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I recognize appreciating cool machines, I really do. I've just never been able to wrap my head around being a car guy. Spending huge chunks of change on a car, consistently modifying it, watching car shows all the time. I just dont get it. What's the big draw for you?

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[-] HollowV@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

My ex bf was a car guy. He got me interested in it and took me on my 1st midnight drive. BEST. NIGHT. EVER. We snuck out of our houses to go driving down LA. It was SO much fun--playing our favorite songs, speeding, seeing the city lights! Wish I could do it again with him. After we broke up, I view cars as a my love for him so I kept my hobby/interest. But it took me awhile to view it that way because cars reminded me of him which equals sad.

Also I'm an artist interested in illustration/concept design. I find prop design (specifically vehicles and weapons) fun to draw. So as a designer, I would research how things work like the mechanics to get a better understanding of the functionality of said object like cars. And I like how some sports cars look with all the sharp spikes and cool gadgets-- a fuel for my inspiration/imagination. And I just like learning new things.

[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

What I don't understand is how you could not be into cars. There are few things more thrilling than driving a proper sports car the way it was designed to be driven.

It surely doesn't hurt that I'm a geek, so I'm naturally attracted to anything electronic or mechanical. The inner workings of a vehicle are beyond fascinating.

If you don't enjoy driving, part of it might have to be due to the fact that you've only ever been behind the wheel of boring commuter cars. Take a manual Supra or 400Z for a test drive sometime, and tell me it doesn't change your opinion of cars. If that doesn't work for you, then I don't know what to tell you. To each their own.

[-] ILoveUnions@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago

Sitting behind the wheel of something belching gas that requires full concentration just isn't that interesting. Biking is a much more enjoyable activity.

[-] frezik 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

If cars could just be a hobby where I go to car shows and appreciate the effort people put into making old cars look nice, or drive around curvy back roads with the top down, or learn about the intricacies of ignition timing, they'd be great.

Everything wrong with cars is about how they are integrated into society at large. They should not be the default transportation option. They're not a hobby at that point, but a mandate. The common NIMBY refrain against walkable/bikable infrastructure of "you're taking away my freedom to drive a car" is pants on head stupid.

This seems to be an increasingly common sentiment among car enthusiasts. Being an enthusiast and agreeing that FuckCars has it 95% correct are not the mutually exclusive opinions they appear to be.

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[-] Chrysanthemum@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago

Childhood.

Hi, car gal here with other car gal friends. My uncle (mechanic) was my main babysitter when I was a kid. I used to watch him overhaul a clutch as he said each procedure out loud to see if I was paying attention and encouraged me to ask questions.

He would take me and my cousins to car shows, tire shops and car dealerships (when they’re closed). We learned to appreciate different types of vehicles and languages from him; it’s kinda hard to read a manual if you don’t know German.Also, my uncle kept plenty of Legos and Matchbox cars in his shop for us to play with – they were my favorite toys.

Then one day, I discovered boys.

Oil changes and smelling like Lava soap with a hint of sweat weren’t my thing anymore. My first purchase was with my first boyfriend, we bought a beat up old boat for $500.

Today, I still prefer cars with the best turning radius. I will never underestimate an I4 or choose a V6 over it without careful consideration; I do love being behind the wheel of an I6. Some people will pay an extra $4,000 for Vrooom (PSE system) while others like me would rather spend the money on Kevlar tires and strict scheduled maintenance.

Different strokes for different folks – that’s what personalization is about.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Driving is fun. Driving events are even more fun. It gets me out of the house even on rainy crappy days.

I like Driving scenic roads.

I love mechanical things that give feedback. Since everything like that has been removed now because of technology ( no vcrs. No reel to reels, no projectors. Heck mosy people type on an ipad now so keyboards are becomibg less of a thing for normal people) its one of the last remaining visceral mechanical experiences.

It also helps i mostly only drive manual rwd cars.

Now do I like traffic or ever expanding suburban nightmare roads designed for Karen that drives her $100k escalade around? No. Ban that shit.

[-] 0ops@piefed.zip 7 points 1 week ago

Cars are like big, greasy legos

[-] winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 week ago

That are rusted together and impossible to detach

[-] 0ops@piefed.zip 1 points 1 week ago

That is also true

[-] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

After working on them professionally I stopped liking them. I don't even really like driving anymore. Everything about a car is a scam.

[-] BigPotato@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

I always say "I love driving which is why I hate driving anywhere." I would love to have a fleet of vehicles I could really drive but laws, traffic, maintenance, etc. Driving isn't fun in the same way other things are because you need a lot of space or a lot of money to enjoy it. Drawing? I can do that with a No. 2 I swiped from IKEA. Can't exactly take my commuter to Monza without running up a bill.

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[-] sbf@feddit.org 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Motor vehicles are one of the very few things in this world that are simultaneously beautiful, useful, and fascinating

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Old ones were literally rolling art.

See, Lamborghini miura

[-] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Personally it's the apperciation of design, craftsmanship, the mechanics, and the fun that cars can create. Modification is a form of self expression for me. Building and racing machines that dominate their rivals scratches a competitive itch. Then there's the primal enjoyment of having something powerful as a car under your direct command that's intoxicating.

And of course watching shows for inspiration, or entertainment watching others achieve what I personally cannot.

[-] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

The competition aspect makes alot of sense. Especially when I consider both the preparation and execution go into it. I think if I was the builder I'd HAVE to be the driver/racer too though.

[-] nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I thought that when I got started, but I really enjoy the building and briefly enjoy the results. Then I’m happy for the owner to take it away while I cross my fingers that it all keeps working.

It’s equal parts problem solving, fine motor skills, and perseverance that keep me working on old cars. That’s why I’m not at a dealership or quick turnaround repair place.

It’s also why I’m poor

[-] hawgietonight@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

I can start by saying that I'm a tech "guy". The evolution was simple: Puzzles, Lego, bikes, model R/C cars/planes, computers, motorcycles then cars. Add to that motorcycles and cars give you freedom of movement to go anywhere anytime in a whim, it is difficult to not geek about them.

Then, during a brief period of my life I lived in a big (for me) city and had to use the public transport and it was horrible. This only exacerbated my dreams of owning a motor vehicle. Car magazines helped fuel these dreams.

My dad loved sports cars, that didn't help the addiction ;)

[-] ILoveUnions@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Sounds like you lived in a bad city.

[-] NinjaTurtle@feddit.online 4 points 2 weeks ago

Its a pretty broad question, like asking why you like video games or shows. Different people like different aspects of cars. Some use cars as a canvas to shape their car in a specific way that expresses their tastes. Others for their mechanical abilities.

Personally I like the driving experience. I appreciate a built up car, more then just a car bought with huge chunks of money. It shows more effort and personality of the owner tuning their car for a specific purpose. I also like a nice show car. Its like an art piece.

[-] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I do enjoy going to car shows actually. I can agree that its usually more impressive to see something built up than something expensive from the dealer. I guess I recognize its a hobby as any other, just most curious about the draw to that specific hobby. Good response!

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[-] Perspectivist@feddit.uk 4 points 1 week ago

I like all kinds of tech, gadgets, tools and machinery. Cars are just one part of that. I'd like to have an excavator too if I could afford one and justify buing it, but I don't. Car however, I have need for so why not go and buy one that you actually enjoy driving and looking at rather than something that just gets the job done. I don't really spend a huge amount of money on it. My truck cost me 10k€ and the maintenance + fuel + insurance costs for the 7 years I've had it are around 350€/month. I can imagine myself spending more on offroad mods and such but I just have no need for that currently.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

What about a mini excavator tho

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[-] otacon239@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I’ve been into cars as art from the moment I saw a Lamborghini. I view the mechanical work/modifications as a means to an end rather than the fun part.

I’ve not done a ton of performance upgrades, but I’ve upgraded my clutch to a ceramic and now, every time I shift, I get a more satisfying feel. It’s even better knowing I made that improvement myself.

Most of it comes down to the sense of pride and accomplishment I get from the finished result.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

The mechanical feel is a big part for me.

Driving a rental 2025 legacy, made me hate cars in about 30 seconds. So if thats your car experience i see why people hate it.

Driving a 99 miata: permanent smile.

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[-] HexagonSun@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

I thought cars were awesome as a kid and teenager, and couldn’t wait to pass my test. Had my license within 6 months of being old enough to drive.

But then as soon as I went to uni I didn’t have the money for a car or a use for it in a major city.

And then I started to view cars way more negatively due to their impact on society and the environment and never became a car guy.

I love cars in computer games, but in real life I’m more of a “fuck cars” guy these days.

[-] kbal@fedia.io 2 points 1 week ago

I was a car guy, more or less. I enjoyed driving them, I enjoyed tinkering with them. I like going fast, I like shifting gears. I did some incredibly cool road trips, I did some autocross, I did some commercial driving too and enjoyed the challenge of finding the most efficient routes across the city.

But there are too many cars on the road, designing our cities around them was a potentially civilization-ending mistake, and we should all stop burning fossil fuels like right now and also stop spreading microplastics, oil, and road salt all over the land. There are better ways to commute. These days I'm more of a "fuck cars" guy.

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[-] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

I'm not. I don't drive and never want to drive. I hate it.

[-] Tracaine@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

I-I'm not? Am I? Oh god what kind of car am I?

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[-] tasankovasara@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 week ago

Here's one who always liked customising the daily driver computers - Sway, custom configs, painting the laptop cover with very permanent enamel paint. Reasons are to make it run reliably, serving my preferences and looking nice and cared for.

Similar reasons apply with the car and motorcycle, only with the car it's not cheap fun (bike stuff is actually very reasonably priced). But I figured since I get paid every month, I'm going to use money on what sparks joy. And I'm keeping it sensible, only one car and bike at a time :}

[-] Acamon@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Not a car guy, but it makes more sense to me than people who collect expensive watches. At least a car is fun to drive and goes vroom. A rolex is just some jewelery for guys.

[-] moseschrute@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I don’t collect watches, but I appreciate really well designed mechanical/analog devices. I think spending money on brand names is stupid, but I honestly would love an intricate self winding watch.

Not a watch, but check out the mechanics in this cassette player. I love anything like this.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

Hell yes, this is art. Just like how to me some cars are art (240z with itbs....hnnnng).

Most cars are boring toasters that society is over reliant on. I myself dont own a boring car since i enjoy driving so I can't speak to that.

[-] moseschrute@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

My new rule for myself is everything I bring into my house has to be art. I got this beautiful hand made cutting board the other day. Anything can be art, and it doesn’t all have to be pricy. I threw some pathos I propagated into a soup can the other day. Boom art!

This is mostly me trying to cope with all the AI slop that is slowly eating digital and physical art forms. For me, art is anything human made, and I want to surround myself with it.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Im the same way.

Everything is losing its human and visceral-Ness. Im convinced its a big reason there's so much depression- people dont feel any more.

Yeah, its sad the age of any computer produced art (graphics, electronic music, coding) is over because of corpo ai slop. But all the more reason to go outside and build something real in the workshop or put on a folk concert.

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[-] Acamon@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

that's a cool hobby! I used to love watching the parts of my tape deck move as a kid. Te parts clunking into pace, the gentle pace of the rotation. That's a very nice player you've got!

[-] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Cars are a symbol of wealth and social status. That’s why people obsess over them, but they will rarely admit this to themselves.

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[-] d00phy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

When I was a kid, I watched Ayrton Senna drive a McLaren F1 car. Not long after that, my dad showed me an AC Cobra.

[-] Donebrach@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I just think they’re neat honestly. feel similarly about boats and trains and well executed meals and nice interior design.

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this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2025
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