What is it with car guys?

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
10/26/2019 at 12:32 • Filed to: None

Minor rant ahead

Why do car guys talk so much shit? Not you guys, actually. But most “in the wild” car guys talk about stuff they have little to no actual idea about, including people in the industry. Stuff that doesnt even affect them, as if its some dick measuring contest.

Was at a party last night. Guy I spoke with apparantly owns a 4wd shop. Does custom work a nd the like. Small party, I have no reason to doubt him. Got talking about projects. Mentioned that he previously owned a 2nd gen that he abandonded due to the p.o basically glassing or somesuch the whole bottom of the car. Bad enough for the whole front subframe to rip off. Bad enough for him... Not to notice? Ok I guess. He then procedes to tell me how it wou ld be cheaper to get a dynacorn body, even if it was for a camaro, to fix my car. (It definitely wouldn’t) I proceeded to tell him that I likely would, however they are not made for 70s camaros nor firebirds. He insisted that they were. I mentioned that there were none available when I looked. He then insisted that they made them at some point. They have not.

Am I being nitpicky? No! He somehow insisted it would be less work to cut the thick support around my body bolt, to install a nut from the side, than to simply cut a hole in my paper thin sheetmetal floor from above and braze the floor back on. I did explain that I expect to have to remove the subframe again and welding the bolt was not an option. This kind of talk continued for awhile and I came to the realization that des pite my lack of formal education on the subject I was somehow the competent one here.

I understand that he can probably d o a ll kinds of stuff I cannot or have not learned. But a lot of car stuff is very specific knowledge, so claiming to be correct when you have little grasp of the situation and talking down on someone who does, instead of just asking me to explain WHY I’m doing what I am, is infuriating. This has been echoed across multiple interactions I’ve had but this situation seems particularly egregious. I have never encounterd such a density of know-it-alls in my life.

DISCUSSION (15)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 12:40

I've noticed that car guys in social situations tend to exemplify the dunning Kruger effect with remarkable consistency....

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 12:40

Rule 1: Never talk about cars in parties.

12and35 > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 12:42

Personally in my experiences with “car guys” it’s ego. They know better than you. Anytime I run into a “I know everything about everything about cars” guy I just do a lot of “mmmhmm, uh-huh, oh I heard that, too” just so I can hopefully walk away quicker.

My bird IS the word > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/26/2019 at 12:52

Im starting to be inclined to agree.

My bird IS the word > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
10/26/2019 at 12:53

It’s all about trying to control the lizard brain.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 13:21

Ha, go see the FB Oppo page for peak car “guys” talking shit. Outside of Oppo, cause I love you guys, I think very lowly of the car community

sony1492 > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 13:27

There are car people who understand how little they know.

An d those that know everything always.

Co mbine the later with an ego and you get gods gift to everything vehicle related

Jason Spears > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 14:19

Beware the man who has learned all there is to know on a subject.

kanadanmajava1 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/26/2019 at 14:20

The Finnish way is to enjoy your alcohol silently. But I usually try to be social in parties and talk about cars.

whatisthatsound > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 14:24

I simply stick to what I know, which is how to ask for help on online forums when I break everything. Then how to ask for help on how to fix the new things I just broke while heeding their advice. Simple.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 14:53

Ego+echo chamber+a little knowledge = Shitcockdickfuckery

If I know ego is involved I pretty much psychologically check out as fast as politely possible.

There have been a lot of “fires” in my kitchen caused by “family members” that I have had to take calls for.

DipodomysDeserti > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 15:54

” I understand that he can probably do all kinds of stuff I cannot or have not learned. But a lot of car stuff is very specific knowledge,”

Not really, especially with old cars. This is more true with newer vehicles that use proprietary software. Even then, the basics can be applied across the board. My rule of thumb is to listen to people with an open mind, then sift through everything based on my experience.

ranwhenparked > My bird IS the word
10/26/2019 at 16:19

I remember talking to a professional mechanic at a Christmas party , slightly drunk, insisting to me that his brother’s Miata had a rotary in it, and that that was a reason to stay away from them, even if they are fun to drive. After about 3 attempts to convince him that no, Mazda never put a rotary in a Miata, I gave up and told him he was right.

My bird IS the word > ranwhenparked
10/26/2019 at 19:01

Thats kinda what I was dealing with but not that bad.

i86hotdogs > My bird IS the word
10/28/2019 at 12:04

The trick is to have friends that no very little about the scene. That way your knowledge, be it small or large, will always impress them.