Let's face it: normal people think we're weird. Very weird.

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt) 07/20/2016 at 11:03 • Filed to: None

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I started thinking about this while making my morning coffee and watching Shmee 150's latest video, in which he removes the martini livery wrap from his Cayman. To many of us, martini liveries are ice cold cool. To the norms? It may as well say “Gin and Tonic” on the front. And that’s just one example. There are many more...

Loud exhausts. I have heard so many hilarious comments about them from normal people over the years. I once showed this video to a friend of mine just to see what she’d say. “Is that a normal car sound!? Is there something wrong with it?” she said. I’ve also heard “sounds like an exhaust leak” on multiple occasions when someone drives by in a loud truck, mustang, corvette, etc. Normal people don’t get the chills from the howl of a V10. They don’t watch exhaust videos on the internet. And they honestly can’t tell the difference between a civic with a fart can and a CTS-V with a magnaflow.

Spirited driving. Yet another concept that is completely foreign to the average motorist. Handling, braking, and steering feel mean nothing to them. “Winding road ahead” signs are distressing to the average person. It simply never occurs to most people that the automobile is not just a method of transportation, but also a medium through which one can seek an adrenaline rush. Going faster than necessary on a curvy road is a horrifying proposition for normal people. Their understanding of the fact that sports cars are fun is so basic that it’s incomprehensible to us. “They just look cool and go fast, right? How superficial. What’s the point?”

*facepalm*

For us, cleaning a car is a cathartic, meditative experience preferably enjoyed with a few friends and a couple beers. As we’ve all noticed, some people don’t even clean their cars! EVER. For example, there is a brand new Range Rover in my work parking lot that clearly has never been washed. The front wheels are practically black from brake dust and the body is filthy. The normal spectrum of behavior when it comes to cleaning cars ranges from treating your entire back seat like a trash can, to at the very most, paying someone else a ridiculous hourly rate to clean your car for you, because you can’t be bothered. My coworkers go NUTS when the car cleaning people come every few months. Come on - you clean your kitchen, you clean your bathroom, why not clean your car too? Or better than that, just keep it clean so it never becomes an issue. I was cleaning cars with a friend yesterday, and the neighbor who was watering plants while I was hosing down my floor mats stared in disbelief like I was some kind of extraterrestrial.

Car shows. An opportunity to network with fellow enthusiasts. To have awesome conversations with strangers who understand what you love and why you love it. A place where you can see a car that will make your day, just because you haven’t seen one before and you’ve always wanted to take take a look at it in person. Once again though, most people’s perception of car shows is that they are for showing off. That’s it. Now it’s undeniable that there are some people who do just go to shows to show off - but they are usually in the minority. They don’t understand the sense of excitement and camaraderie that permeates every car show.

The automotive journalism and vlogging obsession. Nobody gets it. “Who cares about that new car, you’re not going to buy it are you?” they say. My fellow 20-something coworkers find it very strange that I don’t get their TV and Movie references, or know nothing about the details of celebrity gossip. I get flak for it all the time. Sorry... I have a passion that I dedicate my time to. So I don’t watch TV or movies. Just all of the top notch auto content I can find on youtube! Smoking tire one takes in the morning, motor trend on demand whenever something new comes out, and miscellaneous evo, xcar, and shmee150 videos when I cook dinner.

I could go on... there’s lowering cars, buying expensive wheels, paying double for sticky tires, installing a roll cage, attending an auto x, etc. You get it by now though. Normal people think most of what we do is very unusual. We’ve all blown many minds by telling people that we work on our own stuff. And just this morning, my coworker remarked “You park... over THERE!?!?” as if it was totally incomprehensible to him that I’d intentionally park 50 feet farther back in the lot than I technically had to. “Why!?” he said. Well first of all, I’m not so lazy that I have a mental block against walking a little farther to the front doors (didn’t say that though). What I did do was point at this white Cayman was also at the back of the lot, along with a GT-R. “See those?” I said. It’s a car guy thing. We park away from others as a defense mechanism against door dings and bad parkers. “But... that’s a Porsche” he said, implying that my car is not worthy of such precautions. Well first of all, UGH. Thanks. And second of all, as I explained to him, sure - I don’t drive an expensive sports car, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about my car as much as those two owners do. The norms don’t get that either. Their cars are status symbols or appliances, and that’s it.

So, did I miss anything? There have to be SO MANY things we forget aren’t normal. Not that it matters. We’re having fun over here!! And they’re doing 60 in a 65 in their miserable econoboxes, because that’s “good on gas.”

CB > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:11

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Don’t forget that we all like to speak in generalities in order to make arguments appear persuasive.

Noah - Now with more boost. > CB 07/20/2016 at 11:13

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ouch :( just putting my thoughts out there...

Clemsie McKenzie > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:16

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France is like that, but worse. You get added diesel econoboxes, and a state-driven car-bashing of stupid proportions. Everybody seems to agree that no-one likes cars in this country. Nobody seems to get it. Hating cars is the politically correct thing to do.

And then 250,000+ people show up for the 24hrs of Le Mans, everybody acts amazed. Two weeks later, everyone goes back to agreeing that car culture is dead.

CB > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:16

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Sorry man, just tired of the “we all do x, most people who aren’t enthusiasts think x”. Automobile enthusiasm is such a broad subculture: you think everyone parks their car at the back of the lot, or cleans their car to a sheen? Nope. Do people who don’t drive cars not give a complete shit? Nope. My girlfriend does most of the maintenance on her vehicle, but she’s not an enthusiast, it’s just part of owning a car for her. Other people are enthusiasts and they’ll only bring their cars to a shop. Such is life.

AntiSpeed > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:16

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I’ve had the good fortune of driving some exotic cars in populated areas, and it’s become very apparent that we see exotics very differently. To you and me, a Ferrari is a precisely engineered and crafted machine that is made for maximum driving pleasure, with a rich and beautiful history (I’m reading Enzo’s biography right now, it’s quite fascinating). But to 99% of the population it’s a status symbol of the snobbishly rich. No different from walking down the street with a mink coat and $50,000 shoes. It’s kind of disappointing and honestly spoils the fun a little bit.

Milky > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:19

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Your exhaust statement reminded me of when some guy yelled at me about mine. “Your car is loud because your muffler is breaking!”

As if, even if that was true, I hadn’t noticed. Thanks buddy.

Noah - Now with more boost. > CB 07/20/2016 at 11:21

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It’s ok! Thanks for being straightforward with me, I appreciate the explanation.

1. very jealous of your cool gf...

2. yeah there are exceptions to every rule, can’t argue with that. I guess it’s just a general trend that I was thinking about. should’ve structured this better, it was just a ramble

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Milky 07/20/2016 at 11:21

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“To which I responded with a generous poke at the accelerator.”

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:24

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

FTFY

BAM- Before Anything Melts > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:24

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Okay... is it just me, or are Shmee, Vehicle Virgins, Supercars of London, Street Speed 717 and the like a real cancer in the car community? I’m leaning towards “yes” myself... the best thing about bros with daddy money until recently was that they were generally too bothered to pick up a camera.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 07/20/2016 at 11:26

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here’s to being weird

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:26

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normal is a setting on a dishwasher

Noah - Now with more boost. > Clemsie McKenzie 07/20/2016 at 11:26

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Relevant story: I visited Paris for a week once, and at one point intentionally got lost exploring the city, and ended up in an empty part of town (this was August, so it was especially empty). On this typical paris boulevard lined with old apartments, a gallardo pulls out of a hotel parking garage right in front of me. I grinned at the driver and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. He seemed to be so taken aback by the fact that someone was excited, not offended by his lambo! The dude nodded his head vigorously, grinning meniaclly and gave me a big double thumbs up. Then he RIPPED IT through first and second down the empty street, just for me haha. Totally surreal and one of my favorite memories from that trip.

CB > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:27

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It’s cool, no worries! Just kind of growing tired of the automotive “we drive manual/fix our own cars/new cars have no soul” circlejerk here on Oppo, so I was kind of a dick. My apologies.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/20/2016 at 11:28

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Life is way more interesting and fun when you’re weird.

Dru > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:28

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I think you have so many varying degrees of enthusiasts it’s hard to pin down. There are people who think leather seats = fancy, and to some degree, sure they do. I’ve never owned a vehicle that didn’t have them, and being that it is July in South Carolina, I wish I had cloth. Reality vs. perception I guess.

I’ve known people who will not buy cars from non-branded dealerships just because of the stigma of them being second tier.

There are also what I would refer to as mid-level enthusiasts. Someone for whom a red Solara convertible is an exciting car. They care enough to seek out something different, but not so much that they really get beyond the comfort zone, and that’s fine. It’s the reason Jeep sells so many Wranglers.

I for one don't understand how anyone can sit through an entire game of football/baseball/basketball, but I will sit there and watch 24hrs of LeMans (as I am able, so intermittently). Different strokes.

Clemsie McKenzie > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:29

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Ha that sounds fun! Also parisians are supposed to be grumpy, so it must have doubled his surprise!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 07/20/2016 at 11:29

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Non-weirdos can suck it, but they probably won’t

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:31

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On the loud exhausts: I just have a muffler delete on my FR-S. Adds a pretty solid exhaust note with minimal drone, and plenty of gurgles/pops on downshifts and deceleration. When I first started dating my girlfriend she couldn’t stand it or understand why I’d do that to my car, although she never told me that at the time. Now that she’s gotten used to it, she says that the sound of the exhaust and the vibrations/bumps from my sportier suspension (even before I put my coilovers on) lulls her to sleep in my car. It’s the only car she’s able to sleep in comfortably. haha

Textured Soy Protein > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:32

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I was just thinking about last night: my friends and coworkers are all about making fun of people, in a good-natured way. I get teased for having a cool car and big muscles. I’m like, “uh, pretty sure both of those things are awesome.”

Vítor > BAM- Before Anything Melts 07/20/2016 at 11:33

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Didn’t the guy from Supercars of London bought his first supercar (a R8 I think) from the money he got from his YouTube channel?

Noah - Now with more boost. > AntiSpeed 07/20/2016 at 11:33

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Yeah absolutely, well said. That’s why if I ever own a supercar, it will be a very discrete color. The whole status symbol thing is so awkward. And it’s amplified by the fact that normal people know nothing about cars. Last month I got into an altercation with this lady who thought I parked at the pump just to go shopping in the gas station store. She didn’t see me get gas first. So she called me a spoiled brat and told me that “cars are just possessions” because she thought I was a rich kid parking daddy’s car (my $4400 1999 Q45...)

DylanToback > CB 07/20/2016 at 11:34

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While you are certainly correct that these points are generalizations, that alone does not make them invalid. Some generalizations are more reasonable than others. If this post is read as “the average person thinks my particular brand of car enthusiasm, one shared by many, is very weird,” it is entirely reasonable.

Noah - Now with more boost. > CB 07/20/2016 at 11:35

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Lol it’s really ok. You’re a regular here and you have a point, I won’t hold it against ya

Noah - Now with more boost. > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 07/20/2016 at 11:36

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LOL. 100% accurate

Noah - Now with more boost. > Clemsie McKenzie 07/20/2016 at 11:40

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It was awesome!! Though I bet I was wearing a branded shirt, probably looked SO american hahah

CB > DylanToback 07/20/2016 at 11:40

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Fair enough.

DylanToback > CB 07/20/2016 at 11:42

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That said, I do generally agree with the sentiment. I am especially tired of the whole “it has to be a manual or you can’t possibly be an ‘enthusiast’” mindset.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Milky 07/20/2016 at 11:44

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lol wtf... my only hope is that most of our exhausts aren’t as offensive to those people as earsplitting harleys with straight pipes. Who of course never get pulled over because many cops ride harleys too...

Noah - Now with more boost. > Dru 07/20/2016 at 11:45

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The mid level enthusiast is an interesting concept. The mother of a girl I was “seeing” over a summer was one of those - she drove an RX8! And even let me have a go. That transmission, omg...

AntiSpeed > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:46

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Yup. That’s one reason why I enjoy driving older cars more. To have fun in a modern exotic you really need to be on a race track. But my dad’s ‘54 MG TF is a challenge to drive smoothly even at 35mph and everybody loves it, even if some think it’s more exotic than it is.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 07/20/2016 at 11:46

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Haha wow that’s hilarious! I have a muffler delete too. But no GF. FML lol...

Noah - Now with more boost. > Textured Soy Protein 07/20/2016 at 11:49

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hahah they are! I’m also into fitness so I get the same flak; big chest, loud car, must be compensating...

sorry. I just enjoy cars and working out is my stress defense

CB > DylanToback 07/20/2016 at 11:50

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Yeah. I don’t even own a car because it’s not financially viable for me, but I still love them. Other users might crap on me for that, but meh, I don’t care.

I remember a few weeks ago, one Opponaut told another to go with a financially viable option rather than the “Jalop” option, and the other user told him to turn in his Jalop card. Just... why?

Noah - Now with more boost. > BAM- Before Anything Melts 07/20/2016 at 11:52

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Oh definitely. I can’t stand 99% of the uber wealthy english supercar guys. Shmee is very humble though and he works his ass off to produce content. I watch his stuff for the epic euro adventures. Everyone else though comes off as a total brat.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Vítor 07/20/2016 at 11:52

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Yep I think so!

Clemsie McKenzie > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 11:55

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That’s not how you spot the americans! The shoes are the biggest clue haha!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/20/2016 at 11:55

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a modern cyclone would indeed be sick BTW

Noah - Now with more boost. > Clemsie McKenzie 07/20/2016 at 11:57

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hahahah I almost said something about that too, I was totally wearing one of my many pairs of obnoxious mid top adidas

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 12:00

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Ikr?

Slammed Canyon with an ATS-V engine. Or better yet, go back to the roots of it and TT the new 4.3V6.

Better STILL, even smaller truck. Add 2.0T, you’ve got pretty much the same formula as the original.

Clemsie McKenzie > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 12:03

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Nah that’s fine, people can wear these here too. The thing that immediatly says tourist is the brightly colored running shoes! :D

My speed3 is happy > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 12:31

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Good post. I don’t wash my car though, because I guess I am also a “time (or money) enthusiast”

But do you catch yourself thinking the same about other people? I think people who are really into guns are weird. Very weird.

CobraJoe > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 12:50

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I’ve accepted that I’m weird a long, long time ago... But I’ve also figured out that trying to be “normal” is boring.

I know that my enjoyment of working on unwanted 80's metal and driving modified vehicles that are less comfortable than stock is confusing to most people. However, I’m utterly confused by people who buy the most basic and boring Toyota or Honda and then brag about how reliable they are. Wouldn’t you want more than just knowing your car will show up to work? That’s the barest minimum for a good employee.

So, what I’m saying is, I think they’re weird.

Milky > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 12:51

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Some definitely are that loud, but most are not. Damn harley owners man.

DylanToback > CB 07/20/2016 at 13:40

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Yeah, that is absurd. I have owned plenty of non-enthusiast cars. It’s not like you cannot appreciate cool cars while not owning one.

In some situations it is actually better to buy a Prius than a rusted out Volvo 240 with a manual.

wiffleballtony > Noah - Now with more boost. 07/20/2016 at 16:36

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Most of the family doesn’t get it. My mother in law uses the entire car as a garbage can. My brother in law didn’t get it until he bought a SHO. Now he is a back of the lot parker.

Personally, I don’t enjoy washing my car as a relaxing experience. I do enjoy the finished product.

BAM- Before Anything Melts > Vítor 07/20/2016 at 19:57

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Oh, didn’t realize that. I don’t really know why I singled him out there; while I don’t find him to be insufferable like that JR Garage kid with the fake stock trading backstory, they always come up on my homepage together and I guess it’s just guilt by association.