A car enthusiast is a car enthusiast no matter what they drive

"TDIGuy" (owenrosier)
04/04/2014 at 11:34 • Filed to: None

I'm going to start this off with a little background here. I used to drive a S197 Roush Mustang until I wrecked it a few months ago. That was a very sad day indeed because that car was like my child and it put a lot of money and time into that car. Most people who knew me knew my by the blue Roush and thats still true even to this day at times. Those days have since ended when I ran out of talent and hit a wall in the car a few months ago.

Ever since this happened I have caught a lot of flack from some of my friends for buying a Jetta TDI. I really didn't have much of an option though as a college student commuting 70 miles round trip every day. I'm not saying I don't miss the mustang because thats not true, I really do miss the car but I just can't hang onto it forever. What I'm trying to get at though is that a car guy is a car guy to the end no matter what they drive.

I'm still just as much of a car enthusiast as I was before even though I drive a Jetta now. If anything it has opened my eyes to a new side of the car world I didn't realize existed. There really is an enthusiast out there for every kind of car there is. Its all about the passion for car and the enjoyment of driving. It shouldn't matter what you drive because things change in life where you can't always drive the car of your dreams. Sometimes real life has to take priority to the impractical machine you want to drive. In the end we are all a car enthusiast, we all love driving and love cars so keep on keepin' on and keep the hobby alive no matter the circumstances.

DISCUSSION (48)

Tom McParland > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:36

Kinja'd!!!

Nooooooooo! But seriously, you are correct it does not matter what you drive it is your passion for cars that matters.

JR1 > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:36

Well said.

TDIGuy > Tom McParland
04/04/2014 at 11:37

Yup that was a sad day. Very painful. But I had to do what I had to do for now !

mr_gofast > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:37

agreed 100% - i have never owned a performance car of any type (97 accord lx and a 2010 civic sport are my cars that I've owned) however i got to enjoy me being a gear head when i worked for Porsche and Audi - being a gear head is a mental state of mind and choice you make - your car or not even having a car (as i do currently - i bus everywhere) has nothing to do with it.

Party-vi > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:38

People that judge you by the car you drive and not your enthusiasm or passion are assholes.

thebigbossyboss > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:38

I am a huge car enthusiast. I have owned two cars; a 1992 Ford Tempo (with awesome spinners) and 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. I can't really do any better right now. If you told my friends I wasn't a car enthusiast they would laugh and say clearly you've never met me.

Reigntastic > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:39

No doubt. I've known people that owned brand new Mustang GTs with an auto that I would hardly consider an enthusiast, because daddy got them whatever they wanted. I've also known people that drive basic pickups that freak out when they see my car because they haven't seen one in condition like mine before; I literally had one guy roll down his window and start complimenting me on the car at a stop light, and I'd never met him before.

Cars are the bond that unites us, regardless of what that car might be for the time being. Not everyone is in a financial position to be able to drive something that they feel suits their persona, and shouldn't be judged as such. It's what they say and what they feel that really matter.

TDIGuy > mr_gofast
04/04/2014 at 11:39

Exactly its a state of mind and a passion that is there. What you drive isn't what makes it. Sure there can be nice cars that you lust over but still not every car person has the time or money to devote to a performance / enthusiast / collector car.

Tom McParland > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:40

Yeah, I was really sad when I had to get rid of my '05 LGT wagon because of clutch problems. I needed a car and needed it fast, but my budget was limited at the time. The Mazda dealer offered my 13k for the Legacy (book value was 12.5) I took the only 3 on the lot with a manual a 2.5 5-door. It is a fine little car to make the commute fun, but it is what will hold me over until I have the cash for something else.

Sn210 > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:40

can I get an amen?!

TDIGuy > Reigntastic
04/04/2014 at 11:43

Exactly its all about the passion and the hobby and the fellowship. And I agree with you too I have a friend who bought a mustang because she has a bit of a little dog syndrome but I would never call her an auto enthusiast.

Reigntastic > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:47

I've just never been the type to judge a person on what they drive (except for when it's an automatic sports car, that speaks volumes). I know ricers get a lot of hate here, but one of my best friends where I live drives a legitimately badass Prelude that he built from the ground up, including swapping his own engine and setting up forced induction. The car may look like shit on the outside, but it was all him, and he's only 22. I'd be ecstatic to have the skills he has at his disposal by then.

crowmolly > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:47

Got rid of a six speed Trans Am for a TDI auto. Why? 80 miles a day, that's why. Still have the fun car though.

It doesn't matter what you drive as long as you have the passion for it. As a matter of fact you are more of an enthusiast than a lot of owners out there that buy a cool car because they are going through a phase in life.

Fact: of the 23 "car guys" I grew up with, only 6 of us are still wrenching over 10 years later.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:52

Perfect write-up. I am a car enthusiast and what my friends call "the crazy car guy". My car? A Fiat Multiwagon with 133hp and FWD. Not exactly my enthusiast choice, but I am a broke ass student with no need for a car of my own except for fun.

Meanwhile, a friend of mine drives a G-model 911 daily as his father gave it him (rich people, duh), but he honestly doesn't know anything about it and only cares for the badge.

Haimatox > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:54

I completely agree. I'm certainly a car guy even though I'm being forced to drive a Prius.

marvthegrate > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:54

Preach it Brother. The car I am most lusting after right now is a sub 50 HP 40+ year old car with a strange motor and full of quirk. I currently drive a Mazda6. The most iinteresting offering from the most boring class of car there is.

Garrett Davis > Party-vi
04/04/2014 at 11:55

Psshh, what do you drive? I drive a BMW . Impressed?

avens > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 11:55

A car enthusiast is someone that has a big interest and knows a lot about cars in general.

That's it really, doesn't depend that much on what someone drives. Though it has to be said that someone that has interest towards something will try to get something nice at one point, concreting your passion, and of course should drive frequently and well too.

On that note I'll do a random rant unrelated to this post: someone that talks on the internet about the latest hypercar but that doesn't know how to change a tire or how to recommend/buy daily drivers simply is not a car enthusiast. That happens an awful lot here.

Twism > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 12:00

Bummer.

Enjoy the TDi for the time being, cars are still gonna exist when you can afford another stupidly fast set of wheels!

and, if you commute 70 miles a day in a diesel volks (compared to that roush), the amount you save on fuel will probably be enough to buy a new car in a year :D

On a semi-related topic... you doing anything with that mustang engine?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 12:03

Unless it's a cube

Party-vi > Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:04

I, uh, I actually drive a BMW.

*sulks in corner*

Slow4o > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 12:17

Ouch that hurts. Stage one? S197 Roush's are probably my favorite. I like their look and drive way more than the Shelby's and Saleens. I was sooooo close to getting my dad to buy a 2009 Blackjack, but the dealer wouldn't budge on the price :(. I was so sad because it was a drop dead gorgeous car, but the 5.0 he ended up with ain't too bad.

bob and john > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 12:22

TDI eh?
so more torque then the mustang? /jks

but seriously, just cuz u dont have a "nice" car to drive doesnt mean ur not a car guy. hell, i dont even have one (tht is road legal) I'm a motorcycle guy, but i can still strike up a conversation with someone about their TDI or their V8 or w/e they are driving.

CalzoneGolem > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 12:35

How is a TDI Jetta not an enthusiasts car?

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 13:03

Exactly; enthusiasm is a state of emotional enjoyment, not ownership papers ("I'm a BMW owner."), number of vehicles ("I'm a car collector."), whether you race ("I'm a racecar driver."), whether you built ("I'm a tuner."), or if you even have a car ("I love Gran Turismo.")

langadamd > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 13:29

Great words. I think it's definitely more of an appreciation thing as well. I think most enthusiasts can appreciate almost every car out there for one reason or another.

tromoly > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 13:43

Bummer on the car. If I may ask, what were the circumstances that lead to the wall contact?

TDIGuy > Reigntastic
04/04/2014 at 13:50

yeah that kind of thing speaks a lot about someone and I love seeing someone who's is proud of a car they put together on their own

TDIGuy > Tom McParland
04/04/2014 at 13:56

yup that's usually how it goes and that's not necessarily a bad thing I've actually learned a lot from driving a fun commuter car over a car that is meant to be a performance car

TDIGuy > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
04/04/2014 at 13:59

yeah I agree wit you being given a fast or nice car doesn't make you a car guy

TDIGuy > avens
04/04/2014 at 14:00

yeah I see a lot of that but I see a lot of people on here who love to wrench too

TDIGuy > crowmolly
04/04/2014 at 14:02

yup and to be honest I feel like giving that up for the tdi is the car guy choice because what's not to like its diesel ! And alittle turbo lag here and there is kinda fun

TDIGuy > Twism
04/04/2014 at 14:06

yup I love getting 700 miles on 14 gallons of diesel it'spretty nice and I'm not gunna lie the car is petty enjoyable at times with the manual and on a side note when I wrecked it I took the smaller insurance check and kept the car so I could sell some of the big pricey parts and then I sold the shell and the engine to a guy who runs a car in a ford sponsored stock 3 valve racing clas

TDIGuy > Slow4o
04/04/2014 at 14:07

She was just a sport which was just the body kit and the interior but idid everything to the car that would hae come on a stage two suspension and all the whole nine. And those black jack cars are amazing ! Too bad he couldn't get ahold of it

TDIGuy > bob and john
04/04/2014 at 14:08

it feels that way haha I had a big cam in the mustang so I lost a lot of my torque curve so that she would be a high rev screamer

TDIGuy > thebigbossyboss
04/04/2014 at 14:13

yup that's how it is I just have a lot of brand driven friends who are all about best this best that not so much the hobby

TDIGuy > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider
04/04/2014 at 14:13

my point exactly !!

TDIGuy > marvthegrate
04/04/2014 at 14:15

yup I know exactly what you mean that how I felt about the jetta I was like I need manual and diesel if I'm going to commute all the time and to be honest sometimes the "boring" cars are more interesting to drive

thebigbossyboss > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 14:19

I am pretty much the only true car enthusiast amongst my friends. I also own the crappiest car of all of them, I think. Hahaha.

TDIGuy > tromoly
04/04/2014 at 14:20

Well like I said it's what I'd like to call a lack of talent. Basically I got a little too hard on the throttle on a corner or a one lane road and spun it into a wall. It as entirely my fault and nobody was injured except me luckily and also my best friend was about a half mile behind me when it happened so he was able to help me out. I learned a lot from it though that'sfor damn sure.

TDIGuy > CalzoneGolem
04/04/2014 at 14:23

I'm not saying that at all tdi's actually have a pretty awesome following but. I'm saying I have "enthusiast" friends that would disagree

TDIGuy > thebigbossyboss
04/04/2014 at 14:26

hahah I know what you mean I'm not going to say my car is crappy but I will say its not a "cool" car in their eyes although I personally have really fallen in love wit the jetta just because I spnd so much time driving it I've already put 10,000 miles on it in 5 months

CalzoneGolem > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 14:36

Suckers need to adjust their world view.

tromoly > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 15:49

Sorry to hear that, glad to hear you came out of the situation physically alright.

IsaacMTSU > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 17:22

Your crappy tires caused your wreck... I have the same ones on my truck haha

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > TDIGuy
04/04/2014 at 18:05

Nicely said, I a car enthusiast and I don't even have a license

TDIGuy > IsaacMTSU
04/04/2014 at 18:57

Oh yeah those classy hankooks they were cheap as he'll hahha

danlove > TDIGuy
04/11/2014 at 09:52

Kinja'd!!!

I wrecked my WRX a year and a half ago after driving it almost a decade. The pain fades very slowly.