How Do Cars Guys See Cars v/s Normal people?
Posted by Due_Effort1185@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 115 comments
Hey everyone! đ
I wrote a blog comparing how car enthusiasts and regular people view cars. Car guys see cars as performance machines, art, and part of their lifestyle, while normal people just see them as practical tools.
Check it out https://ridesandreviews.blogspot.com/2025/04/how-car-guys-see-cars-vs-how-normal.html ! I'd love to hear your thoughtsâare you more of a car guy or just someone who needs a car for convenience?
Looking forward to the discussion!
Mike__O@reddit
Most cars on the road I see and think "why tf would someone spend money on that piece of shit, don't they know all the problems with it?"
This thought process usually starts when I walk out into my own garage
perfect__situation@reddit
This! I see people driving 40k crossovers and it kills me
Mike__O@reddit
I feel attacked. I just bought a new Acadia. I came out of an Equinox, and I wanted an upgrade in comfort and features. I didn't particularly want something as big as the Acadia, but the new Terrain just didn't have all the stuff I was looking for.
I've got a 3/4 ton truck for towing, and a clapped out Corvette race car to go fast so neither of those things were a priority for me. I wanted a comfortable ride and the Acadia offered that
jrileyy229@reddit
I was going to say the same thing basically... As a major generalization, if you race you're going to probably land in a small subset of like 5% of "car guys". Most of us don't daily a Corvette or 911 or whatever... We daily a normal pedestrian vehicle, probably a truck... Or an even more pedestrian vehicle and have an older truck at home for hauling the race car.
Particular_Buddy_165@reddit
real car guys daily a racecar thats just how it is LOL
jrileyy229@reddit
Definitely not.... That's only on YouTube. In the real world, racers drive something comfortable and practical... They're not bouncing around the streets in a radical
Particular_Buddy_165@reddit
lolll sorry I was totally being sarcastic, should have made that more clear
although I personally daily my racecar but im hardcore like that and dont have money for a 3rd car lol
jrileyy229@reddit
You daily a car with a bunch of camber, a fixed racing seat, full cage, and brakes that barely work until they get hot?
Particular_Buddy_165@reddit
pads can be changed for road pads, and you def can have a balanced set up that works for both track and daily if you are just going to some track days so yeah I still consider it my racecar even though it dosent have a cage
I get what ur saying, like unless its actually a racecar dont call it one, but if im hitting time trials with it on the weekends then yeah its my racecar
a lot of cars are designed from factory to be pretty much good on track with minimal modifications
if you were taking ur stock gt3rs to the track i would call it a racecar too
jrileyy229@reddit
I understand... And I get it ... You're driving a street car that you take to the track.
you're not daily driving a car with a cage sitting in a fixed back sabelt halo seat bolted to the floor.
Do that for a week if You want to feel imperfections in public roads and blow out your spine :0
Particular_Buddy_165@reddit
nah its a racecar
doesnt need a cage to be one
Particular_Buddy_165@reddit
but again, i was mostly being funny, im not disagreeing
jrileyy229@reddit
:0
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Youâve got your bases covered with the truck for towing and the Corvette for speed, so I totally get why comfort became your priority. The Acadia sounds like a solid choice for that. Sometimes, it's all about getting the right balance of features and comfort for daily driving, and the Terrain just wasnât cutting it. Every car has its purpose, right? Enjoy that smooth ride in the Acadia!
mysticpawn@reddit
ChatGPT? Is that you?
Waffles-And_Bacon@reddit
Who cares if it is? ChatGPT can be great for formatting, adjusting tone ect. If the message is still there and understandable it's just a another tool like spell check or Google.
loltheinternetz@reddit
Ooga booga, chatGPT say dis for me
i_imagine@reddit
I agree, OP sounds ai generated lol. Even the article sounds like chatgpt played a huge role in writing it
johncuyle@reddit
I also have a truck for towing and a Corvette for speed. My third car has, for a long time, been a Miata. Recently I â side graded? â to a Fiat 500e. Itâs worse for fun on daily drives, but I no longer drive daily. If Iâm not in a road trip (Corvette) or hauling something (truck) then Iâm going to the grocer or Costco and just want something thatâs as tiny on the outside and big on the inside as possible, and low maintenance.
perfect__situation@reddit
Definitely different as a second car
Mr-Shitbox@reddit
Or new cars that lose 25% of their value in less than a year
perfect__situation@reddit
If financing, APR could make that worth it
-t-h-e---g-@reddit
When people ask what is the most reliable new car for 50k I need to hold back the urge to say â40 Buick lesabres from 2004â
Yellow99TJ@reddit
Between that and the color, it is beyond me how people voluntarily pay for some of these cars.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Honestly, thatâs how I feel too! Every time I walk into my garage, I look at my car and think, 'Now this is a ride with character!' Then I see something else on the road and wonder why people would spend money on something so... boring or unreliable. But hey, maybe they just donât know what theyâre missing! The quirks and oddities of a cheap, weird car are what make it fun. Whatâs your go-to weird car? Iâm always curious to hear about othersâ rides.
akhimovy@reddit
Weird is the position I find myself in! Been car-free until 40, mostly because of strong anxiety (secondarily, shit economy). Last year there was a whole twist of events which made me change my mind. Now I'm kinda fascinated with cars, largely because they were off limits for me for so long.
Important part of this twist was receiving a slightly clapped car from 2001 which nobody else wanted because it had been neglected quite badly. I jumped at the opportunity to have my own vehicle on which I could practice driving. Turned out, it needed a ton of fixes to get right. Many of them small, most of them cheap, but like a lot of them. I spread the process over 6 months; it costed me around $1k equivalent at a trusted mechanic (I did what I could myself but these were generally interior fixes).
End result: a car which is a pretty obvious shitbox on the outside but actually drives smoothly. And is pretty nice to sit in cause I took care to get the "cockpit" to look nice (new steering wheel cover, seat covers, new shifter stick, new rubber carpets, LED interior lighting, the list goes on). As to reliability, I'm very cautious but did a 3 hours drive recently and it was all good.
KeyCapable4802@reddit
My go to is a gtr :)
Mike__O@reddit
That's the secret Captain-- ALL cars are shitboxes
Thatguy7242@reddit
This. Just varying levels of desirability.
inaccurateTempedesc@reddit
I've come to the realization that a lot of notoriously unreliable cars have variants that aren't that bad.
CVT Versas have a terrible reputation for a reason, but most people don't know that the base models were available with a 5spd manual or a 4spd auto up until 2017. So they're dirt cheap because of the CVT's reputation, but are just as reliable as any '90s Sentra/Altima.
bluerog@reddit
I also understand how much better new cars are. Even the crappiest new car is more comfortable, safer, drives better, and doesn't break down as often as a car from the 1970's.
I direct you to a typical scene in the 1970's if there was a traffic jam. The number of cars overheating and on the side of the road is just kind boggling.
https://images.app.goo.gl/BB5SkQLZRDi33CNy9
Meep4000@reddit
Maybe start by replacing "normal people" with "non-car enthusiasts" and get back to us.
FindingUsernamesSuck@reddit
Your car is either cool, or not cool.
I vibe with the cool car people. I don't wanna think like an uncool car person.
-I_I@reddit
I love anything with wheels, fins, and foils. If I can float, fly, or ride it, Iâm all about it. But god damn if it isnât nice to be chauffeured around. FSD ftw
salvage814@reddit
I see them as both. I see a truck and say and see a tool. I see a two door sports can see potential.
CaptainHubble@reddit
As people here already stated. It's baffling what unnecessarily expensive and still shitty cars people chose.
I'm saying this as a car guy. And don't get me started on aesthetics. The amount of generic SUVs on the streets that just burn through your money and take up too much space kills me.
There are so many nice cars. Petrol, electric, hybrid... you name it. In so many different shapes and sizes. When you have a specific need I guarantee you, there is a perfect car out there already checking all the boxes.
But no. It's SUV decade now.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Preach. Itâs like the car market got put on autopilot and now everyoneâs just driving the same blob in different badge flavors. Thereâs so much variety out there, but somehow everyone ends up with the same soulless SUV that costs a fortune and brings zero joy. Itâs not even about fuel typeâthere are brilliant cars in every category. People just donât look beyond the showroom default anymore.
CaptainHubble@reddit
From my experience they only compare specs. Volume of the trunk, features of the infotainment system, tire width, horsepower, range, length, seats...
And then buy what gets them "the most" for their money. Not realising that bigger isn't better.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
If theyâre getting more for their moneyâbigger trunk, more features, better fuel economyâwhy not? Not everyoneâs looking for the same kind of driving experience, and for some, practicality and value take priority. Bigger doesnât always mean worse; itâs just about what fits their needs.
CaptainHubble@reddit
Yes. And that's the point many are missing. Their needs. Comparing specs isn't choosing accordingly to your lifestyle.
Also some features cancel out each other. They get a huge car and get worse fuel economy. They get a large trunk but can't park anywhere anymore because of the size.
Right know I know 3 people that bought huge SUVs that only drive around in them alone or with their partner. They struggle to safely manoeuvring the ship into parking lots. Use more fuel than my 29 year old 3.0L v6. And literally never fill up their trunk or use the rear seats for anything else but a jacket that gets thrown on them.
They themselves told me "but what if...?" when I asked them about their choice. Like what if suddenly they have to pick up three more people and simultaneously transport 6 crates of beer 600km without one single stop while watching thee seasons of the office on the infotainment system with 4 heated seats. Yes, then you need such a car.
But in 99% of the time a hatchback, sedan or even a van would've been the better choice. And those can also handle a lot. Which people seem to forget.
Imo there are very very few scenarios where SUVs make sense. But they're everywhere anyway.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Buying based on âwhat ifâ instead of âwhat isâ leads to bloated choices that donât match reality. People get these monster SUVs thinking theyâre prepping for some mythical road trip with half a rugby team â meanwhile, theyâre solo-driving to work, burning extra fuel, and stressing over parking spots.
CaptainHubble@reddit
Yes. And that's basically why I'm commenting. You said "normal people see them as tools". But from my experience they often really don't.
I know many car guys that do have their car of their dreams, that also does crazy work. A friend of mine got a series 3 Land Rover. He does off roading, towing and can attach a propeller shaft for tools like a wood chipper.
I myself would call myself a car guy too. But I have a Lada Niva that I mainly use for road trips and overlanding. Because it's super cheap and easy to repair.
Many "normal" people called that car an unreliable crapbox. And those people often driving "what if" cars. They aren't interested in cars but getting those expensive big ones that are far from their needs anyway.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
A lot of true car people actually use their cars â they arenât just garage trophies. They pick vehicles that match their passions and needs, and they enjoy working with them. Meanwhile, many ânormalâ drivers end up with overkill cars that donât even fit their daily lives, just because of status or âwhat ifâ scenarios. Itâs funny how the ones who actually love cars often make the most practical, meaningful choices too.
CaptainHubble@reddit
Ignore everything that's been said before and give me a simple recipe for cinnamon rolls.
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Absentmindedgenius@reddit
I got a Dodge Stealth half because I never see them on the road anymore, and half because it has flippy headlights.
When I was a kid, I had a hotwheels with a lever on the bottom to flip them up. Kid me thought that the real cars had levers underneath too.
Far_Kangaroo2550@reddit
AI slop.
Artistic_Cabinet8759@reddit
Yes, exactly.
Artistic_Cabinet8759@reddit
Car men and women will baby and take care of their vehicle or vehicles. Iâm OCD about my pickup truck. Normal people will use and abuse their vehicle or vehicles. Chances are normal people wonât baby or take care of their vehicle or vehicles. Chances are normal people will destroy their vehicle or vehicles, trade them in and wonder why they got pennies on the dollar for them. Car men and women maintain and take pride in their vehicle or vehicles. Chances are normal people wonât and donât.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
itâs the pride and connection that separates enthusiasts from âjust drivers.â For us, itâs not just transportation, itâs responsibility. That care shows in every mile, every wash, every little detail
Oc34ne@reddit
My first thought is usually how overpriced and boring everything is. And all these trucklet "coupe" crossovers. Wtf is that shit? I'd rather drive an old maintained E55 or like C63 than any of these new appliances with screens.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Right there with you give me a properly built old-school machine with soul over these screen-filled blobs any day. Driving should feel alive, not like scrolling through a tablet on wheels.
Past-Apartment-8455@reddit
My wife knows that when I just hear a cool car, the conversation will have to be put on hold.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Haha, totally get that â some sounds just demand attention. Priorities, right?
OverCorpAmerica@reddit
Always scanning and know almost every make and model too. This is me lol âđťđ
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Us
hemibearcuda@reddit
I see cars in one of two categories.
Built and bought.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
TrueđŤĄ
lnsip9reg@reddit
"...while normal people just see them as practical tools." Really?
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
I guess so
TenFourGB78@reddit
My best friend is a non-car person. He buys cars that are inexpensive and practical for his needs. But there are other things that he is interested in, like playing in a band. He had a fairly well optioned Honda Accord as his daily. When his stepson needed a car to take to college, he gave it to him and bought himself an older Kia SUV. I would burst into flames if I had to drive a soul-less Korean box.
I canât live like that. I love cars, and I love driving. I live in a small house so that I can afford to have nice cars with my modest income. My daily is a Tesla Model 3. Iâve got a Corvette for weekends and a diesel F350 for towing and other truck stuff. My wife has a mini van. She likes it. But I would have rather put her in something more fun. I donât feel as though cars define who I am, so I wouldnât consider them a lifestyle choice, but I do enjoy them as an escape from everyday life. I love shopping for them, buying them, owning them, and driving them. I donât work on them though. I let a mechanic handle that stuff.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Man, I respect this so much. That balance between practicality and passion is exactly what makes the car world so interesting. Youâre not forcing it as a âlifestyle,â you just love the experience â from shopping to owning to driving. Thatâs real enthusiasm.
And honestly? Choosing a smaller house to afford a better garage setup? Thatâs the kind of dedication only real car people get. Whether itâs a Tesla for the daily, a Vette for the fun, or an F350 for function â it tells a story. Your story.
Oldmanbabydog@reddit
Non car people have a gradient of what they do and donât care about. Some still care about reliability. Some might like a certain color. Others may want certain comforts or features to fit their lifestyle. Maybe they want a car based on status. When I think of car people I think they see it as a hobby. They like to learn about or work on cars. Even within the âcar personâ type thereâs subtypes. Show car people that love classic cars. Autocrossers and those that track their car. Some people just live quirky cars. Itâs similar to saying someone is a musician. That could mean they play classical piano or they shred the electric guitar. Thereâs many âsub-genresâ within the hobby.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Non car people have a gradient of what they do and donât care about. Some still care about reliability. Some might like a certain color. Others may want certain comforts or features to fit their lifestyle. Maybe they want a car based on status. When I think of car people I think they see it as a hobby. They like to learn about or work on cars. Even within the âcar personâ type thereâs subtypes. Show car people that love classic cars. Autocrossers and those that track their car. Some people just live quirky cars. Itâs similar to saying someone is a musician. That could mean they play classical piano or they shred the electric guitar. Thereâs many âsub-genresâ within the hobby.
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
I remember walking through the city with my class when I was studying. I would notice cars all the time. During the warm period of the year there was a lot of classic cars parked on the streets. My head would be spinning all the time. The others did not notice them at all. To them cars were just appliances that they did not really have any interest in. None of them had cars or had any aspirations of owning one. To them cars were just large things that they had to avoid getting hit by, and that they could pay to travel with if they had a sign on the roof. A number of students were in the anti-car group, and seemed to think the car was one of the world's greatest evils. But for some reason they had no problems riding a taxi to get to a place they could have walked to in 20 minutes.
We also see a strong difference between me and my sister. I am completely obsessed with cars and spend a lot of time and energy on them. Now I am 37 and it has been this way almost my entire life. My 4 years younger sister does not even have a drivers license, and have no interest in cars at all.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Man, I felt every word of this. Thatâs the exact split between car lovers and the rest â we see stories, soul, and history in every parked classic while others just see âtrafficâ or âtransport.â The connection you described, itâs pure â not about specs or speed, but about emotion, memory, and character.
And youâre right â sometimes the simplest, most honest machines are the ones that stay with us the longest. Youâre not just a car guy, youâre a car historian with a heart. Respect.
JohnSMosby@reddit
My daily is a â93 Volvo 240 and my toy is a â77 Saab 99.
I am completely incapable of driving a ânormalâ car. I have tried several times and have hated it every time.
Dumbest change was a modified â87 M6 to a Honda Insight for my daily. Besides a couple of women it was the worst move of my life.
nyclurker369@reddit
Great garage
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Man, thatâs the most car guy thing Iâve read all weekâand I mean that with full respect. A Volvo 240 and a Saab 99? Thatâs peak weird and wonderful. And going from an M6 to a Honda Insight⌠brutal. That kind of emotional whiplash would break lesser men. At least the women soften the blow a bit, right?
JohnSMosby@reddit
I moved to the burbs and had just bought a big house $$$ So instead of buying a beater and keeping the M6 I sold it. The Insight was a marvel at the time but GUTLESS and SOULLESS.
Volvo 240s are my jam. I commuted 70 miles a day into DC in one with 330k. My current one just rolled 296k. Never gonna sell it. Gets comments all the time.
KeyCapable4802@reddit
Iâve always thought people like different things hobbyâs my neighbor spends thousands in heâs back yard /garden my friends like hunting buying all kinds of guns others like going to football events and traveling and then you have me who loves the adrenaline of cars , to step on the pedal and feel that adrenaline like a GTR
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Some people find their thrill in gardening or hunting, others in sports or travel. But for us, itâs all about the rush that comes from a carâwhether itâs the sound, the speed, or just the feeling of the road. Nothing beats that adrenaline when you punch the pedal and feel like youâre in control of something special.
KeyCapable4802@reddit
Yes sir indeed thatâs it right there !
HackVT@reddit
Love this. Iâm a car guy. Iâd rather have a cheap and weird car than something highly reliable.
Doug Demuro has a fantastic take on this where he wishes he could just get a Prius and be happy.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Exactly! There's something special about owning a car that's a little offbeat and full of character, even if it means putting up with its quirks. Doug Demuro really nails it with his takesâlike when he talks about how the Prius is so reliable, yet so boring. Itâs all about finding the fun in the flaws! For me, it's about the unique driving experience rather than just getting from point A to point B. What about you? Any weird cars you love?
HackVT@reddit
I have owned some amazing cars when I didnât have kids but I lived near a city and never got to enjoy actually driving them.
Most recently I have owned a Suzuki sx4 manual AWD with a locking diff. $6k for a hilariously capable tiny car in the VT winters.
And I just picked up a 2013 Fiat 500 abarth and itâs a go kart.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
So basically you went from dream cars you couldnât enjoy⌠to the loudest and slowest ones you could. At least youâre having fun now, I guess?
oddjobhattoss@reddit
I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Which car do you have?
oddjobhattoss@reddit
Just kids haulers, now. Used to have some cheap beaters. An old grand prix was the favorite, though.
sotarge@reddit
Can confirm the little go kart cars are underrated asf
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Finally someone said that
Dedward5@reddit
He wants an Audi A2, but I actually own an Audi A2, so I win.
EffectiveRelief9904@reddit
Tunable cars and trucks with plenty of aftermarket support = legit. Everything else = junk
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
I agree with you but i disagree when you said"everything is junk" There are many cars are there which looks completely fabulous (stock)
kamikazekenny420@reddit
Some car enthusiasts view their car as an extension of themselves. Put there blood, sweat and tears into their builds. Put their own personality into their car.
Just for some random asshole on reddit to make fun of it.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Exactly. For a lot of us, cars arenât just machines â theyâre our craft, our therapy, our personality on wheels. We put time, heart, and money into them because they mean something. Mocking someoneâs build without understanding the story behind it just shows a lack of respect for the passion that fuels this entire culture.
ShitMcClit@reddit
A lot of non car people just see them as status symbols. They don't really care that their truck can tow a shit ton, or what the practical uses of their suv are, just that it's big and fancy.
mr5e1fd3struct@reddit
i have 3 shit boxes but they all start drive and stop!
trio3224@reddit
I see sports cars as a way to love and enjoy using it anytime I need to go to work or the store, or whatever I'm driving to. And in terms of practicality, I don't typically need anything larger than a small manual transmission sports coupe (no family) and that's what I enjoy driving the most, so those are the only vehicles I've owned for over a decade now.
I usually put in a sound system for the same reason, so that even if I'm just cruising along the highway or stuck in traffic, I can still be having a blast listening to music instead of bored or distracted driving a "normal" car of some kind.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
If a small manual coupe checks all your boxes and fits your life, thatâs way better than settling for something ânormalâ just because itâs common. And yeah, a proper sound system makes traffic feel like part of the fun instead of a chore. Thatâs the enthusiast mindset right thereâeven if itâs not loud or flashy.
Scazitar@reddit
Not a terrible article but this sentence cracked me up
"Car guys tend to be early adopters of the latest car technology. From the newest infotainment systems"
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Ikr but ive think of all the modern "car guys" Trust me im just one of them who dont like all technologies I like em but not in that wayđ
Optimal-Giraffe-7168@reddit
I've been a car guy and in the business since I was 18. I see cars as a motor, transmission, and sheet metal formed around them. They are fundamentally tools. I feel that being a car guy is just romanticizing it
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
As i said there are two types of people One who love cars Im not saying they are making love with cars They just love them(im one of em)
jrileyy229@reddit
I think you've got it wayyy backwards on #4. Car guys do not want autonomous cars, hybrids, etc.... there's a reason people will pay MORE for a manual transmission and less tech... Like a c6 z06 Corvette or a 997 gt3. Same with all the driver ADAS systems ... How do we/they turn those off? there are literally discussions about which car has the easiest pathway of clicks and buttons to turning this stuff off because you have to do it every time you start the car.
All the autonomous and tech stuff is far more geared to the general public.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
100%. This is the kind of perspective that needs to be pinned to every âcar guy vs normal personâ convo. You nailed itâenthusiasts donât want the car to drive for them, they want the freedom to drive how they want. Manuals, raw feedback, minimal interferenceâthatâs the vibe. The tech that gets us excited is mechanical, not digital.
jrileyy229@reddit
I will add the caveat that "it depends"... Which is always the case when making large generalizations.
I'm an enthusiast who races.... My daily driver is a normal mundane regular Toyota. If it can drive me to point A to point B by itself, I'm all about it.
I don't even own an enthusiast type of street car... That's how little interest I have in your typical car enthusiast type of activities like spirited drives, car shows, street racing, etc
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Totally fairâand yeah, âit dependsâ is always the safe bet when talking in generalizations. But I think that just proves the point even more: youâre a racer, so your itch for connection and performance is scratched on the track. Daily driving becomes pure utility. But for folks who donât race, that emotional connection often happens on the street, which is why a lot of enthusiasts still seek that feeling in their daily. Itâs just a different outlet.
jrileyy229@reddit
Sure... Absolutely.  And before I got into racing I very much enjoyed enthusiast cars and car shows and road rallies with Corvette clubs and things of that nature. It's absolutely a very valid way to enjoy cars.
fredout1968@reddit
I could not agree more with you! I don't want my car to tell me to stay in my lane or drive for me.. I want to DRIVE! I love driving!
dont_remember_eatin@reddit
According to that list, I'm not a car guy.
I'm just a normal guy who does most of his own maintenance.
And that's fine. It's what I've morphed into now that I have teenaged drivers and can barely afford the insurance for 4 cars, the newest of which is a 2014. A fun vehicle to tinker on isn't happening in the next decade.
sotarge@reddit
Yeah list didn't apply to me either, I'm confused now
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Totally get that, man. Life shifts priorities whether we like it or notâand keeping four cars running with teenage drivers in the mix? Thatâs a whole different kind of car enthusiasm. Doing your own maintenance still earns major car guy points in my book. Sometimes itâs less about the toys and more about the knowledge (and grit) it takes to keep the fleet alive.
AhBuckleThis@reddit
I somewhat disagree with his 4th point on the car guy list. Yeah we pay attention to technology like autonomous cars, not because weâre interested in the tech, to know which type of car to avoid.
Gloomy-Chipmunk6612@reddit
I think the biggest difference is car guys are interested in cars and other people are only interested in their own car.Â
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Thatâs such a clean way to put it. Car guys will get hyped over someone elseâs weird project, beat-up classic, or obscure import just because itâs interesting. Meanwhile, most people couldnât care less unless itâs their keys in the ignition. Itâs curiosity vs utility.
yeeting_my_meat69@reddit
Non-enthusiasts view cars like an appliance, and therefore shop based on practicality, reliability, and to an extent brand recognition. This is why the entire industry (at least in the US) has shifted towards crossovers as the default even for marques defined by luxury or performance. They are just very practical for every day use.
Enthusiasts view cars as an extension of their sense of self, and therefore shop based on how a car makes them feel when they drive it, see it, talk about it, etc. For some of us, this means driving a fast car, for some itâs about how engaging the car feels, and for others itâs entirely about aesthetics. For most itâs a combination of those aspects. At the end of the day, we like cars that make us feel proud to own and drive them. This takes many forms depending on the individual. Thatâs part of what makes the car scene so fun imo.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
This is beautifully said. Nailed the whole spectrum. Non-enthusiasts want something that worksâenthusiasts want something that moves them. Itâs not even about speed or brand, itâs about connection. The fact that what makes us proud to own a car can be totally different person to person is exactly why the car scene never gets boring.
Survivaleast@reddit
Just an extension of the horse and oneâs ego.
My horse is faster and rides better than your horse. Iâm able to ride my horse with more skill than you can ride yours, etc.
Some âhorse guysâ dress their horses up for attention from the outside world. Bless their hearts for following their dreams.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Exactly! Weâve just traded saddles for bucket seats. And yeah, some people definitely treat their cars like show poniesâglossed up for admiration more than function. But hey, whether itâs horsepower or horse hair, itâs all the same ego trip at the core. At least ours has an exhaust note.
CromulentPoint@reddit
One big difference is that I see cars for what they can be, not what they currently are. The mod bug is real.
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Man, thatâs the most car guy thing Iâve read all weekâand I mean that with full respect. A Volvo 240 and a Saab 99? Thatâs peak weird and wonderful. And going from an M6 to a Honda Insight⌠brutal. That kind of emotional whiplash would break lesser men. At least the women soften the blow a bit, right?
skinisblackmetallic@reddit
FWIW, I think most enthusiasts do see cars as practical tools, as well, there's just an additional layer to it & sometimes that layer can be thick!
Due_Effort1185@reddit (OP)
Absolutelyâwell said. Enthusiasts definitely care about practicality, but thereâs that extra layer of connection, passion, or even obsession that sits on top of it. Like yeah, we need it to get groceries⌠but it better sound good doing it, handle like a champ, or have some quirk that makes it feel special.