

I did get involved with track days for a time then quickly discovered I did not pick the right career or love interests to finance that game.

Now, I just like a nice, efficient, good handling vehicle that is well built and stays together.

[dreamingat30fps]

I dunno... at what stage do you buy a Lexus ES350???

[chetrickerman]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Personally, becoming disillusioned with any new vehicle and seriously considering going back to the 2000s/earlier for my next car or at least the toy/fun car. The new cars these days are just nowhere near enough fun for me to justify their insane prices. I've had more fun in cars that cost 3-4 times less than what I've owned for the past decade or so. Modern cars are too fast to enjoy on the street to their full potential. I much prefer a lighter, low tech, N/A car with 300hp (or less) that you can just ream through the gears and unwind at all times.

The older I get, I really struggle to think of things that have gotten better over time. I don't mean better from a performance standpoint, I just mean BETTER. Cars are just one example.

Same, I want to buy an Evo 9 and make 500 whp with it, no more. Ridiculously fun go-kart type of car that is so raw and uncomplicated

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Personally, becoming disillusioned with any new vehicle and seriously considering going back to the 2000s/earlier for my next car or at least the toy/fun car. The new cars these days are just nowhere near enough fun for me to justify their insane prices. I've had more fun in cars that cost 3-4 times less than what I've owned for the past decade or so. Modern cars are too fast to enjoy on the street to their full potential. I much prefer a lighter, low tech, N/A car with 300hp (or less) that you can just ream through the gears and unwind at all times.

The older I get, I really struggle to think of things that have gotten better over time. I don't mean better from a performance standpoint, I just mean BETTER. Cars are just one example.

Then you would LOVE the IS500. It's a blast from the past.

[jaffles]

The fat old man bit of evolution hoping to educate his son not to wrap it around a telegraph pole or put it down a ditch somewhere.

Never been more than a casual hack and observer. But know a factory made car works better than a back yard moded one. So buy instead of build.

Traction control is not to be underestimated, as it can save your bacon (or over estimated performance) quite a bit.

Any form of cars is a mugs game, it usually cost you more in depreciation, interest, fines, and maintenance than you ever dream of making.

Still its a privative form of thrill to red line a car before pulling a gear. Then have it chatter away desperately scratching for traction as you brake into the corner. Turn in, fan, then plant that foot to feel the twitch and power out of the corner looking for redline again.

Hard fast traction works better for me than showy loose drift.

My wife hates it.

That's about as far as I have evolved.

[JerseyM3]

I'm approaching the autocross level. Haven't done it yet. But tempted.

[ShocknAwe]

Interesting video.

Somewhat restrictive on the definition of an enthusiast though. I know enthusiasts who track along with continuously buying the newest greatest cars but never modify them, and others who are dead set on having their older cars be 100% period correct for Concours, and never drive them on circuit. Neither of those are featured.

Also Im not a fan of typical car meets and other areas of modern permissable automotive dick measuring.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Interesting video.

Somewhat restrictive on the definition of an enthusiast though. I know enthusiasts who track along with continuously buying the newest greatest cars but never modify them, and others who are dead set on having their older cars be 100% period correct for Concours, and never drive them on circuit. Neither of those are featured.

Also Im not a fan of typical car meets and other areas of modern permissable automotive dick measuring.

This is why I love Cars & Coffee events – in my experience they're pretty chill and not a lot of dick-wagging. You'll get a couple of guys who think everyone is impressed with how obnoxiously loud they've managed to make their exhaust (everyone but them rolls their eyes), but other than that it's really just a fun, casual event to meet other people passionate about cars and see some makes/models you otherwise likely wouldn't.

I kind of hate it when someone tries to put an definition on a word like "enthusiast", because it's used for gate-keeping more often than not. To my mind, an "enthusiast" is someone who enjoys cars, regardless of what make or model they drive, regardless of what badge is on their car. I've met people driving Honda Accords who were super into cars, but were at a stage in their life that required driving "boring" cars, for one reason or another. Hell, I was that guy for a good number of years. But it didn't make me any less enthusiastic about cars.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I kind of hate it when someone tries to put an definition on a word like "enthusiast", because it's used for gate-keeping more often than not. To my mind, an "enthusiast" is someone who enjoys cars, regardless of what make or model they drive, regardless of what badge is on their car. I've met people driving Honda Accords who were super into cars, but were at a stage in their life that required driving "boring" cars, for one reason or another. Hell, I was that guy for a good number of years. But it didn't make me any less enthusiastic about cars.

I was one of those guys a long time ago. Between 1998 and 2005, I had 1996 Nissan Maxima 5MT. It was the first car I really learned to work on. It had suspension, a flashed ECU, Stillen body kit (same kit the Maxima from Fast & The Furious), Y-pipe, and a European/Middle East market only intake manifold that added a lot of upper rpm power, installed a leather seat kit, and bunch of other little things. I auto-x and drag raced the living F out of that thing. Managed to get it from 15.2@91 to 14.0@101mph. I loved that thing. I went to C&C and even though the car wasn't gawdy at all, people back then thought it was weird to modify and race a sedan. Times have changed.

Not in a million years would I have thought I'd own and work on a Cayman and an M2, and definitely not owning both at the same time. There is no way I'd be comfortable working on these cars if I hadn't owned that Maxima.

I have to say though, when I go to C&Cs, the BMW guys are the worst.

[Germanauto]

Evolved to just wanting a 911 now. Everything else feels like a compromise. The 911 has so many things going for it. Prices are out of control but my plan is to pick up a CPO 992.1 in red once I've driven the wheels off my Alfa. I'm the type of guy who keeps his cars a very long time, and the 911 fits the bill as a relatively reliable and practical sports car with highest residuals of any car on the market.

Recently got to hoon a 992.2 GTS at PECLA and it was overkill; I don't need that level of acceleration and frankly the hybrid system made the front end feel a little heavy in the tightest of turns. A base or S is more than enough for my needs.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

I was one of those guys a long time ago. Between 1998 and 2005, I had 1996 Nissan Maxima 5MT. It was the first car I really learned to work on. It had suspension, a flashed ECU, Stillen body kit (same kit the Maxima from Fast & The Furious), Y-pipe, and a European/Middle East market only intake manifold that added a lot of upper rpm power, installed a leather seat kit, and bunch of other little things. I auto-x and drag raced the living F out of that thing. Managed to get it from 15.2@91 to 14.0@101mph. I loved that thing. I went to C&C and even though the car wasn't gawdy at all, people back then thought it was weird to modify and race a sedan. Times have changed.

Not in a million years would I have thought I'd own and work on a Cayman and an M2, and definitely not owning both at the same time. There is no way I'd be comfortable working on these cars if I hadn't owned that Maxima.

I have to say though, when I go to C&Cs, the BMW guys are the worst.

Yeah, I guess I've lucked out – almost everyone at the C&C I regularly attend is pretty chill and, at least outwardly, non-judgemental. Honestly, if anyone there is kind of douchey it's the (billion) Corvette guys. It feels like they kind of turn their noses up at anything that isn't a Corvette, which is a little bit hilarious to me. But even they're not really that bad, per se.

[Efthreeoh]

Never been to a Cars and Coffee.

[as I sit here drinking my morning coffee...]