Automotive culture pet peeves

"Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow" (chriskf) 05/05/2016 at 12:07 • Filed to: None

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I hate the term “spirited driving.”

For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, it’s basically a term that hard parkers use to describe the asshat driving they do on public roads that makes them think they’re a race car driver. It’s also used as a justification for buying a bunch of mods for “track inspired” builds that will never see a race track.

From my observations, most of people who use the term have very little understanding of actual vehicle dynamics and car control. They’re the ones who end up wrapping their car around a light pole trying to drift on public roads or hit a light pole while doing donuts in a parking lot. They are the kids who keep saying they’ll go to an autox or track day, but always have the excuse that they need to buy X mod before going.

The FR-S/BRZ world is full of these kids. A perfect example is a local kid with a rocket bunny kit, giant wang, underglow, lambo doors, a cheap supercharger kit know for very poor quality, a custom made roof scoop with tubes routing to his rear brakes (he says for cooling, but that’s not what roof scoops are actually used for and it is really just adding a ton of drag), BBK, and a bunch of other mods that will never be used to their full potential. He complained that there were no tracks near him to do a track day, and when I pointed out that there were 5 within a 1-3 hour drive from him he just made up some other BS excuse. But then goes on to make recommendations for performance mods to people based on his experience with them doing “spirited driving.”

I’ve got no problem if you want to blow your money on a bunch of stupid mods, although I’ll think you’re an idiot. But if you’re offering advice for performance mods/car setup and spreading misinformation based on your “years of spirited driving experience,” then I take issue.

In my eyes, spirited driving is just a way of trying to make driving like an asshole sound more like an enthusiast pursuit.

/rant

mazda616 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:10

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One reason why people who bemoan my car’s “lack of power” annoy the shit out of me. I don’t take it to a race track, just like I wouldn’t take a more powerful car in the same class as mine to a race track if I happened to own one. My car handles well and has enough power to get out of its own way. All I wanted, really.

I am amused by people in local Mazda clubs that spend endless amounts of money building their cars up to ridiculous horsepower figures only to never do anything but drive them to work and back.

CalzoneGolem > mazda616 05/05/2016 at 12:14

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They usually also tune out any sort of comfort from the suspension.

Niko's Work Account > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:15

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How do you know he has a giant wang?

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mazda616 05/05/2016 at 12:15

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This is very common in Toyobaru world too. All the hard parkers bitch about lack of power and how the car needs mad boost, yo. But they’ll never go to a track day, or even autox. If they did, they might realize that the car’s ~170whp is more than they need at their skill level anyway. All they want to do is race cars from light to light so they can brag about smoking a Corvette, or doing donuts in a parking lot and calling it “drifting.”

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Niko's Work Account 05/05/2016 at 12:17

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^You can see it above. The big ol’ wang on the back of his car

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > CalzoneGolem 05/05/2016 at 12:18

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“Bro, I just got some Fortune Auto coilovers with 14k spring rates! I can totally drift now!”

Bytemite > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:18

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What would you call doing a brisk mountain run then?

mazda616 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:19

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Yup. “The Mazda6 only comes with a 4-cylinder. That sucks. Needs more power and it’d sell better.” Meanwhile, the V6 Accord and Camry (and Altima) sell in minuscule numbers at best.

DynamicWeight > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:20

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Although the phrase is certainly used as a euphemism for the type of driving you describe, I believe the quintessential spirited drive is the Sunday drive through the hills at speeds fast enough that the nervousness of your passenger is overcome by their excitement. Not quite so fast that their excitement is overcome by their fear. Top down, trees whipping by, engine singing near red line, feeling the spirit of the car.

But yes, fools will always abuse language, turning something wonderful into something ugly. Sorry the phrase got ruined for you.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Bytemite 05/05/2016 at 12:21

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Driving your car, going for a cruise, taking a drive, etc.

Spirited driving comes off as “I think I’m a touge master.”

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:23

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Driving an automatic car DOES NOT make anyone any less of an enthusiast.

This has rubbed me wrong since day one that just because someone chooses to drive something with two pedals instead of three that they are less of a person in the car world.

Maybe I’m bugged by it so much because I’m given shit so often about my M3 being automatic. It’s still an amazing car, I’m still the biggest car nerd most of my friends know, I’m still a car enthusiast god dammit.

jariten1781 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:24

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Sounds like you hate kids and all the dumb things they do more than 'spirited driving'.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > DynamicWeight 05/05/2016 at 12:24

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Yeah, I will agree that that’s what it used to mean. I think that the meaning has changed though, because of the way the term is used and who it’s used by.

It used to embody the essence of going for a drive to enjoy the connection between driver and car, an appreciation of the mechanics and dynamics behind the vehicle. Now, for me it’s more synonymous with idiot driving that leads to ending up in a ditch or rear ending someone.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > jariten1781 05/05/2016 at 12:25

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Yes, but for me that term has come to embody those people/things.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:27

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I call those cars and their owners: “drag queens”

Why?

Cause they only look like how race cars are suppose to, but we all know that underneath they dont have the right stuff....... (that means 2 things)

Tristan > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:27

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I always use the term to describe how I drive on a daily basis. As in, I actually hit the gas to merge on the freeway, accelerate away from stoplights and in general drive like I have somewhere to be because I do, rather than the typical Oregonian driving style of “my Prius can’t be rushed”. I don’t drive like an asshat... quite the opposite, really- I do my best to stay out of peoples’ way and help more cars make it through a green light. Pulling the cover off the Miata and heading out to the mountains, now that’s a cruise!

interstate366, now In The Industry > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:28

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Hard park kids are just the worst.

Urambo Tauro > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:31

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One thing that caught my eye was the use of this phrase in Seafoaming technique. Seafoam is to be drawn through the vacuum lines, and allowed to sit for a few minutes. After this, you’re expected to to take the car for a “spirited drive” to help clear out those deposits that the Seafoam has loosened up.

Does this mean driving like an asshole? I don’t think it necessarily has to. The suggestion seems to be more about acceleration rate than anything else Jackrabbit launches are the only “spirited” behavior that I’d expect to be helpful in maximizing the treatment’s benefits. In view of this, Seafoaming is not something you’d want to do on a rush-hour drive, especially with that awful momentary smokescreen.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:36

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Sounds like a certain murdersofa aficionado 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:50

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Well are you just against the words "spirited driving"? Because I generally call going on a mountain drive "spirited". On the really good roads, just going the speed limit is more than plenty to be considered spirited anyways. My question is if you are complaining about that too or if you just mean the posers that are doing that through the neighborhood going 45 in a 25.

Bytemite > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/05/2016 at 12:53

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I think it depends on the car that automatic is in. If you have some auto luxo-barge like a Town Car, that’s fine. But if you have an auto on an M3? That is the wrong transmission for the car. It either means you don’t know how to drive and just too lazy to learn how to drive a proper stick shift, or settled for a car because no one else wanted it.

But it doesn’t mean you’re not an enthusiast. It just means you got the wrong car.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 12:56

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But then goes on to make recommendations for performance mods to people based on his experience with them doing “spirited driving.”

Story of my life when I autoX’d by BRZ. EVERY first-time Subie Bro boosted to the maxxx would scoff at my car for being stock and tell me all of the things I need to do to make my car good while crushing their times by two digits. It’s like, thanks dude, it’s fast enough for me right now. There are a few other CSers that have a couple of seconds on me. I’m a bit more worried about that. Charlie gets more guff and is faster. I sooooo want to get massive slicks on Charlie and try to chase down FTD one of these days with my itty bitty 1.6.

BigBlock440 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 13:06

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he says for cooling, but that’s not what roof scoops are actually used for

Scoops are used to gather air, what happens with that air is up to the person who installed it. There’s no reason roof scoops can’t be used to cool the rear brakes. Whether or not their needed is a completely different argument though.

Probenja > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 13:06

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Can I jump into your rant and talk about how stupid I think #stancenation is, there is literally no point to it other than looks, a car is a functional machine, not an art piece, especially the economy cars that most people stance, so why make it nearly undrivable.

Also the people like haggard garage who basically destroy perfectly good cars, just to get views, they could have easily donated those cars to charity, now if the car is going to a junkyard anyways then it makes sense to destroy it first or make something good out of it.

/end of rant

AfromanGTO > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 13:19

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Sounds like you are talking to ricers.... lol

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Bytemite 05/05/2016 at 13:50

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I like it. If I like it how is it the wrong car?

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Tristan 05/05/2016 at 13:51

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To me, that’s just driving for an enthusiast. No need to differentiate it, because we know you’re enthusiast and don’t drive like average commuters.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/05/2016 at 13:54

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More of the latter, but in the automotive culture I see the most of (import kids) the term has come to mean just the latter.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/05/2016 at 13:55

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Exactly.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > AfromanGTO 05/05/2016 at 13:58

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Ricers and simply misguided budding enthusiasts who listen to ricers/stancenation kids instead of seeking out useful information from credible sources.

Everyone wants instagram likes more than actually learning to drive their car and improve their skills. Then they say “oh, but I do a lot of spirited driving” as a justification, like it’s the same thing as truly learning more about the limits of their driving ability and their car’s limits.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/05/2016 at 13:59

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Becauseit’s an auto duhhhhh

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > BigBlock440 05/05/2016 at 14:03

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Ok, let me rephrase that one.

He was taking inspiration from rally roof scoops, which serve the function of pressurizing the cabin to keep dust out. Yes, roof scoops can be used for other purposes (like cooling on a mid-engine car), but there was pretty much zero actual engineering/fabricating knowledge that went into the design of his setup. If there had been it would be obvious that it’s pretty much a completely useless and pointless modification.

Bytemite > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/05/2016 at 14:10

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It’s the wrong tranny for the car. It can be the right car for you. But the car itself is hindered by a slushbox.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Bytemite 05/05/2016 at 14:22

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Right. Okay.

Cars can be good with both autos and manuals, shocking I know. To call an M3 hindered because of the transmission is laughable. Ohh, it’s a couple tenths slower in the 0-60, big deal. It still dances like a ballerina and throws me back in my seat easily.

for Michigan > Bytemite 05/05/2016 at 14:45

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This is bullshit. A car is a car regardless of transmission. If you prefer to drive the manual version, good for you. It doesn’t make you or your car any better than anyone else.

AfromanGTO > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 14:45

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God, the likes are more important than actually learning to be a better driver.

Bytemite > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/05/2016 at 14:53

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Well I’m not going to say it doesn’t make you feel good? If pressing a gas pedal and feeling acceleration is your thing, then good! Again, I’m not talking about what the car is to you. Autos can be good.

What I’m talking about is in this particular car, with the intent that it has to be a performance car, you don’t get the same balance, control and feeling with a slushbox. Heavier tranny throws off 50/50 weight balance, less engine braking and gear holding control, lacking the shorter ratios for faster acceleration and less spacing between gears to stay at top of powerband, and lacking the less overall weight, drivetrain rigidity reduced to slow down launch, so on and so on. These are all simply facts. There is no need to argue with your subjective, “Oh it still feels good!”. I know that already, and I will say good for you!

Bytemite > for Michigan 05/05/2016 at 14:53

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Never said manuals made me or my car better than anyone else?

If you want to drive an auto, congrats. Good for you, like I’ve already said a hundred times.

for Michigan > Bytemite 05/05/2016 at 15:07

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That is the wrong transmission for the car.

It’s the wrong tranny for the car.

It is obvious that you think any ‘sports’ car with a stick is better than a ‘sports’ car with an auto. Therefore, whether you would articulate it that way or not, you believe that your MR2 is better than a hypothetical person’s auto MR2.

It just means you got the wrong car.

And telling someone that they got the wrong car because they didn’t get what you would’ve got is telling them they made the wrong choice because they chose differently than you. Meaning you think you’re a better judge of what car they should own than they are and you think you’re a better enthusiast than they are.

Bytemite > for Michigan 05/05/2016 at 15:13

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Not even true. A manual MR2 is actually better than a 4-speed slushbox MR2 simply due to facts. If you are buying an MR2, or M3 even, you are looking for certain qualities in your car. I don’t think I need to explain to you what these qualities are. Having an auto in a car like that doesn’t make the car completely shit all of a sudden, but it might not hit its full potential and doesn’t match the character of the car.

If you put a manual into a Lexus LS400, I’d say why? And that is the wrong tranny for the car. Does that mean that I think manual trannies are bad and me “approving” of the auto makes me more of an enthusiast?

This has nothing to do with my personal opinion. The facts are the auto in the M3 will hinder its performance. Fact. After all, you are buying an M3 for its performance right? If you bought the M3 for comfort cruising, then there are better cars with auto transmissions much better suited for that task.

for Michigan > Bytemite 05/05/2016 at 15:19

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I’m willing to admit that some cars only reach their true potential with a stick. Most of the time it’s because the auto is garbage (like my 85 Fiero).

But that doesn’t excuse you telling another enthusiast he bought the wrong car because it’s not a stick.

Bytemite > for Michigan 05/05/2016 at 15:30

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And in the E36 M3 it is the same case...a torque converted high spaced, slow to respond slushbox. If he was given the option to have a manual M3 vs auto M3 for the same price, do you really think he’d choose the auto? That’s what I mean when I say it is the wrong car. He knows it, you know it, and I know it. There is a reason why you get so defensive when I’m just here stating factual information.

But that doesn’t excuse you telling another enthusiast he bought the wrong car because it’s not a stick.

I would just tell another person who bought a luxury car with a manual that his car is the wrong car because it’s not a smooth, extra slushy auto. Nothing to do with my opinion or the driver’s opinion, it is just the tranny doesn’t match the car.

uofime-2 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 17:03

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Good rant.

I think some people like to tinker and trying to go fast is their justification even if in reality even if in reality they are afraid to actually do it. Those people just need more encouragement and education.

I guess there’s a lot of people who tinker for attention and I really don’t understand that. Maybe they need to be taught to drive too so they’ll stop worrying about attention and blowing 50 bucks every week on some new stick dealio

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > uofime-2 05/05/2016 at 17:09

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Yeah, I think the ones who like to tinker are often afraid of breaking something, not having the car “prepped” enough, or not being prepared enough themselves to go do autox/HPDE. I keep trying to encourage the people locally who seem like they might be of that mindset. It’s completely about education and encouragement.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/05/2016 at 19:59

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Is that the guy with roof ducts going into the rear wheel wells nowhere near the brakes? Fucking hilarious. You should add that picture

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 05/06/2016 at 07:10

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It sure is! Haha I’ll try to find it.

Nauraushaun > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 05/06/2016 at 22:04

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Supras have that from factory, except they’re not on the roof

Nauraushaun > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/06/2016 at 22:06

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What do you call it then? Enthusiastic driving? Is that so different?

Or do you never drive in a spirited fashion? Are you saying owners of sports cars aren’t allowed to drive in a spirited fashion?

I think the essence of what you’re saying is that a lot of people who modify cars are idiots who use idiotic mods because racecar . I agree with you, but I don’t think the term spirited driving is to blame.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Nauraushaun 05/09/2016 at 08:32

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No, I’d call it driving. If I wanted to impart that I was driving in a manner differently than “normal” I would do so within the context of the rest of the story.

Of course I don’t think the term is to blame. No word or term is to blame for anyone’s poor decisions. I just find that the way the majority of people use it to be annoying. Note that the title of this post was “Automotive culture pet peeves,” meaning that it’s a personal opinion.

I know that there are enthusiasts who go out and enjoy their cars in what could be relatively seen as safe/responsible. However, the majority use of the term that I see is by fast and furious wannabe kids using it to describe driving that they think imparts some sort of driving prowess and understanding of vehicle dynamics, when really it just means they’re doing highway pulls, trying to drift, and generally being asshats on public roads. In other words, it’s a term used in ignorance. Often in an attempt to justify never actually trying to pursue true development of their skills in a truly safe/appropriate environment.

(Again, I know this isn’t the case for everyone, or perhaps even the majority. It’s just the way I see the term used the most in the portion of automotive culture that I tend to be exposed to more than any other.)

Nauraushaun > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/09/2016 at 09:02

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Fair enough. I feel the same way about because racecar . I feel like it’s mostly used by people trying to justify removing back seats, cruise control and air conditioning from their Hondas. Hondas they don’t take on the track. Hondas that are exclusively road cars.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Nauraushaun 05/09/2016 at 09:55

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Interestingly, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone use because racecar is a non-sarcastic way. lol I’ve said it before, but it’s always a joke mocking an obviously bad idea.

Nauraushaun > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 05/09/2016 at 18:09

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I find it’s semi-sarcastic.

Why’d you remove your air-conditioning?

Because racecar, lol!

He’s joking about it. But why did he remove his air-conditioning? It’s because he wants to pretend it’s a track car when it isn’t. So there’s truth to it