Cars as Motivation

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
08/02/2016 at 01:49 • Filed to: None

Since it’s late and I’m in a bit of a mood for musing, I figure why not try and write something that’s been on my mind for the longest time about cars being one of my few constant motivators in life.

Like most humans, I require some form of motivation and/or rewards to stay motivated to continue moving forward. One of those constant things since I was a kid has been cars. Whether it be an old Mustang I wanted when I was a small child to the Ferrari Enzo I remember reading about in the Guinness World Record book in grade school. I can be having the most tiring and shitty day ever but somehow cars will be able to cheer me up. There is a strange sensation of relief that washes over me leading to a feeling that says, “it’ll be okay.” The voice goes on to say, “If you make it through this and keep fighting then maybe one day the cars will come.”

Now I know to some people, perhaps even car people, that thought seems absolutely crazy. Perhaps that’s just how I cope with things, perhaps that’s a universal thing among true car people. Regardless it amazes me how humans can be motivated based on what they truly value.

That all leads me to wonder though, is there any other hobby that really motivates people to work as hard as cars?

DISCUSSION (23)

Amoore100 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 02:12

Diecast are a pretty good motivator to have around IMO. Whenever homework or life has me stressed, having a little Alfa, Peugeot, or Bimmer under my fingertips that I can roll back and forth reminds me that these things are real and that someday, just someday, they might come true.

Kinja'd!!!

PC: http://www.lamleygroup.com/

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Amoore100
08/02/2016 at 02:17

Very true. Your picture reminds me that I some times dream of the day I can have an Alfa 4c. The sound they make is so addicting.

Amoore100 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 02:25

Not my picture. Lamley Group’s. I wouldn’t recommend going over there unless you want your wallet to get considerably lighter.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 03:10

One of the things that keeps me motivated is how the next life goal after home ownership is a 1970-71 Celica coupe with a Kameari-fiddled 18R-G (with twin webers), Celica Supra rear end, AE86 brakes/coilovers and a set of Hayashi Streets, painted LFA matte white with the bumpers/fender mirrors/hood vents/other chrome trim replaced with dry carbon parts from Restored.jp.

The only hobby I currently have, that isn’t an end goal, that, keeps me motivated is tabletop wargaming (40k in particular). It being a: competitive, b: social and c: expensive makes it a constant “thinking about what’s next” motivator in my life. The social/competitive part is a big driver of it, since I play a game, lose a game, buy more plastic spacemen and use “just a couple more days until you can go to the game store and use your new plastic spacemen to beat the guy who beat you last week”.

RyanFrew > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 03:23

That all leads me to wonder though, is there any other hobby that really motivates people to work as hard as cars?

Yep....literally every other hobby. If people are passionate about something, they’ll work their asses off over that hobby and allow it to motivate them.

MLGCarGuy > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 03:42

New cameras and lenses are always motivators.

random001 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 06:13

Talk to any audiophile and you’ll get the same answer. It’s addicting. Unfortunately for me, I have both cars and audio hobbies.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 06:24

Don’t disagree with this, but when you are down and stressing about cars, holy balls do cars (everything about cars in your life) can seem like it’s just making your stress worse.

TractorPillow > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 06:37

Well, cars a huge motivator for me, and each cool car I get makes me want to get another one. I’m frugal in some places to splurge. As for motivators though, my own desire to perform well and my pride at whatever I do is a much larger motivator than cars ever will be.

Another thing that is a great motivator for hard work is exercising to look and feel good.

Nick Has an Exocet > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 09:14

Yeah, but like anything it’s kind of a double edged sword. I’ve had the same car for 5 years now and even though I still love it, I want to add a second to the stable and life very clearly kicked me in the balls and told me to go home. At present, my car situation is tied to my stressful financial situation so thinking about cars reminds me of my finances (they’re not in bad shape, I just haven’t had any growth).

There are other things: boats, landscaping, woodworking, etc that people do to a similar degree.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > PanchoVilleneuve ST
08/02/2016 at 11:25

Now that sounds like a car that should be featured on Petrolicious. Do you have any of what it would look like after you’re done with it?

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Nick Has an Exocet
08/02/2016 at 11:27

I hear that. I stress a lot about money as a result of cars. And combined with other things in life I sometimes wonder what it would be like to not have this hobby. Strangely enough though, I usually come to the conclusion that if I didn’t have this hobby my life probably would very dramatically different. And I probably wouldn’t be as motivated as I am today. Strange how that never ending cycle works...

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > TractorPillow
08/02/2016 at 11:29

That’s true. If I were to go outside of hobbies then I would definitely list the desire and need to perform my best as the top motivator.

Exercise is definitely one as well. In that same thought though competing is a pretty solid motivator for me too. I find that if I try to get healthy with others I’ll stick with it more.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > random001
08/02/2016 at 11:30

Yep. I have been addicted to audio equipment since my high school days. Luckily I as able to talk myself out of my dream headphone setup. That would've been a car’s worth of equipment.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > MLGCarGuy
08/02/2016 at 11:32

Haha I forgot about that. I guess since I only ever really take pictures of cars I lump them together. How’s your 6D by the way? I haven’t seen you post much recently (although I haven’t been on here as much either so that might be it).

MLGCarGuy > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 11:57

The 6D’s been doing well. I’ve been taking it everywhere I go now, and it’s so nice to get high quality images vs. just having a phone before.

Here are a few photos:

Kinja'd!!!

random001 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 12:00

I just recently got into high end portable DAC’s. Holy crap, I’m going to be broke.

Alex Zapata > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 12:01

For me cars (like the R32 and Alfa 4C) are my medium term and long term motivation.

But also bikes are huge for me in terms of the kind of lifestyle that I want (one that allows me to do certain bucket list items) a little more relaxed and stress free.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > MLGCarGuy
08/02/2016 at 15:14

Dude those images are super nice! I also spy the signature look of a circular polarizer on some of those too. I have to admit I haven’t taken mine off since I got it.

I also need to get better at taking the 6D out. I’ve only taken it to cars and coffees and the trip I took to Napa a few weeks back. Here’s some pics of what I was able to capture during that trip

http://photography.kinja.com/napa-178401544…

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > random001
08/02/2016 at 15:15

Yep. Then you’ve got your high end table top DACs paired with high end tube amps. Those things are just as beautiful as they are expensive. I listened to a full HD800 system at an audio store and now nothing is the same lol

MLGCarGuy > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 15:50

I love my polarizer. It helps so much with shooting cars. Also, nice pics. Do you use a 50 mm?

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > MLGCarGuy
08/02/2016 at 16:06

Yeah it does. The colors just look so beautiful too as a result. I’m finding I barely need to edit the pictures now a days.

Yep. I use a 50mm f/1.8 exclusively since that’s the only lens I have

random001 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
08/02/2016 at 16:22

I know, right?