Yeah, I fully accept that I barely know anything and I'm still learning so I feel a bit stupid around people who really do know stuff, but some of the shit I've heard people come out with... I had a guy at work insist that R33 and R34 Skylines have superchargers. Despite telling him several times that they most certainly don't, and I should know, he still wouldn't have it. I had a friggin car dealer talking absolute bollocks about my car. "Is that an auto or manual? Cause I know manuals are really rare. Is it imported?" I was busy inspecting an Impreza, so I didn't have the patience to tell him that they're all imported and the autos are rarer than manuals. Stuff like that. I've also heard supposed car enthusiasts say that dump valves don't do anything besides make noise. In relation to a MKIV Supra, someone said to the owner "oh yeah, my wife used to have one of these. The 2.3L V6 version." FYI, there never was a 2.3L V6 Supra.
The other week, one of the resident assistants came over to see what I was doing while I was topping up my oil. Opened with "Wow, that's a nice car. What is it?" I told him it was a Skyline. "...Skyline...?" He looked thoughtful for a moment before I realised that he had no idea what a Skyline was. I told him "a Nissan Skyline". "Oh, Nissan? Ah..." Cue the usual "Oh, just a Nissan" expression. "So" he said, looking at the engine, "did you build this yourself?" I looked at the engine bay, rusted strut tops, oil smeared rocker box cover, dirty plastic covers and clips, lack of turbo and intercooler, and shitty body kit. Then back at him. He wasn't joking. "Er, no. It came like this when I bought it." He continued "aw man, I bet it's fast, right?" Return to looking at the half empty engine bay with absolutely nothing indicative of performance present. "Eh, it's not considered to be, no". He looked at me like he thought I was lying.
And another time I turned up to work early, and another guy came over to have a look. "Dude, since when did you have a Skyline? They're like my favorite cars!" "Oh really?" "Yeah man!" He points at the badge on the side "Aw sweet, GT version?" There isn't a "GT" version. "GTS" I correct him. "Duuude, niiiice". What I didn't tell him is that the GTS is basically the shittiest version you can get. Even Skyline enthusiasts take the piss about them.
I swear, I have no problem with people wanting to learn more and asking innocent questions, but when they start trying to big up their or my ego with inane shit when they clearly don't have a clue, it kind of irritates me. I know they're chatting shit, they know they're chatting shit, it's just a waste of time all round.
I don't know, am I being too harsh and judgmental about these people? I just realised how much of an elitist prick I sound writing these out.
Last edited: Feb 22, 2016