The Brits are not a nation of car enthusiasts

[MWF]

Why on Earth do you have to modify a car to be deemed a petrol head? What a load of tosh.

I know loads of people who are really into cars who drive normal unmodified cars because frankly, driving a normal unmodified car makes a -lot- of common sense.

Saying someone has to own a modified car to have true passion is as ludicrous as suggesting you can't be a true music fan unless you listen to everything on vinal and walk around dressed like a member of KISS.

[stealthstylz]

Just been telling my dad about this thread lol. He's let on a secret that he's been to see a 69 dodge superbee cos he's got his pit pension payout burning a hole so hopefully it'll be back to mad cars for him.

Matt

[Seth]

mwf said:

Why on Earth do you have to modify a car to be deemed a petrol head? What a load of tosh.

I know loads of people who are really into cars who drive normal unmodified cars because frankly, driving a normal unmodified car makes a -lot- of common sense.

Saying someone has to own a modified car to have true passion is as ludicrous as suggesting you can't be a true music fan unless you listen to everything on vinal and walk around dressed like a member of KISS.

Hmm, if you've inferred that from anything I've said then I didn't mean it! I think this thread is more to do with people giving up any sort of involvement in cars as they get older or not continuing what they did do (which for a lot of "yoof" does seem to involve modifying) as the years trundle by.

*Goes off to look for common sense*

[akku]

I think the "modify" remark is due to this being a forum principally aimed at modified cars.

But on the topic of "what makes a true petrolhead"... well thats a topic for another day maybe.... Its not simply a knowledge of whats the best spec Mondeo you can get for your company car allowance or having seen every edition of top gear...

[MWF]

Maybe I read the opening post wrong but it infers that we are not a nation of petrol heads/car enthusiasts on the basis that most people grow up and buy normal cars which they don't modify.

I myself am at the very turning point mentioned. I want/need to sell up my modified car and go normal. Yes I said it NORMAL! *manic laughter*

[popuptoaster]

lots of countries have regulations that are hard to get around with old cars so people are stuck modding newer cars.

no way we aint petrol heads over here, loads of my mates (I'm 40) don't mod their standard cars, but have a weekend weapon instead, old school is massive over here, why would you bother sticking crappy 18" rims on your vectra when you have a 400bhp YB powered mk1 escort in the garage?

[tonycocacola]

I'm not growing up, I'm burning out.

[evilged]

I'm 46, i've done the "can only afford 1 car as we have 2 kids to feed" bit and come out the other end some 7 years ago and since then theres never been less than 2 cars in the household. all of the "2nd" cars (and 3rd and 4th, even 5th once) have been lowered, engine swap, retro custom or rod. at the moment we're downsizing a bit, but only to get a new project in the near future. i plan to p*ss of my nieghbours for as long as possible, or until the government find a way round stopping motoring freedom

[rmad]

It's not just about 'modding' cars MWF, it's about being interested in them - interest beyond an average person. The people I'm thinking of are content to drive a Zafira or a Mondeo and see their Anglia days as phase that they grew out of - and one that they'd laugh at when they see I'm still involved in it. That is until they have a midlife crisis and phone me up! ;D

I've got an unmodified daily driver, but I don't see that as the only option because of my age - not only that it'd be slammed on the floor if I thought the missus wouldn't kill me! ;D

[phoenix]

or defined as someone that when there car breaks down doeset emediatly send it to overpriced so called specialist garage.

[madmog]

A few ramblings from me:

The snobbery thing:
If you collect and or restore art or sculpture, and you build up a collection of objects (should that be Objets? society deems you sophisticated. If you collect and or restore art or sculpture that has 4 wheels and possibly even utility then you are anti-social, irresponsible, eccentric etc. (well maybe not if it's a collection of Ferraris ). So, the car thing can make you unpopular and that will wear some people down to conformity.

The reliability thing:
Not all of us (or more accurately, the general population) can make our treasures as reliable as possible nor fix them when they go wrong. As we get older we tend to have more responsibilities pressing on our time and the risk of breakdowns or unreliabilty taking our time is not so acceptable. Time pressure wears some down to conformity

The age thing:
Most of us have stopped riding on tricycles as we've just grown out of it. Some of us have grown out of scooters, mopeds, skateboards as it just doesn't do it for us any more. Maybe one day we'll just grow out of retro cars.

I think a fair few divert their retro energy elsewhere - I know a few people who used to play with cars but now tinker with boats. Something to do with there being less rules and regulations on the water.

A neighbour of mine restored an MG TF but doesn't really enjoy driving it anymore as it is uncomfortable for him (70ish, heart problems) so sticks to his soft top '80s Mercedes. Still retro but not quite so obviously so.

I suspect a lot of Hayabusa powered retro owners will similarly begin to value comfort over speed.

[rmad]

madmog said:

The age thing:
Most of us have stopped riding on tricycles as we've just grown out of it. Some of us have grown out of scooters, mopeds, skateboards as it just doesn't do it for us any more. Maybe one day we'll just grow out of retro cars.

There's a difference between growing out of something and losing interest. Size, fitness or outside forces/responsibilities are a relevant factor in it, but age isn't.

[daverapid]

I've been a Skoda fan since I was 12 and got my first when I was 18. With the very obvious exception of the Bugrat I haven't modified or wanted to modify any of my Skoda's....SIMPLY COS I LOVE THEM JUST AS THEY ARE! Incedentally I'm 35 now.

I have 5 kids and actually owned a Zafira with a roofbox for 5 years, partly because I needed the ability to carry 7 people and partly because it was what my wife wanted. I figured that as she's good enough to put up with my Skoda obsession I should be good enough to let her have the car she wanted. I still had my Skoda's during the "Zafira" days...in fact I haven't been without a rear engined Skoda in 17 years! We sold the Zafira when it wasn't really required any more, frankly it bored me senseless...literally some might say! ;D

I currently have 7 Skoda's including 1 I store for a friend, I've travelled to Ireland and back in a knackered van to remove and collect secondhand Skoda parts at a cost to me that was frankly crazy, I've travelled on several occasions in excess of 500 mile trips to help Skoda friends fix their cars, I have 3 sheds, a council lock up, a loft and a fair bit of space at work full of spares, I'm on the Committee of the National Club and have been a Skoda nut for almost 2/3rds of my life! I think all that must make me a [Skoda flavoured] petrolhead despite my cars being factory standard!

[marinanut]

I have had Marinas since 1984, several at once a few times, and the GT since 1999. It is modded, as you know, but the daily is a Rover 200 (bubble shape) with 17" MG alloys and late model rear lights (so-called 'Lexus' style, but more subtle). My previous cars were all modded to one extent or another (the most modded was my R600 - 600ti interior, ti suspension and brakes and 16" alloys, R400 spoiler and mesh grilles.) Both cars get ragged silly at times (the GT more than the Rover) and I get regularly asked when I'm going to get at 'decent' car.........
For the record, I'm married, with a thumping great mortgage, nearly 43 with two ruddy great kids and a Mrs and no way am I going to give up having something 'different'! ;D

[surprisingskoda]

why does any of this things mean you cant continue your obsession though? when i passed my test, i bought a Seat Arosa. on the way home I stopped off and bought a set of alloys for it. My current daily is a Favorit, I didnt let myself start using it until it was substantially noticeable. EVERY car i've owned i've tried to size up what would work on it. my sensible cars, when I'm marginally older (like in a couple of years or so) will be, for dad, a remapped octavia WRC replica, and, for when theres kids to deal with, a hardslammed JDM previa/estima. I have no desire, ever, to give up this passion.

and, lets face it, when (if!) i have a mortgage, my estelle or favorit despite being totally modded, is gonna be a hell of a lot cheaper than a 307SW with optional A/C but no panoramic...

[skudupnorth]

I am in the same'ish boat as Daverapid in having my toys in the shape of old Skuds but having the sensible car for the family in the shape of a Nissan Almera Tino.I would love to modify the Tino when the warranty expires with at least a suspension and wheels upgrade but i have found no one that does such a thing and no doupt if i did then there would be no pennies to do so ! The favorit estate lowering springs have finallly arrived so at least i can play with our other "family" car !!!!

[briandamaged]

I passed my test aged 19, went out and bought a '67 Triumph 2000 (it was 16 years old, so the equivalent would be something like a '91 Granada now), spent many happy hours changing engines and gearboxes (three engines and two gearboxes in 10 months), climbing over the fence at the back of the local tyre depot and nicking part-worns to replace the ones I'd ripped apart doing burnouts

A lot of my mates' parents bought them cars (invariably Minis/Metros), how they laughed when they saw this matt olive green shark-nosed big ugly thing of a car.

"What did you buy that for?"
"Get in"

It was all downhill from there.

That was 24 years ago, and while most of them have succumbed to the Barratt House, golf clubs and company Beemer/Audi, both v8devon and myself (I can't believe we've been best of pals for almost 30 years now) are still refusing to grow up.

More money, less hair, still essentially the same.

[Hirst]

With regards to all this, I think the ultimate question is why do people compromise on their hobbies (not just cars) to get on with life? Why don't they compromise on their life for a change, "grown up" life is largely dull anyway! If buying a load of old cars means I can't afford to buy new living room curtains every 2 years, so be it, curtains are rubbish.

[scaryoldcortina]

I'm well into my 30's and show no signs of growing up.. if thats what it is. I think the answer is this:
Do you get a buzz from driving your car, whatever it is? even when the traffic is horrid and its raining and you're on the way to work? To be blunt, do you like your car, or is it a tool to do a job with? I think If you love your car, you are a petrolhead. Even if you couldn't find the engine with a torch.

[cherryturbojames]

hirst said:

With regards to all this, I think the ultimate question is why do people compromise on their hobbies (not just cars) to get on with life? Why don't they compromise on their life for a change, "grown up" life is largely dull anyway! If buying a load of old cars means I can't afford to buy new living room curtains every 2 years, so be it, curtains are rubbish.

couldnt agree more , i put the old cherry turbo totally on hold when my son was born i used it as a family car for about 9 months and gave up when we hit winter and bought an auto mobdeo estate which was modded when i bought it (i loved that thing) will post up a pic if theres any interest and then unfortunatly for my mum she was made disabled so ive now got a xsara picasso mobility car to ferry her round in , it bores me to tears till i pull up next to some young chav!!
ive just got the cherry back on the road lovley 100 pound fully comp insurance something i have dreamt about for years and years now
and am really looking forward to using it as a weekend car I'm sure the missus will try to put her foot down one day but the car isnt going anywhere it will stay with me for as long as possible . and ive already warned her that if circumstances ever change i will not have a boring everyday car
bring on the 200sx powered prairie!!!