Why I have a tough time being an "enthusiast"

"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44) 05/05/2014 at 14:02 • Filed to: None

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A lot of people would say I am an auto enthusiast, but does reading Jalop/Oppo and getting excited when I see a brown, standard, wagon make me one? I don't think it really does.

I feel to be a full auto enthusiast you must know what you are talking about when it comes to the wide world of automobiles. I am not a mechanic nor, do I even see myself becoming one. I can do minor stuff like changing tires and oil changes but I can in no way diagnose a knock or any other noise. I feel an enthusiast knows the intimate workings of their ride, and I wish I could know my Sonoma like that.

As far as racing goes, since I joined here I have watched some more events, from Nascar to WRC. I just can't seem to find the passion to watch an F1 race start to finish or to sit and listen to Clarkson babble about Europe's auto superiority. I have tried, but I think it goes back to the old adage of you never really can understand something you have never done. I watch a lot of hockey because I understand the fine points of the game because I played it for 18 years. I have never raced, maybe the guy in the minivan beside me at the light that doesn't even know that I am about to lay all 180hp of Vortec Sonoma down counts, but I don't think it really does.

To that point I have never drove anything remotely close to exotic or even close to a race car. I have drove trucks, the smallest all the way to the 380 ton hauling trucks, but nothing that someone could win even a dollar store trophy with.

And that my fellow Jalop's is why I don't think I am an enthusiast. How can I discuss the inner workings of a world that I do not know the first gear of. Maybe if I drive a fox body Mustang or a STi I could better understand this world, but until then I am like a corgi, just a lovable idiot.

ddavidn > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 14:03

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If I had the time, I would know my car inside and out. Just like I know my computer. Problem is that I don't have time to do both, and the computers make me a living. Should all of us "auto enthusiasts" go become mechanics?

Coty > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 14:06

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The root word of enthusiast is enthusiasm, and you seem to have enthusiasm for all this shit.

You sound a lot like me though.

EL_ULY > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 14:07

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agreed! I'm not a car enthusiast also. Soul and passion is a fairy tail. "Steering feel" i can care less about. There is no "best" car in it's class. I'm a mechanic at heart and hate every damn car! But.....

In the last couple years, i've learned to like every car. EVERY SINGLE car ever made. They all have something rad and SHITTY about them. They all rule and suck at the same time. Long live ALL cars and motoring. I'm just not going to obsess about brands and soul like most of you cool dudes and dudettes. They just things. Cars are all just bolts, nuts, fluids, and parts. Nothing else ever.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > EL_ULY 05/05/2014 at 14:17

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I agree with you but sometimes for me they are an escape, an escape from reality, stress, and worries I have never experienced a better feeling than when I am working on a car and I am not sure if that makes m an enthusiast but that is what I do.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > EL_ULY 05/05/2014 at 14:17

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I think that is kind of the Oppo ideal, every car has something cool about them, or at least its better than walking. Fully agree on not being a fan boy, and its all about steel, rubber, and plastic.

EL_ULY > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/05/2014 at 14:19

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oh don't get me wrong, on my free time it's awesome! But....

and

hours upon hours of fucking bull shit work for shitty warranty or extended warranty pay gets old after 13 years

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > ddavidn 05/05/2014 at 14:21

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I feel the same way, I have so many other hobbies that I could never just sit and learn one thing. I fish, play hockey, game, and take a lot of photos. Most of that all is done in an afternoon. I don't mean we should all just quit and go to trades school, but knowing how it all works would help.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > EL_ULY 05/05/2014 at 14:22

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I don't get paid I do it for fun maybe it is because I am younger and have more energy but I love to do huge projects that are hours long. I am different that way and I am ok with that.

Mattbob > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 14:22

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Protip: It doesn't matter. You don't need to be one thing or another. If you like cars, you like cars. Great! But don't worry about not labeling yourself an enthusiast because you don't know enough. There will ALWAYS be someone who knows more about it than you (whether they really do or not), and there will always be someone faster. Don't worry about it and be happy. I wouldn't consider myself an enthusiast, even though I work on my cars quite a bit and can diagnose all sorts of noises, just because I feel it would be presumptuous to call myself that. The point is, though, it doesn't really matter.

EL_ULY > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 05/05/2014 at 14:34

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trust me, on the weekend, I'm down for a project or side work. The point is about being a car enthusiast. Enthusiasm goes out the door when your livelihood is on the line. For example, enthusiast are the 15 year olds that come by as you're busting ass on a car and say things like "wow that's a DBS right? Did you know they can go around the Nurburgring in X amount of time?" Uhhh yeah, I gotta finish this job and that info a doesn't help me make more money lol. I understand the that feeling, but it is looong gone my friend.

mpa-burner2 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 15:06

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You can be an auto enthusiast while driving a Yugo - it's just the love of cars that makes you an enthusiast..

Auto racing bores the shit out of me - all of it. Car shows put me to sleep. The only thing I like is being behind the wheel of a car. I've enjoyed my time behind the wheel of fun cars, and also enjoyed being behind the wheel of some POS cars. I've only started to have some nice cars within the last 14 years or so, but it didn't mean I was any less into cars when I drove a POS.

My current DD - a 2009 Accent GS - I liked somewhat until I swapped one fun car for another, but now the now the performance and creature comfort disparity is so large, it's hard to enjoy it as much as I did.

You don't need to know the inner world of driving nice cars to enjoy it all. And as you can tell from a lot of people on here - auto enthusiasts with nicer cars are always willing to talk cars with anyone who's just knowledgeable and loves cars.

RacecaR > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 15:06

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You know what, I guess I am in the same boat with you, except for maybe I do more work on my own cars than you.

Every project car I have owned has ended as a horrible, horrible, money losing failure. I really do not like watching races, but used to watch WRC on Speed, but now have better things to do. I do enjoy Top Gear UK, but come on, it's a comedy show peppered with bad ass cars that make awesome sounds. If someone starts to talk about geared rear ends, or certain parts of the motor, I'm lost. I understand the basic mechanics behind how an engine works, but start to take one apart, and I'm pretty much lost. I understand how turbos work, but don't (does that make sense?). I have only driven a manual trans car for about 3 months in the past few years.

I really like driving. Let me state that again. I REALLY REALLY like driving. If it is nice out, there is almost nothing I would want to be doing more (sex with my wife, hanging out with my wife and kids, those are the only two things that really trump driving).
And with driving comes the bonding with a the car.

So maybe I am an enthusiast.

But honestly, there is no check list where you have to tick all the boxes to be considered an enthusiast. Or don't even worry about being called an enthusiast. We are all here for different reason. The fact that you are here shows you have an interest, or should I say, enthusiasm for automotive related things.
So don't worry about the label, and just enjoy yourself.

Imirrelephant > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 15:18

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I was lucky enough to grow up with a mechanic father and learned a lot from an early age. If you want to know more about how an engine works (cliche warning) do a Google search. There is a lot of information, videos, and even tutorials on how to repair almost any kind of vehicle you can imagine. Computers pay the bills for me too, but I am mechanically inclined and that helps. To me, enthusiasts come in all levels of know how. It's the enthusiasm and willingness to learn, even if you can't do as well as you would like, that counts. The best thing about being an early/casual enthusiast is that there are many others out there that have more experience and most of them are willing to share what they know.

orillion > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 05/05/2014 at 22:29

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I love this post. I feel the same way. I love my car and enjoy just going out and driving it, but I can change my oil, a tire, and that's about it. I can think my way through things that happen to my car, but beyond reasoning whats happening I have no idea what to do and it makes me feel like less of an enthusiast.