What REALLY Makes Someone A "Car Guy"?

"What REALLY Makes Someone A "Car Guy"?"

- If there's a Lexus in his driveway

Depends on the Lexus I guess. More so for an IS-F maybe not so for a RX or ES.

PatrickBateman,

What did I do to you? LOL!!

You realize that you are the only person here that insults me, attacks me, and attempts to counter almost every thing that I say? Why is that?

And now you say "Please don't feed the troll". I guess this is your way to try to stop me from posting here, or from people replying back to my comments. It won’t work. The creator of this thread responded back to my reply in a civilized manner so what do you do? You try to convince him not to reply back to my comments. That is truly pathetic.

I'm sorry for whatever I did to you to make you want to attack me all the time, but you really need to get over it. Anyone with a brain can see that I’m getting deep under your skin just by the way you react to my posts. LOL!!! Give it a rest. You are coming across as being very bitter towards me. Only a person who was embarrased to hell reacts the way that you do.

So go ahead and continue to make a fool out of yourself. The more I make a fool out of myself, the more you make a fool out of yourself. You seem to have emotional problems. Which isn't surprising when you look at what image you've chosen for your Avatar. It fits and that's probably the same facial expression that you have when you think about me. LOL!!

and actually knowing quite a bit about what's under the hood....

One of several criteria would knowing how to drive a manual.

To me that used to be a prerequisite, but the newer DSG trannies out there pretty much nullify that argument for me.

To me at least a general appreciation of ALL types of motoring is required. Yes a Lexus has its place and so does a BMW. They both need to taken in the proper context.

In general a Lexus is a great road car, comfortable and reliable but never meant to be pushed to the limits. A BMW on the other hand is meant to go to the limits at any time the driver needs. The target market for both is totally different and a true car guy will know that and appreciate the differences. If you are taking a road trip in the Rockies full of twists then the BMW is perfect, where the Lexus might be better off for those long drives in the desert or plains of the US.

With that being said nothing “torques” me more than someone who discounts your choice simply because it isn’t theirs. We each have a reason to buy what we do and most of the time there are tangible reasons for it.

I have owned, Audi (2), BMW (1), Lexus (2), Mercedes (1), Honda (3), Mazda (1), VW (4), Chevrolet (3), Buick (1), Saturn (1) and they are all different. Each has their strong points and weaknesses. IMHO if you haven’t owned more than 3 or 4 brands you may never understand what I am talking about, however if you have only owned one and are open minded then you can be a “car guy”.

I agree with HSC. You don't have to own a manual, but it is essential to know how to drive one to truly appreciate other transmissions.

I think we all have different opinion what a car guy is. For me a car guy is one who loves to drive, loves all kind of cars but most importantly, he should know how to modify and fix the cars. One should know the engine and know the capabilities of it. A car guy should be in touch with their car.

B-I-N-G-O! award that man a prize!

I'm a detailer and talk to people with cars all day long. I don't think I have ever gotten a "car guy" vibe from a Lexus owner, get a little from some Mercedes owners, most BMW owners are car guys and all of my porsche owners are.

I see quite a few Lexus car guys (they all drive an IS variation it seems).

The biggest problem with modding a Toyo-Lex if the total vacuum of real performance parts.

Yes you can get suspension and body kits, but the ECU is virtually impenetrable. All of the German cars allow ECU access to tuners which makes a TREMENDOUS difference. That in itself separates the car guys since most don’t want that stock feel.

@009

Really? You've been on the job hacking ECUs and determined the Germans allow it, but Toyota's are just too difficult? Yeah...maybe not. It's a question of market forces. If I am going to burn through thousands of hours of developers' time hacking an ECU, and I need to make up the cost by selling product, which market do you suppose I am going to target? The one with the most potential for sales of performance ECUs; thus a lot of the market has focused on German cars for, ahem!, obvious reasons. It has nothing to do with supposedly impenetrable ECUs. Google "toyota ecu tuning" or "nissan ecu tuning" and you'll find the impenetrable has already been penetrated.

Must have knowledge and passion for the subject. Personally I most knowledgable and passionate about BMW's, so maybe I'm more of a BMW guy than a car guy.

No that just makes you a badge lover.

If you add couple of other car manufacturers under your belt then you can be called a car guy. You may never know all cars. but a few more will widen you horizon.

I have owned and driven a number of other cars over the years so my preference towards BMW's is based as much on experience as anything else.

There is a difference between loving a brand and cars period. A true car guy loves cars no matter who makes them based on what the car is capable of doing that suites that individual needs. HP (my favorite) might not be what Tango or badgewhore wants but as long as I am passionate about cars and at least change my own (I build them for a living) oil you can consider yourself a car guy.

I want to own a 930/911 turbo similar to the one pictured, but in guards red. If you agree, maybe you are a car guy!

Nothing wrong with yellow either. It's the "classic" silver that makes me yawn.

As this article states, "I find that car guys come in all shapes and sizes"
some are completely clueless and some are very intelligent tuners, I am also a truck guy, and I find most of the red necks with there big trucks are completely clueless, half the time they do a truck out is to attract a woman, they think it impresses them, same as the car guys.

You have a point about a pink car, but a convertible beetle? How about a jeep or a convertible BMW.

I don't think you need to know how to mod a car engine, get your hands dirty like a grease monkey, in order to be a "car guy". I've loved cars of all types since age 7, and spent much of my youth reading back issues of car magazines, I appreciate the history of cars and racing, and though I can drive a manual, I don't have a clue how to "mod" an engine because I just don't have time to screw up my car. I'd rather hire a pro to do it.

I know enough to check the pressure and fluid levels, but simply don't have the time to competently get my hands dirty because I rather spend that time driving than under the hood. Just my preference - love love driving cars, especially a manual barefoot because you can really feel the revs.

Simply a passion for cars

Ditto...