DEBATE: What Is It That Makes A REAL Car ENTHUSIAST?

In today's society, if you don't drive nor support the European brands, then you are not really an enthusiast.

It is pretty a laughable logic, but the society sees no problem with it, and they think that is how it should be.

And thanks to such stereotype, even though Infiniti is possibly one of the best brands in terms of making sporty cars, they never really get the recognition that the Germans get.

In fact, I've seen a lot of morons who actually think the Japanese cars are for MPG or just reliability alone. And they think the Japanese cars are still cheap. Maybe they still live in the 90's cave or they are just flat-out ignorant.

So, according to the society that we live in, the real enthusiasts are those who drive Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Range Rover, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and such hyper luxurious European brands.

If you drive Infiniti, Lexus or Cadillac, apparently the society thinks you are an old man with no passion at all (And according to them, apparently the only things the owners of those brands care about are mpg, reliability and price. It's really funny because that shows how much they know about Infiniti, Lexus and Cadillac, and how the society has been poisoned by European badgewhorism). Or if you drive a Supra or 370Z, the society thinks you are just a boy racer.

And in fact, you can see a lot of such, ignorant people on this website. Seriously, the European badgewhores think they know what it means to be an enthusiast. Amuse me.

But then again, I don't blame those European badgewhores. I'm sure those who own those hyper luxurious European brands actually want to brag about it.

Like this guy here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pj8QKTvRTQ&feature=youtu.be

Just like how I do not wish to be caught dead in a Hyundai, I guess for them, they do not wish to see the American and Japanese cars as "luxurious", nor "enthusiastic".

Dude, you seriously just sound like you've got a huge chip on your shoulders. I know that's probably an insulting thing to say, but it's sometimes all I read from your posts, this one in particular.

And I don't agree with anything you say. Maybe I've lived in different circles or just happen to be exposed to very different people, but I've lived in almost every part of the US and the same holds true: car enthusiasts admire vintage and modern cars from Europe, Japan, USA, and even Korea. The most fascinating enthusiasts to me are the ones who have in depth knowledge of vintage cars - and they typically are cars from the US or England.

An "enthusiast" to me is someone who has a well-rounded understanding of cars. Someone who has knowledge of the history, their components, design, etc. In addition to having knowledge of cars today, from all categories and all makes, including engine choices, technological advances, future advancements, etc. Nothing irks me more than someone who claims to "love cars" but only because they're fast, or sleek, or expensive, or shiny.

Great opinion. Sadly, not many people would think like you do.

And unfortunately, there still are things that the brand loyalists simply can not just give away.

And that is the bragging rights. It's something even I refuse to give up.

I have once considered purchasing Hyundai Genesis Coupe. But hell, it's still a "Hyundai", no matter how good the car may be. I'd rather just keep my Ford truck that I have right now than buy a Hyundai.

So according to your definition, I may not exactly fit your description of enthusiast.

Yeah the hhowirisy is really nuts. Its funny how on this same forum someone commented that an Infiniti would be for miles per gallon when the M37 & M56 (now Q70) are some of the most powerful normally aspirated v6 and v8 engines around, so much so that Infinity had to put an eco pedal in my M37X just to get 15 miles per gallon in the city. so yes I agree with your assessment that most of these folks who call themselves enthusiasts are really just German badge-whores. They have the gall to get upset that Lexus dared to challenge the Germans in the mid-size luxury segment, when its been proven in the last 3 model series, (since 2003) with Infiniti's release of the G35 that they can be beat in the lower 2 luxury tiers by non-Europeans including Caddy. so to answer your question an enthusiast is a person that likes a car for the essence of what the machine can do not for the name on the front. By the way im not buying a Hyundai either, LOL.

If you read or "follow" cars the way people follow a spectator sport, you can be considered an enthusiast. Why not? Of course if you race or tune cars then you are an enthusiast as well. There's lots of different ways to be a car enthusiast and none of them is more "legit" than others, in my opinion. A little kid can be a car enthusiast and just have Ferrari models he/she builds, no driver's license or big money required.

I really don't give a crap about what other people think of the cars I like and buy. I buy cars for myself...no one else.

WHAT is it that makes a REAL Car ENTHUSIAST?
Have a passion for cars. Respect and appreciate others dedication and appreciation to thier particular niche.