[twin-turbo]

Whenever I browse any social media sites nowadays, I see that people on social media like to define a car person as a person who only loves Japanese cars like the Supra or the Mazda Rx-7. This is the most common perception of a car person on the internet nowadays. Internet influencers, fanboys, kids, everyone who has a budding interest in cars - all seem to think that only if you love these Japanese cars, will you be accepted into the car community.

According to me, a car person is somebody who feels that his car is an extension of himself, who thinks of the car as his friend. It doesn’t matter what car it is - be it a Supra, a Lamborghini or a simple car like the Honda City. Many people do not understand the reality that is, not every car is a JDM that shoots flames from its exhaust or has a big turbocharger in it.

This is my first post. I would like to know your thoughts on this.

(P.S.I like high revving cars with great sounds, and zippy hatchbacks)

[DicKy]

Don't bother.

Thought all these muscle vs import vs JDM vs ricers were all a thing of the past. All had agreed to respect each other's preferences and ganged up to hate on the poor Prius, which I think is stupid as the Prius does what it was designed for perfectly. Maximum fuel efficiency.

Then it all went downhill with the Insta and 'yoyo guys it's your...' YouTube vlogs. Again fanboyism reared it's ugly head up, but this time without any real-world stuff, more like virtual world. Funny thing is these are US centric stuff. JDM or Euro whateva in India means FWD four bangers. Full stop. JDM means Esteems and Citys with fart cans and Euro means Polo TSi's with pop n crackle exhausts.

You don't have to be some sort of car enthusiast. Some love cars for the sheer freedom. Some love it for the adrenaline kick. Some love to cruise. Some love the machine aspect while some love the seats of the pants feel. Some love just catching up on car history and information than just driving. Even those who are more excited about what they can do to their car via smartphones and wait for a future of autonomous driving are also some kind of an enthusiast.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...e-driving.html (Can one be a car enthusiast, and not love driving?)

This above thread is a gem.

I feel there is enough space for genuine car enthusiasts on social media. Tons of YouTube channels and in Instagram, maybe stop seeing those slow-mo BGM stuff and visit some 'parked in <insert city>' pages.

Or just go for a morning drive. Just you and your car. No one to judge you.

[Jeroen]

As with everything in life; if you think of yourself as a car person, that is good enough. Don’t worry what others say or think or put out on the Internet. There is no official definition. It is one of those things that are only relevant to you.

Although, I do become a little worried when I read your definition of where your car becoming “your friend”. Do you give you car names? For friends, stick to people I would advise. I know for a fact, 100% dead certain your car, no matter how much you love it, doesn’t give a hoot about you!

My wife calls my classic Mercedes Brünhilda. Which I hate, because she is taking the Mickey out of her. Me hating that is totally irrational, obviously.

If you want to have a great definition of a car person go with this: Somebody with an irrational behaviour and attitude towards cars

Jeroen

[SmartCat]

If you can hold a conversation about cars for 10 minutes, then you are a car person! Non-car folks can't do that

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by SmartCat

If you can hold a conversation about cars for 10 minutes, then you are a car person! Non-car folks can't do that

Testing:

I asked my wife: describe your car to me with as much detail as you can

“It’s blue, has four wheels”

Definitely a non car person.
I on the other hand can easily talk about a hub cap for at least an hour. That is per wheel, per car obviously.

[gkveda]

A tiger doesn't proclaim his tigritude. He just pounces.

It doesn't matter whether you fall into the definition of car person or not. Just love cars irrespective of whether the car is yours or other's.

Finally that is what a car person does.

[Indian2003]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Testing:

I asked my wife: describe your car to me with as much detail as you can

“It’s blue, has four wheels”

Definitely a non car person.

My wife is not a car person but she has certainly done work on a car. She is a qualified plumber so she might have acquired some skills with tools then.

Ask her to release the handbrake and she does not know what to do. When the shock absorbers were replaced, she saw me do one and straight away started on the other side herself.

[saisailendra]

Perspective, my friend. It all depends on perspective.

YouTube is a place where folks portray themselves as if they've got unlimited funds for whatever is the main topic of their channel. I consider the section of YouTube which is filled with reviewers or influencers just as a different world like the movies world. It's far from today's reality.

For example, as you said, so called car guys have funds and time for the Jap cars and modifications. However, in realty, there can be a car guy who knows nothing about a supra or an exhaust swap, and still be a car guy by simply loving his car.

Computer freaks (on YT) have funds and time for the top of the line latest computer stuff, say keyboards, mice, processors, graphic cards, RAM sticks, SSDs, etc. Doesn't mean a computer guy must have all these. Even a person with 2000s computer with notepad and CMD can be a better "computer guy" than this YouTuber ever was.

Photographers (on YT) have the latest cameras, latest lenses, latest editions of photoshop or Lightroom or similar applications. However in the real world, that need not be the case. Even a decade old camera and a good lens, in the hands of a potent photographer can give astonishing results.

Philosophers, inspirational talkers, spiritual leaders.. they're on a different level altogether. I wouldn't listen to what they have to say from a kilometre.

Anything on YouTube should be for entertainment. If it's for information, it must be taken with a pinch of salt.

[sen2693]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Do you give you car names? For friends, stick to people I would advise.

Jeroen

Sebastian Vettel has entered the chat and he would like to politely disagree.

Is there one clear definition of what is the best car on the planet? No. And hence, you cannot really categorize anyone as true enthusiast if you support any particular car. Not only with cars, but with everything, I have found this argument of 'best' a lot silly. Best cricketer? Best footballer? Best author? Every legend in every field had their qualities and every person has their likes. When these match, they become your favorite legend. Doesn't mean they have to be better than everyone else in the field. If you think so, then maybe you need to be more open with your thoughts.

[2000rpm]

Originally Posted by SmartCat

If you can hold a conversation about cars for 10 minutes, then you are a car person! Non-car folks can't do that

Let me add to that. I am an introvert, I become extroverted when it comes to cars

[Jeroen]

Do you give you car names? For friends, stick to people I would advise.

Originally Posted by sen2693

Sebastian Vettel has entered the chat and he would like to politely disagree.

Either way, I fail to see the correlation between my comment preferring human friends over thinking your car is your friend. Do F1 drivers give their cars names?

This is the other thing about a car person. If that is all they know, they are going to be incredible boring people. You can replace car-, with cat-, gardening-, sewing-, golf-, football-, cricket-, horse-, modelbuilding- photography- aviation enthusiast- etc. etc.

Never get so involved in anything you start inanimate objects (pet) names. The downside of focus, expertise, specialist knowledge, is that everybody at best thinks you are a colossal bore. Don’t get too stuck into cars! A whole wide world out there to enjoy.

Jeroen

[TrackDay]

There is no law or criteria. Anyone who has love for cars/driving/riding can be termed as a car person. Imagine a person who has been driving for so many years for the sheer love of driving yet has to call a mechanic for changing a flat tyre. On the other hand there is someone who washes his/her new car everyday, however goes to work in their much older car citing that they cant bear to see their new car in an accident. In this scenario both folks are a car person. For some it could be the love of driving, while for some it could be keeping their rides neat and clean. Even a non-car owner who can hold a conversation about cars is a car person.

[sen2693]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Either way, I fail to see the correlation between my comment preferring human friends over thinking your car is your friend. Do F1 drivers give their cars names?

Not sure if this comment was made in jest or to prove your following point. But if neither, tuen yes I was talking about Sebastian Vettel the 4 time F1 world champion. He is known to name every car he drives with a different female name. Fun fact: Since he joined Aston Martin this year, he named his car after a bond girl (don't know the name)

Originally Posted by Jeroen

This is the other thing about a car person. If that is all they know, they are going to be incredible boring people. You can replace car-, with cat-, gardening-, sewing-, golf-, football-, cricket-, horse-, modelbuilding- photography- aviation enthusiast- etc. etc.

Never get so involved in anything you start inanimate objects (pet) names. The downside of focus, expertise, specialist knowledge, is that everybody at best thinks you are a colossal bore. Don’t get too stuck into cars! A whole wide world out there to enjoy.

Jeroen

Again not sure if you are talking specifically about me, but I agree to your point. If you forcefully insert your favourite topic inside any conversation that is happening among a group, you don't engage a lot of people. Even if you have any expertise, I believe that you should not boast about it unless the situation demands. Else stay silent, people will respect you more

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by sen2693

Not sure if this comment was made in jest

There are over 200,000 threads on this forum that prove, every single one that we never ever jest on TeamBHP. Admittedly, we do have one dedicated thread on jokes though; All jesting is to be done in the Joke Thread, please!

Originally Posted by sen2693

He is known to name every car he drives with a different female name.

Not sure why that is making me feel queasy if not a little uncomfortable??

Originally Posted by sen2693

Fun fact: Since he joined Aston Martin this year, he named his car after a bond girl (don't know the name)

Definitely feeling ill now!! Pass the bucket please!

Originally Posted by sen2693

Again not sure if you are talking specifically about me,

Trust me, you would know if I was talking specifically about you. I am Dutch, we are known to be very direct. I teach directness at kindergarden here in the Netherlands.

Originally Posted by sen2693

If you forcefully insert your favourite topic inside any conversation that is happening among a group, you don't engage a lot of people. Even if you have any expertise, I believe that you should not boast about it unless the situation demands. Else stay silent, people will respect you more

Agree in principle Although I am never quite sure how not saying anything would get you respect. So I tend to talk a lot, I am not saying much necessarily, but I am very good at just bluffing my way through any topic under the sun.

Jeroen

[GTO]

Anyone who loves driving and / or loves his car is a car person in my books. It could be a Maruti 800 owner who looks forward to the weekend Lonavla drives and lovingly cares for his car, or the Ferrari 488 owner who wants to upgrade his turbocharger. It could be a woman who enjoys driving her Tata Nano, or the 70-year old gent who washes his 1954 Plymouth himself.

Like driving? You are a car person.

Love cars? You are a car person.

I am not a purist and don't see eye-to-eye with them either.