Question of the Day: What's the Most Un Car-Guy Car?

Jonny Lieberman
by Jonny Lieberman
Car Guy: 1. A person that lives and breathes cars; can tell you not only the make and model of every car on the street, but the displacement and power ratings as well. 2. A car enthusiast that values performance over practicality, comfort, reliability and efficiency (see Alfa Romeo Owner). For today’s QOTD purposes, lets stick with definition number two. Good? That said, I’m fortunate enough this week to be blasting all over Los Angeles in a Pontiac G8 GT (that’s the one with the 6.0-liter 361 hp V8 — more later). In my eyes, the Pontiac from down unda is a car guy’s car. Potent, fairly crude, not so hot on gas and a genuine thrill to drive. This morning (doing about 90 mph up a 6% grade) I passed a New Beetle Convertible. It had an orange top and matching orange rims. My gut, reptilian brain reaction was to smash it off the road. Who would drive such a dorky buggy? But is the Bug that J Mays penned any less of a car guy car than a Toyota Corolla/Camry? What about a (perish the thought) minivan? Or, the press car I traded last night for the G8, a Lincoln MKX? Yeah, the Ford Edge with 50 Cent’s teeth. I’m going to stick with the sherbet New Beetle. You?
Jonny Lieberman
Jonny Lieberman

Cleanup driver for Team Black Metal V8olvo.

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  • Steven Lang Steven Lang on Sep 04, 2008

    captdownswift... I actually saw a mid-80's Lebaron on the road today. Soft top up, silver in color, in very good shape. I can admire someone who keeps an old car in good shape regardless of the brand. In fact I'd be more than happy to have a long conversation about their old car than their new car. I see more than enough of those at the auctions.

  • BigOldChryslers BigOldChryslers on Sep 04, 2008

    I'm convinced that there is a fan-base for almost every motor vehicle ever produced, no matter how flawed or bland the vehicle is. Based strictly on the definition of "car guy" in the original question, an un-car-guy car would have to be practical, comfortable, reliable and efficient but NOT have a shred of performance characteristics. That sounds like the description of a minivan to me, perhaps a Toyota or Honda. From my own experience that could also describe a 1992-96 Buick Roadmaster (without the towing package). My old 1984 VW Rabbit diesel (non-turbo) could also qualify, as long as you're in the driver's seat and not in the back seat. otherwise, it was decidedly UNcomfortable. Disclaimer: Although I rather like my mom's Roadmaster and I miss my VW Rabbit, I consider myself very much a car guy.

  • Rpn453 Rpn453 on Sep 04, 2008
    Nobody has been able to explain to me the virtue of a car guy even considering a Honda CRV or similar CUV I’m still waiting… Alright, I might have one for you. My buddy, also a mechanical engineer and car guy who all through university and shortly after regularly proclaimed he'd never own an automatic, bought an automatic-equipped Mazda Tribute a couple of years ago. He injured his left leg mountain biking (some kind of nerve damage, he still can't even walk for any long distances) and it was painful to operate a clutch. He then got a job where he needed to travel to oilfield sites regularly and so needed a 4WD vehicle with some ground clearance that he could fit all-terrain tires onto, but he didn't have a lot of money yet and didn't want an expensive gas guzzler. He also wanted to be able to pull a small trailer so he could carry his sport bike and dirt bike, as well as materials for home maintenance, so he ended up getting a V6 auto Tribute. I can't disagree with his decision; it made sense and, with studded tires, it was damn good in winter (we're in Western Canada). His salary has since doubled and his student loans are gone, and he's had to re-weld his trailer a couple times due to the abuse of off-roading with it to get to dirt bike locations, so he just sold it and bought a 5.7L Tundra quad cab with a 6-1/2' bed to carry his bikes in that instead (they're pretty much giving those trucks away these days). He just bought a Harley Sportster too.
  • Carguy622 Carguy622 on Sep 04, 2008

    thetopdog: I rented a Mustang V6 auto convertible for a week just this past July. As a rental I've got no problem with them, they are enjoyable rides. My feeling is that an owner would loves cars would never get the V6 with the auto.

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