What is a true enthusiast?

[irrational_i]

I have been thinking about this. Mostly because I move in a group of people with lots of biased opinions.

Of course I would take myself as an example. I am 31. I have never raced or been taken to races by anyone. I used my own research and love of cars to build up my knowledge.

I basically put it down to this. A true enthusiast would not exclude any marque to potential greatness. Same goes for age of car. An enthusiast should be able to recognise the brilliance of a car on several levels. An enthusiast will notice odd things in a flash. Do you tend to notice rarities even on the other side of a highway in the furthest lane in traffic? Can you recognise a car from its roofline, or rear lightcluster etc.

hmmm. Ran out of things to say. As an example: Obviously we love the Mclaren F1. It is not pretentious in any way and has proven this over and over. It looks great, has a great interior (Even if the 3 seat idea is not new) and drives perfectly according to almost all journalists. Then you get the 1950's Alfa 1300 Sprint Speciale. It looks weird and flowy but it has a drag coefficient of 0.3 and a top speed approaching 200kph. From a 50 year old 1300!!!? The BMW Isetta is really odd-looking but it basically saved the company and nowadays styling is returning to the city/bubble car. Its hard to list all the cars I find great. But suffice to say they are from all shapes and sizes. (Although I have to admit some ongoing bias against russian designs...) :)

I am happy to see so many people on this forum who are REAL enthusiasts in my opinion. Even if we can't own the cars, we still feel special about them.

[Anonymous]

I have been thinking about this. Mostly because I move in a group of people with lots of biased opinions.

Of course I would take myself as an example. I am 31.

then why does your profile say your 29 make your mind up!! :lol:

[TT]

I am 31


Update your profile ;)

And well, I love CARS :D not just some cars, italian cars, fast cars, red cars. I love cars, period. I love to drive a car I never driven before.. even if it's a Fiat Panda, I don't care.
I consider myself an enthusiast of course :D

[Anonymous]

Back on topic i consider myself an enthusiast and while all my mates are interested in big bodykits wheels etc i chose a mini as my first car not the most reliable but i certainly get let out of more side turnings than i would in a boyed up Nova :) . Anyway i agree that a true enthusiast recognises cars of all ages for their unique caracter no matter what the age and is not just concerned with the latest thing

[YellowMaranello]

Someone who likes cars sees them as mechanical contraptions.

An enthusiast sees a car as a living, breathing creature.

[novass]

If its gots wheels and an engine ill drive the fuckin thing. I dont care which country it came from or why it was built. Obviously I have preferences, but as long as its fast, im happy.

I think the biggest joy I get from seeing cars comes from an individual's creativity. I love Lambos/Ferraris and all the greats, but nothing makes me happier than seeing a car that someone built on their own in their own unique way. Im not talking about just slapping on a body kit, im talking about a complete job.

I would say I classify myself as a true enthusiast, because cars are all I really think about and everything else I seem to do revolves around cars in one way or another.

[Tomerville]

I go to boarding school, Im 17...I still haven't owned my first car :oops: but I do live 5 minutes from Lime Rock Raceway in Lakeville, Ct so I go to lots of races. My dad is a huge car enthusiast so I just picked it up from him. In all my free time I read magazines talk on JW :D and talk to my dad and his friends. (and the gf...when she's lucky :wink: )...am I an enthusiast myself? Yes i've had my license for coming on 2 years, and I've driven some hot cars.

[BADMIHAI]

Since I can't afford insurance on my own car, I drive my mom's car. I also consider myself an enthusiast and exclude no Brand from greatness. Of course, they have to prove it first. :wink:

[irrational_i]

Well said. I definitely work on my own cars. It just feels great. I also wash it myself always. That way I know exactly what condition it is in. 8)

[bmwfreak]

The boundaries of enthusiasm for cars is, well, boundless. Any carmaker, be it an established manufacturer, or individual, is deserving of the chance to build something that is great and and loved by all car enthusiasts, without having to worry about pre-conceived misconceptions or bias.

Would i consider myself an enthusiast? yes, i would, although it is obvious that my preference lies with a certain bubble car maker from Bavaria :). In spite of this, i do love the SL55 AMG, the best Mercedes ever (for me anyways). Yes, i do have preferences (dont like the SLR, Alfa 147, Cayenne etc), but a car of true greatness will undoubtedly earn my appreciation and respect (SL55, E39 M5, F40, F50, Macca F1).

I'm proud to be part of a community that truly has petrol (and diesel, methanol, cooking oil, cement, copper, fibre glass etc etc) runnig through its veins. To all those ppl that only want viedos and nothing else, fuck off. :)

[SFDMALEX]

I live cars. My hobby is sim racing and its quite expensive. I spend 100$s of dollars in Magazines, I spent a lot of time on JW.

I was into cars ever since I was a baby. I had a big pedal car which I drove around the house and drived my parents nuts... :lol: I had 100$s of models when I was a little kid.

If there were no cars in the world I would hang my self. So yes, I am a car true car enthusiat.

[FoxFour]

Same with me. I love most types of cars, especially the European race/street cars of the '50's and '60's. I hate it when guys on the Mustang sites go on and on about how great their car is. To me that's being shortsighted and I am not afraid of letting them know about it.

[undien717]

Good points everyone. Like all of you, I believe that a true enthusiast is open minded about all kinds of cars, and shouldn't just like a particular car because of the way it looks. An enthusiast takes every single detail about a car into consideration, and praises a car for its strengths while taking into account its weaknesses.