Why do so many of us drive boring cars?

"James Gallagher" (jgallagher)
12/16/2014 at 18:02 • Filed to: None

Not all of us can afford a Huayra. Not all of us can afford a 911. Not all of us could afford even a Fiesta ST. But most of us could put down the capital for an 1100 dollar Merkur. So why don't we?

In my time lurking in the comments, I've been surprised at how many enthusiasts don't own a vehicle that garners any enthusiasm. Many of us seem to drive home from work in a Corolla or an Altima or an X5, only to sit down and watch Ken Block hooning around the city in an old Mustang. That's not to say that those of you who fit the description are any less enthusiastic about cars, but it's striking how many avid car people drive uninteresting vehicles around all day. Why are so many of us stuck behind the wheel of a beigemobile?

The most obvious answer, which you're shouting at the screen by now, is money. I realize that a lot of readers simply can't afford to have a second vehicle just for fun, or even to daily drive something interesting. Heck, I can't even afford one car right now. The up front cost might be low, like the Merkur I've been looking at. But that hides the cost of repairs, foreign parts, and insurance. We've all seen that Craigslist beater classic that just looks so enticing, but our more intelligent part or our spouses and parents quickly point out the problems.

But for those among us who could afford a second vehicle, or could maintain something more exotic without breaking the bank, what's getting in the way of taking that plunge? We've been told !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! what we could buy for the price of the boring rollers we're running now.

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In my experience, it's the same reason I don't go to the gym. I could go out and buy a ratty German Ford, and I could go exercise every night. But I'm not doing either, because it's that much easier to think about it and move on. It's easier to commute back and forth in something boring and come comment online than it is to plunk down wads of cash for inevitable headaches. It's easier to watch Top Gear than it is to lie under a car and fix it.

I know that I would have as much luck repairing a car as a hamster would. So instead of tinkering, I read a lot of car blogs. I love car blogs, and I think they're an excellent way to make the car scene acceptable, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . But nonetheless, I could do more. I could go out and take an auto repair class (that's the plan for this summer), or I could hitch a ride to a car show. I could at least go test drive the Merkur while it's up for sale. I don't need to settle for a daily dose of Corolla.

So when we look at cost, and we think about how hard repairs are going to be, maybe we should all try to be just a little bit less sensible. I know it's not reasonable to expect everyone to buy a spare car just for the hell of it. But think how fulfilling it would be not to drive a Honda Fit every day of your life. I don't think we have to content ourselves with this. Why aren't we willing to make our interests a priority?

For those of you who conceivable could afford a second weekend car, I ask you to consider the possibility. Cars are clearly your passion. You're reading this, after all. If you can afford to go out there and rescue an old classic, to give it the love it deserves, I think you should give it some serious thought. If you love cars, think about putting down some money, and think about how happy it will make you to see that car you've dreamed of in your driveway. The world doesn't need any more preserved Corollas, but it could use a few preserved Wagoneers.

He looks so sad. Give him a home .

That's why I'm saving. To ditch the parent's Corolla, to be able to have the satisfaction of driving something I really love. I'm not going to have the funds to buy a 911 any time soon. But I am willing to make cars, my passion, one of my priorities.

So go out there and buy something interesting. Run it for a year, if you want, then sell it on. If you can't afford to buy, go rent a Camaro for a day, save up for a track day with cars provided. You owe it to yourself to drive something you love, even if it's just for an hour on Sunday. If you think about it, contacting that one seller on Craigslist might be worth your time.

DISCUSSION (42)

Milky > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 18:28

Relevant.

Kinja'd!!!

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 18:28

I'm not going to have the funds to buy a 911 any time soon.

You so sure about that?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

James Gallagher > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
12/16/2014 at 18:30

Haha, still way beyond me at this point sadly. Someday...

Brian Silvestro > Milky
12/16/2014 at 18:32

FUCKING THIS

E. Julius > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 18:39

This sort of addresses something I was wondering about as well. That being said, I think a car is only as boring as the driver. I drive a 2004 Civic—nothing particularly exciting—but there are few things I enjoy more than going out when the sun gets low and tossing it around some twisty roads with the windows down.

Will I have more fun when I get around to replacing it with a roadster? Absolutely. But just because you have a boring commuter car doesn't mean you have to drive like a boring commuter. I think there are few cars out there that are so dull they can't be enjoyed.

Anyone can have fun driving a Ferrari. A true jalop can squeeze it out of a Corolla.

alexotics > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 18:42

Better question,... why aren't we all driving E30s?

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 18:50

Kinja'd!!!

I while heartedly agree with you. It doesn't even need to be a classic, just a vehicle you're passionate about. Look at my $400 '91 SHO, and the '89 Econoline I have. Neither is completely sensible, but both make me smile.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 19:00

"Boring" cars can be fun if you make them. I've cracked smiles and giggled like an idiot tossing around my mom's 4000lb, FWD, automatic crossover more times than I can count. Sometimes the cars that are thought of as boring can be more fun because they exceed what you expected, which is exactly the case with my mom's Vue. I'd never expect that kind of performance and fun from something that's basically the minivan for the modern age.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 19:00

Says the fifth richest guy here :)

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 19:04

I'm a broke college student! All of my funds have gone into my car. I'm on the verge of bankruptcy.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 19:05

Because the fun cheap cars usually break and then turn into project cars you "just plan to keep and wrench on" so you keep the beige mobile and they sit next to your house or in the lot of that specialist mechanic for your trainwreck who's place is miles out of town and then you forget about it for maybe a year while you putz around your boring ass dd because you can space out about an oil change for like 6k miles. If you're lucky.

TLDR: don't ask the bitter dude with the broken fun car. But I would totally buy that Wagoneer in worse condition.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 19:05

Well you're the fifth richest (that I know of) in the way of cars, which is what we are all about here.

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 19:11

But people have houses and shit!!!! I WANT A HOUSE

Also, so many people have more expensive cars than me!

Several people have WRXs

At least one person has a Cayman

One person has an E34 M5

At least 2 people have STis

And that one dude has a '49 Hudson, Maserati GranTurismo, and 1M or whatever

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
12/16/2014 at 19:17

Huzzah for obscure 90's missiles. I know you plan or repainting the van, but could you please kinda keep the pantone-style paint scheme?

RedPir8Roberts > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 19:22

I have the same thought every time I am on the highway and see the mass of commuters in silver, white, silver, grey, sameness. It's like red or any other non-beige / silver color is not even offered, let alone more interesting cars. And I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where you can see any number of oddball or high dollar exotic cars being street driven, partly because they don't rust away here and partly because some people have tons of money. But these are still the one in 10,000 or so. Maybe some of the beigedrivers have second cars at home, but the path of least resistance is a Japanese economy car or SUV. I was at a CostCo a few years ago (one of my only two trips to said institution, can't really get into the whole no frills mass consumption thing, but occasionally they have good prices on tires), and among the masses in the lot was an MG Midget. Being in a Miata, I was pleased to see that there was at least one other person not driving a boring car or SUV. Neither of us was going to be bringing home that trampoline that always calls to you as an impulse buy in CostCo (or the BMW 3 Series on display) in our tiny cars, but I was cheered to know there was one other person there who understood what it's like to be at least mildly different (of course she was making more of a statement than I was, but still, we were on the same page I thought). So yeah, save the interesting cars! The boredom you avoid may be your own, and maybe somebody else's too.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > banjo cat ghost of oppo past
12/16/2014 at 19:22

Itll stay like this for a while, we have a Ranchero, a Capri and my SHO to paint first.

NJAnon > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 19:29

My budget is too tight for rented car on a weekend. I'm saving up for my car to take to the track and I dont have wiggle room to put up bi weekly autocross sessions and upload videos. But once I do have my car, that will change.

So thats why oppo is like it is James.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 19:32

Well you are the 5th richest that I know of for certain when in comes to cars.

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 19:33

dude you need to oppo more often

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 19:35

For certain! I don't know what every car everybody here has! Also, I Oppo too often as it is.

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 19:37

If you oppo'd enough, then you'd know EVERYTHING

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 19:38

Oh yeah? What's the firing order of a Boss 302 Mustang?

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 19:39

1 5 4 2 6 3 7 8

MysticStick > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 19:52

I have owned a boring car in some of my darkest hours. The money can be the problem or it can be the living situation or the time.

If lack of time prevents a person from working on or taking good care of a car, they might want to drive a boring car. They probably should. Nobody wants to see a dirty dream car.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 19:56

Who will win the 2016 US presidential election?

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 20:01

Hillary Clinton

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 20:02

What is the primary color of the chair I am sitting in?

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 20:05

.....black

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 20:07

Wrong. Black is not a color, much less a primary one.

Brian Silvestro > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
12/16/2014 at 20:10

that was a trick question and you know it

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro
12/16/2014 at 20:11

I do.

Eazy-O > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 20:12

I'm really curious as to what is the actual yearly cost of the proverbial beigemobile (let's go with a Corolla).

There's a shit ton of fun and moddable (for fun factor increase) 4/5 door cars that are fairly comfy and won't be killed by insurance, MPG or parts cost/availability.

However, when you match their running price to that of the Corolla, it probably means you'll have to get a slightly ratty example.

And that's when a Corolla makes sense to people. It doesn't make you stand out and that may be preferable to some. Personally... it's my TARBO AND I'LL SPOOL IF I WANT TO! WOOOPWOOPWOP-SSSS

Kinja'd!!!

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 21:10

Do I drive an incredibly boring car for months at a time? Yep. Because that's why I bought it. To be boring, cheap, reliable, and there.

So that when I break the track toy, I can still have something that works.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > James Gallagher
12/16/2014 at 22:43

My funds aren't exactly a whole lot. I'm living on my own in one dead end job, one federal work study, and in full time college. I have neither money nor time to own a fast/fun car right now. Besides, I love my old Honda!

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > E. Julius
12/16/2014 at 23:24

True! I had tons of fun in my first car, a '95 Corolla. Blasting it around the dirt roads near my parents' house was quite educational. A pity my brother had to inherit the car after I did that to it. For some reason, it developed a few rattles.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Eazy-O
12/17/2014 at 00:14

http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/total…

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > James Gallagher
12/17/2014 at 01:01

During the week: cheap boring DD. Safe, roomy, comfortable, quiet, cheap to insure.

Weekend: unsafe, usually reliable, loud, expensive to insure, lightweight, fun!

JDMatt > James Gallagher
12/17/2014 at 02:24

Because I can barely justify having a boring car when parking in San Francisco requires the same mindset as surviving in the hunger games

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius
12/17/2014 at 08:51

First car: '86 Toyota Camry 5-speed. Driven like stolen.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > JDMatt
12/17/2014 at 08:52

Ugh. Move?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > James Gallagher
12/17/2014 at 08:53

Great stuff. If something is your passion, be willing to sacrifice for it.

dontdriveboringcars > James Gallagher
11/29/2018 at 05:29

Fear not my friends. I spend hours and hours on autotempest, craigslist, and ebay motors so you don’t have to: http://dontdriveboringcars.com/ Almost all cars on the site have manual transmissions, are rear wheel drive, and cost less than $5k.