“nice driver!” Classism in Air Cooled America?

[shawn908]

Hey off topic readers - I don’t post on this sub forum hardly ever but I enjoy many threads (thanks for the entertainment and info) the content is diverse enough I hope this mini rant and question is not out of place.

At a C&C, prevalence of air cooled P-cars is high. Having a nice time shooting the s$&t with the usual car rowd. Then a guy strolls up and shouts “it’s a driver” looking at my 911. Ok I know it has its cosmetic flaws, but the guy could not explain to me what he meant by it when I asked him. And it’s accurate I drive my car so do the majority of old sports car enthusiasts. Just tell me it looks like garbage and we can move on knowing we agree - but this back handed compliment “it’s a driver” is too much. I don’t care if you bought your 35000 mile 78 from the original owner who cried when you drove away. Yet I indicate your’s is among the best example I have seen (because it’s true) you lucky dude.

Probably the 5th time I get that driver comment and it seems as if it’s dudes with original condition 911s who tell me. Other enthusiasts just ask how I like the R888s.

All of this egocentric ranting to ask: is the air cooled crowd starting to exhibit Ferrari owner-like classism?

[ZOO]

I always look at the tires to figure out what conversation to have with anyone. Armour All? I’ll compliment the cleanliness. R888s? I’ll ask you about the tracks you’ve enjoyed.

I prefer the latter conversations.

[wdfifteen]

Some of us are proud that our cars are "drivers" and I would not take it as an insult. You don't see many guys walking up to a pristine car and calling it "garage queen!" Now that would be an insult.

[KFC911]

Ignore them. I don't do these type of events, but if ya want to be "insulted", buy a Sportster and attend a Harley gathering... (I've never done those either)...

"It's a girl's bike"

Air cooled idiots are everywhere ...

[masraum]

I suspect "it's a driver" is not an insult 99.9% of the time. Lots of folks love drivers. I'm don't think I've ever called a car a driver, but when I see something that gets driven, it make me smile/happy.

I think you should just talk to the guy as if he was a car guy. If he continues to rub you the wrong way, find a way to disengage. But I definitely wouldn't let it bother me.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Some of us are proud that our cars are "drivers" and I would not take it as an insult. You don't see many guys walking up to a pristine car and calling it "garage queen!" Now that would be an insult.

That

[shawn908]

Good comments - thanks - and to follow up from masraum/Steve - I agree and I was just about to post that I have heard that driver expression about my car and had a great conversation with people - it’s the tone used that can make a difference. Driving this car and doing a little wrenching to improve is beyond therapy. And the number of good outweigh the classists by a country mile x 10.

Still...

sorry I need to relax.
Going for a drive at 4:00PM.

[plain fan]

For the most part all of my Porsches have been "drivers." I'm not offended by it and car people aren't ignorant of the skyrocketing prices of air cooled 911s. Everyone I've met loves to see a car that is actually driven and used by the owner. It's like many of us on this board love to see the super, ultra rare cars actually on the road and being driven, not parked away in a garage gathering dust and rotting away with time, regardless of how shiny the paint might be.

[Eric 951]

quit driving a Volkswagen

[GH85Carrera]

I call my car a driver. Because I have driven it to 41 states and Canada. And it has 176,000 miles on it. Still I won 2nd place at a recent car show and get constant compliments of the appearance of the car. It has not one door ding, scrape, or rusty spot. It has nice very shiny paint, and the wheels are nice. The interior is great as well.

If you ever have a chance to go to a PCA Porsche Parade and visit the concours you will see the difference in a driver and a show car. When the inside of the wheel wells are spotless and shiny. The suspension looks like it just came from the catalog and is all perfectly plated or painted. The car looks better than the day it was delivered to the first owner. There are no flaws at all, and guys and gals spend a year or more just cleaning and prepping the car and a solid week at the show with the wheels off and clean then you have a show car.

I admire a perfect museum piece car, but I could never so it. I have too much fun driving mine. I have pictures of mine at the Southernmost point in the USA, on Track at Laguna Secca, on the tail of the dragon, at the Acadia national park in Maine and in the Rocky Mountains. It has some wear and tear but it is a 35 year old car with 176,000 miles.

I would prefer someone call my car a driver and not a show car any day. Few thing in life are more fun than sliding through the corkscrew at Laguna Secca going as fast as I can go. As I told my wife, if someone was chasing after me and going to shoot me if thet caught me, I could not go any faster around the track. That is a blast and there were no show cars there that day.

[wildthing]

Hmmm... I've never been to a Cars&Coffee so I haven't experienced this. Is that how C&C events go? I'm more of a driving event kind of person rather than park and sit.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Hmmm... I've never been to a Cars&Coffee so I haven't experienced this. Is that how C&C events go? I'm more of a driving event kind of person rather than park and sit.

I've never considered taking a car to an event. I have been to car shows and would go and wander around and look at other cars (I've never been to a C&C), but that's it.

[manbridge 74]

He was only half right. It’s a driver survivor.

Zero Fuchs given by me for these events...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Eric 951

quit driving a Volkswagen

Drunk at one of those party in the park beer/band fests in the late 70's I blurted out to a guy in a sweet 914, "Nice VW".

I feel bad to this day for saying that. I was just an obnoxious punk being a jerk.

[schamp]

Glen, very well written.

[Macroni]

I own a Porsche because I drive it.... anybody @ C&C that doesn’t understand has never driven a 911.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Eric 951

quit driving a Volkswagen

Hey!....Mine are 'glorified Volkswagens'!

[pavulon]

As prices rose, so has the snob and douchebag quotient...it's no different than anything else.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Hey!....Mine are 'glorified Volkswagens'!

So they are "just" bugs!

I like bugs

[911boost]

I agree with all of the comments here. My RS has 19,000 miles or so on it and that considered a lot in the RS circle, so each group is different.

Like you I drive mine, so yep, it is a driver all day long.

[pwd72s]

Some will never understand why I shed myself of a 1972 911S....that's okay.