I Drive A Boring Car, But I'm Still An Enthusiast!

"Matthew Henry" (matthenry)
12/19/2013 at 12:48 • Filed to: enthusiast, triumph, beige, cars

I'm just going to get this out of the way: I drive a horrible car. In almost every respect. It's late nineties and beige, with a slushbox, bad gas mileage (without the accompanying fun), large, slow, and unmanueverable. It's not even that reliable! That doesn't mean I'm not an enthusiast.

One of the hardest realizations I have come to recently is this: people will judge your enthusiasm for automotives by what you drive. In high-school, I was blessed enough to drive a Jeep Wrangler (TJ) with a soft-top. I dearly loved that Jeep—it was a gift from my uncle to my oldest brother, who passed it down when he left for college. I was the third owner. By the time I got it, it had dented fenders, scuffs in the paint, 100,000 miles on the clock, plenty of strange electrical gremlins, and a cracked windshield. I daily drove my Jeep. I was a true Jeep enthusiast who did his own wrenching, took care of his baby, and—most importantly—had a blast driving it. Memories were made in that Jeep. Practicality (and the terrain near where I live) however dictated that I kept it on 31" A/T tires, with no lift. One Christmas season, I posted a photo of my Jeep on a forum, and was thoroughly ridiculed for the fact that I kept it mostly stock. I was accused of being a "worthless DDer" and of "not being a true Jeeper." It hurt. I was a kid on a high-school budget who put most of his wages towards gas and insurance. A lift and 35" mud tires would not only have been a needless expense, it would have made my Jeep less fun to drive under normal conditions. I don't live in Moab!

Two cars down the line, most of my decisions have been made by practicality and overall budget constraints. As anybody who followed my car-buying saga earlier this year knows ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), I looked at all sorts of cars. I tried to justify buying a 200,000 mile Datsun 280z. I tried to justify buying all sorts of "enthusiast" cars. I ended up buying a Saturn SL2, because it was cheap to run and insure. At least it was a 5-speed.

After some mechanical faults, the Saturn is gone, and I drive a Buick LeSabre. No, it isn't a car I would ever choose to own under normal conditions, but it was affordable.

I hate making my decisions based on money. I don't like driving a Buick any more than I liked driving a Saturn. I gave my heart to a BRG Triumph Spitfire a year ago, and I'm determined to own one someday—but for now, I need a car that will get me and my stuff back and forth to school. I don't have the money, time, or space to own a project right now—I'm working my way through college. I can't afford to insure a second car—it's hard enough to pay my bills as it is. I'm lucky to even have a car—most of the students at my school aren't allowed to have one on campus. I would sell my car and buy a better one, but sadly, "enthusiast cars" usually require a time commitment beyond what I can give. That's why I drive a Buick.

I not only daily-drive a boring, luxo-barge, beigemobile—it's my only car. It's a stage of life. I do all my own wrenching, though, and my browser history is full of ads for unloved and abandoned British roadsters and Z-cars. One day, I'll pull the trigger and drive my dream. But for now, I'll keep driving this ol' Buick, and I'll thank God that I can drive. I enjoy driving, even if it's a boring car—and that's what makes me an enthusiast. I don't appreciate the aesthetics behind bro-trucks, donks, or slammed cars, but I appreciate the fact that their owners care about the vehicles they drive and take joy in the act of driving.

In this world of boring cars, we need more people who care about their cars—more people for whom their car isn't just an appliance. Being an enthusiast is not about owning a rare or unique car—it's about taking pride in what you drive. Being an enthusiast is not about auto-crossing, tracking, or muddin'—it's about having fun and making driving enjoyable.

I daily drive a boring car, but don't you dare say I'm not an enthusiast.

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DISCUSSION (70)

davedave1111 > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 12:50

people will judge you

Fuck 'em.

Takuro Spirit > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 12:52

Don't care that I DD a Camry, I have a Trans Am in the garage.

COME AT ME, BRO.

CalzoneGolem > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 12:54

People on the internet are looking for any reason to ridicule you. Idiot!

Seriously though a car does not an enthusiast make. I think we all know someone with a very Jalop car that doesn't care or know shit about it.

Mattbob > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 12:54

Oh my god, this is almost my same story, but I drove a beat up 4 cylinder wrangler in high school. Switched to an XJ in college and still get shit occasionally for not putting big tires on it. I bought it because it is as reliable as gravity, and has pretty decent capabilities in stock form. I don't need to lower my gas mileage just because I feel the need to make it look cooler. Now with paying off student loans, my next car choice is again probably going to be decided by money. Maybe an old BMW with a straight 6? sigh. we shall see.

Ian Duer (320b) > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 12:55

Take a few deep breaths. You can weather this storm. I was once stuck in an autotragic 1.3 Metro. It was hell. Almost. It got 32mpg on a good day, so none of the 40+mpg FU of the turbo 3 nor the overboosted 1.0L shenanigans. BUT... It was almost fun that you had to conserve as much speed in turns as possible because of the lack of acceleration. You can't always drive what you like. You can learn to find something you like about the car you drive... Now if only I could finish the formal write-up pertaining to that.

For Sweden > Takuro Spirit
12/19/2013 at 12:55

A real jalop would DD the Trans Am and turn the Camry into a diesel quarter-mile machine.

BRO

Ian Duer (320b) > Mattbob
12/19/2013 at 12:57

Loved my e36... You want the bimmer. Just bring a wrench if you don't have deep pockets.

Mattbob > Ian Duer (320b)
12/19/2013 at 12:58

Oh I have wrenches... I own a Jeep. haha

dogisbadob > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 12:59

I know what it's like to not have a lot of money! I'm only starting to do my own work now, though.

My car is a third-gen Camry (actually an ES300)

Ian Duer (320b) > Mattbob
12/19/2013 at 13:00

Sounds like most of the Jeep folk I've known. Shame on those who questioned your Jeepness.

Matthew Henry > Ian Duer (320b)
12/19/2013 at 13:00

Let's see...A List of Things I Like About My Buick:

1- I can't figure out how to make the clock read the hour instead of the outside temperature, so I don't worry about the time.
2- The horrifying levels of body-roll makes turns interesting, while being a little less likely to kill me then my Jeep.
3- The leather seats enabled me to get the stale-cigarette-smell out of them, something cloth would have prevented.
4- It goes! It turns! It stops! All in (relative) comfort! :D

Takuro Spirit > For Sweden
12/19/2013 at 13:01

Give it time, give it time...

HammerheadFistpunch > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:01

I too drive late 90's 4 speed auto, beige, slow gas hog. It was by choice though and its snowing and I have no regrets. Seriously though I didn't get to drive a car I wanted to drive for a long long time. im in my 30's now and just getting cars I want

GRawesome > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:01

Lord knows I drove some crap-mobiles in my day before being able to afford an "enthusiast" car. Funny enough coincidence - my first exciting car was a TJ Wrangler also, soft top and 30" tires, never put a lift on mine either.

Keep doing what you are doing and soon you will be able to afford that Triumph. When that day does come it will be all the more sweeter because you earned it.

oldirtybootz > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:02

Driving a non-enthusiast car is nothing to be ashamed of. Hell, Takuro has a Camry! Life doesn't give the slightest fuck about what kind of car you want, thus you end up stuck in a Buick LeSabre. If it gets you to where you need to go, that's all that matters. Eventually you can find something that really speaks to and about you as an enthusiast.

My first car in HS was an 88 Bronco. Like you, I was gifted it and it was a genuinely fun DD. It was also an unreliable, gas guzzling money pit so I sold it when I got into college and bought a 94 Altima that was also an unreliable money pit. College didnt work out but I got a full time job and could afford a car loan. My mother worked at a Ford dealership at the time and my father cosigned on a 2010 Focus Sedan with a slushbox. As an enthusiast, a slushbox Focus was far from my first choice but in 3 years it never failed me. This past Halloween I traded it on a Dart 1.4T 6MT and it feels great to finally have a DD with a soul. You'll get there eventually.

Ian Duer (320b) > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:04

Head and shoulders above the Sonata I rented. I found nothing to like about it. Nothing. The only good thing was that it didn't randomly catch fire and burn to the ground. In retrospect, since it was a rental, that would have been a plus. They'd have had to give me something else. Like the Charger I "reserved" online that was somehow mysteriously spoken for when I arrived to pick it up.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:06

You got DeMuro'd, don't worry about it and just write a book.

Party-vi > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:07

It should be universally understood that the car you drive does NOT necessarily reflect the level of enthusiasm or love for cars you may have. Any "enthusiast" who gives you shit for the car you drive isn't worth the time of day.

Jagvar > davedave1111
12/19/2013 at 13:07

Exactly. If I had a nickel for every time a person judged me for something, I'd be a rich man.

Matthew Henry > Mattbob
12/19/2013 at 13:12

Oh I have wrenches... I own a Jeep. haha.

Story of my life. :P And I completely agree. Better to drive a stock Jeep that you love and use then to put $10,000 of mods on a Jeep that never sees the dirt.

davedave1111 > Jagvar
12/19/2013 at 13:14

As long as people judge me positively, that's fine, they're just discerning individuals. If they judge me negatively, though, I'll ignore their fucktarded opinions because they're wrong.

Matthew Henry > GRawesome
12/19/2013 at 13:15

Those TJ Wranglers were the best. I can't think of a better male for a high-school male.

rotarykid > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:17

Just recently put in my two weeks notice at my work. Planning on going back to school

It makes me so sad inside I can't dd my rotary anymore(can't afford it ) But when the time comes she will still be sitting in my dads garage waiting for me. Just like how all those enthusiast cars. One day man one day. Your dream car out there waiting for yeah.

My other rides pretty dope tho so I can't complain to much.

Matthew Henry > rotarykid
12/19/2013 at 13:19

What's your other ride?

offroadkarter > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:21

Jeepers can be D-bags, which is why the rest of the offroading community constantly picks on them.

Them, and Hummer owners...

rotarykid > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:24

72 el camino. Here my fav. Picture.

edit:airport wifi to bad for picture.

desertdog5051 > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:26

Enthusiast forums are a terrible place to visit.

Matthew Henry > desertdog5051
12/19/2013 at 13:29

Except for Jalopnik/Oppo, because I love you guys. :)

desertdog5051 > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:30

True. But I do not really consider this a forum because we do not stick to one make.

rotarykid > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:31

Have any questions about either feel free to ask. I used to live at work and have both on the road. So I didn't daily either I just drove whatever I felt tbh. Mostly the rx8 tho. Something about that engine just pulls at my heart.

Ohto Kangas > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:34

This is a real problem in the car culture. It is ridiculous when you think about it. Say someone tells you they love art. They are passionate about the works by Dali or Rembrandt. When asked how many of those they own they answer none. Then you tell them there is no way they are passionate about those things because they don't own any of them. You can have passion and love things without owning them. In fact you are probably more passionate about them because your passion is also fueled by desire as well as appreciation.

langadamd > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 13:47

I felt the same way. I drive a decent car now, but I would love an enthusiast car. I am 25 and paying off school loans. I just can't afford a second car or a new car. Hopefully some day...

Matthew Henry > rotarykid
12/19/2013 at 13:50

I'd love an rx7 one day. Somebody in my town owns one, and I can recognize that engine note from a mile away. And when you aren't on airport wifi, upload a picture of that El Camino!

IMissTheOldInternet > Takuro Spirit
12/19/2013 at 13:51

I have to ask: why a Camry?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > davedave1111
12/19/2013 at 14:14

I covered the front of a jetta in beer labels, threw some cheap rims on it, and blacked out the trim and front bumper. After the coilovers and some new tires it was 2000$ for the car and my "upgrades". No matter what anyone else thinks or says about it, this is the holy law of being a car fanatic - cheap cars are hater-proof . My car cost less than your insurance on your new chevy. My car cost less than maintenance on your benz. So you can take that opinion and shove it back up the asshole you pulled it out of. Peace out, bitches! *slightly ratty exhaust note due to small hole in muffler* *jetta pulls away slowly*

Sinanigans > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 14:14

Unless those tards were going to pay for your mods/bills/or gas- they can go sit on a pole. Sounds to me like you've got your priorities in order, and that's the most important thing. Use this time in your life to focus on what's really important- and get motivated to move forward. You don't need to prove to anyone that you're an enthusiast just because you have a certain car.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 14:17

cheap cars are hater-proof

End of story right there. You have a car. It runs and drives. It was cheap. You need no other justification after that. If it was a new car that you bought simply because it was cheap......well then you might have a bit of explaining to do if you got a brand new camry simply for cheapness. But dirty old used cars? Pfffft! You take what you get if your only plan for it is to drive it until either the state police force you to stop or you blow the head gasket and your car does its best impression of 3 mile island.

rotarykid > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 14:19

Kinja'd!!!

Will do! I'll try again but she a beauty. I stole her from my boss for 2500. After hearing her run my dad didn't even want to test drive it ( I lost my licence). But felt the body was worth 2500. My boss is still pissed off at me that I wouldn't even test drive his daily driver he was selling.

Fookin' Prawns > Ian Duer (320b)
12/19/2013 at 14:20

I learned this lesson within a month of E36 ownership. At least I fixed the antenna myself.

Oh well. Car is totally worth it, though.

Ian Duer (320b) > Fookin' Prawns
12/19/2013 at 14:22

I had a good run with it... Driveway nap at the moment while I decide its fate. Part out or strip down for hoon-mobile. Decisions.

rotarykid > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 14:23

Once I get back on path with work hopefully I can build an rx7 to track. There pretty popular in Vancouver so I should be able to find one with roll bars and all the expensive stuff already done.

Takuro Spirit > IMissTheOldInternet
12/19/2013 at 14:29

Traded even up from my truck that sucked gas, it gets 30MPG (I drive 60 miles every day), and it's a V6 with a stick.

Matthew Henry > davedave1111
12/19/2013 at 15:35

As long as people judge me positively, that's fine, they're just discerning individuals.

This. +1

TwoFortified > Matthew Henry
12/19/2013 at 19:55

"...unloved Z-cars"

No such thing. Good article :)

SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread > Mattbob
12/19/2013 at 21:10

Fellow Jeep owner, this is hilarious and all too true. I keep a set of shitty Chinese wrenches with me at all times in that damned thing.

Matthew Henry > SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread
12/20/2013 at 00:26

Fellow Jeep owner, this is hilarious and all too true. I keep a set of shitty Chinese wrenches with me at all times in that damned thing.

Admit it. It's a pain. You love it, though.

Matthew Henry > rotarykid
12/20/2013 at 00:26

Pretty!

johncalvinyoung > Takuro Spirit
12/20/2013 at 00:29

^^ Big reason I continue to drive a 2000 Ford Taurus. Decent mileage for my ~80 mile roundtrip commute. :/ *sigh*

johncalvinyoung > TwoFortified
12/20/2013 at 00:34

Unfortunately, there are some around here. Same as MGBs. Those things should never be allowed to rust!

ScotsHammer > Matthew Henry
12/20/2013 at 00:36

Dont worry about the Boring cars. My vehicle tops yours for ultimate boring. I drive a White '95 Dodge Caravan. No radio, bad heater core, bad front shocks, and the unfortunate "pleasure" of having every other college student make jokes about being that creepy guy in a van.

thebigbossyboss > Matthew Henry
12/20/2013 at 10:35

Don't worry buddy. I am huge enthusiast also. I drive a 2003 Cavalier the previous owner rice rocketed.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Matthew Henry
12/20/2013 at 11:10

This story describes me almost exactly. Except, change out a Buick to a 5-speed '02 Cavalier coupe. That car inspires me. Not because it is fun, but because for what it is, it makes me realize that when I can afford my dream car, I will appreciate it, and will appreciate the little Cavalier that got me through college and the earlier stages of life. However, college and school priorities always come first right now.

Matthew Henry > langadamd
12/21/2013 at 01:54

What's your enthusiast car plan? What do you want to drive?

langadamd > Matthew Henry
12/21/2013 at 19:15

My realistic (in a few years) car would be a Fiesta ST. Maybe not truly an enthusiast car, but I would love one.

Matthew Henry > langadamd
12/21/2013 at 22:31

If you're an enthusiast and you drive one, it's an enthusiast car, right? I'd love to drive a Fiesta ST. Ford's putting out some serious vehicles right now!

langadamd > Matthew Henry
12/22/2013 at 13:03

Haha, I do suppose! Yeah, Ford is really making some great stuff right now. I wouldn't mind a Focus ST either!

Matthew Henry > langadamd
12/22/2013 at 14:16

...or one of those hot new 'stangs, or that sweet looking Fusion, now that you mention it...

Xradchadx > Matthew Henry
12/28/2013 at 13:39

I eat, breathe, sleep, dream and whatever else, CARS! Cars are my passion, other than my wife and kids of course. I consider myself a true enthusiast and cant wait to have a career in automotive journalism some day, most likely in my dreams though. I am 29 yrs old and have been in the military for 9 of those yrs, and I literally just bought my dream car this past summer. I got myself a brand spankin new WRX. I won't go into my list of boring budget minded cars, but I'll just say before I got my WRX I was dd'ing a '99 Plymouth Grand Voyager with 220k miles. So I can relate brother. I can definitely relate.

ChubbaGeek > Matthew Henry
12/29/2013 at 00:40

You, Matthew Henry, are now my idol! This tale sings to me as I too am someone who's enthusiastic about cars (though I'm not as much of a gearhead as I would like...being the only nerdy kid in my HS auto shop class with a bunch of ringers - amateur racers and dirt bike enthusiasts - meant regardless of scoring something like a 93% final grade, I was looked down on as "incompetent" by classmates for taking several times longer than others to do something like a brake job). and dream of having an "enthusiast" car one day while currently DDing a vehicle that others razz me on.

Heck, the entirety of Jalopnik, barring a smattering of understanding souls, think my ride's nothing but a junky POS (it's a 2011 Avenger SXT)....but it's mine, it's affordable at the pump, it's under warranty and I don't have to drive it while imitating a pretzel. I say to you this: we're in the minor leagues, yeah...but we have PLANS for working our way up to the Big Dance!

Matthew Henry > ChubbaGeek
12/29/2013 at 19:06

Awww shucks. :D

That's the way to look at it! We're working towards the Big Dance of carness! What's your dream car? (Mine's an Aston Martin of some sort), and what's your dream project car/affordable dream car? (Triumph Spitfire for me).

Matthew Henry > Xradchadx
12/29/2013 at 19:20

First, thank you for your service, sir! Congrats on getting out of budget boredom!

thebigbossyboss > Matthew Henry
12/29/2013 at 19:46

Did you show up to the tri state meetup by chance?

Matthew Henry > thebigbossyboss
12/29/2013 at 19:53

No sir! I wanted to, but couldn't make it.

thebigbossyboss > Matthew Henry
12/29/2013 at 19:54

oh ok. There was some guy driving a buick like a maniac there. Glad to hear it wasn't you.

Matthew Henry > thebigbossyboss
12/29/2013 at 20:03

Hahahahahaha, no, it wasn't me. I do drive my Buick like a maniac, though (but in a good way.) :D

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Matthew Henry
12/29/2013 at 21:31

A Saturn SL2 isn't so bad. It's a relatively light car with good fuel economy and a DOHC 16V engine. And the Buick LeSabre wasn't a bad car either. It was actually great for long distance drives.

It would be much worse than either one of those if you had an SL or SL1. Or a Buick Skylark with the Iron Duke 4cyl engine.

But even that isn't as bad as a 3 cyl Geo Metro equipped with A/C and the 3 speed automatic.

But even that isn't as bad as an automatic Chevette... which is still better than an automatic VW Beetle... which might be cool now, but bog slow.

Also... I'd rather have a "worthless DDer" than a "true Jeep" that would be abolutely shit for on road use... which is exactly what a lift and 35" tires will do.

Not everyone "needs" to have a Jeep capable of rock crawling. Thinking that your Jeep needs to be able to do that in order to be a "true Jeep" is dumb. The original CJ2A wasn't capable of that. And how much more "true" can you get than a CJ2A?

In my opinion, it's the "true Jeep" losers who say you "need" a lift and 35s who are worthless. They're just trying to get you to do that so they can validate their own dumb life choices.

Xradchadx > Matthew Henry
12/31/2013 at 00:05

Thanks! It is nice being out of "budget boredom." It really sucks being back in car payments though. But gosh darn it, at least I can finally say "I LOVE MY CAR!" It's a good feeling. My wife is jealous.

PNW20v > Matthew Henry
01/02/2014 at 11:21

Cars are my life, I am going in to school for mechanics with an already pretty good back ground in it. That being said, I bought a Volvo V70 AWD well after all my friends and family already knew I was "into" cars. It amuses me how much people are willing to doubt my knowledge (limited may it be) and judge my level of interest in "nice" cars based on what I drive. Even after I tell them I bought it for AWD and the glorious Turbo-5, I still get treated different than the Bro with his MK4 jetta that he cant even switch wheels on.

tl;dr Volvo wagon, I feel your pain lol.

Matthew Henry > PNW20v
01/02/2014 at 12:14

Turbo 5? AWD? Wagon? I'd hoon the mess out of that.

PNW20v > Matthew Henry
01/02/2014 at 16:12

Yessir. And have no fear, I do. Im just constantly blown away by the unaccepting nature of most car enthusiasts towards it. It looks good, clean as hell condition and runs flawless with only 140k miles for a 1998. I still get made fun of every time I try to talk to someone even remotely interested in cars about mine. But hey, one of the best sleepers in the biz, until they hear the cat-less to two, 3 in magnaflows exhaust... Lol ;)