These days being a car enthusiast is a hard task. For a start there's the ever increasing pressure from those who say they care about the environment. But there's more. The increasing number of speed cameras and speed bumps promoted by people who think that all speed of any sort kills. Then there are all sort of regulations which manufacturers must comply with, and most differ from country to country. For some reason we seem to be out of the law a bit, we don't seem to be welcomed at all. The fact that we are a small part of the world's population doesn't help either.
I like big engines. It's part of what makes cars so great. If that does bring us a high fuel consumption, so be it. I want to spent my hard earned money as I want, I don't care what others think. Those others, that buy hybrids because they pretend to be saving the world, don't realise that if they could see out of their small close-minded world there would be far better alternatives. But of course, actually saving the world has nothing to do with it.
I like the power. I like the speed. I don't care if people are concerned that because you drive a little bit faster than the others you may be having too much fun. And of course nowadays, if they can't have fun no one can. They say that the speed cameras and speed bumps and all those sorts of measures are there to save lives, but most of them aren't. Not when you have a large portion of those on well maintained roads and straight stretches and almost none on dangerous points.
I like the sound. I love the sound. I'm not bothered if that upsets the well to do people. I want my burbling V8s, high revving straight sixes, operatic V12s or whiny superchargers. I don't want them to be muted by some stupid regulation. I want them to sound like they should, I want them to sound raw and mechanical, because that's the way they were meant to be, and not cold and clinical.
I like a bit of danger. All cars should retain their characteristics and not all tamed and with the same behaviour. Is rear wheel drive difficult? Well, grow up, be a man. And if you can't then stay with your Honda, but please do not pretend ruining the good cars for all the others. Difference is where the spice of life is, this pretension of making everything the same is making most cars dull and boring, and ultimately irrelevant.
I like a bit of difficulty. Are traditional manual gearboxes a thing of the past? Maybe, but comparing them to modern dual clutches and then trying to argue that they aren't as efficient or as fast is simply completely missing the point. There's a pleasure to be had in mastering the controls of your car, in applying the brakes well at the correct time, in executing a good gear change or in matching the good line through a corner. Please don't make cars do that for us. We like driving, not playing the PlayStation.
I like the impracticality. I don't care if my car's only good for driving. I don't care if I can't give you a lift because the cabin is tiny or if I can't go and buy the groceries with my car because there's no boot to put them in the first place. Some cars are just meant to be driving machines and I'm in my perfect right to buy them if I want. And I'm not bothered at all if that upsets you.
I like everything the car represents for me. It's an element of freedom. An element of enjoyment. An element of fun. An element of distinction. The car sets me apart from you, and all the better for it. However, it seems we are losing this battle. All we like about cars seems to be disappearing from the radar. It's increasingly difficult, not only to justify yourself (something which actually we shouldn't have to do), but just go on with your passion without anyone annoying you and just leaving you alone. Being a car enthusiast has just become completely and utterly politically incorrect on all levels. And I love being politically incorrect.
Do you feel the same? Do you like cars? Are you politically incorrect?
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Originally Posted by henk4
Interesting statistic thrown out there in an article on the gulf oil spill .... USA uses double the oil of Europe. ALL oil burning produces CO2, not just cars and so there are many other things needed to bring balance to the planet than stopping cars being an "enjoyment" -- one which COST utlimately limits anyway 
