What makes a real enthusiasts car?

"Porsche was my first word" (porschewasmyfirstword)
01/04/2016 at 03:12 • Filed to: enthusiast, used, your opinion, used car test

Opponauts,

I am about to buy a new (to me) car. I’ve been though tough times and want to treat myself with a good thing for weather through it. As you can imagine a car (actually two) is on top of my list. Since I was into cars forever it should be a enthusiast car wich gives me a smile every time I drive it. I had a decent amount of experience with good drivers cars with Focusses, RX-8s and E46s (drive a E46 330XdA wagon right now) so the bar is set as high as my funds are limited.

As I searched the internet I stumbled across the Audi S6 wagon (C5 1998-2005) with a 4.2L V8, 335hp/310lbs-ft engine.

What it makes kind of difficult make the final decision is it’s hard to get all the information one needs to be sure he buys a good one. In my research I noticed that there is no source of information where it’s all together.

Wouldn’t it be nice to find a webpage with used enthusiast cars test? Accordingly I’m fooling around with the idea of creating such a page/making youtube vids. I have a journalist background so from that point of view thats not a problem.

Next step would be to pitch the concept to a sponsor. Therefore I need to know what a real enthusiasts car is. That’s where you as opponauts come into play.

As far as I see a enthusiast’s car is driven for it’s superb ride, it’s adorable tech features, performance in the track, non-molesting manner on long distance legs. And the car must be bought for that exact reasons. Wich is why a Merc S-Class can become an enthusiast’s car, but not from the start. Because the pricepoint and the lux are the main reasons for the rich filth to get it (with a few exceptions of course). Once depreciated enough Mr. Regular can afford one. This is the point where it becomas an enthusiast’s car.

What’s makes a car an enthusiast’s car to you?

DISCUSSION (18)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 03:18

for me Manual!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 03:22

A car is an enthusiast’s car if it can stir the soul, and tingle it just a bit.

An enthusiast’s car is one you love unconditionally, even though sometimes you hate it more than anything. You accept it’s quirks and faults, and make it your work to make it better. If the car goads you to push it, try it, race it, break it, improve it and repeat, then you’ve found the one.

The exact moment a car goes from being more than just a means of conveyance to an item held sacred is different for all enthusiasts, as many have different tastes and passions. The moment of realizing that you and your car have something special, and the feeling of affection that you hold towards your vehicle is what makes it an enthusiast’s car.

any machine; from thoroughbred performance machines like an E46 M3, down to the runt of the litter base model hatchbacks with CVT's can all be an enthusiasts' car, so long as there is an enthusiast there to make it their own, and give it a story it would not otherwise have.

Berang > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 03:23

An enthusiasts car just has to be fun.

That’s why everything from an ancient Morgan three wheeler to the latest Lamorghini are enthusiasts cars.

Amoore100 > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 03:42

Enthusiasm.

Porsche was my first word > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
01/04/2016 at 03:50

You’re totally right. But out there are cars that are more prone to be enthusiast’s car. How would you charactarize such cars?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 04:11

IMO any car that places emphasis on one or more aspects (usually with sacrifices to other aspects) can be an enthusiast car.

Something that is competent in everything (but excels at nothing) is unlikely to find an enthusiast following. The Toyota Corolla is the perfect example of this. Wait...actually, it does excel in reliability...

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 06:21

Responsive and able to be flogged in a fun way. A fiat panda can be a enthusiast car because it can be flogged at low speeds just like a base line Caterham.

FucenSpaz > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 06:54

Do You want to do something with it, not leave it as is. Or not drive it from A to B back to A in a commute only.

Porsche was my first word > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
01/04/2016 at 07:14

Totally see the first Fiat Panda 4x4 as a enthusiast car.

Porsche was my first word > FucenSpaz
01/04/2016 at 07:15

Good point. A not-only-A-to-B-car ...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 08:09

It feels special. To you.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 08:10

To me, an “enthusiast” car should ideally mean anything that I can have fun in. But in reality, I think a car needs to be cheap to buy, easy to maintain, and reliable to truly be enjoyable. If I am worried about losing a ton of money by damaging it or incurring multi thousand dollar repairs by driving it normally, then it is no longer fun. Really all a car needs is good gearing (for the power and weight) and no electric nannies (or at least let you turn them completely off).

Sweet Trav > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 08:28

An Enthusiasts car is driven by an Enthusiast.

The car doesnt have to be anything special.

bobbe17 > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 09:12

I think a big part of being an enthusiast car is that it doesn't make sense to non-enthusiasts.

“Why would you buy such a small impractical car?”

“Why would you want a wagon with 300 hp?”

“Why would you spend so much money on a 15+ yr old unreliable German car?"

Justin Hughes > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 09:20

It really is hard to pin down. I think no one here would argue that a Miata is an enthusiast’s car. But based on another post from this morning, what about the original Neon? Many would say no - it’s a cheap, poorly manufactured econobubble. Others would say yes - it handles well right out of the box, was raced extensively back in its day, and has (or at least had) a large aftermarket. You wouldn’t call the original Saturns enthusiast cars, but I was a part of a small but strong enthusiast following for them, and today they do well in LeMons racing. An old muscle car doesn’t appeal to an autocross enthusiast, but is what the huge classic car enthusiast scene is all about.

I think the real answer to your question is “it depends.” Maybe part of whatever rating system you use could be just how much of an enthusiast car you think it is.

d15b > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 09:34

An enthusiast’s car is the one that you look back at, every, single, time.

But, that is just me.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 09:34

i’d think of it like a group of runners:

-you have the average casual runers

-and you have the die-hard marathon every month runners

the latter are the more prone cars, and are the cars that don't require as much effort to like (again, in example: the E46 M3 is pretty beloved by all car guys)

GE90man > Porsche was my first word
01/04/2016 at 15:08

Fun to drive, easy to work on, large community behind the car, some level of practicality, cheap(er)