In Defense of Exotic Car Owners

"TractorPillow" (tractorpillow) 09/09/2015 at 13:57 • Filed to: None

15

24

Earlier today on the post by cazzyodo about waving and car culture I commented about how ST’s are often car guy’s cars and wave at each other. My dad has an ST and he has told me that it’s the first car that gets attention from other same-model cars. He says that there are many times when he goes into town (he lives in the country) that he’ll come back to his car and an ST will be parked next to him or that other ST owners wave at him.

Someone commented back that ST owners are essentially the only enthusiasts cars and that supercars are owned by “trashbags with more money than sense or value to humanity” and therefore not real enthusiasts. He then went on to say that Mustangs, Corvettes, Porsches, and similar cars don’t necessarily mean they are enthusiasts either (this point is true, but don’t negate the enthusiast population that is there). Now I know this post was on the front page which often attracts some ummmm “interesting and vocal” commenters. It’s also the internet so I guess what can you expect.

This made me think about my experiences with the people that he generalized as “trashbags.” The bottom line is that every interaction I have had with them has been incredibly positive! A few years ago I bought a semi-high mileage Elise for around $24k (very similar pricing to the ST the commenter was nominating as the ultimate enthusiast car) and was invited by some guys on lotustalk to go to Exotics at Redmond Town Center – an incredible event where you’ll see Bugattis, Maclarens, Ferraris, Lambos, Aston Martins, you name it. The average car there was probably 10 times more expensive than my car.

Initially I was intimidated and thought that I would be seen as a budget exotic driver who didn’t deserve to be parked next to some of the finest cars ever made. I was quickly proven wrong! Guys with 458’s and Aventadors were visibily excited to see my car. Some had Elise’s when they were new but had worked hard and now had much more expensive cars. Every one of them made me feel like I was cool and a part of the in-crowd. More than that, they gave me something to strive for. They loved talking about their cars and asking questions about mine. Many of them had been in the military when they were younger and had worked hard to get where they were now. Only a few of them reeked of old money, but even they were pretty nice.

More than making me feel cool, they gave me hope that one day I could own such a car. In fact, that’s the same feeling I get from most of the new people I’ve met now that I’ve moved away from the PNW to the Georgia/Alabama area.

I’ve made some friends with car-people in my town and some have way more money than I do and spend it on cool cars. We go on drives and get lunch and talking with them is seriously like OPPO in real life. We all just love cars and we love sharing that with other like-minded enthusiasts. We have Miatas, BMW’s, Porsche’s, a F-type, a GTO, GTR, and other sports cars and everyone spends the majority of the time complimenting the other owner’s cars! It’s seriously one of the most welcoming groups of people I’ve ever been a part of (side note: our club is a perfect example of why car culture is not dead among my generation).

For example, on the last drive I attended we stopped to take a picture. The Miata owner parked his car away from ours and said his wasn’t worthy of being in the picture. Everyone immediately argued with him and told him that he better park next to the group and stop being silly. They seriously did not want a picture without his car in there.

Later he posted the pictures (he is a part time photographer, but an awesome one at that...this is not his picture) and some of his “friends” made comments about the fact that his car was in the picture and made fun of him. It was awesome to see a few of the guys completely shut the rude commenters down.

One guy I met is pretty young (late 20’s) but has worked hard and made quite a life for himself. He has a 996 Turbo and a 997 Turbo – both heavily modded. On the last drive, both of his cars showed up. He told me that he had a friend that loved cars but couldn’t afford to have a sports car currently so he lets him drive the 996 whenever he goes on drives. I asked him if it made him nervous letting someone drive his car rather spiritedly. He told me that of course it made him a little nervous, but you could tell that he really enjoyed sharing his car with his friend and seeing him have a blast.

Now, I know there are tons of jerks that own amazing cars and they are anything but nice people. The thing is, I’d rather them prove they are jerks and write them off for their behavior before judging them based on their car. It’s not cool to judge or stereotype anyone, and I believe that includes people with a lot of money.

I love going to events like Exotics@RTC or Caffeine and Octane and seeing the beautiful autos. The guys bringing their cars might like the attention and showing off might even be a large part of their motivation, but they are still giving up their weekend to let people like me spend time admiring cars that I’d otherwise only see in pictures. Seeing these cars in person and talking to the surprisingly normal owners are the highlights of my month.

The bottom line is simple to me and I don’t know why I keep reading the same vitriol about expensive car owners. I’ve seen way too many comments about hating a car because the owners are all jerks. That’s frankly not true and is an unfair generalization. Just be nice, judge people based on their behavior and not the car they likely worked hard for and sacrificed to be able to afford. It all really comes down to decency. I know it’s the internet, but you gotta start somewhere.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:01

0

Yes

HammerheadFistpunch > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:03

4

I think you could rename this “in defense of proper car people” There are a lot of “car people” out there that only like to shit on anything that isn’t to their taste. Nuts to that, Passionate about what you drive? rad, you’re okay in my book.

djmt1 > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:04

2

Considering this place is Miata central I do find it ironic that people still judge cars on the drivers.

Rainbow > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:06

0

To be fair, a large portion of exotic car owners are just rich guys with more money than sense. But, that said.... if someone wants an Aventador and can afford an Aventador, why shouldn’t he buy an Aventador? As long as he’s not driving like an asshole (which, unfortunately, is a pretty big portion of this particular segment of exotic owners) then who cares?

That said, though, for people who really don’t care for expensive cars and only drive them to look cool.... just buy a Camry and donate the rest to charity. Then you actually will be pretty cool.

TractorPillow > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2015 at 14:09

1

You’re very right. There are people with all tastes in cars that refuse to accept anyone else’s choice in cars. It’s a shame. I hate some cars and think they are utterly terrible, but I keep my opinion to myself when meeting said owner.

TractorPillow > Rainbow 09/09/2015 at 14:10

1

I did mention that many are jerks, but you also wrote “to be fair.” The essence of being fair is not prematurely judging anyone.

Rainbow > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:12

0

I kind of just skimmed over your post. But yeah, you’re right.

vondon302 > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2015 at 14:15

0

“Proper car people” i like that.

TractorPillow > Rainbow 09/09/2015 at 14:20

1

Rainbow you might’ve just made internet history by saying someone else was right! You’re awesome, if you’re ever down in Columbus let me know and you can take the viper out for a spin.

Ash78, voting early and often > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:21

0

Welcome to the Georgia/Alabama area!

Your comment about the Elise reminds me of the RCR about the Elise — even if it’s cheap, you still have to be prepared to be looked at like a guy driving a Ferrari, simply because it looks exotic.

Mr. Regular’s review was more colorful than that and involved some tangential thing about cunnilingus, I think. But that’s the gist.

Raymundo > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:22

1

Very well written and I completely agree with your point about including all car enthusiats in groups when you mentioned the Miata getting in the picture. The other car peoples’ reaction when the Miata owner originally didn’t want to be in the picture is how a true car enthusiast should act.

TractorPillow > Ash78, voting early and often 09/09/2015 at 14:23

0

Yeah I enjoyed his review of it. I got a lot of rude comments from people about being a rich snob. I got really tired of people only asking “how much?” The truth was that I saved up all my money during a deployment and made some good investments so I could afford one, but that doesn’t matter to random dude at the gas station.

I also am likely leaving the GA/AL area in a few months, although might move to Savannah.

Sneaky Pete > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:27

0

Do you get the same when you’re out in the Viper in your area? I do, even though it cost me about the same as many of SUVs the person is driving.

TractorPillow > Sneaky Pete 09/09/2015 at 14:30

1

I get it less than the Elise, I think because people actually know what it is. Mostly I get the “how fast have you gone?” or a story about their brother in laws uncle that has a insert some random car and they proceed to tell me about it forever and not ask anything about the Viper at all. But I still probably get it once every other week.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 14:41

0

I will say that the ST owner group is in general super excited to see other ST’s (well FiST owners are, FoST owners seem a little less eagle-eyed), but there are still those type of owners, who buy it for the looks/”prestige”

Exhibit a:

Thankfully the stancenationbro people have stuck to stancing base fiesta’s instead of wrecking FiSTs.

TractorPillow > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 09/09/2015 at 14:47

0

Yep, it’s very true. I had the same experience when I had a Mazdaspeed3; you’d see them from far away and inevitably a window would be rolled down and thumbs up given. I really need to drive a FiST; I’ve driven my dad’s FoST but I think I would enjoy the Fiesta ST a lot more.

Rainbow > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 16:46

0

Awesome! I doubt I’ll be there anytime soon, but that would be crazy fun.

472CID > TractorPillow 09/09/2015 at 18:24

0

I admit I saw that picture and though “what’s a Miata doing there?”, but it was more of a “lol what’s it doing there” rather than a “Grrrr what’s it doing there.”

Also interesting how in that top pic the DS and 5 got my attention way more than the sea of 911s.

TractorPillow > 472CID 09/09/2015 at 19:09

0

I too like quirky and unique cars over more generally accepted cars.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > TractorPillow 09/13/2015 at 18:24

0

I wish I could recommend this so many times.

TractorPillow > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 09/13/2015 at 18:25

0

Haha thanks. Hope you’re being serious. Was hoping itd get more people’s interest, alas not so much.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > TractorPillow 09/13/2015 at 18:27

0

I’m dead serious. The only way to judge a person’s character is by getting to know them, not simply by looking at their income or what they drive. Plenty of people that have a lot of money and nice cars worked hard for that money, love the cars, and want nothing more than to share their passion with everyone.

TractorPillow > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 09/13/2015 at 18:30

1

Exactly. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the people hating on richer people are the same people preaching tolerance and acceptance. Such a double standard and they are too foolish, or stubborn, to even see that.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > TractorPillow 09/21/2015 at 13:55

0

I had a great exchange with the proud owner of a 996 while in Austin. He told me that the amount of disgusted looks he gets from Camry owners is astounding. He was incredibly impressed that I was able to give him all the specs, and happily corrected me where I was wrong.