Car guy? Really?

[GH85Carrera]

My parents both considered cars an expensive appliance that gets parked outside. Dad had a little more car appreciation than mom when he was younger. In 1967 I actually talked him into test driving a a 911. I was thrilled, he like it but said it was way too small and expensive. He ended up with a 4 door Delta 88 with a 454. In later years he started driving Toyotas.

At the recent Porsche Palooza in Eureka Springs, AR there were tons of new 718s, GT3s and new 911s and Boxsters. Even one 918 covered in bug hits and road dirt. I was in my 85 911. I had tons of guys with new cars come ask about my old 911. They all loved the shape, and look of a classic air cooled 911. It happened all weekend. There are some real great roads around there. Best in the country hands down.

[1975porsche]

The other day I was out with the targa, young guy in his early twenties says nice car but I like American muscle. I politely said yes my son has a 65 tempest and a blazer we stuffed a 5.7 in. What do you have ? He says a Honda Civic with a turbo. I hope he does not think that a Honda is American muscle cars!!

[Charles Freeborn]

Good news is he probably can't drive 3 pedals, so you'll never have to say no to letting him drive one of yours...

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by 1975porsche

The other day I was out with the targa, young guy in his early twenties says nice car but I like American muscle. I politely said yes my son has a 65 tempest and a blazer we stuffed a 5.7 in. What do you have ? He says a Honda Civic with a turbo. I hope he does not think that a Honda is American muscle cars!!

One of my favourite that has happened to me is the young Harley Davidson rider that was really excited about my Toyota Supra, wanted to know if it was a Turbo.

Since that day to help maintain confusion I've been making the badges less obvious.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by ckissick

I have a new next-door neighbor. He's about in his late 30s.......... he said he was a guy buff too.

You guys are slipping.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

You guys are slipping.

I didn't notice that typo. I got a good laugh out of that. Of course, I'm not, you know... Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I've been a car nut since I was single digits.

Same here. I started building model cars as soon as I could handle the glue without mucking things all up. The minute one of the older kids on the block would pop the hood to start working on his car, I was there to hand them tools and and pester them with lots of questions.
The first car magazine I remember reading was Sports Car Graphic...might've been around 12 or 13 at the time.

Originally Posted by vash

I vote we stow away the elitist car guy attitude. This is supposed to be fun.

I'll second that...

[Otter74]

My main activity in engineering school was Formula SAE. My second or third year, there was a guy who showed up who drove a base-model Mitsubishi Eclipse with an automatic (come on, we had to tease him about that) and didn't know how to do anything more than check the oil. By the time he graduated he had been chief engineer of the team for two years. When they graduated, he and another teammate started their own company. There's hope for everybody with some curiosity and the will to learn who isn't discouraged by smarty pants' making fun of their lack of knowledge.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

No such thing as a dumb question if you don't know

[onewhippedpuppy]

If ever you get conceited about your "car guy" knowledge, remember that the rest of society just thinks you are a dork.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Otter74

My main activity in engineering school was Formula SAE. My second or third year, there was a guy who showed up who drove a base-model Mitsubishi Eclipse with an automatic (come on, we had to tease him about that) and didn't know how to do anything more than check the oil. By the time he graduated he had been chief engineer of the team for two years. When they graduated, he and another teammate started their own company. There's hope for everybody with some curiosity and the will to learn who isn't discouraged by smarty pants' making fun of their lack of knowledge.

nice. our mini baja team was one ME (team leader), and 4 CE. the ME department put all their resources into the official ALL ME team, and let us go in as independents with one condition; we gather all the financing on our own. we did. we got a computer company to write us one big check. one month before the competition, they shut down the other team and gave us the college uniform. that other team built a turd. UTEP was lucky we were there, since the competition was at our school that year!! they saved face. we came in 16th overall.

the team leader almost didnt graduate because he wanted to keep the car. his arguement was that we got all the money. it was a fun fun year. i almost failed out that semester.

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Last year's Parade in Spaokane was full of 'car guys' or more accurately 'Porsche guys'...

They all showed up with their first Porsche , typically a Cayman or GT4. It was their first Porsche and they had no concept of anything air cooled.

I had my very early 930 there and they thumbed their nose at it...

Car guys...

I was at that Parade too! But, since my Porsche wasn't happy on the street, I took my BMW E92 M3. We stayed at the Historic Davenport, which had wall to wall Porsches in its courtyard, plus a couple of Parade-related Porsche displays. As I gave the key to the valet, he said "Beautiful car, man!" and gave me a wink. It cracked me up. Car guy.

I think true car guys/gals are formed in utero, and pop out looking for the keys and the gas pedal. I know I sure did.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by 1975porsche

The other day I was out with the targa, young guy in his early twenties says nice car but I like American muscle. I politely said yes my son has a 65 tempest and a blazer we stuffed a 5.7 in. What do you have ? He says a Honda Civic with a turbo. I hope he does not think that a Honda is American muscle cars!!

Almost all Civics are built in Ohio or Alabama.
The newest type R Civic has 306 hp 6 speed.

[Admin at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I gave the key to the valet

[URY914]

I started off with Matchbox cars.
Next were Hot Wheels
Then HO slot cars
I was also building 1/25 scale model cars at the same time.
Bought my 914 at 20 years old. I still have it. Next year will by 40 years with that car.
I've had about 5 other 914's.

Yea I suppose I've been a car guy from the beginning.

[gsxrken]

I went to the one full service gas station in town and the young kid pumping gas was really digging my daily driver. “This car is really cool! I love this car” followed by “what is it?” I was floored. They probably made a million E39 5 series BMWs, but I guess they’re getting long in the tooth. The last was made in 2003, or 15 years ago. But here’s a kid who works at a gas station, with an eye for cars to some degree, and he didn’t know what a 5-series was.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

One of my favourite that has happened to me is the young Harley Davidson rider that was really excited about my Toyota Supra, wanted to know if it was a Turbo.

Since that day to help maintain confusion I've been making the badges less obvious.

I think that's a Lambo, dude!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NJmB1F2mdE

Originally Posted by Chris at Pelican Parts

LOL. It was awkward, with my wife there!

[DWBOX2000]

It's funny, my wife will tell people I am a car guy and I always feels obligated to say no, I just like cars. I almost could care less about what makes them go, I just love what they look like and that they can go vvroom.

I guess by some's definition, I'm a "non car guy who just happens to likes cars". Not a bad title, just a bit long.

[Joe Bob]