People who don't know or care about cars don't ask questions or comment on my car. Just not on their scope, I guess.

People who do know about cars always seem to have strong opinions... positive or negative.

My father's response when I bought the Porsche: "German junk!" He hasn't gotten a ride yet... I don't mind though, he criticizes the car for the right reasons (he understands the shortcomings), and he has even worse things to say about other marques. Don't even mention Citroen to him unless you want to induce a stroke... He's owned practically everything but a Porsche (or a Citroen). He drives a Dodge Stealth (he's 64). He's into RELIABLE performance. I could take him, though.
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

Thaddeus

 

Hmmm, I've gotten the opposite response. Most of the time it's:<ol type="1">[*]"DOOooood, COOL car, man! What is it?", California surfer.[*]"Wow, niccce car. Can I get a ride? wait, gotta do my hair first...", sorority chic.[*]"What be dat, dangit! &lt;spit&gt;", redneck praise.[*]"huh... &lt;sneer&gt;, clean car &lt;sniff&gt;", Porsche snob.[/list=a]

 

I had to replace two tires a few weeks ago, only days after taking delivery of my "new" '87 951. One of the guys at the shop (NTB) seemed to know something about the marque, but the other asked "is that a 911 or a Carerra?"

 

I guess I have to say that I am quite confused. Maybe a better word would be...surprised.

:Ever since I was about 5, I could identify cars of any type. The age of five may seem like a far-reaching statement, but it is not.
At the age of 10, I had Porsche and Ferrari and Lambo posters all over my walls. At the age of 21, I visited the Porsche factory in Stuttgart.

:I can usually identify cars from behind or in front, at great distances. I can usually even identify them at night by their headlights.

I am surprised and confused because I have these abilities, even with the cars I would never think twice about owning, and other individuals have no ability at all to differentiate between a 911 and a 944. They cannot tell the difference between a an American car and a Japanese car, or even a German Vehicle.

My mother would say, in her infinite (right) wisdom that everybody has a talent, and an interest. But the better I know these people, I find that they do not in fact have any talent - the fact is that they do not pay attention enough in life to involve themselves in the identification of ANYTHING. So this is to say that they can't tell the difference between my 928 and my old 924S, just as much as they have no idea that if you buy a set of bed sheets from K-mart - that they will not be the same as a 600 thread-count set from a mail-order company. That may not be a good analogy. These are the same people that simply do not absorb their environment.

I may have gone off on a tangent, but I think I MAY have made a point. If one cannot identify Quality, and Worth, chances are that they have not yet had the ability to identify it in themselves or others, and that they should be passed over for an acquaintance.

 

I disagree. Everybody has something going for them even if YOU can't identify it. I'm not trying to say your point is wrong but just because someone doesn't hold the same values as you doesn't make them worthless to know. I've had the priveledge and pleasure to meet and take care of some of the most diverse people you can think of and if you take some time to get to know them they all have something to offer.


However, having said that I don't think I would go out of my way to invite too many of them to a bbq at my house.But it never hurts to get to know someone and where they're coming from. You just don't have to take them home to meet the wife and kids.

 

just earlier today i was prepaying for gas...

ME: $20 on pump 8(pointing to the only car to his left).
Attendant: You mean the black Toyota?

ME: YES that's my car but NO it's not a Toyota.
Attendant: it's a Tiburon?

ME: $20 on pump 8 please....

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Brendan Campion...great post...I couldn't say it better myself. I don't wish for everyone on this earth to be a car expert (although wouldn't it be a better place?), but when you consider the car is the 2nd largest investment most people will make, coupled with the fact that as americans we spend large portions of our lives in our cars, it just follows that some of us should be more educated on this topic.

 

my wife:
"cette voiture, elle est trop dur pour moi!"

random person who doesn't know (and then taken for a ride):
"wow, this car handles well, nice"

someone who knows enough to be dangerous:
"oh, i see, it's one of those with the bubble in the back"

the piece of **** CHP who pulled me over last month <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> :
"parking lot junk"

someone who just knows:
"it's a turbo right?"

 

I've gotten mostly positive responces on my car. Here are a couple instances:

Service manager at high end P-car shop:
"Its a great car" (I think he was buttering me up after spending 2300 cdn on a clutch at his shop)

Owner at said shop:
"The color is just so cool"

Salesman at said shop after seeing me pull up:
"The lady killer!!" (proceeded to tell me how many stares I will be getting)

Old guy who walks by my car sometimes:
"Beautiful car, I like the color" (interesting note here, he said the same thing twice in the span of two days)

928 driver at gas pump:
"nice machine"

911 driver at same pump:
"nice car, you just got it eh?" (assumed I just got it cause it was very clean)

Some dude at same pump:
"great color, my brother had the same kind of color on his camaro in the 70's, I loved it. The camaro couldnt really compare to something like this though" (Dude was real cool)

Guy in my english class last semester:
"you drive a Porsche!?!?!" (proceeded to tell everyone he knew)

My buddy after taking a really fast sweeper with me and my new susp. setup:
"f-ing choice!!! That was fun man"

Best of all, another buddy when he gets rides in my car (drives a souped up civic):
"Yeah man..........your ****'s fast...." (says this all the time, in the same amazed voice)

This car has gotten lots of great feedback, from both those in and out of the p-car circle.

 

Our new VP of Instructional Services (my boss's boss's boss, 40-ish female):

"I really love your car."

Me, to eliminate her thoughts that I _must_ be overpaid: "Thanks. It cost me less than a new Camry. The only way I can afford to own it is to do all my own service work."

Jim, overpaid , my ****!

 

Heh heh.. I too must play the "Only way I can afford it is to wrench it myself" card... however that does not prevent me from parking it next to my boss's boss's boss's car just to bug them for fun...

Thaddeus

"Irritating millionaires is my hobby"

 

Thanks Tariq.

My point, to be more specific, mirrors your sentiment. It is SUCH an important cost in life, unless you decide that busses and trains are good trans. That’s fine too. I see people that OBVIOUSLY put "0" thought into the purchase of their auto. They put much more into their clothes, their watches, and TVs, but then they purchase a car which is overpriced, underpowered, and then wistfully look at other's autos and wish could acquire "one of those,"
Well, if they had simply put some EFFORT into their decision, if they had put some thought into the research on their purchase, they would have come out better.

The fact remains that most people this world wish not to expend effort in this area, as well as many other areas. I am at a loss to figure out what they DO put effort into. It is obviously not their children or marriages either.
Read those last few statements again. I am not just speaking of automobiles.

D Richard. I understand where you are writing from. I agree that I am centered around the study, enjoyment, and "living" or automobilia. This is a centric passion. I DO however, enjoy and try to fully experience everything in life that I see, even if it does not interest me immediately. I have traveled extensively, throughout Europe (the continent, and the Isles)
I intensely believe that when you truly have the ability to value SOMETHING, that you have a much larger capacity to live than others do.
Some may find this statement materialistic, and that I am judging a person by his/her level of materialism. This is untrue. WHen you meet an individual that has a true interest or talent, and invests themselves in that virtue, are they more interesting? Do they seem more intelligent and vibrant? Yes, they do.
Have you met individuals that bought the Chevy cavalier (new - a need for one used is different), and then moved to a square apartment. They have a job that involves following orders, shuffling papers, and not thinking for themselves. They married, but they invest no effort in their lives, relationships, or anything for that matter. Usually, these people are hobbyless, and dull. Sometimes they can barely look you in the eye, and could not carry on a convo above the level of "Two big macs please," if their lives depended on it.
Well, my point here, if you are still awake
<img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" /> <img src="graemlins/sleep.gif" border="0" alt="[sleep]" />
is that their life DOES depend on it, and the longer we allow ourselves to this society to exist in which individualism is NOT rewarded, a material existence is frowned upon, taught to simply "exist" in our megopolis, and always to let the vocal minority of communal, cyborg, "collective" purveyors dictate our civilizations direction, the farther we will be from our rightful existence. I am still trying to find out what that is, but I try every day.

Okay, I'm done

 

Ok Brendan I guess I have to agree with the majority of what you're saying. Sometimes after watching the local news I can't help but wonder if some people only pass on their genes and contribute nothing else to society. But then I have to remind myself that if I continue to think that way I won't be able to keep a good outlook!!

 

Brendan, I couldn't agree more! Perfect line from a snippet of a movie I caught before I fell asleep last night: "most aren't even alive, they're dead already" or some such thing from Joe & the Volcano.

On the breed of Cavalier owners (and others as well); they're a product of our educational system. Traditional school teaches people to be a good employee, but very few will teach you how to be a good employer! That's one of the ways you can get out of the rat-race of going to work 8am-5pm, 5-6 days a week, year in and year out. And for what? Just to break even month after month?

Going back to Joe & the Volcano, what would you do if you knew you only had 6-months to live? How would you spend your days and nights? What kind of experiences would you enjoy? What kind of a life would you have in those 6-months?

I would assert that very few people would continue with their 8am-5pm, 6-days a week, go-to-work-til-you're-exhausted type lifestyle. You know what's funny? Our lives aren't any different than Joe's anyway! You're going to die too and the time you have here is limited. It's limited in amount and once it's gone, it's gone forever; you can't make more, you can't buy more time. And when your time's up, well, that's it! So make the most of what you have now!

P.S. anyone know the Buddhist story of the cliff, tigers below and strawberries?

 

[quote]Originally posted by Danno:
<strong>I would assert that very few people would continue with their 8-5, 6-days a week, go-to-work-til-you're-exhausted type lifestyle.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Many, yes... but many also truly do like the rat race, and enjoy the satisfaction of working for a living.

[quote]<strong>P.S. anyone know the Buddhist story of the cliff, tigers below and strawberries?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!

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