Is This Person Out of Touch, or a Different Breed of Car Guy?

"Giles007" (Giles007) 07/18/2015 at 16:10 • Filed to: Focus ST

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“Your Focus ST sucks; I had an SVT and it was nothing special”
That quote pretty much sums up the narrative throughout our conversation. I need Oppo’s input to enlighten me; is this guy out of touch with modern automobiles? Does he belong to a group of enthusiasts I have yet to encounter? Or am I just being overly sensitive?

A little background: So I had the strangest conversation with a “car guy” the other week, and it hasn’t been sitting right with me. Now I call him a car guy because he owns a 13 year old Mustang convertible, a Crown Vic police cruiser, a Mercury Capri (that he is currently modifying), and a GMC Truck. He also stores his friend’s vehicles on his property which range from Monte Carlos to MX-3s.

Earlier I had branded him as a muscle car guy and so I was expecting a lack of appreciation for hot hatches and imports. Since he owned a few Fords, I thought he may actually appreciate the ST. But I had not met a “gear head” with such a weird view on automobiles. Now my problem is not that he didn’t like my vehicle, far from it. It was the reasons that he gave; “Why wouldn’t you just buy a Cobalt SS?”, “All Fords are crap”, and “I owned an SVT Focus and it was nothing special”.

It was very hard to have a real conversation as he seemed less interested in having a discussion than proving that my car is crap (“all Ford parts are Autolite; your battery is going to fail”). The fact that he currently owns 3 Ford vehicles seemed to be lost on him. I kept the conversation civil, above the belt, and didn’t dis any of his rides. I’m not a Ford fanboy, I love all vehicles, and I have never bragged up my cars. So I really don’t know where he was coming from with all the unadulterated hatred.

I came to realize that he may be out of touch with modern automobiles as he thought that the local police are replacing their Crown Vics with those new Dodge Calibers.
He wouldn’t hear any of it when I tried to explain that modern cars are a lot more powerful than their 15 year old counterparts ( i.e. a new base Focus is quicker than the old SVT). In his mind, that old SVT is the same car as the new ST. The extra 125 lb/ft of torque and 85 hp “makes no difference” to him.

This whole encounter has left me a little confused. I have never met anybody like this at any car show, meet, or autocross event. Am I just taking his subjective disliking of my vehicle too personally? Is this guy just uninformed, a fanboy, living in a time capsule, just a hater? Or is he of a breed of auto enthusiast that I haven’t encountered yet?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:22

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Lulz did you mention that the cobalt SS isn’t made anymore and the Fiesta ST could smoke it let alone a FoST?

TheOnelectronic > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:22

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I don’t know about you, but I run into people like this all the time. I wouldn’t let it bother you.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:22

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Sounds like he’s a bit out of touch, living in his own little world, and reality doesn’t subscribe to his “facts” (opinions) so I would just ignore it. Let him be and meet better car people who actually appreciate any car worth appreciating. It’s fine not to like something, but you gotta give a good reason, and regardless, don’t put another person’s ride down. It’s like putting someone’s significant other down in front of them, while playing up their own significant other.

Matthew Phillips > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:26

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Yea.... I don’t talk to those.

E92M3 > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:27

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He seems close minded. I can appreciate just about everything. Even the SMART car has it’s purpose. Not saying I’d ever want one, unless I lived in London or Paris, and parking was hard to come by.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:27

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Nothing wrong with time capsules! Sure, newer cars are more capable than older ones, but from my experience, they aren’t nearly as fun as the older ones. The lightweight, lack of safety features and refinement(that being a subjective word), makes them more fun and difficult to drive than most of the new cars I’ve driven.

Sometimes it isn’t about being more powerful, sometimes it’s just about what what it has or had. Some cars don’t need crazy power to be fun. Again, also subjective.

The car world is simply subjective.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:28

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I say to hell with ‘im. He says all Fords are crap, that’s possibly because he owns a 13 year old Mustang and a former Police Interceptor, so he’s kind of looking through crap-colored glasses. And I also think he is rather out of touch with the modern automotive world. Everything’s changed and he just hasn’t caught up yet.

At the end of the day, it’s your car. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks but you. So if you are happy with your car, and I’m sure you are, then all is right with the world.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:28

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There are many names for this type of person. In English: an asshole.

Danger Ranger XLT > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:28

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The only place I’ve “met” people like that was on 4chan’s Automotive board, a land of pure insanity I’d visit for kicks during college. I don’t think you took it too personally - I imagine he’s all of the things you listed in your last couple sentences. But I didn’t think these folks were real outside of the madness of Internet imageboards...

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:29

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That guy is an idiot and an asshat.

The SVT was, still is actually, an incredible car to drive. No it doesn’t have the same power as the newer performance offerings, but it is still plenty fast enough to pass traffic when it needs to. Sounds like this tool doesn’t know how to drive one properly. Fast, and fun, isn’t always just a straight line.

I own SVT number 85. I adore it.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 07/18/2015 at 16:31

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Uh, actually the Cobalt SS is faster around the ‘Ring than the FoST, so not really.

jkm7680 > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:32

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He sounds old.

Also, saying “Ford Focus” isn’t exactly flattering, regardless of the application.

Giles007 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 07/18/2015 at 16:39

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I assumed he knew the SS and ST make similar power but perhaps he thinks the SS is in another league, and yes I did mention that they aren’t made anymore lol.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:39

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This sounds like my “friend” (not really) who always calls my M3 crap because it’s German and not American (Not like his Ford Freestyle is on its 4th transmission or anything.) Going so far as to, no joke, call it “Nazi shit.” I just ignore and laugh at it because of how stupid they sound, I recommend you doing the same.

Svend > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 07/18/2015 at 16:40

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In English-English: an arsehole. ;)

Giles007 > jkm7680 07/18/2015 at 16:41

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He’s in his early 30s. Oh God, is that old? Am I old?

jkm7680 > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:42

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I’d think he’d be in his mid 70’s, haha.

Giles007 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/18/2015 at 16:47

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I always heard good things about that platform. This guy says he used to get a lot of lift-off oversteer in the SVT. So either he knows how to drive a FWD, or (more likely) he just said that to belittle my explanation of “torque vectoring” and the way the ST oversteers.

Giles007 > TheOnelectronic 07/18/2015 at 16:47

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Thanks guys!

Giles007 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/18/2015 at 16:51

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That is true. A car can be special because of what it was at time of release. Maybe the ST isn’t as special because this is a new age of hot hatch where there are a several models available and they all make similar power. If he had given me this as a reason I would have gladly accepted it lol.

Alfalfa Romeo > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:53

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He sounds out of touch. Sadly, a lot of car guys are. And I’ve actually found Fords to generally be the more reliable of the big three.

AthomSfere > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:53

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Well, his Fords all suck!

But eh, things have changed. He’s out of touch. Also, cars can suck and you can still like them! For example the Mustang II, my third favorite generation despite its craptacular-ness. I also like the Maverick! And really, he preferred the Cobalt SS? That’s mind boggling. They aren’t bad but compared to a current ST (FiST or FoST) I’d go Ford.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:55

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I have an ST, I don’t think there’s anything special about it. It’s just another hot hatch to me; just like the GTI and Mazda Speed 3. Now, the Renault Clio v6, that’s a special hot hatch!!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 16:57

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He might be what some would call, “a small minded, imbecile”. aka ignorant, arrogant, and proud of it.

Giles007 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/18/2015 at 16:57

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But where would I put all my groceries with that engine in the back?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Svend 07/18/2015 at 16:57

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in Irish or Aussi a Cunt.

Giles007 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/18/2015 at 16:59

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lol!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 17:10

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Passenger footwell. :)

Giles007 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/18/2015 at 17:17

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I could live with that lol!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 17:17

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People who own multiple cars are a wild card. They could like everything or hate everything. And some people are just unpleasant, regardless of opinion.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 17:19

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Now we need to wait for importation!

vwbeamer > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 07/18/2015 at 17:25

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I agree, OP is over thinking it. The guy he talked to is obviously an ass and insecure. I never would down someone’s car, no matter how I felt. That was just rude.

My advice to the OP, don’t the guy get to you, you’re a much better person than that asshole. Next time something like this happens, just get right back into their face. You should have asked him why he had a Mustang, and told him Camaros are much better looking. Then causally tell him the siding on his house looks like the crap they recalled a couple of decades ago as you leave.

Giles007 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/18/2015 at 17:28

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Available for import next year I beleive (because Canada)!

Giles007 > vwbeamer 07/18/2015 at 17:43

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Thanks for the input you guys. I feel a lot better after the perspective provided by all the real enthusiasts here.

Giles007 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/18/2015 at 17:54

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Weird. I guess I just have a hard time understanding why you’d hate on cars if you love them. Isn’t that like saying you love women but would only date redheads?

Giles007 > Danger Ranger XLT 07/18/2015 at 17:59

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This was a real person in front of me trying to converse lol. I would totally expect that kind of talk on a forum or something (damn internet).

Tom McParland > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 18:21

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Oh yeah...we all know this type. About 30 seconds into the convo, you realize you don’t want to be in a convo with this person. My strategy as soon as they say something that I know for a fact is false I just say, “Oh yeah interesting...I’ll look into that.” And change the subject or leave.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 18:27

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Well that’s not a great example. You love women but you can think a handful of types that you would not date, right?

Giles007 > Tom McParland 07/18/2015 at 18:30

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That’s a much better strategy the one I used: refuting falsehoods with facts.

Tom McParland > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 18:32

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Yeah I found it’s just not worth it with these people.

Giles007 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/18/2015 at 18:45

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You’re right, I just thought that (hair color) seemed like an unreasonable metric to use when finding a perfect mate. But in the car world, superficial reasons are as good as any I suppose.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 18:49

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I think the point is that saying such and such sucks is not a enjoyable way to spend time with other people. I posted a pic of a Malibu Maxx one time and most comments were about how much it sucked. I’m like, alrighty then.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 18:55

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He’s right. The SVT does lift-throttle oversteer easily. It’s what makes it such a great drive. The chassis is lively, but balanced so you can throw the thing around at stupid speeds and it just sticks. If you start to plow, just lift the gas and the back end comes around and you can nail the go-pedal again.

You make it as though he talks about it like that characteristic is a bad thing though. If that was indeed true he’s an even bigger idiot and should stick to drag racing his shit-stang.

Giles007 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/18/2015 at 18:56

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Your totally right. Oh, and by the way, I quite like the styling of the Maxx.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 19:12

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Hah, you don’t have to spare my feelings!

Giles007 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/18/2015 at 19:14

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If it’s a wagon, I’d drive it. I’m real loose that way!

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Giles007 07/18/2015 at 19:43

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I don’t know if he’s a hater, or you are being overly sensitive. However...

I propose the flipside, which I encountered, otherwise known as the Ur-quattro cult or E30 cult.

One of the guys we went to dinner with at our last track weekend has an E30 M3 which still has an S14 powering it. I pointed out, quite correctly I may add, that while the E30 M3 is an “iconic” car and “an important car for BMW as a brand”, neither of those imply “good value for money today”. It very well may have been a brilliant car in 1989, but as you can see, it is no longer 1989, and the world and BMW engineers have moved on.

I claim it’s for the best, since I’d rather build a Spec E36 rather than a Spec E30, mainly because I am not best friends with the E30 rear suspension design (It underwhelmed me when I drove a 325i) when compared to the E36 and E46. He says I don’t know anything because the E30 M3 is just that good. So I asked him two questions:

“So if it really is that good, then why did BMW stop making it? And why did they only manage to sell approximately 5000 of them in the US, compared to close to 30,000 E36 M3s?”

Well, they didn’t know how good they had it, was the response. I think he was shortsighted, but compared to the newer cars (specifically the E46 and E90), I don’t think the E30 is really all that and a bag of chips.

(For the record, the Ur-quattro was good for 1981, but again, it’s no longer 1981, and the Sport Quattro? Even the Audiistas don’t talk about *that* disaster of 1984)

Again, brilliant car for 1989, but for the up to $30K you could spend to get a good example today, you could get a range of excellent drivers’ cars that are, I think, better to use every day.

bob and john > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 07/18/2015 at 20:04

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...your kidding right?

like dam, i mean we poke fun at it due to USDM VS EDM version....but nazi shit? really?

Derpwagon > Giles007 07/19/2015 at 01:15

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He’s a fucking moron and should be disregarded as such. Not worth going out of your way to interact. Not saying to be uncivil if you see him, but there’s no point in letting it get to you.

jjhats > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 07/22/2015 at 12:12

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I own a fost. the ss would and does murder the st in every category. 0-60 1/4 ring etc. its a shitty cobalt and mines an awesome focus but don’t trash ss for their performance they are beasts, lighter more powerful real lsd etc.