The Most Annoying Question Us Car People Get Asked...

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
02/08/2014 at 11:33 • Filed to: Rant, question, favorite, favorite car

Yesterday in my English class, our teacher switched our seats around. This meant that we were surrounded by new people. She wanted us to “introduce” ourselves to our new “neighbors” (this is a tenth grade English II Honors class btw). Naturally, I say I’m a car person. And then, that is when it happens: the most annoying question gets asked.

And no, it isn’t !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! simply because that comes after knowing this person for a relatively (at least in my opinion) short period of time. Not only is this question simply annoying, it is also very difficult. One that whenever I get asked, I cannot simply answer instantly. Instead, I usually start off with, “Well you see, it’s difficult to answer….” And this is usually the turning point of the conversation. If the person pesters you a little more, by saying things like, “Oh come on! Really!” then they are genuinely interested. If the response is along the lines of, “Oh, okay.” It means that you fucked up and lost that person as a good neighbor.

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The question, in case you haven’t picked up on it yet (which, most likely you haven’t because I haven’t made it clear yet. However, this is how my English teacher wants me to write shit, so I do.) is:

What is your favorite car?

That question. Five little words that become so frustrating. I cannot stand this question for a multitude of reasons. First, it is so vague. Honestly, I want you, right now, to tell me your favorite car. I’m giving no limits at all, and you can only have one. See? I’m not crazy.

Sometimes, if I can tell this person actually cares a bit, I will go into detail. For example, my favorite production car being produced today that in a few years I should be able to buy is the Jaguar F-Type Coupe. It is the epitome of car design in the past few years. The lines. The back hatch. The rims. The interior. It is perfect to me. And since it’s a Jaguar, depreciation is a beautiful thing. I can’t imagine it holding too much value, which means it’ll be perfect. I’m not going to lie when I say that after my three years are up with my Civic, I will be looking at used F-Types. And if one is a reasonable price, I will have no problem financing it and keeping it around.

If the question is my favorite car that I most likely will never be able to own, it’d be the Pagani Huayra. I love these things. The big flowing body. The clean lines. The wild interior. They are so damn special. Also, not many people know of Pagani that aren't major car people.

My favorite car that I could easily buy today for under $3500 (not that I’ve thought about this category or anything) is the Volvo 240 wagon. I love Volvos. I love wagons. I loved Legos as a kid. Put it all together, and this is the result. And I love the result. Find an older one with the manual transmission and I’d be a very happy retro camper.

My favorite American muscle car is the Plymouth Superbird. The reason? The wing. I remember seeing one at a car show when I was around 7. It didn't seem real. It seemed like a giant Hot Wheels. I loved that. The looks you get with that thing are just incredible.

My favorite car from the 70s would be the Volvo P1800ES. Again, Volvo. Plus, that incredible glass back. It is just perfect. The relatively long front paired with the two door sloping hatch is just beautiful.

“So, as you can see, I have a lot of favo… wait, where’d you go?” This is usually the point where the person has already turned around and began talking with someone else. But anyway, that question sucks. Plain and simple. There are too many choices.

Thanks for reading and listening to me ramble. I love Oppo for that!

DISCUSSION (50)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:40

You should counter with a question asking them to choose their favorite single thing of some category of objects they like.

What's your favorite car? Well, what's your favorite food/song/actor/musician/book/dessert/word/species?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:40

I get asked this question a lot. I honestly don't have a "favourite".

Pitchblende > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:41

My stock answer is "My own car." It is the only car I get to drive whenever I want to and that makes it the best in the world. Cheesy, but it answers the question.

Hoccy > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:42

I couldn't agree with you more. Car guys like us have favourite cars for different uses, not overall favourite cars.

I usually don't tell people that I'm a car guy, but they find out after knowing me for a while (or looking at my facebook). Hearing me talk about cars and spotting my laptop background would also be dead giveaways.

benn454 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:44

It also sucks when you do manage to pick just one and their response is, "A what? Never heard of it."

Crocket Bernet > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:46

Kinja'd!!!

My go to depends on what I know about that person if I get the inkling the like cars I go into full on nerd mode and start yapping stats about the Testarossa. If I really don't want to talk about cars with that person I go with the Huayra.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:47

Yeah there's way too many awesome cars just to pick one off the top of your head. It is pretty annoying to be asked this.

Team6.1 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:48

I simply just start listing all my favorite cars. I'm not gonna pick one. This also opens the door for them. Maybe they are into old muscle, maybe they like german cars, maybe they have a jeep too.

yamahog > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:50

Related: my sister's professor had the class do an icebreaker: Name, hometown, dream car.

A 2000something Honda Civic owner said "2013 Honda Civic." Not even an si.... so much for dreaming big?

Harrison Voorhees > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:50

Holy Crap I just wrote a blog post about this exact topic last night!! I was going to start a mini blog series out of it called Dream Garage. You've ruined my plans!! haha jk I'll still post it later today probably but great post sir! I completely agree.

Skif6996 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:51

What kind of Superbird is that?

Breakfast Burrito: The True Resident Burrito > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:53

Kinja'd!!!

You gotta change this picture quick before people realize it ain't a Superbird and and revoke your Jalop card.

*Note: Superbirds were only homologated in 1970 based on the Plymouth Roadrunner. That's a 1971 Roadrunner with some body kits on it.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:54

Great post. Identifying myself as primarily a car-guy, I too am asked the same question. I hate it. Obviously I like cars, so why would I like one more than all the others? I however, have an answer to this question: the GT40. It's a dream car with rich history that can be obtained through replica manufacturers (Superformance and CAV primarily). But yes, I strongly dislike this question. If gear-heads could pick a favorite car, Jay Leno's garage would not have a bazillion cars in it. In essence, we choose cars for different experiences. An old muscle car to feel like a badass cruising around on a friday night. A british sports car to carve up backroads. A super car you dream about maxing out. Whatever. As a car person we are more accepting of cars than most people. That's why everyone else gives you a stupid look when you say Volvo 240 or Miata. So, if you come across someone that can answer this question in an instant, chances are they might not love cars as much as we do. To us, it like someone asking which child is your favorite. Although we might not own any of the cars, our memories of them and their persona have shaped us into the (car) people we are today.

Harrison Voorhees > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
02/08/2014 at 11:54

I've tried this and people often just magically come up with 1 favorite thing. You have to figure out what they truly love methinks. And some people don't really know what they love so it can be hard.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:58

Ugh. I hate this question. I usually respond with more question, year? Decade? type? That results in just a blank stare, like I'm some sort of crazy person.

mycarneverruns87 > Skif6996
02/08/2014 at 11:58

73 ish Charger with a big wing. Not an actual superbird

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 11:59

You might want to use this one:

Kinja'd!!!

Or for MOPAR accuracy:

Kinja'd!!!

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Breakfast Burrito: The True Resident Burrito
02/08/2014 at 12:01

That's not even in the first page of GIS results...

Tom McParland > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:14

I have a favorite but non car people don't know what it is...so the conversation goes like this
What is your favorite car?
-RS6 Avant
What is that?
-It is a really fast wagon that Audi makes.
Why would you want a wagon?
- So I can outrun a Ferrari and not look like a tool.

With non-car people the conversation ends there.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Breakfast Burrito: The True Resident Burrito
02/08/2014 at 12:15

My god.. thanks for pointing that out! I simply went with the largest pic I could find... I fixed it!

Thanks!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Skif6996
02/08/2014 at 12:16

Fixed! Sorry, went with the largest one I could find....

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 12:16

Fixed! I went with that since it was the largest one I could find!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
02/08/2014 at 12:19

Exactly! When I hear someone respond with Lambo or Ferrari, I ask which one? They just stare. They aren't car people.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Crocket Bernet
02/08/2014 at 12:23

It's an answer that makes people stare at you funny and walk away.

The Transporter > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:27

The more you love cars, the more cars you love.

Caml > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:43

I actually got this last night from a friend's wife and realized I've developed a go-to for this question if it's being asked by somebody who actually wants to know, but might not be a car guy/gal: Morgan 3-Wheeler. It's simple, open, quick, unique, makes a lot of noise, almost noone's seen one IRL, and requires lots of compromises. If they're still listening: It also keeps up my trend of dropping a door every time I get a new car (I've gone 5-4-3-2, and since nothing really has one door that ain't an Isetta, next stop is none.

If they are up for a real discussion, I'll ask them to help me tease out some categories, what could I buy with cash on hand, what would I take to a track, what would I own forever, what would I get if I moved to X country, etc.

Excellent choice on the the P1800, by the way. Dat glass!

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:44

Funnily enough, the answer's surprisingly easy for me.

Kinja'd!!!

Escort Cossies are just the business.

Joe_Limon > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:46

I love this question, mainly because the answer doesn't matter and I can choose whatever I want, especially if it is to mess with someone. For example, "I mess my pants whenever I see a 90s Corolla".

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 12:47

I laughed way too hard at the mopar accuracy.

Jay Lauer > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:49

Well it's a question asked by people who don't get cars.

They're not ready for the unbelievably long explanation with topics from steering wheels to hoon-ability to pure character that's about to come their way when you answer the question.

They expect you to say, "Camaro, cause it's pretty"

They're just not ready for the Great Expectations-length explanation they're about to get from that over-loaded question.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 12:54

And kinja still has its way and turns it into wallet size...

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower
02/08/2014 at 12:57

This 1:64 manufacturer knows what's up.

Kinja'd!!!

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/08/2014 at 12:59

"Found in a field or barn"

More like "just driven off the lot".

Leadbull > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 13:00

I didn't realize how useless my high school writing classes were 'till I got to college.

TheJWT > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 13:10

Another one which makes me die a little every time I hear it:

Does (x) make good cars?

ihm96 > Tom McParland
02/08/2014 at 13:36

I had a discussion yesterday about if you could have one car only what would it be and I responded with the rs6 avant because it's practical and insanely fast, and someone else said bugatti and then I pointed out the flaw of maintenance, trunk space, and how many potholes and shit our road have and then they realized my choice was actually really smart

ihm96 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 13:43

Your answer should be what is always the answer. Miata

The WB > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 15:39

I don't think I've ever been asked that question. But I don't talk to people in real life about anything relating to my actual self because they just don't get it. At work, I talk about work. At home, there's nobody else there to bother me. :D

Tom McParland > ihm96
02/08/2014 at 15:40

The RS6 truly is a "super" car

ihm96 > Tom McParland
02/08/2014 at 16:43

Yeah although tbh i would probably take a Mclaren f1 because later I realised that the rs6 is missing a pedal

404usernotfound > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/08/2014 at 16:58

I was just having a conversation with my family about this exact thing. We were eating dinner and somehow we got to talking about cars, and as I am the resident car nut, someone asked me "what is your favorite car?" I had no answer, and went on to say "picking out a favorite car is almost like picking between your children." They obviously wouldn't accept that as an answer, so went through a few of my favorites like Aston Martin and Pagani. The same situation happened in class a few weeks ago. It's something non car people just don't understand.

Marek > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/09/2014 at 09:11

my favorite is: "Are you going to restore that?"

journeymanbaiter > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/09/2014 at 10:26

I thought the answer was always Miata.

lingenfelter > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/09/2014 at 10:30

I think the worst question is actually "what car should I buy?". Bonus points if they give no qualifiers as to what they're looking for. My suggestions will not be practical and likely also won't be fuel efficient, which is the two top things non-car people bitch about.

Also: Civic to F Type: one hell of an upgrade.