Whilst recently reading another local forum it occured to me that some people who claim to be car enthusiast actually seem anything but. I personally think, considering the amount of crap we have to put up with for our interest in cars that we should be at least able to afford a little exclusivity. But alas it seems that of late the scene has been filled with people with nothing better to do masquerading as genuine enthusiasts.

Hence I put it to you, what makes an enthusiast?

I think I at least know what doesn't make you an enthusiast. Case in point, and automatic ford festiva has to be one of the most lifeless, unstimulating, uninspiring coffin's on wheels that I can think of yet apparently these days if you paint the bonnet black it qualifies you to label yourself as an enthusiast? I think not. I recognise the fact that some people with a genuine passion and interest for cars don't always get to pick the vehicle they would like. However I think they could/should (if they were a true enthusiast) do something to get at least the next or even 20th best thing before commiting enthusiast suicide by purchasing a 4cyl camry or the like. I recognise that it is often the more sensible descision to stick with said reliable auto festiva or camry etc. But I personally think that is what seperates a genuine enthusiast from the masses, we just plain couldn't live with a lifeless car like that.

So that brings us to the harder to define question of what does qualify you as an enthusiast? Without including the poor unfortunate souls who have a genuine interest but are unable to have a vehicle of their own at all I have a few ideas. I suggest there be some criteria, of course open to discussion and acceptions. My suggestions (and they are just off the top of my head and will need much more input from the masses) are as follows (and not all of the suggested criteria are needed for the one car IMO ).

An enthusiast should:-
Have a car with a power to weight ratio of at least..........
Should have altered their vehicle for better performance in their respective field
Should have a history of motorsport attendance (including sound offs, shows etc)
Should be of a rare/collectable make or model
Should have a sound knowledge of their vehicle
Should take enjoyment in driving their vehicle as much as practical
Should have a genuine reason why they own their vehicle

That's all I can think of just now. So what do you guys think makes an enthusiast?

If you typed all that, go find a hobby or have a wank.

My hobby is in the shop right now

to be honest, in my books there are no rules for being an enthusiast.

enthusiast: fancier: a person having a strong liking for something

so all you really need is to have a strong liking for cars. i used to own a 720 datsun ute, and the only thing i ever did to it was put an 8 ball gear knob and 6x9's and a cd player in it, and i would have still considered myself an "enthusiast" because i had/have a strong liking for cars.

im not too big on the whole stereotyping crap that goes on with other forums. the whole idea of tce (townsville car enthusiasts) is to try and get as many people involved. it doesnt matter if you own a fully modified car or a stock car, if you have a passion for cars, you fit my bill.

You downgraded from a datto 720 ute to a gti?!

haha, you downgraded form a barina to a calais??

I'm one of those 'poor unfortunate souls' who doesn't own a car... For now anyway.

But I consider myself to be a semi car enthusiast. I get enjoyment out of them. Be it at car shows or helping people work on them (trying to anyway in all my dumb femaleness). I could probably talk about cars all day. And, I appreciate a good car when I see one.

But I agree with you Rhys (For once )

Swiftest_gti wrote:haha, you downgraded form a barina to a calais??

Wasn't it Barina to Pootrol to Calais?

I know what you mean Rhy's and I'm not trying to stereotype anyone however I do question the passion of someone when they say they're an enthusiast yet let practicality get in the way of that passion. You guy's are obviously very passionate about your GTi's, you could blow 7 gearboxes and still love them. If you sold your GTi and bought a camry for more than it'd cost for an uber GTi gearbox for no other reason than reliability than I'd question your passion for cars.

And your 720 owning scenario is one in which your actions, knowledge and attendance to events in the car scene would prove your enthusiasm not just your ride. I'm not trying to categorize people plainly by what they drive.

but who are we to be the judge of who is and isn't an enthusiast?

who are you not to judge rhys?


i agree and dissagree to some statements,

but who says this said "reliable" camry...dosnt have a 2JZ under the bonnet...
but since we are talking about camerons pathetic auto festiva...im with josh

oh yeah i dont disagree that the members we allow on here need to be moderated heavily, and heavily moderated they will be, but i dont really like the idea of setting up a set of guidelines as to what makes a "car enthusiast".

I guess it's more of just the degree of enthusiasm that varies then. Some are true die hard to the core car people and others only somewhat. I'm obviously not talking about RWD 2JZ camrys Tom. And The moderation is kinda what I was getting at, fair enough if you wanna lap the strand a million times a night on a thursday but I reckon if you wanna be a member of an enthusiast group than it takes more than that.

^agree


a 2jz camry would be epic but....