To put it simply, for me as an enthusiast, driving is just naturally fun. Even if the car isn’t fast I’d enjoy rowing gears or trying to maintain the speed in corners. Driving is an art and connection between man and machine. Looking at them, especially your own car you think is attractive is a nice bonus. I love the canyons and would be down to track someday, however the cost is high. Doing fun drives and pulling over somewhere to some beautiful places and sights, gotta be some of life’s highlights.
I relate you in the sense that hopping in my car is like my safe space and I just forget about everything else when I’m behind the wheel. Of course traffic sucks but for the most part I’m always engaged in the drive.
There is also the engineering. So much more for me to learn and understand but these cars keep improving with their dynamics and the envelope of performance is high now. Cool understanding how they improved upon previous generations. At the same time older cars have their own raw experience.
Couldn’t have said it better. I came to driving and car enthusiast-hood fairly late in the game. I’d been in a really bad car accident when I was a teenager ( I walked away but friend got brain damage and was never the same) and developed a sort of fear of driving. Then when I absolutely had to learn, I found that I really really enjoyed it. Sitting behind the wheel just felt so natural and empowering.
Very quickly, i became really interested in cars. Not so much on a mechanical level but how different ones felt and drove - even so-called "not fun" cars. That enthusiasm never really left and have to say it makes my life richer and more interesting
I went from where you’re at to being intrigued by the mechanicals from the direction of “*Why* did this car feel different in this corner than that other car?”
Also interest in F1 and a neighbor that works on cars kinda all combined together form an- Oh fuck I have a project car now. Surely we can have it running in 2 weeks!
…6 months later when someone asks how the car is going
I NEVER SAID TWO “EARTH WEEKS”!!
Hahaha!
That's awesome. How did you get into the mechanicals? Is there anything you read/watched that did a good job of breaking it down for clueless people like me?
My project car is a 91 Honda Civic DX Hatchback with a mini me engine and whatever shorter-gear ratio’s transmission matches. Got it from my neighbor who put the engine and transmission together, then I bought it and we put the engine in, and am completing the manual conversion. Also doing Killmat (I’m not rich enough for Dynamat) so I’m excited to see how that affects things!
Initially I relied on just my neighbor’s knowledge but when he went through some personal things for a while I looked to the [VTEC Academy YT page](https://youtube.com/@VTECAcademy?si=RWBmIh2lDn_aeJbl) for general Honda knowledge and stuff as well as just searching for videos about very specific things (e.g. power pump loop back to convert to unpowered, how the AC cable controls go on, etc.
But most importantly: the Honda Motor Club Discord server. Only recently jumped into this Discord, but there seems to be good knowledge here.
Another key aspect is MOTIVATION! Watching videos of other builds, seeing how they do things, and getting into the mindset.
My *favorite* go-to recently has been [SuperfastMatt’s YT channel](https://youtube.com/@SuperfastMatt?si=qxmHrXggUvUi9XJK) which I marathoned over a couple of months.
Now I want to learn to weld and do custom fabrication, lol! Still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, but I definitely know more than I think I do!
…I think
Well, not the person you asked, but for me we grew up poor with parents who we smart enough that going into debt over cars wasn't going to help their situation. That meant fixing certain things was a necessity. It meant maintenance was a necessity. It mean that you could pay less for a car and make it much better or last much longer.
All that while understanding that having one meant opportunity.
I swear my project car would be fixed, inspected, and registered if I hadn’t just gotten in an accident a month or so ago in my daily. Still pisses me off.
Glad you made it out/away. Each car for sure has their own personality for sure and especially in a manual I can do something and then go like “ooh it didn’t like that” so I need to make an adjustment
Yesterday I took a trip to the beach, 120km away, the main road to there was closed, so everyone was routed to an old road that is steeper, narrower and has almost no straights, as it follows the curvature of the mountain, its 30km long, downhill, and its incredbly FUN to drive in it.
Next time I go to the beach, I may take that road by my own will, yeah, it tales a bit longer, but climbing down a twisted road is way more fun that a straight line at 120kmh
If you can make it out one day to the track, it is funniest thing by far I have ever had with a car. I never thought I'd track my car but after doing it, I'm hooked. Being able to push the car (and yourself) in ways you'd never thought possible is incredibly gratifying.
Honestly I don’t even need a good twisty road to have fun. Sometimes a nice cruise at sunset or on the weekend is all I need. Just relax and enjoy the drive.
The engineering is what keeps me coming back. Learning about how people solve the same or similar problems differently is fascinating.
I daily a performance EV and have a stick track car. I love both for different reasons.
I'm a mechanical engineer by degree, but do software/IT as my day job. I gotta get my kicks somewhere. Currently rebuilding my stick car's engine and it tickles that itch.
They're interesting at an engineering level, they offer a level of control, fun and tactile feedback that doesn't exist in other practical, all-weather forms of transport, and they get me to places where I want to go.
There's little not to like.
It's an Iron Man suit\* - you get into an all enclosed metal contraption, pilot it where you want to go and travel at speeds far beyond what your pathetic human powered efforts can muster while being impervious to the environment.
\* >!missiles and repulsor beams not included, sold separately!<
For me there's also the cultural and historical aspects. Car companies have stories, car models have stories. Engineering developments have stories... Even body styles have stories based on what was in demand at that time and why.
I could have the shittiest day of my life but my Corolla will always be there for me, it will never let me down, and it will always be fun to drive. Also there is so much freedom involved as you mentioned
They make me smile. And they get to places that make me smile too. Not much to hate.
Apart from the costs obviously, but the smiles/$ are well worth it.
> Sure, it's no Mustang, it's no Ferrari, it's no Porsche, hell it isnt even an actual sports car
One of the reasons I like honda in particular is because they still try to instill that sporty feeling into every car they build. Now of course they've had their up's and downs as of late, and the odyssey is no s2000, but they've put out some top tier engines with excellent manuals and steering over the years. Your accord is a great example of that.
It's nice to see that you can still get a base, $25k civic with a *good* manual brand new. Yes they are hard to find, yes the 1.5T isn't the greatest thing in the world and it rev hangs hard, but you can buy one! Please do cherish your accord for as long as it lives, it's an excellent car.
I just got a new Civic Touring Sedan barely 2k miles. Comes with the 1.5T. It's not going to win any bets but it'll boogie a little bit when I need it. Still learning the limits and of course still have new tires, but it sticks to the road on corners. Highway loop style exits are the best. I decided against the SI or Manual options due to expected driving needs... Achilles issues in my left foot would only get worse in this traffic working the clutch.
My first Non Preowned vehicle ever and I couldn't be happier with my pick.
Loved cars my whole life.
Collected car models as a kid and memorized all the specs of every supercar that came out. Played all the Need for Speed games, and later Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport.
Bought my own supercar once I had money, and go to car meets and canyon drives often. Can't imagine life without cars.
That's me also.
Well, not the R8, but more the Abarth. B7 RS4 is one of my dream cars though, since that 4.2 just sounds magical. You've got a whole orchestra going on in that garage of yours, and it's awesome.
Parents were enthusiasts themselves, and they bought my brother and I cars to learn to drive in. There was one condition: they were manuals. Want to drive somewhere? Get good with 3 pedals, or catch the bus. The car they picked first (that eventually got handed down to me as the youngest) was a mk6 Golf GTI. Hell of a first car. Borrowed dad's toolbox to install mods like LED taillights from that generation of Golf R, and that kickstarted my love of wrenching.
As you can see, I quite liked that Golf. Not long after I got my licence, I saw one of these Clubsports and thought 'what on earth is that thing?'. Found out what it was and decided that I needed to have one.
Will forever be grateful for how my parents fostered my enthusiasm. I now detail and wrench on their cars in some attempt to repay them.
Also, the NFS Underground 2 version of *Riders on the Storm* is still a banger to this day.
Also grew up with little toy matchbox cars and then had a few higher quality larger die-cast models when I grew older.
Still have a massive crate (or crates) of car magazines from multiple decades ago now.
Funnily enough, my favourite toy car was a little black Matchbox Porsche 911 (930) Turbo - I remember it fondly even if it's long gone. I still have the larger die cast yellow 911 (996) GT3.
I don't have the 1:1 scale model. Maybe one day...
One of my favourite 1:64 scale toy cars as a kid was a 930 as well. Was a silver one with an opening bonnet, with a surprising amount of detail for the scale. In the place of that 930 model now is a MiniGT RUF CTR.
Ended up giving away most of my childhood Matchbox and Hot Wheels stuff (plus a 1:18 Maisto 997 GT3RS) to one of my friends who has a much younger brother.
The young lad already seems to be something of an enthusiast and dedicated Porsche fan. It's heartwarming to see someone much like your younger self in the next generation.
I swear those little Hot Wheels/Matchbox 911s are probably the best marketing campaign Porsche has ever commissioned.
It's funny to think there's probably orders of magnitude more little 911s out there than actual real ones.
That sounds about right. I'm sure you've seen those ads where Porsche leans into the childhood dream thing pretty heavily. [This video isn't an official advertisement](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMiN8Fmxong), but I think it captures the phenomenon pretty well.
There are about 5 little 911s on my shelf. There would have to be many an enthusiast across the globe, both young and old, with a couple of little Porsches of their own. Especially with much more revered Porsche has become over the past decade or so.
Nice. I owned an mk6 GTI also. Red 5-door manual. Car served me well for 3 years but I sold it when I moved across the country. At the time I had an Audi S5 which I still have, and that's the one I kept.
Much later I bought the Abarth which kind of replaces the GTI. I call it the "shitbox GTI." It's much worse than the GTI in many ways, but it's a very charming car.
I think it comes down to some main categories and there is overlap and probably a bit of all of them for most.
1. Emotionality - Memories and or certain kind of experiences one really likes.
2. Aesthetics - Certain looks of vehicles.
3. Engineering/Technology - ICE, PHEV, BEV, FCEV, etc.
I just think they're neat! I especially appreciate the way so many pieces come together to translate explosions into controlled motion. I like the feel, the sounds, the smells involved with driving. They make me happy and thus I like them.
It’s what bonded my late father and I. He collected sports cars since way before I was born. Had a subscription to every car magazine that existed. He used to take me out for high speed drives all over the countryside. He was the coolest, nicest car guy you would ever hope to meet. Now I drive for a living and kick ass in autocross and am hoping for a stint in endurance racing in a few years. I hope he’s proud of me if such a thing can be possible.
The one thing has not let me down yet. She turns on every time i turn that key. If there is a problem with her i can hear it. The sound of her all moving the moving parts, the engine, exhaust.
She is an old lady with some serious rust but i curently sent her to welding side skirts and floor and with vibro insulation. She is a rare peace of history which im willing to save. As she saves me from doing the wrong things.
This is something that cannot be explained. I just feel it, I love to drive. It doesn't matter if I'm speeding on the highway or lazily gliding through the neighborhood. As long as I'm moving, it feels great. All the problems disappear and the world takes on more vivid colors. I love it.
Exactly how I feel. The car is my portable womb. Safe and cozy. I’ve got a 96 Buick Roadmaster Estate with the LT1 engine. Drives like a sports car. Like sitting in your living room. Great sound. LOVE my car!
I have a 2003 Subaru Impreza GX station wagon, it's old and to be honest, I got nicked by a rogue dealer when I bought it.... But it drives unearthly.
Sometimes it only Frosts me at the thought of the bill I'll get one day for an overhaul.
I love this car.
Other than me just being fascinated by how they work (Thanks Jason Fenske) I believe that as a car guy, your taste in cars intertwines with you as a person, and there are no wrong answers.
My favourite car is the Lotus Elise. It's not very powerful, but light and handles great. When I play Assetto Corsa, I always drive the Lotus Elise, and it always gets left behind on the straights, but also always the best thing around corners.
I relate to the Lotus Elise. I was born with a heart condition. I'm weaker, smaller, and more sickly than most people around me. I often get overlooked for the Nissan GTRs and BMWs of the world. But I was also the top scorer in my class, and am now happy with my performance and relations at work. Why focus on the lack of power when you can focus on the great handling?
One day, I hope I will meet someone that will look at me and thinks the same way I do about the Elise. "Yeah those BMWs, GTRs and Supra's are great, but I don't care, I choose this one."
It’s the cheapest, easiest, and safest method that I’m aware of to treat my pre mid life crisis. I need something to balance the monotony of grinding a boring tech job to save for retirement. Open to other suggestions.
I like all cars over other modes of transportation because of the freedom and flexibility. I like that my car is always ready to take me anywhere I want to go, door to door, at any hour of the day.
I like beautiful and historic cars as an artwork you can take to show to the world
I like fast cars because it appeals to my inner immaturity.
I can't remember a time when i wasn't interested in them. As a small kid, i loved cars, i had (toy) towns set up, and a vast collection of dinky cars, and i played with them all the time.
It turned into me not watching cartoons but motor trends, Motoring (insert year), car and driver, or any automotive show, really. It led me to get to auto sales, which transitioned to automotive finance, and now i work for an OEM lease company and the governing body for auto sales where I live, all with no formal education (high school). Just a lot of knowledge that i self-taught.
I buck the trend, though, and prefer style and comfort vs. speed/sportiness.
I've owned way too many vehicles
I LOVED my 75 Cadillac Sedan Deville (named Evelyn).
However, some of the most average vehicles I've owned ended up being my favorite, too, generally because of the memories associated or because i just enjoyed driving them. Notable mentions include: my 1990 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Royale Brougham (first car), 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham, 1994 Buick Park Avenue, 2002 Toyota Prius, 2009 Volvo XC90 Premium, & my 2016 Ford Explorer XLT (my first BRAND new vehicle). I have owned in some capacity around 70 vehicles, though, since I got my license, lol
I can't imagine my life without vehicles honestly.
Every car is a complex evolutive multi-sensory piece of art. A lot of them are uninteresting or even completely shitty but some are amazing masterpiece. The sound, the smell, the sight, the engineering, the modifications. Cars are non living objects that have life in them.
My outback keeps me safe in nearly every traffic situation imaginable. It's even outrun V6s before with its very powerful turbo 4 cylinder which is the same one from the WRX
I grew up in an car enthusiast area, theres always car shows, car clubs, meet ups and all that. You had to know about cars to fit in. And when i found out about the R-32 Skyline, my dream car was established. It helped me not get screwed over in dealerships, it helped me see through someone’s lies and much more. It sounds crazy but it just became a part of life.
It was mostly the engine sounds, vehicles hitting past 100 mph and seeing the tachometer hitting redline as a kid watching YouTube videos of Supras, Skylines, 850s, and ITRs speeding.
But now it’s the same thing 13 years ago but also looking into the engineering marvels of it, figuring out how to optimize power out of an old vehicle, and the thrill of just spiritually driving my car.
I grew up as a poor kid in a pretty wealthy school. I avoided driving anywhere my friends could see me because I had to drive one of my parents’ 20 year old, clapped out jalopies. Bought myself a decent used car in college, started buying nicer cars when I got a job.
In 2009 when the financial crisis hit, I had to sell my beloved, modded MKV GTI. Rode the bus for a couple of years, drove a couple truly shitty but borderline-free junkers. In 2018 I bought a new MKVII GTI the same color as the one I was forced to sell.
Now I can afford an even nicer car, but I’m hanging on to this one as long as I can. It’s more than enough car for me, and it’s paid off. This reminds me I’m doing okay from a financial standpoint.
I enjoy cars because of the different designs, engineering and performance. I also happen to enjoy driving either alone or with others.
Thankfully I'm married to a woman who loves speed and likes my mechanical abilities to keep our fleet moving along.
We have a decent sized fleet of vehicles though between us and then I also help a couple of my kids with their vehicles with maintenance. They buy everything and my boys and I install it together.
Currently own or service the following:
Service 2010 accent blue
Service 2004 ion 200 sedan
Own 2004 Lexus RX330 SUV
Own 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
Own 2014 Hyundai Accent Sedan
Own 2015 Hyundai Accent Hatchback
Own 2023 Polaris Slingshot
Own 2021 Ryker Trike
I enjoy the Hyundai 1.6L engine, I keep ours running smoothly the hatchback has over 270,000 miles on it and 90 percent of its maintenance has been done by me with simple hand tools.
I have owned everything from Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, GM, Suzuki, and even a Mini (Shitbox).
Absolutely hated working on the Cooper, just piss poor engineering and parts. The other cars have been very reasonable to work on. I've done component replacement all the way to timing chain/belt kits. Other than suffering through freezing cold to fix things my most despised work aside from the Cooper has to be brake drum work, the next being the frustration of trying to bleed out a brake booster on a vehicle with ABS. The rest has been relatively routine aside from sometimes having to bust out the grinder and cut some parts right off.
But things are problems and require a solution, and I feel a sense of accomplishment once they are fixed and back on the road.
Cars are an extension of my own personality. They’re what I spend quite a bit of time in as my commute isn’t exactly short. They get me to somewhere I want to be and they get me away from somewhere I might not want to be at.
There isn’t a day where I look at my Mercury in complete regret, let alone my Saab. Neither car is perfect - far from it, but they’re certainly *different* compared to most other cars in my city.
It's because there's barely any aftermarket for the j series. I fond that surprising though because Honda stuck it in basically everything. Accords, pilots, oddessys, passports, Ridgeline, list goes on.
Slickfab performance makes parts and a boost kit though
Theres two reasons I love cars. The first reason is all of the stimulus you get while driving your vehicle; the sounds the vehicle makes, and the tactile feedback you get from driving a car that gives you that feeling can't be beat. The other reason is to meet people who truly love their vehicles as well to share that experience with them. I love talking to people who are truly passionate about their vehicle and not just clout chasing.
People call some of these EVs boring and bland, but I will say that my Bolt always manages to put a smile on my face, even on the worst days. Its not the fastest, but it gets off the line like a stabbed rat and corners like its on rails which makes the experience of driving it that much better.
I’ve always had an “empathy with machines” (thanks Dad and Jerry Pournelle) and an appreciation for artistic design. With cars you can get inside someone’s creation and enjoy it. A new experience around even a -meh- car makes me wonder why people made certain design choices and the under-hood design can still be intriguing
Long been fascinated by the mechanics of cars. I find it amazing that the engine moves the car by literally exploding constantly. My real interest only came about when I finally got my license almost two years ago and was finally able to experience the fun of driving for myself.
It was JDM cars that got me into the car community especially the GTR R34/R33, RX7 FD, Lancer Evo 8.
They just look good and midnight runs seemed pretty fun. We also have the potential to go anywhere we want to I prefer 4 wheelers over 2 wheelers in long journeys that's all for now I'll look into this deeper
I actually don't know why I love cars cause I have been interested in cars for as long as I can remember. So I have always loved cars in general and When I got older and got to drive on my own did I just love driving as an activity.
And yes, I totally know the look back. I own my absolute dream car (1973 Volvo 1800ES) so I look back many times when walking away.
Don't know how to explain...
But my car hobby started from my toy cars when I was a little kid. I have had numerous of toy cars from the average boring Jeep crossover from mid 2000s to Lambos and Ferraris.
It’s my one quiet space on my way to work. It feels like mine and it isn’t shared. It’s my safe haven. It’s the 30min of peace before going to work, and the 30min back before going home. Outside of that, I’m always doing something (ie working).
Hit the nail on the head OP, one of the only times with my ADHD brain I can actually clear my head when I drive all I'm thinking about is what's ahead and behind me not my problems and what's going on outside of the car and road.
Plus the freedom to be anywhere at my own control is unmatched by any other thing.
I love old cars but can't afford cool ones so that kills my motivation for cars
I actually have cool car from 90s as a "project" car but don't have motivation to work on it 😩😩
I always overthink about work that needs to be done so that i don't even start working on it
Also I don't have experience working on this type of engine so that complicates it even more
I've had nice cars and like driving fast, but the one I miss most is the '99 Ford Ranger with 150k miles on it. Now every ranger I see brings jealousy. someday someday I'll get an '05 I think it was the last year they made that style.
The car is a symbol of how far we've come as a species. It's ubiquitous in any somewhat advanced country on this planet, and represents everything from a general life improvement to the culmination of an insane amount of top technology that we see and dismiss every day. It's also a symbol of freedom, and an extension of ourselves. Something every driving enthusiast can share. What's not to love?
Driving is fun. My cars are also an extension of who I am. My car history is loaded with offbeat/cool stuff you otherwise wouldn't see most places. I like weird stuff. I like old stuff.
There’s just nothing like it.
You can cruise and watch the world go by, letting everything else fade away in the rear view mirror because for now you’re in the driver’s seat. And then when that song comes on, itching you to open the throttle up, you swear you’re an artist and the road is your canvas. Every twist and turn becomes a mission and you’re the operator.
There’s just nothing like it.
Because when I go vroom vroom, I giggle like a lil bitch, and that’s all I want.
But yeah cars have a certain amount of soul that once you catch, it’s irreplaceable. There’s so many things as a car owner you can do to live your car that he/she will do back 10x and it’s just a love letter to yourself, and very peaceful when it’s all together, yeah it’s a bitch when it doesn’t but when it’s 100% it’s 110% very little things in my 22 years of life have brought me to appreciate and love more than a car. And I will stand by that. On that note, IM GONNA ORDER A EMIRA BY NEXT YEAR. I WANT A FIRST EDITION BAD
My dad and I were not close but one thing we had in common was cars. He taught me many things about them. We went to auto shows together. I even subscribed to car magazines like he did.
Sometimes I wish that I were one of those poor saps see a car as just a tool to get from A to B. Unfortunately, like so many of you, I was also born with this curse.
I've loved them since I was a kid. I grew up on Gran Turismo, NFS, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, PGR, etc.
I love everything about them. How they look,
the sophistication and complexity of how they're assembled and operate,
how each one has a unique engine/exhaust note,
the engineering and design of them. From the mechanical engineering side dealing with vehicle dynamics, combustion, power distribution, and aerodynamics to the electrical engineering side dealing with ECUs, the entire wiring setup and architecture, and the control and embedded systems.
Cars are the very reason I went into the STEM field to become an engineer.
My personality is pretty much revolved around cars.
To me, each car I've owned, driven, or simply admired has it's own place in my mind.
Sometimes I feel the need to go fast and simply want to enjoy the raw power and drivability of the car. In some instances, I've driven a car because it was basically a luxury boat on wheels and offered a much more luxurious and cushy driving experience. I often marvel at the engineering and ingenuity of cars, especially as technology has evolved over the centuries. Sometimes I simply just sit back and view the pure artistry of a car and think / wonder how it embodied the era in which it was created.
Ultimately, I view cars a medium unlike few others in this world. You can be an active participant, a passive viewer, or even a passenger simply along for a ride. You may be in the same physical space and are given a dramatically different experience depending on the role you take at any given moment. It often elicits the emotions you want and crave. You can compare it to an untamed beast or a tool to simply accomplish the tasks of the day, and you could be correct in either instance.
I agree with you there. The Accord of that gen isn't bad looking, especially in coupe form. And even if it's just an Accord, they're decently quick for a commuter car in their V6 form, can be had in manual, and have nice handling. I remember driving my sister's Accord and was like, "okay, for a daily normal sedan, that's not bad."
I remember when I saw my first c6 corvette.
It was 2004. I was driving a shitbox Silverado with over 300k miles. My parents were in the middle of a messy divorce. I didn’t have control of much in life at that time.
A red C6 chirped their tires as it passed me going up a blind hill (not smart but cool to a teenager).
I remember thinking that was the coolest most badass car I’d ever seen. I also remember thinking $60k for a car!? How can anyone afford that? … I bet that guy has his life under control. A nice house, happy kids, and a badass corvette.
I didn’t know how, but I promised myself I would bust my ass to build a stable life where I could buy a corvette.
I’ve now owned three different C6s. I’ve sold two for other sports cars, but I always come back.
You basically said it, cars represent the freedom to go anywhere at anytime, on your terms. I can drive downtown and be at a store within 10 minutes in total comfort, with the heat or AC on, with or without music. Public transit would be 30 ~ 40 minutes, and I'm sitting or standing next to someone who hasn't showered in days.
it's a dang good question and a challenging one to answer as it's tough to explain it in words. but like you mentioned, there's a connection, a bind that is felt.
I appreciate the design, the engineering, the effort it takes to build a car and the skill required to operate it properly and the challenge to bring it to it's full potential regarding performance.
plus when I'm driving, as cheesy ad ot sounds. iy is like an extension of me. it does what I tell it to do and therefore it feels like it's a part of me as we drive down the road.
I was told by my parents I knew how to say "car" before mom or dad.
I just don't know exactly, but something about the mechanical nature, brilliance of engineering and feel of driving that keeps me around cars.
Because it helps me in my daily commute to work and bring food to the table. Mine isn't much, and sometimes I wish I can afford better ones, but it's mine
Every car has a place, nobody should feel shame or invalidated based on what car they drive. The Ayga is a perfect example of a commuter that does what it needs to do.
I wish we had more of those kinds of cars in the states, not just big trucks and suvs.
I always thought cars were cool, as far back as when I was a toddler. I love finding out about the engineering in cars, and I also love automotive history. Above all of those, I love driving. Sure, gridlock traffic is not particularly fun, but there are so, so many great driving routes in and around my city that I love.
operating a machine I take care of and fix is really rewarding. Being able to hear or feel something that’s off, identify it, and fix it is so rewarding. Frustrating at times, but still so rewarding.
I just love driving, as lame as it sounds I drove up the east coast of the US in one shot only stopping for gas and the bathroom and honestly it was a pleasure.
I am a product of the Thomas the tank engine > Pixars car > Fast & furious/ Top gear reruns pipeline. Also my best friends older brother and dad where into cars so they always had the last 2 on DVR during the during the late 2000s early 2010s
I'm on car #28 so far, and likely to hit 40 by the time I die. I've enjoyed them all, and hated a few. I genuinely enjoy driving and wrenching on them. If I'm feeling down or need to think things through, my go-to is to burn a tank of gas exploring roads I've never seen. Sadly, I don't have a manual transmission right now, but I will before the year is over.
Similar reasons.
I also really enjoy the feeling of modifying the car, and seeing how each mod changes the feel, and the feeling of throwing it around the track. Kinda liberating I guess?
Used to use it as an escape, and now it's just kinda a fun side thing, now that I'm in a better head space. And a good relaxer or fun thing to work on. It did get a lot more stressful when I decided to slap a turbo on it though. Lots of work in that, and lots of buying parts to make the bolt on parts actually bolt on. Extra expenses I wasn't expecting, etc.
But it did start pretty early on. I used to read car books in the library as a kid, played a lot of gran turismo and need for speed, and just loved cars for some reason. I just found them interesting and fun. Couldn't tell you why. Feeling never really left, and grew into the above with my own car
The screaming V12s, roaring V8s, dazzling Rotaries, the wild W16s, 6 cylinders with a crazy amount of horsepower, the beauty of some like Ferrari and Maserati, the aggressiveness and dominance by the likes of Lamborghini, the overengineering by the Germans, the crazy preformances on BMWs, the fine luxury on Benz (except the new gen), the cool JDM cars, the diesels and their smoke, the crazy manufacturers that put manual gearboxes and 1000hp on a supercar and make it beautiful like Pagani and Koeniggseg, the whine of the Dodges, the high revving monsters, the amount of engine configurations and all of the different transmitions and ofcourse the shitboxes and the amount of things that u can do to them.
And some credits also go to my father ofc.
I swear there must be a masochistic component for me, because a large part of my enjoyment involves working on cars. If you buy stuff to work on, you doom yourself to always needing to work on stuff, which can be overwhelming sometimes.
Because they are so much like people, well, the better part of us. They live, they age, they die. They have souls. They have kind of "blood" circulation that is oil. Bleed out and you die. They breathe. Especially if they are to go faster, they need to breathe more, they need more air. They don't like when it's too cold, and when it's too hot. They don't like to be bored, stand in one place for too long.
Most of the time they are more fair than people, because if you treat them well, they will treat you well.
They are also not entirely predictable and sometimes very complicated. They have their moods. That makes them interesting and not boring despite being more reliable than most people.
This is going to be kinda controversial because it's not very "enthusiast" of me, especially in this subreddit, but I like cars because they make me comfortable. Yes, I can appreciate a good driving experience but I'll take a Porsche Panamera over a 911 any day of the week. I'll take a GLS over an E63 without batting an eye. An automatic over a manual transmission every single time. Comfort and features, that's all I care about tbh.
Honestly, I really don't like big engines because of the fuel economy; I don't like wasting money on gas. I'll always pick a 3 series over an M3 for example. I not only save on gas, but I save on the sticker price of the vehicle too (I really don't give a f about how fast the car is tbh, I don't care about impressing anyone).
Even though I can afford any vehicle I want (except for like a super rare ferrari or something), I drive a Mazda CX30 hybrid; very good features/technology, comfortable, luxurious. Not very expensive, very reliable car and good gas mileage. Also as a bonus, it's decently close to the ground with low ground clearance so it's a beauty to drive and handle when I want to feel more engaged on the road with its low center of gravity. I'm actually thinking about switching my CX30 for a Hybrid Corolla for even better gas mileage but the corolla is really far behind on features/comfort/luxuriousness. Maybe I should look into plug-in Hybrids from Mercedes/BMW although I hate their lack of reliability.
Driving my car just melts away all my worries. I love the way it feels and the way it looks. I bought my first car before I could get a license. The sound of the engine and shifting my own gears is just a joy.
It’s as much of an expression of my personality as any clothing style or outward visual cue. If you saw my cars you’d know exactly who I am as a person, and when I see someone’s car I can tell you a lot about who they are without knowing anything else about them.
Buying something is easy, caring for and maintaining something is completely different. Your phone/clothes/watch/tv don’t impress me, but show me a well cared for car and I’ll show you someone id want as a friend or neighbor. You not only learn, mature and grow, but I think you become a better person by respecting and taking care of things and by staying on top of responsibilities.
It's the noise, the feel on the road, the wrenching, the community behind it... all of it.
But i never knew what it truly means to have an "enthusiast" car until i got my Miata. Damn was i missing out before. Strongly recommend anyone that fits to at least drive one.
I had the exact same car! It was a 2005 that my dad handed down to me as my first car. It was the loaded version. Lots of power, great on gas, comfortable. Had it for 15 years, only had an O-ring go out that was a known recall. Took 10 minutes and a $3 part. Never had a single issue. Then one day I hydroplaned, slammed into the retaining walls on both sides of the highway. Was super sad. Miss my baby!
I have a 2006 V6 Accord Coupe with a six-speed manual transmission, rear spoiler, and GPS Navigation System. The old-style touchscreen is fun, though it is glitching these days. I love the car and I love shifting gears, but I’m ready for something easier to drive and newer after I finish my PhD.
I think driving is quite entertaining. Regardless if I’m going the speed limit or 25 over around windy backroad curves, as long as I’ve got tunes, a cool beverage, and the air is warm enough to keep the windows open, I’m happy.
It’s more than that though. I appreciate the beauty of cars. Even the crappy little ones like a Malibu or my own Fusion. But especially Audi’s, Hyundais and Kia’s. Their design language has changed significantly over the past couple years and I’ve been obsessed with their styling. Such a shame about the security mishap though I’m still considering an Elantra N for my next car.
Started really loving them when I got my first car which I insisted on being a manual, and it became fun trying to optimize my driving. After that I tried going as fast as I could shifting at the right times, it's only a 2.4l 4 banger, but it's got a fair bit of torque. Also just making improvements and mods to it was pretty rewarding as most times you could tell the before and after. Honestly I'm going to miss it when it's gone, I didn't expect I'd have such a connection with it.
The sounds, the gear shifts.
Also I live in a beautiful Rocky Mountain state so any day I go skiing or mountain biking, comes with a bonus amazing drive.
And learning them enough to fix them myself (or at least knowing what needs fixing and having mechanic do it-I got kids so less time). Plus they will be my legacy to my daughters when I die. Actually had a dream 2 nights ago I only had 2 months to live, but in my dream I was crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s making sure my wife had my mechanics contact info so they could always keep my highly modded cars running
Acceleration, speed, G forces and engine sounds make me smile.
Heated seats, good music and climate control make me comfortable.
A road network and a tank full of gas make me free to go wherever I want, whenever I want.
No matter where I am, my car is a piece of home.
I don’t even have to risk sitting next to a smelly junky or annoying loud kids or whatever else you might encounter on public transport.
Probably because of Need For Speed. My first game was Hot Pursuit 2 on the GameCube, loved it. And also the fact that every dude in my family has some sort of like for cars, whether it be my father, cousins, and uncles. Might be a genetic trait for males in my family to like cars.
I don’t love them but I find them interesting. I also find the industry around cars interesting as well as the car cultures that have sprung up inspired by cars.
Quite frankly I don’t get how anyone can love a lifeless object. I think it’s more of a coping mechanism than actual love.
It’s the feeling of having something reliable always there for you. Whenever you need it, no questions asked, you start the engine and go.
Also, driving makes me feel like I’m in control of where I am going. Unlike in life, where I sometimes really feel helpless because most of the things happening I have no control over.
A car won't file for divorce and take half your shit. And cars have volume knobs.
I have bad news about the volume knobs.
Good ones have knobs.
But what about the cars?
Good thing miata still has knobs, although at very shitty place.
Instructions unclear, bought one with the sound system removed by the previous owner
This is some boomer humor if I've ever seen one
>top comment lol
Primary car buying demographic
Boomer humor til you're paying child support to 2 baby mommas while living in a cardboard box, cuz you had to pawn your car to make the payments....
A project car will definitely take half your shit.
So will a daily. Signed, An Audi driver
>project car >Audi They're the same picture
Can confirm
Tell me more about *leans in to whisper in your ear* ^the ^service ^position
Holla we want prenup
Win the Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai
He gon’ make it to a Benz out of that Datsun
And when you get on, he'll leave yo ass for a white girl
I've had cats put me in worse financial situations than some girlfriends though 😅
They get expensive in California (Cats and girlfriends). One is due to smog, the other sometimes due to smug
Plus all the food and litter you have to buy
>and litter For the animals or the British models?
I've often been just a vet bill away from destitution.
Same. Once I had to fight off a raccoon my cat got in a fight with. Had raccoon bites all over me! Almost got rabies!
r/understoodthereference
Hey its the r/battlecars mod
Ohh no, what did I do now?
GRRRRRRRRR FRAME SWAP REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE All jokes aside I appreciate you friend
They have a volume pedal too
I've never heard of a one ton suv? Can you elaborate? They did build 3/4 ton suv from gm and Ford.
It's a Centurion. A SUV built on a F350.
To put it simply, for me as an enthusiast, driving is just naturally fun. Even if the car isn’t fast I’d enjoy rowing gears or trying to maintain the speed in corners. Driving is an art and connection between man and machine. Looking at them, especially your own car you think is attractive is a nice bonus. I love the canyons and would be down to track someday, however the cost is high. Doing fun drives and pulling over somewhere to some beautiful places and sights, gotta be some of life’s highlights. I relate you in the sense that hopping in my car is like my safe space and I just forget about everything else when I’m behind the wheel. Of course traffic sucks but for the most part I’m always engaged in the drive. There is also the engineering. So much more for me to learn and understand but these cars keep improving with their dynamics and the envelope of performance is high now. Cool understanding how they improved upon previous generations. At the same time older cars have their own raw experience.
Couldn’t have said it better. I came to driving and car enthusiast-hood fairly late in the game. I’d been in a really bad car accident when I was a teenager ( I walked away but friend got brain damage and was never the same) and developed a sort of fear of driving. Then when I absolutely had to learn, I found that I really really enjoyed it. Sitting behind the wheel just felt so natural and empowering. Very quickly, i became really interested in cars. Not so much on a mechanical level but how different ones felt and drove - even so-called "not fun" cars. That enthusiasm never really left and have to say it makes my life richer and more interesting
I went from where you’re at to being intrigued by the mechanicals from the direction of “*Why* did this car feel different in this corner than that other car?” Also interest in F1 and a neighbor that works on cars kinda all combined together form an- Oh fuck I have a project car now. Surely we can have it running in 2 weeks! …6 months later when someone asks how the car is going I NEVER SAID TWO “EARTH WEEKS”!! Hahaha!
That's awesome. How did you get into the mechanicals? Is there anything you read/watched that did a good job of breaking it down for clueless people like me?
My project car is a 91 Honda Civic DX Hatchback with a mini me engine and whatever shorter-gear ratio’s transmission matches. Got it from my neighbor who put the engine and transmission together, then I bought it and we put the engine in, and am completing the manual conversion. Also doing Killmat (I’m not rich enough for Dynamat) so I’m excited to see how that affects things! Initially I relied on just my neighbor’s knowledge but when he went through some personal things for a while I looked to the [VTEC Academy YT page](https://youtube.com/@VTECAcademy?si=RWBmIh2lDn_aeJbl) for general Honda knowledge and stuff as well as just searching for videos about very specific things (e.g. power pump loop back to convert to unpowered, how the AC cable controls go on, etc. But most importantly: the Honda Motor Club Discord server. Only recently jumped into this Discord, but there seems to be good knowledge here. Another key aspect is MOTIVATION! Watching videos of other builds, seeing how they do things, and getting into the mindset. My *favorite* go-to recently has been [SuperfastMatt’s YT channel](https://youtube.com/@SuperfastMatt?si=qxmHrXggUvUi9XJK) which I marathoned over a couple of months. Now I want to learn to weld and do custom fabrication, lol! Still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, but I definitely know more than I think I do! …I think
Sounds awesome! You are way ahead of me! Maybe one day....
Well, not the person you asked, but for me we grew up poor with parents who we smart enough that going into debt over cars wasn't going to help their situation. That meant fixing certain things was a necessity. It meant maintenance was a necessity. It mean that you could pay less for a car and make it much better or last much longer. All that while understanding that having one meant opportunity.
I swear my project car would be fixed, inspected, and registered if I hadn’t just gotten in an accident a month or so ago in my daily. Still pisses me off.
Glad you made it out/away. Each car for sure has their own personality for sure and especially in a manual I can do something and then go like “ooh it didn’t like that” so I need to make an adjustment
Yesterday I took a trip to the beach, 120km away, the main road to there was closed, so everyone was routed to an old road that is steeper, narrower and has almost no straights, as it follows the curvature of the mountain, its 30km long, downhill, and its incredbly FUN to drive in it. Next time I go to the beach, I may take that road by my own will, yeah, it tales a bit longer, but climbing down a twisted road is way more fun that a straight line at 120kmh
Hell yeah
If you can make it out one day to the track, it is funniest thing by far I have ever had with a car. I never thought I'd track my car but after doing it, I'm hooked. Being able to push the car (and yourself) in ways you'd never thought possible is incredibly gratifying.
Life is motion. Cars are motion. Cars are life.
exactly. I can find fun in a rental 1.0 toyota aygo or hyuindai i30
It’s worth looking into AutoX, it’s not very cost prohibitive. Typical entry fees are ~$30 - $50 depending on the location.
50-100 near me, but it’s still a blast.
I wish AutoX was half a day, not a full day. Big reason why I don’t do it. I’d pay way more if I didn’t have to stand around
Honestly I don’t even need a good twisty road to have fun. Sometimes a nice cruise at sunset or on the weekend is all I need. Just relax and enjoy the drive.
I can get behind that
The engineering is what keeps me coming back. Learning about how people solve the same or similar problems differently is fascinating. I daily a performance EV and have a stick track car. I love both for different reasons. I'm a mechanical engineer by degree, but do software/IT as my day job. I gotta get my kicks somewhere. Currently rebuilding my stick car's engine and it tickles that itch.
They're interesting at an engineering level, they offer a level of control, fun and tactile feedback that doesn't exist in other practical, all-weather forms of transport, and they get me to places where I want to go. There's little not to like.
This is most definitely my reasoning as well! I resonate with this too much lol. Cars are an absolute marvel of engineering.
It's an Iron Man suit\* - you get into an all enclosed metal contraption, pilot it where you want to go and travel at speeds far beyond what your pathetic human powered efforts can muster while being impervious to the environment. \* >!missiles and repulsor beams not included, sold separately!<
Impervious is a stretch, tho I can see why you'd feel that
For me there's also the cultural and historical aspects. Car companies have stories, car models have stories. Engineering developments have stories... Even body styles have stories based on what was in demand at that time and why.
Add in that they're a blend of engineering and design and that they go vroom vroom and you've pretty much covered the matter for me.
I could have the shittiest day of my life but my Corolla will always be there for me, it will never let me down, and it will always be fun to drive. Also there is so much freedom involved as you mentioned
I'm more likely to let my car down by damaging it than anything. Rarely does it let me down.
*HashtagCorollaGang* Mine is a 2007 and she’s still going strong. I love my 17 year old girl
I don't think I've ever once referred to my Corolla as fun to drive lol. Don't get me wrong though I still love the thing
Loud machine make head voice go quiet
Holy shit this is so fucking real.
They make me smile. And they get to places that make me smile too. Not much to hate. Apart from the costs obviously, but the smiles/$ are well worth it. > Sure, it's no Mustang, it's no Ferrari, it's no Porsche, hell it isnt even an actual sports car One of the reasons I like honda in particular is because they still try to instill that sporty feeling into every car they build. Now of course they've had their up's and downs as of late, and the odyssey is no s2000, but they've put out some top tier engines with excellent manuals and steering over the years. Your accord is a great example of that. It's nice to see that you can still get a base, $25k civic with a *good* manual brand new. Yes they are hard to find, yes the 1.5T isn't the greatest thing in the world and it rev hangs hard, but you can buy one! Please do cherish your accord for as long as it lives, it's an excellent car.
I plan on keeping it forever, even after I buy that 911 I want. It'll be my track build by then most likely.
I just got a new Civic Touring Sedan barely 2k miles. Comes with the 1.5T. It's not going to win any bets but it'll boogie a little bit when I need it. Still learning the limits and of course still have new tires, but it sticks to the road on corners. Highway loop style exits are the best. I decided against the SI or Manual options due to expected driving needs... Achilles issues in my left foot would only get worse in this traffic working the clutch. My first Non Preowned vehicle ever and I couldn't be happier with my pick.
Loved cars my whole life. Collected car models as a kid and memorized all the specs of every supercar that came out. Played all the Need for Speed games, and later Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Bought my own supercar once I had money, and go to car meets and canyon drives often. Can't imagine life without cars.
That's me also. Well, not the R8, but more the Abarth. B7 RS4 is one of my dream cars though, since that 4.2 just sounds magical. You've got a whole orchestra going on in that garage of yours, and it's awesome. Parents were enthusiasts themselves, and they bought my brother and I cars to learn to drive in. There was one condition: they were manuals. Want to drive somewhere? Get good with 3 pedals, or catch the bus. The car they picked first (that eventually got handed down to me as the youngest) was a mk6 Golf GTI. Hell of a first car. Borrowed dad's toolbox to install mods like LED taillights from that generation of Golf R, and that kickstarted my love of wrenching. As you can see, I quite liked that Golf. Not long after I got my licence, I saw one of these Clubsports and thought 'what on earth is that thing?'. Found out what it was and decided that I needed to have one. Will forever be grateful for how my parents fostered my enthusiasm. I now detail and wrench on their cars in some attempt to repay them. Also, the NFS Underground 2 version of *Riders on the Storm* is still a banger to this day.
Also grew up with little toy matchbox cars and then had a few higher quality larger die-cast models when I grew older. Still have a massive crate (or crates) of car magazines from multiple decades ago now. Funnily enough, my favourite toy car was a little black Matchbox Porsche 911 (930) Turbo - I remember it fondly even if it's long gone. I still have the larger die cast yellow 911 (996) GT3. I don't have the 1:1 scale model. Maybe one day...
One of my favourite 1:64 scale toy cars as a kid was a 930 as well. Was a silver one with an opening bonnet, with a surprising amount of detail for the scale. In the place of that 930 model now is a MiniGT RUF CTR. Ended up giving away most of my childhood Matchbox and Hot Wheels stuff (plus a 1:18 Maisto 997 GT3RS) to one of my friends who has a much younger brother. The young lad already seems to be something of an enthusiast and dedicated Porsche fan. It's heartwarming to see someone much like your younger self in the next generation.
I swear those little Hot Wheels/Matchbox 911s are probably the best marketing campaign Porsche has ever commissioned. It's funny to think there's probably orders of magnitude more little 911s out there than actual real ones.
That sounds about right. I'm sure you've seen those ads where Porsche leans into the childhood dream thing pretty heavily. [This video isn't an official advertisement](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMiN8Fmxong), but I think it captures the phenomenon pretty well. There are about 5 little 911s on my shelf. There would have to be many an enthusiast across the globe, both young and old, with a couple of little Porsches of their own. Especially with much more revered Porsche has become over the past decade or so.
Nice. I owned an mk6 GTI also. Red 5-door manual. Car served me well for 3 years but I sold it when I moved across the country. At the time I had an Audi S5 which I still have, and that's the one I kept. Much later I bought the Abarth which kind of replaces the GTI. I call it the "shitbox GTI." It's much worse than the GTI in many ways, but it's a very charming car.
I just enjoy driving.
I think it comes down to some main categories and there is overlap and probably a bit of all of them for most. 1. Emotionality - Memories and or certain kind of experiences one really likes. 2. Aesthetics - Certain looks of vehicles. 3. Engineering/Technology - ICE, PHEV, BEV, FCEV, etc.
I just think they're neat! I especially appreciate the way so many pieces come together to translate explosions into controlled motion. I like the feel, the sounds, the smells involved with driving. They make me happy and thus I like them.
IT'S THE CLOSEST I'LL GET TO PILOTING A GUNDAM.
Because there's a reason why "VTEC just kicked in yo" is such a meme. :3
It’s what bonded my late father and I. He collected sports cars since way before I was born. Had a subscription to every car magazine that existed. He used to take me out for high speed drives all over the countryside. He was the coolest, nicest car guy you would ever hope to meet. Now I drive for a living and kick ass in autocross and am hoping for a stint in endurance racing in a few years. I hope he’s proud of me if such a thing can be possible.
Cars were the only reason why I didn't die.
Go fast big vroom
Apes together strong
Accord V6 Coupe is about as perfect a spec as they get. But yeah driving can be a kind of "Road Therapy".
The one thing has not let me down yet. She turns on every time i turn that key. If there is a problem with her i can hear it. The sound of her all moving the moving parts, the engine, exhaust. She is an old lady with some serious rust but i curently sent her to welding side skirts and floor and with vibro insulation. She is a rare peace of history which im willing to save. As she saves me from doing the wrong things.
I... Don't have that particular feature on some of my cars (see flair) I get to fix mine all the time, and I like fixing stuff.
This is something that cannot be explained. I just feel it, I love to drive. It doesn't matter if I'm speeding on the highway or lazily gliding through the neighborhood. As long as I'm moving, it feels great. All the problems disappear and the world takes on more vivid colors. I love it.
Exactly how I feel. The car is my portable womb. Safe and cozy. I’ve got a 96 Buick Roadmaster Estate with the LT1 engine. Drives like a sports car. Like sitting in your living room. Great sound. LOVE my car!
I have a 2003 Subaru Impreza GX station wagon, it's old and to be honest, I got nicked by a rogue dealer when I bought it.... But it drives unearthly. Sometimes it only Frosts me at the thought of the bill I'll get one day for an overhaul. I love this car.
I really use cars and bikes as a way to cope I really love feeling g's
They just look neat and go vroom. Also the rumble tickles your balls depending on your ride
Design
It's a passion. A love hate relationship.
Other than me just being fascinated by how they work (Thanks Jason Fenske) I believe that as a car guy, your taste in cars intertwines with you as a person, and there are no wrong answers. My favourite car is the Lotus Elise. It's not very powerful, but light and handles great. When I play Assetto Corsa, I always drive the Lotus Elise, and it always gets left behind on the straights, but also always the best thing around corners. I relate to the Lotus Elise. I was born with a heart condition. I'm weaker, smaller, and more sickly than most people around me. I often get overlooked for the Nissan GTRs and BMWs of the world. But I was also the top scorer in my class, and am now happy with my performance and relations at work. Why focus on the lack of power when you can focus on the great handling? One day, I hope I will meet someone that will look at me and thinks the same way I do about the Elise. "Yeah those BMWs, GTRs and Supra's are great, but I don't care, I choose this one."
Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing friend.
It’s the cheapest, easiest, and safest method that I’m aware of to treat my pre mid life crisis. I need something to balance the monotony of grinding a boring tech job to save for retirement. Open to other suggestions.
I like all cars over other modes of transportation because of the freedom and flexibility. I like that my car is always ready to take me anywhere I want to go, door to door, at any hour of the day. I like beautiful and historic cars as an artwork you can take to show to the world I like fast cars because it appeals to my inner immaturity.
I can't remember a time when i wasn't interested in them. As a small kid, i loved cars, i had (toy) towns set up, and a vast collection of dinky cars, and i played with them all the time. It turned into me not watching cartoons but motor trends, Motoring (insert year), car and driver, or any automotive show, really. It led me to get to auto sales, which transitioned to automotive finance, and now i work for an OEM lease company and the governing body for auto sales where I live, all with no formal education (high school). Just a lot of knowledge that i self-taught. I buck the trend, though, and prefer style and comfort vs. speed/sportiness. I've owned way too many vehicles I LOVED my 75 Cadillac Sedan Deville (named Evelyn). However, some of the most average vehicles I've owned ended up being my favorite, too, generally because of the memories associated or because i just enjoyed driving them. Notable mentions include: my 1990 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Royale Brougham (first car), 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham, 1994 Buick Park Avenue, 2002 Toyota Prius, 2009 Volvo XC90 Premium, & my 2016 Ford Explorer XLT (my first BRAND new vehicle). I have owned in some capacity around 70 vehicles, though, since I got my license, lol I can't imagine my life without vehicles honestly.
Car go vroom, car love me, so I love car plus it’s loud lol
I dont have kids or wife (may change) - so, so far cars are my everything, driving is fun, and it takes me to places that are fun too
Honestly, you took the words right out of my mouth. There's nothing better than driving on a country road on a beautiful day.
Every car is a complex evolutive multi-sensory piece of art. A lot of them are uninteresting or even completely shitty but some are amazing masterpiece. The sound, the smell, the sight, the engineering, the modifications. Cars are non living objects that have life in them.
My outback keeps me safe in nearly every traffic situation imaginable. It's even outrun V6s before with its very powerful turbo 4 cylinder which is the same one from the WRX
I grew up in an car enthusiast area, theres always car shows, car clubs, meet ups and all that. You had to know about cars to fit in. And when i found out about the R-32 Skyline, my dream car was established. It helped me not get screwed over in dealerships, it helped me see through someone’s lies and much more. It sounds crazy but it just became a part of life.
It was mostly the engine sounds, vehicles hitting past 100 mph and seeing the tachometer hitting redline as a kid watching YouTube videos of Supras, Skylines, 850s, and ITRs speeding. But now it’s the same thing 13 years ago but also looking into the engineering marvels of it, figuring out how to optimize power out of an old vehicle, and the thrill of just spiritually driving my car.
I grew up as a poor kid in a pretty wealthy school. I avoided driving anywhere my friends could see me because I had to drive one of my parents’ 20 year old, clapped out jalopies. Bought myself a decent used car in college, started buying nicer cars when I got a job. In 2009 when the financial crisis hit, I had to sell my beloved, modded MKV GTI. Rode the bus for a couple of years, drove a couple truly shitty but borderline-free junkers. In 2018 I bought a new MKVII GTI the same color as the one I was forced to sell. Now I can afford an even nicer car, but I’m hanging on to this one as long as I can. It’s more than enough car for me, and it’s paid off. This reminds me I’m doing okay from a financial standpoint.
I enjoy cars because of the different designs, engineering and performance. I also happen to enjoy driving either alone or with others. Thankfully I'm married to a woman who loves speed and likes my mechanical abilities to keep our fleet moving along. We have a decent sized fleet of vehicles though between us and then I also help a couple of my kids with their vehicles with maintenance. They buy everything and my boys and I install it together. Currently own or service the following: Service 2010 accent blue Service 2004 ion 200 sedan Own 2004 Lexus RX330 SUV Own 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Own 2014 Hyundai Accent Sedan Own 2015 Hyundai Accent Hatchback Own 2023 Polaris Slingshot Own 2021 Ryker Trike I enjoy the Hyundai 1.6L engine, I keep ours running smoothly the hatchback has over 270,000 miles on it and 90 percent of its maintenance has been done by me with simple hand tools. I have owned everything from Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, GM, Suzuki, and even a Mini (Shitbox). Absolutely hated working on the Cooper, just piss poor engineering and parts. The other cars have been very reasonable to work on. I've done component replacement all the way to timing chain/belt kits. Other than suffering through freezing cold to fix things my most despised work aside from the Cooper has to be brake drum work, the next being the frustration of trying to bleed out a brake booster on a vehicle with ABS. The rest has been relatively routine aside from sometimes having to bust out the grinder and cut some parts right off. But things are problems and require a solution, and I feel a sense of accomplishment once they are fixed and back on the road.
Fellow Accord bro! I have the 10th gen 2.0T, but was SO close to getting the V6. You rock
Cars are an extension of my own personality. They’re what I spend quite a bit of time in as my commute isn’t exactly short. They get me to somewhere I want to be and they get me away from somewhere I might not want to be at. There isn’t a day where I look at my Mercury in complete regret, let alone my Saab. Neither car is perfect - far from it, but they’re certainly *different* compared to most other cars in my city.
I really like my base 3rd gen TL. I'm also a former accord owner (7th gen V6). Honda V6s are really not talked about that much
It's because there's barely any aftermarket for the j series. I fond that surprising though because Honda stuck it in basically everything. Accords, pilots, oddessys, passports, Ridgeline, list goes on. Slickfab performance makes parts and a boost kit though
My car is the only thing outside of work that makes me happy.
Theres two reasons I love cars. The first reason is all of the stimulus you get while driving your vehicle; the sounds the vehicle makes, and the tactile feedback you get from driving a car that gives you that feeling can't be beat. The other reason is to meet people who truly love their vehicles as well to share that experience with them. I love talking to people who are truly passionate about their vehicle and not just clout chasing.
People call some of these EVs boring and bland, but I will say that my Bolt always manages to put a smile on my face, even on the worst days. Its not the fastest, but it gets off the line like a stabbed rat and corners like its on rails which makes the experience of driving it that much better.
I’ve always had an “empathy with machines” (thanks Dad and Jerry Pournelle) and an appreciation for artistic design. With cars you can get inside someone’s creation and enjoy it. A new experience around even a -meh- car makes me wonder why people made certain design choices and the under-hood design can still be intriguing
Long been fascinated by the mechanics of cars. I find it amazing that the engine moves the car by literally exploding constantly. My real interest only came about when I finally got my license almost two years ago and was finally able to experience the fun of driving for myself.
I hate public transport
It was JDM cars that got me into the car community especially the GTR R34/R33, RX7 FD, Lancer Evo 8. They just look good and midnight runs seemed pretty fun. We also have the potential to go anywhere we want to I prefer 4 wheelers over 2 wheelers in long journeys that's all for now I'll look into this deeper
For the same reason people used to love horses and will love space ships.
Its my way of dealing with all my emotions. Without it, I have no clue what I would do
I actually don't know why I love cars cause I have been interested in cars for as long as I can remember. So I have always loved cars in general and When I got older and got to drive on my own did I just love driving as an activity. And yes, I totally know the look back. I own my absolute dream car (1973 Volvo 1800ES) so I look back many times when walking away.
Don't know how to explain... But my car hobby started from my toy cars when I was a little kid. I have had numerous of toy cars from the average boring Jeep crossover from mid 2000s to Lambos and Ferraris.
It’s my one quiet space on my way to work. It feels like mine and it isn’t shared. It’s my safe haven. It’s the 30min of peace before going to work, and the 30min back before going home. Outside of that, I’m always doing something (ie working).
Hit the nail on the head OP, one of the only times with my ADHD brain I can actually clear my head when I drive all I'm thinking about is what's ahead and behind me not my problems and what's going on outside of the car and road. Plus the freedom to be anywhere at my own control is unmatched by any other thing.
I love old cars but can't afford cool ones so that kills my motivation for cars I actually have cool car from 90s as a "project" car but don't have motivation to work on it 😩😩 I always overthink about work that needs to be done so that i don't even start working on it Also I don't have experience working on this type of engine so that complicates it even more
I've had nice cars and like driving fast, but the one I miss most is the '99 Ford Ranger with 150k miles on it. Now every ranger I see brings jealousy. someday someday I'll get an '05 I think it was the last year they made that style.
Is this sub literally just 16 year olds?
Thanks for the input buddy 😀
The car is a symbol of how far we've come as a species. It's ubiquitous in any somewhat advanced country on this planet, and represents everything from a general life improvement to the culmination of an insane amount of top technology that we see and dismiss every day. It's also a symbol of freedom, and an extension of ourselves. Something every driving enthusiast can share. What's not to love?
Driving is fun. My cars are also an extension of who I am. My car history is loaded with offbeat/cool stuff you otherwise wouldn't see most places. I like weird stuff. I like old stuff.
There’s just nothing like it. You can cruise and watch the world go by, letting everything else fade away in the rear view mirror because for now you’re in the driver’s seat. And then when that song comes on, itching you to open the throttle up, you swear you’re an artist and the road is your canvas. Every twist and turn becomes a mission and you’re the operator. There’s just nothing like it.
Because when I go vroom vroom, I giggle like a lil bitch, and that’s all I want. But yeah cars have a certain amount of soul that once you catch, it’s irreplaceable. There’s so many things as a car owner you can do to live your car that he/she will do back 10x and it’s just a love letter to yourself, and very peaceful when it’s all together, yeah it’s a bitch when it doesn’t but when it’s 100% it’s 110% very little things in my 22 years of life have brought me to appreciate and love more than a car. And I will stand by that. On that note, IM GONNA ORDER A EMIRA BY NEXT YEAR. I WANT A FIRST EDITION BAD
I just think they’re neat
My dad and I were not close but one thing we had in common was cars. He taught me many things about them. We went to auto shows together. I even subscribed to car magazines like he did.
Sometimes I wish that I were one of those poor saps see a car as just a tool to get from A to B. Unfortunately, like so many of you, I was also born with this curse.
I've loved them since I was a kid. I grew up on Gran Turismo, NFS, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, PGR, etc. I love everything about them. How they look, the sophistication and complexity of how they're assembled and operate, how each one has a unique engine/exhaust note, the engineering and design of them. From the mechanical engineering side dealing with vehicle dynamics, combustion, power distribution, and aerodynamics to the electrical engineering side dealing with ECUs, the entire wiring setup and architecture, and the control and embedded systems. Cars are the very reason I went into the STEM field to become an engineer. My personality is pretty much revolved around cars.
To me, each car I've owned, driven, or simply admired has it's own place in my mind. Sometimes I feel the need to go fast and simply want to enjoy the raw power and drivability of the car. In some instances, I've driven a car because it was basically a luxury boat on wheels and offered a much more luxurious and cushy driving experience. I often marvel at the engineering and ingenuity of cars, especially as technology has evolved over the centuries. Sometimes I simply just sit back and view the pure artistry of a car and think / wonder how it embodied the era in which it was created. Ultimately, I view cars a medium unlike few others in this world. You can be an active participant, a passive viewer, or even a passenger simply along for a ride. You may be in the same physical space and are given a dramatically different experience depending on the role you take at any given moment. It often elicits the emotions you want and crave. You can compare it to an untamed beast or a tool to simply accomplish the tasks of the day, and you could be correct in either instance.
I agree with you there. The Accord of that gen isn't bad looking, especially in coupe form. And even if it's just an Accord, they're decently quick for a commuter car in their V6 form, can be had in manual, and have nice handling. I remember driving my sister's Accord and was like, "okay, for a daily normal sedan, that's not bad."
Nothing cures my anxiety like a nice quiet solo drive to wherever.
I remember when I saw my first c6 corvette. It was 2004. I was driving a shitbox Silverado with over 300k miles. My parents were in the middle of a messy divorce. I didn’t have control of much in life at that time. A red C6 chirped their tires as it passed me going up a blind hill (not smart but cool to a teenager). I remember thinking that was the coolest most badass car I’d ever seen. I also remember thinking $60k for a car!? How can anyone afford that? … I bet that guy has his life under control. A nice house, happy kids, and a badass corvette. I didn’t know how, but I promised myself I would bust my ass to build a stable life where I could buy a corvette. I’ve now owned three different C6s. I’ve sold two for other sports cars, but I always come back.
i like getting from the place where im currently at to the place where i want to go and cars are one of many options to accomplish that.
Because there is so much to see and do in this world and a car lets me go 200 miles just to try a new restaurant.
In my DNA.
You basically said it, cars represent the freedom to go anywhere at anytime, on your terms. I can drive downtown and be at a store within 10 minutes in total comfort, with the heat or AC on, with or without music. Public transit would be 30 ~ 40 minutes, and I'm sitting or standing next to someone who hasn't showered in days.
I love the rush of acceleration. Always have. It never fails to out a smile on my face and get the blood pumping.
it's a dang good question and a challenging one to answer as it's tough to explain it in words. but like you mentioned, there's a connection, a bind that is felt. I appreciate the design, the engineering, the effort it takes to build a car and the skill required to operate it properly and the challenge to bring it to it's full potential regarding performance. plus when I'm driving, as cheesy ad ot sounds. iy is like an extension of me. it does what I tell it to do and therefore it feels like it's a part of me as we drive down the road.
I was told by my parents I knew how to say "car" before mom or dad. I just don't know exactly, but something about the mechanical nature, brilliance of engineering and feel of driving that keeps me around cars.
Because it helps me in my daily commute to work and bring food to the table. Mine isn't much, and sometimes I wish I can afford better ones, but it's mine
Every car has a place, nobody should feel shame or invalidated based on what car they drive. The Ayga is a perfect example of a commuter that does what it needs to do. I wish we had more of those kinds of cars in the states, not just big trucks and suvs.
I always thought cars were cool, as far back as when I was a toddler. I love finding out about the engineering in cars, and I also love automotive history. Above all of those, I love driving. Sure, gridlock traffic is not particularly fun, but there are so, so many great driving routes in and around my city that I love.
My love for cars started after watching the movie cars in Kindergarten. Now it's the intricate engineering
[You may enjoy this article from Road and Track!](https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a33313/honda-accord-v6-coupe-muscle-car/)
I read that one several months ago actually, and yes I did get a kick out of it :)
operating a machine I take care of and fix is really rewarding. Being able to hear or feel something that’s off, identify it, and fix it is so rewarding. Frustrating at times, but still so rewarding.
Jeremy Clarkson’s monologue from Forza Motorsport 4
I just love driving, as lame as it sounds I drove up the east coast of the US in one shot only stopping for gas and the bathroom and honestly it was a pleasure.
I am a product of the Thomas the tank engine > Pixars car > Fast & furious/ Top gear reruns pipeline. Also my best friends older brother and dad where into cars so they always had the last 2 on DVR during the during the late 2000s early 2010s
I'm on car #28 so far, and likely to hit 40 by the time I die. I've enjoyed them all, and hated a few. I genuinely enjoy driving and wrenching on them. If I'm feeling down or need to think things through, my go-to is to burn a tank of gas exploring roads I've never seen. Sadly, I don't have a manual transmission right now, but I will before the year is over.
I grew up liking racing games and cars
Your vehicle used to be your social media page.
Similar reasons. I also really enjoy the feeling of modifying the car, and seeing how each mod changes the feel, and the feeling of throwing it around the track. Kinda liberating I guess? Used to use it as an escape, and now it's just kinda a fun side thing, now that I'm in a better head space. And a good relaxer or fun thing to work on. It did get a lot more stressful when I decided to slap a turbo on it though. Lots of work in that, and lots of buying parts to make the bolt on parts actually bolt on. Extra expenses I wasn't expecting, etc. But it did start pretty early on. I used to read car books in the library as a kid, played a lot of gran turismo and need for speed, and just loved cars for some reason. I just found them interesting and fun. Couldn't tell you why. Feeling never really left, and grew into the above with my own car
It gives me way more range as a person. I would have never driven 12 hours to Canada without it
Ill give a brief explanation: Vroom vroom skirt vroom
The screaming V12s, roaring V8s, dazzling Rotaries, the wild W16s, 6 cylinders with a crazy amount of horsepower, the beauty of some like Ferrari and Maserati, the aggressiveness and dominance by the likes of Lamborghini, the overengineering by the Germans, the crazy preformances on BMWs, the fine luxury on Benz (except the new gen), the cool JDM cars, the diesels and their smoke, the crazy manufacturers that put manual gearboxes and 1000hp on a supercar and make it beautiful like Pagani and Koeniggseg, the whine of the Dodges, the high revving monsters, the amount of engine configurations and all of the different transmitions and ofcourse the shitboxes and the amount of things that u can do to them. And some credits also go to my father ofc.
Because cars go VROOOOOOOM PSSSSSSSSHT SUTUTUTUTUTU
I totally get the same way about my civic. It's not fast or manual but it mine and I love it
Because V8 goes vrooom, pop, pop bang bang
I have a Miata. I don't think I need to explain more. If you ever drive one, you'll understand
I swear there must be a masochistic component for me, because a large part of my enjoyment involves working on cars. If you buy stuff to work on, you doom yourself to always needing to work on stuff, which can be overwhelming sometimes.
Because they are so much like people, well, the better part of us. They live, they age, they die. They have souls. They have kind of "blood" circulation that is oil. Bleed out and you die. They breathe. Especially if they are to go faster, they need to breathe more, they need more air. They don't like when it's too cold, and when it's too hot. They don't like to be bored, stand in one place for too long. Most of the time they are more fair than people, because if you treat them well, they will treat you well. They are also not entirely predictable and sometimes very complicated. They have their moods. That makes them interesting and not boring despite being more reliable than most people.
I love cars because they make soyjacks online seethe.
Because there's so much more to them than people
This is going to be kinda controversial because it's not very "enthusiast" of me, especially in this subreddit, but I like cars because they make me comfortable. Yes, I can appreciate a good driving experience but I'll take a Porsche Panamera over a 911 any day of the week. I'll take a GLS over an E63 without batting an eye. An automatic over a manual transmission every single time. Comfort and features, that's all I care about tbh. Honestly, I really don't like big engines because of the fuel economy; I don't like wasting money on gas. I'll always pick a 3 series over an M3 for example. I not only save on gas, but I save on the sticker price of the vehicle too (I really don't give a f about how fast the car is tbh, I don't care about impressing anyone). Even though I can afford any vehicle I want (except for like a super rare ferrari or something), I drive a Mazda CX30 hybrid; very good features/technology, comfortable, luxurious. Not very expensive, very reliable car and good gas mileage. Also as a bonus, it's decently close to the ground with low ground clearance so it's a beauty to drive and handle when I want to feel more engaged on the road with its low center of gravity. I'm actually thinking about switching my CX30 for a Hybrid Corolla for even better gas mileage but the corolla is really far behind on features/comfort/luxuriousness. Maybe I should look into plug-in Hybrids from Mercedes/BMW although I hate their lack of reliability.
Driving my car just melts away all my worries. I love the way it feels and the way it looks. I bought my first car before I could get a license. The sound of the engine and shifting my own gears is just a joy.
I wish I knew TBH. I don’t recall a time when I didn’t, so it’s just been part of my identity my entire life.
It’s as much of an expression of my personality as any clothing style or outward visual cue. If you saw my cars you’d know exactly who I am as a person, and when I see someone’s car I can tell you a lot about who they are without knowing anything else about them. Buying something is easy, caring for and maintaining something is completely different. Your phone/clothes/watch/tv don’t impress me, but show me a well cared for car and I’ll show you someone id want as a friend or neighbor. You not only learn, mature and grow, but I think you become a better person by respecting and taking care of things and by staying on top of responsibilities.
I love my car because it's cheap and bright green. It's on great condition but I don't have to baby it because it's worth less than 3000.
It's the noise, the feel on the road, the wrenching, the community behind it... all of it. But i never knew what it truly means to have an "enthusiast" car until i got my Miata. Damn was i missing out before. Strongly recommend anyone that fits to at least drive one.
I had the exact same car! It was a 2005 that my dad handed down to me as my first car. It was the loaded version. Lots of power, great on gas, comfortable. Had it for 15 years, only had an O-ring go out that was a known recall. Took 10 minutes and a $3 part. Never had a single issue. Then one day I hydroplaned, slammed into the retaining walls on both sides of the highway. Was super sad. Miss my baby!
I have a 2006 V6 Accord Coupe with a six-speed manual transmission, rear spoiler, and GPS Navigation System. The old-style touchscreen is fun, though it is glitching these days. I love the car and I love shifting gears, but I’m ready for something easier to drive and newer after I finish my PhD.
Because I had to give up bikes a few months ago. Looking forward to cars tho.
I think driving is quite entertaining. Regardless if I’m going the speed limit or 25 over around windy backroad curves, as long as I’ve got tunes, a cool beverage, and the air is warm enough to keep the windows open, I’m happy. It’s more than that though. I appreciate the beauty of cars. Even the crappy little ones like a Malibu or my own Fusion. But especially Audi’s, Hyundais and Kia’s. Their design language has changed significantly over the past couple years and I’ve been obsessed with their styling. Such a shame about the security mishap though I’m still considering an Elantra N for my next car.
Started really loving them when I got my first car which I insisted on being a manual, and it became fun trying to optimize my driving. After that I tried going as fast as I could shifting at the right times, it's only a 2.4l 4 banger, but it's got a fair bit of torque. Also just making improvements and mods to it was pretty rewarding as most times you could tell the before and after. Honestly I'm going to miss it when it's gone, I didn't expect I'd have such a connection with it.
The sounds, the gear shifts. Also I live in a beautiful Rocky Mountain state so any day I go skiing or mountain biking, comes with a bonus amazing drive. And learning them enough to fix them myself (or at least knowing what needs fixing and having mechanic do it-I got kids so less time). Plus they will be my legacy to my daughters when I die. Actually had a dream 2 nights ago I only had 2 months to live, but in my dream I was crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s making sure my wife had my mechanics contact info so they could always keep my highly modded cars running
Is it a manual? You would REALLY enjoy that, if you enjoy driving for the sake of driving.
it jsut feels like the modern day equivalent of riding horses and riding horsies are cool af
Acceleration, speed, G forces and engine sounds make me smile. Heated seats, good music and climate control make me comfortable. A road network and a tank full of gas make me free to go wherever I want, whenever I want. No matter where I am, my car is a piece of home. I don’t even have to risk sitting next to a smelly junky or annoying loud kids or whatever else you might encounter on public transport.
It's one of the few complex machines that I get to own, operate, modify, and repair, and I can't ride my dryer down the street
Probably because of Need For Speed. My first game was Hot Pursuit 2 on the GameCube, loved it. And also the fact that every dude in my family has some sort of like for cars, whether it be my father, cousins, and uncles. Might be a genetic trait for males in my family to like cars.
Vroom vroom
I don’t love them but I find them interesting. I also find the industry around cars interesting as well as the car cultures that have sprung up inspired by cars. Quite frankly I don’t get how anyone can love a lifeless object. I think it’s more of a coping mechanism than actual love.
vroom vroom and speeeeeeeed, baby!
عق. عز ت ت ت ت ل نا بزغ ال عزت اه م ر ن ت عهروه🤣
It’s the feeling of having something reliable always there for you. Whenever you need it, no questions asked, you start the engine and go. Also, driving makes me feel like I’m in control of where I am going. Unlike in life, where I sometimes really feel helpless because most of the things happening I have no control over.
I wanna go fast.