General and Gaming > Off Topic

Controversial opinion on sports cars

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Warmsignal:
Not an enthusiast. Just an observer. I think most people view cars whether they're sports or otherwise, as status symbols. People in America spend ridiculously on vehicles and they are often very large, and very overpriced. How many of those Jeep Wagoneer things have you seen on the roads already? They're both huge and really expensive, and yet manage to look like 90% of everything else on the road. I thought Jeep people were about practicality and individualism? Oh, well.

I bought a car a couple of years ago, and have had some second thoughts like "gee, I should've just took out a bigger loan and bought something way more expensive and sportier." That's just my mind, wishing that I had some greater status symbol to drive around in. Not worth it. My car is paid off now and I like it, it's fine. Even though it's technically just an economy car (one of the smartest choices you can make), that still didn't stop me from wasting a big chunk of change to buy some aftermarket wheels in order to ritz it up a bit. Because you know... status I guess? Maybe I'm not the most wealthy car owner out there, but I still have taste, you know? I specifically sought out a car in metallic rusty orange, because I like to be the one bold enough to buck the trendy commute of black, white and silver drudgery... and I guess it pays off, I get compliments on my car regularly I guess just because it doesn't look like most other cars. That's good enough for me.

Cars all basically do the same thing. You might need one capable of hauling or more cargo, but if you don't, they're essentially all the same. It's always a matter of how much do you need to spend to satisfy your own ego. Fortunately for me, I think I'm good for a while. Not foreseeing any departure from the economy class of vehicles in the future, either.

kypherion:
Given that I was born and raised someone who had a nice sports car, I may be a little biased. With that being said I'd like to offer up my perspective.

Throughout my life I watched my father's Supra get worked on, DINO'd, jacked up, down, and just about every position that car could be in.

It was fast, but it was clean. It was not a riced out POS. It was a White '95 MKIV Turbo and it was a piece of art. The paint job was incredible. It reflected the sunlight in a brilliant manner that still shines in my mind's eye all these years later. I wouldn't be surprised clay bar on it. For those interested in some of the specs it was 612HP at the wheels, twin-turbo, methanol injection, whole nine yards. Not the most horsepower but sure as hell smoked a Viper.

Point is, this was more of a project and admittedly piece of art than anything else. Yes, he certainly knew how to use the machine and its capabilities to the fullest. However, it was still an artistic beauty. Combine the aforementioned paint with someone who couldn't stand a crumb in his car and you have something that is at least worth looking at, never mind the fun it could offer.

I do think the point of when you can actually use the horsepower is legitimate. Admittedly it is increasingly difficult to even hit the speed limit nowadays. With that being said, growing up near the urban growth boundary and him working on the other side it allowed for some fantastic pulls. While not everyone has the opportunity to, in my area it was certainly and still is possible to use that kind of power. This is also ignoring the fact that there's a very popular raceway not TOO far from the general area.

Don't get me wrong, I understand people in L.A. or New York aren't going to be making any pulls anytime soon, but from a owning/collecting/modding perspective it's a fun project. For us it's clearly the obvious at least to a certain point. For others it may be sports, reading or painting. Simultaneously, I'm not trying to defend the Honda Civics at 3AM that lack a muffler. Those people are admittedly obnoxious.

I think it's worth mentioning the flip side of this, in that it is admittedly ridiculous to spend $773+ (Pricecharting.com as of this posting) on LSD Dream Emulator. Cherry picked example, but we're all buying disc rot...

TLDR; It's a hobby, just an expensive and gas consuming one. Not everyone has the circumstances to not bother people and make fast pulls but for those who can, the adrenaline rush is crazy!

vicecrufoli:
Man, I've owned a sports car for a long time. And let me tell you, it's very difficult and expensive to maintain. So I had to sell it.

zadaket:
I once owned a lamborghini and it's very expensive, but if you like sports cars you can maintain it. It was something new for me because I had never had such cars before and as soon as I earned money, I bought it immediately and it was an unforgettable experience.

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