No, not those guys. I'm talking about people who don't talk about cars. Apparently, there are a lot of them. In fact, my wife and I went out to dinner with a couple who had no desire to talk about cars at all. Which is fair enough. As a journalist, I enjoy talking to people about their work and interests. But no, that wasn't good enough. He had a question: "How in the world can you talk about cars all day? You drive them, write about it, and then what?" I tried to explain that cars touch on all aspects of life: physics, chemistry, high finance, psychology, law, philosophy, computers, etc. I told him about TTAC's Best and Brightest: our computerized conclave of experts drawn to the site from all walks of life. Enthusiasts who bring a huge range of disciplines to bear on all things automotive. My dinner companion nodded sagely, considering all that I'd said. "So do you think I should trade my Mercedes for an Infiniti?" Like politics, all car talk is local.
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I’m talking about people who don’t talk about cars. Apparently, there are a lot of them.
We are a vastly shrinking cohort and a not very appreciated one at that.
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade.
I know we are in trouble when a lot of members of Gen Z get more excited over the prospect of an iPhone than a Mustang.
Well, nowadays a good number of modern vehicles have so many electronic doodads and other crap in them that just seem to separate the driver from the car/road. It just doesn’t feel as natural as it used to, when cars were simpler machines.
So, of course more and more people are bored with car talk.
Naturally, this is just another severely inept opinion of mine…
When it comes to talking cars, I might as well be talking about wrestling pigs and showing off my coin collection at a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. Most people are that uninterested in cars.
RF, how did you end up out with a couple who had such a limited view? They’re not friends of yours, are they? The automotive also reaches into many areas of policy, environment, sociology, marketing, innovation, and more. By the way, the new book, The Physics of NASCAR looks really good after the first 20 pages.
How anyone can not find cars fascinating is beyond me.
You didn’t tell me that you were having dinner with my wife.
I think you’re wrong when you say that a person that would buy a Camaro or Challenger would buy a Mustang. I would think that one of the few places where the Ford v Chevy v Dodge rivalry shows up is the muscle car. That said, since people can’t raid their home equity to finance them, I do wonder if the people that want them can afford them.
I happy to hear others share my interest in cars in the same way I do. Car culture is very dynamic. I feel similar about speakers. Enlightenment = sensitivity. Guess what speakers are the most efficient? I’m learning more all the time. although fun is more than learning, I think.
On muscle cars, I’d like to see the same level of enthusiasm for other cars, I think lots can be accomplished. Ignorance is not bliss. Although the G8, S5, G37, and others are examples of muscle done better (in many ways).
As for phones, I guess I can see some fascination in being seconds away from touching someone. Capturing a pic of them, and sharing music and interests online. Also more affordable and most kids may not have a car. Maybe in the future I’ll be more interested.
Just go by any JiffyLube, national HQ for non-car enthusiasts.
I still love (and service) our little fleet:
2 crown vics (gasp)
02 audi
79 f-150
91 silverado
57 chevy
01 cavalier
06 gto
03 kubota
After many years of tinkering with q-jets and point-equipped distributors, I have drastically changed my view of electronic controls. I find the current versions much easier to diagnose and work on (once you have removed those 14 things that are in the way).
The fun is in the learning, no matter what you do.
Oh, to have a mint condition Riv like in the photo….my knees are weak just looking at it. Just look at the photo – boat-tail Riv, just itching to climb in the water that inspired it…