Automobile Enthusiasm: What's it mean to you?

[WhiteStripes]

So we've established that unoriginal companies are bad.

What about unoriginal people? I can't be the only person who gets annoyed by people essentially asking you to build their car for them. Customizing anything, to me, is a way of expressing yourself- cars are just an art medium. So I really can't fathom how someone can have 0 imagination. I get that some people need guidance, but I can't relate at all to people who don't know what they want.

Ooooh, this is a good one. As a person who has pretty original ideas (I'd like to think so at least) it does get kind of annoying when people are like "Ooooh duuude, your car is so tight, what are all those parts you have?" Now my car isn't really anything special, but in a community of pretty craptastic Tiburon's it's one of the cleaner ones despite the stock stance.

I know imitation is a form of flattery, but it does get annoying when you make a part look good and the next thing you know there's 12 people asking where you bought it.

I will admit though that it's a detractor to being a good part of the community when you just tell a guy to piss off and figure out his own build. But in a way, your cars build is your intellectual property so I guess it drives the point home for me even more that rep wheels are just bullshit hahahah, what an enlightening discussion this has been.

I was just playing devil's advocate here. I always buy wheels used and refinish them.

Haha ya got me. But I still think used is the way to go

[bennn]

Lotta wheel arguing going on... I like cars and I don't know why, I just do. I want mine to look how I want it, I see a lot of cool ideas on forums and get alot of advice and encouragement as well. I dislike it when people are into cars for any reason other than just liking them. I have a friend who is just an attention seeker of the highest order, he did it in school he still does it now, only now his new "trend" is cars. He sees cars on internetz, imagines how cool he'd look driving them and then copies them outright, he doesn't really care about the cars, so much as his image.

E.g, his first car was a VW polo. People started getting into dubs, so he duly followed. He saw how cool low cars looked when they've got the correct stance and fitment. So he copies, except he doesn't save up and get coilovers, he just takes the springs clean out - runs on the shocks, the car looked low, but thats it - it had no stance and standard wheels. All pleased with himself he proceeded to buy loads of "cool" stickers, cos they're cheap and give him more cred, literally plastered his car with them. Not being an enthusiast he doesn't want to put money into his car (it's not as if he doesn't have it, what people were spending on nice wheels and coils, he was spending on clothes, gay haircuts and drugs) so he now claims to be rat look or hoodride - stops washing his car, stickerbombs panels and chalkboard paints everything.

The car looked woeful to say the least, but he struts round like he's gods gift to the vdub scene and knows all there is to know about cars - has automotive stickers over every notepad/bag he owns and pics/ detailed info of his car was all over facebook 24/7. Snubs people who aren't into cars, makes them look stupid for not knowing every detail of the wonders of the internal combustion engine.

Me on the other hand, and i'll try not to sound arrogant here, I tried to do it right. I bought a slow, cheap daily beater and left it standard while i couldn't afford anything better/didn't know much about cars. It did the job, i kept it clean and repaired a few bits and i think it looked respectable, no knock off wheels, stupid lowering, just a nice, average, boring car like all the others on the road. I spent my evenings on forums, learning and researching. (meanwhile being laughed at by said friend, "how can you be into cars? you drive a totally standard car! omgz i've just discovered wheelwhores so i stickered my car - you're clearly not cool enough to know that that is.")

Then i bought a project car, it's not on the road at the min, i'm just doing bits when i can afford to and doing them right. I don't tell everyone who'll listen about my love of cars, because at the heart of it its quite nerdy, my girlfriend or random people on facebook aren't interested in my use of bmw chassis numbers instead of models, or what wheels i've just bought or suspension dilemmas, so i don't tell them. He advertises it as if "hey, i'm so so so into cars, look how cool mine is/what im doing to it/ other cars im interesed in, and some douchebags buy him - but everyone else just thinks he's a dick.

/Rant. Not sure where my conclusion was gonna be here, but i'm sure some of you will feel the same. I'm into cars for me, i dont **** on others who know less than i do, or people for whom cars are just a way to get from A-B (believe it or not they exist!) I don't shout about being an enthusiast to seem all cool and "scene" to others. And if you're gonna do it, take time, do it right, and do it for the right reasons. At the end of the day you only have to please yourself.

[firelizard]

I know imitation is a form of flattery, but it does get annoying when you make a part look good and the next thing you know there's 12 people asking where you bought it.

That can be mildly irritating, I guess, but what I was referring to is people who just want people to think their car is cool, and ask you what to do because yours turned out, or you sound like you know how to make cool cars. There's a difference between asking for advice, and asking someone to style your car. I know a lot of people take their cars to shops and ask them to 'just make it look cool' or whatever, but to me, that's not the same kind of automotive enthusiast.

What about reps of wheels no longer in production? Such as the Rota P45r? It's a rep of B*Racing BR5 but that wheel was Japan only (I'm sure some made it over here) and B*R no longer makes it.

Rays Engineering Nismo LMGT4 actually. And personally, I think that if a wheel goes out of production, I only want the company with the rights to do so bring it back.

[benz88]

like ssr selling the name longchamp to a company now its called longchamps. woop.

[WhiteStripes]

Rays Engineering Nismo LMGT4 actually. And personally, I think that if a wheel goes out of production, I only want the company with the rights to do so bring it back.

Wow, holy crap those are expensive. So did they get the rights to rep the B*Rs or are you saying the B*Rs are a rep of those lol? Sorry, I'm really lost.

[Petis]

I think the B*Rs are just a version of the Rays LMGT4s, kinda how there are Seibon TE37s

[firelizard]

like ssr selling the name longchamp to a company now its called longchamps. woop.

Wait, what? When? Who?

Wow, holy crap those are expensive. So did they get the rights to rep the B*Rs or are you saying the B*Rs are a rep of those lol? Sorry, I'm really lost.

I'm fairly certain Rays did not copy Bee*R, but that's just conjecture. The LMGT4 is forged, the BeeRacing is cast if I'm not mistaken, so I'd give the quality points to Rays.

I think the B*Rs are just a version of the Rays LMGT4s, kinda how there are Seibon TE37s

I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Usually Rays will have information on their special editions. The Seibon was just a special colour scheme, the BeeRacings are a different wheel altogether (much more concave, and only 5 holes around the hub)

[benz88]

Wait, what? When? Who?


I'm fairly certain Rays did not copy Bee*R, but that's just conjecture. The LMGT4 is forged, the BeeRacing is cast if I'm not mistaken, so I'd give the quality points to Rays.



I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Usually Rays will have information on their special editions. The Seibon was just a special colour scheme, the BeeRacings are a different wheel altogether (much more concave, and only 5 holes around the hub)

SSR made the longchamp wheel. Then a company purchased the name Longchamp so they could start up making longchamps. Hense why my rear wheels are SSR Longchamp XR4's and my fronts are just Longchamp XR4S's. atleast from the research i've done.

[WhiteStripes]

Wait, what? When? Who?


I'm fairly certain Rays did not copy Bee*R, but that's just conjecture. The LMGT4 is forged, the BeeRacing is cast if I'm not mistaken, so I'd give the quality points to Rays.



I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Usually Rays will have information on their special editions. The Seibon was just a special colour scheme, the BeeRacings are a different wheel altogether (much more concave, and only 5 holes around the hub)

Hmmm got ya. I like the BeeRacing's better, as I prefer an equal hole/lug ratio and massive concavity

Anyhow, enough diversion, let's keep on with the main stuff.

[firelizard]

Okay, but Longchamp XR4Z were made by Speed Star Co.

If what you say it correct, then the XR4S would be newer than the XR4Z...weird...

WhiteStripes - I think the BeeRacings look better as well, for the same reasons.

[Lt. Dangle]

My automotive culture says this;

All these faggots that have an elitist attitude because they have 40g's to dump in a car and stance out a 750il or some shit can suck a fucking cock. Sweet, you can buy parts, probably have someone else put the shit on, and ride around shining. Cool. You're probably a fucking frivolous spending, apartment living fucknugget mongoloid hiding behind a visa and mastercard. Seen it a million times.

The enthusiasm for automobiles I have comes from being in the garage, working on shit, making shit fucking rip tires, and going out on that late night 2am highway shit to do a 160mph pull. I love stance, cleanly modified cars, etc don't get me wrong but what really gets my love muscle rock hard is doing a buck40 pull past a state trooper on an open highway without another car in sight.

I don't build my shit to get some faggot on a forum's acceptance. I also don't come on to forums, or out to meets and stand by my car asking people if they think my shit's dope, looking like a ninny bitchboy. I build cars for ME, and only me.

I can appreciate anything from a hilborn injected 14:1 compression gasser 4 speed 55 chevy, to a Laguna Seca Blau E46 M3 with a HPF stage 3 kit. Whether it's a down to the overspray restored Panther Pink 70 cuda 426/4spd, or an $800 civic with a turbo kit and rattle can primer that traps 110. Who gives a shit.

The car culture isn't about this forum shit (even though it's enjoyable) it's about getting the fuck out to the garage, building your shit, ragging the shit out of it, cruising it, hitting switches, playing playstation in the motherfucker...whatever gets your dick hard.

Oh, and one last thing that really makes me want to punch a motherfucker in their eye...the "fake parts banter". Fuck your fake wheels...No, fuck your $3k wheels, on your $2k car when you're out riding dumped, hit a pothole and have a fucking coronary. Sweet I don't want to buy a real fucking mugen lip for my $1 eg civic...Oh god I'm rocking rotas. Sweet. If you don't like it, you have 2 choices;

A. Look in the other fucking direction.
B. Come tell me how gay rotas are and i'll tell you to eat a dick.

Yes, Rota's aren't forged monoblock fucking strong like bull type shit, but the motherfuckers roll don't they.

Automotive enthusiasm to me, is a wheels up launch in a pro outlaw 8.5 car that carries the front wheels over the 1/8th mile beams. Not some talk about how fucking sweet your wheels are because you paid 22 grand for them.

[M.Burroughs]

My automotive culture says this;

All these faggots that have an elitist attitude because they have 40g's to dump in a car and stance out a 750il or some shit can suck a fucking cock. Sweet, you can buy parts, probably have someone else put the shit on, and ride around shining. Cool. You're probably a fucking frivolous spending, apartment living fucknugget mongoloid hiding behind a visa and mastercard. Seen it a million times.

The enthusiasm for automobiles I have comes from being in the garage, working on shit, making shit fucking rip tires, and going out on that late night 2am highway shit to do a 160mph pull. I love stance, cleanly modified cars, etc don't get me wrong but what really gets my love muscle rock hard is doing a buck40 pull past a state trooper on an open highway without another car in sight.

I don't build my shit to get some faggot on a forum's acceptance. I also don't come on to forums, or out to meets and stand by my car asking people if they think my shit's dope, looking like a ninny bitchboy. I build cars for ME, and only me.

I can appreciate anything from a hilborn injected 14:1 compression gasser 4 speed 55 chevy, to a Laguna Seca Blau E46 M3 with a HPF stage 3 kit. Whether it's a down to the overspray restored Panther Pink 70 cuda 426/4spd, or an $800 civic with a turbo kit and rattle can primer that traps 110. Who gives a shit.

The car culture isn't about this forum shit (even though it's enjoyable) it's about getting the fuck out to the garage, building your shit, ragging the shit out of it, cruising it, hitting switches, playing playstation in the motherfucker...whatever gets your dick hard.

This stuff.. it made sense, and I don't think a soul here would disagree.

Oh, and one last thing that really makes me want to punch a motherfucker in their eye...the "fake parts banter". Fuck your fake wheels...No, fuck your $3k wheels, on your $2k car when you're out riding dumped, hit a pothole and have a fucking coronary. Sweet I don't want to buy a real fucking mugen lip for my $1 eg civic...Oh god I'm rocking rotas. Sweet. If you don't like it, you have 2 choices;

A. Look in the other fucking direction.
B. Come tell me how gay rotas are and i'll tell you to eat a dick.

Yes, Rota's aren't forged monoblock fucking strong like bull type shit, but the motherfuckers roll don't they.

Automotive enthusiasm to me, is a wheels up launch in a pro outlaw 8.5 car that carries the front wheels over the 1/8th mile beams. Not some talk about how fucking sweet your wheels are because you paid 22 grand for them.

This stuff? You make it obvious that you miss the point entirely. No one ever said the cost of wheels was important in any way.
It's the fact that you support the replica industry that we don't like.

[Average_Jerk]

aside from the real v fake stuff, these are my thoughts on being an enthusiast


I consider myself an enthusiast. Ive been into cars as long as i can remember. I can remember learning about V8 and classic cars from my parents friends and also my friends parents. something about cars has always drawn me towards them. since i was about 14 and my friends started driving, i found that all the friends i was making had similar interests with cars and performance. being young, we tinkered with what we could. you know, simple shit. intakes, exhaust, stereos, lighting. whatever mods we could afford on the shit pay of a high school job and saving lunch money. this was all back in the 90s, before the internet was big. so for us to learn, you had to take things about and put them back together. if it didnt work, you took it back about to figure out what you fucked up.

when i was a senior in high school i got my first car related job. tire tech at a local tire chain. noting awesome, but to work on a car in any capacity in my spare time was the coolest thing. even got some of my buddies jobs there.

since then, cars have been my profession. its all i do, all the time. Ive worked on cars for my job. im lucky enough to stay in the industry and not have to work with my hands anymore (im getting old hahah). Now i talk cars all day. i get to sell performance parts for Euro cars. help younger or more inexperienced guys buy the right part for what their goals are. I offer tech help when its needed. its pretty awesome to hear the excitement in someones voice when they are buying the first performance mod ever for a car. it brings me back to when i was getting into it.

in my free time, its more cars. i post and work on car forums. im on here all day long talking cars (as much bs chat there is in RT, there is actually a lot of good car discussion). I work on my own and help out friends when they need it. always willing to lend a hand when someone wants to try something new. spend countless hours just hanging out at garages. crack a beer, sit down, offer a hand or some insight or just hang out while a buddy does something to a car. I try to attend as many car shows as possible. its fun to talk to the owners of the cars. see why they went with a certain mod over another. even at classic car shows. personally, i dont like american muscle cars. but i like to talk to the guys. hear the story of the car. for that, i can understand the nostalgia. it usually not about the car itself for them, but a memory or maybe story.

I learn. when i dont know something, i go buy books and read about it. at my house we have several books on engine building and theory laying around for easy reading. if its possible, i'll find a way to get my hands on whatever it is that Im learning about. i like to be aware of the new technologies and where the industry as a whole is heading. and if i meet someone and they tell me about something new, you bet your ass i'll be an expert on it next time we meet.

[benz88]

hahahaha yes! best read yet. I wish i could put all that in my sig.

[Lt. Dangle]

I fully understand not supporting the "replica" market... But then that brings up the same argument in a different context, for example;

A 69 Camaro.

If you had $40k to spend today, you could literally build a BRAND NEW 69 camaro "replica" piece by piece with "replica" shit.

Hell I cant say shit. I have a set of Rays wheels in my garage, and with the exception of my civic, every turbo part I have ever bought as been name brand shit.

As much as everyone hates it, these "replica" markets are a LARGE part of the aftermarket. For example, the domestic version of Rota...The Bullit/03 cobra/Saleen/Cobra R/ZR1/SS/Z06 wheels that are made in different offsets, and different finishes...