Thug Bird's Personal Unpopular Petrolhead Opinions, Part 1 out of 6

As petrolheads, we all have our own perspectives and philosophies when it comes to being one, no?

As petrolheads, we all have our own perspectives and philosophies when it comes to being one, no?

Believe me, I love CarThrottle and the community for it’s constantly positive, helpful, and overall friendly community and the aura of carmaraderie that promotes such attitude, but then, even as I stay in this website, I have some negative opinions towards some major fads in this community.

Am I aimlessly posting this to generate controversy? By no means. I am merely voicing out my own opinion on some otherwise popular things that constantly get positive reception. I’d appreciate it if you’d read through this.

1. I Don't Believe in the "Built, not bought" Mentality.

Thug Bird's Personal Unpopular Petrolhead Opinions, Part 1 out of 6

Most petrolheads I hear about live by the famed mantra, “Built, not bought.”. Meaning, they only resolve to deal with cars by tuning it to the way they want, and resenting any car that is merely purchased, stock, or already upgraded like new Ferraris or Lamborghinis.

This is among the kind of petrolheads fads that I disagree with. Yes, tuning can always make a car better, but is it absolutely necessary to take away the virginity of every car you get your hands on? Some cars are often better left stock.

Would you really want to spoil it's natural beauty with unnecessary modifications?
Would you really want to spoil it's natural beauty with unnecessary…

And this mentality often leads to the resentment of supercars, which are well known for being the kings of car performance without the need for modifications, much to the chagrin of the more conservative car enthusiasts. Also, with supercars being accessible mostly to rich snobs, this would further deteriorate the reputation of these kind of cars towards most petrolheads, which often make them make vows to not buy these kind of cars and continue to buy tuner cars to, “express their aesthetics as a car enthusiast.”

Are you *SURE* you wouldn't like this if you have enough money? Don't deny yourself if you do like it deep in your heart.
Are you *SURE* you wouldn't like this if you have enough money? Don't deny…

“Oh, but Thug Bird! I hate new cars because they’re complicated, they look too extreme for my liking, too expensive, and too many people like it!”

Are you kidding me with that? You hate them because they’re complicated to work on? Like I previously mentioned, is it absolutely necessary to work on a car simply to fulfill a craving in your heart? Supercars are already graceful, poised, and powerful on their own. Is 200+mph and premium luxury just not enough for you? And too extreme? Why, do you want all cars, super car or normal to be conservative and only completed by modifications? That would get old too quickly.

Too expensive? Work harder if you desire it. Too many people like it, that’s why you hate it? Oh please, then why don’t you go hate on the BMW M3 or the Toyota Supra or something? Those are among the most liked cars among the petrolhead community, right?

…No? You wouldn’t because its good as it is? Then why don’t you think of new cars the same? That right there is borderline double standards. Is it because the M3 or the Supra is affordable and tunable? That’s why you refuse to talk bad about it? That’s not being reasonable. You’re merely siding with the conservative side because you’re more at home in that way. By no means is that a bad thing. Of course! We have our own tastes as petrolheads.

Whether you like tuner cars for being affordable and fun to work with is perfectly fine, but if your heart’s desire is to aim for the finer things, like luxurious new cars, then don’t deny yourself if you’re truly determined to get them.

But my point in here is this; Don’t persecute all new cars as tasteless simply because they’re modern, expensive, and complicated to work on. Isn’t respect for all petrolheads something you lot preach about as well? If so, why do you still have passive contempt for “bought” cars?

I am perfectly fine with an older, tastefully modified car as much as the petrolhead next door, but I’d also be equally happy to own a modernized performance car as good as it is left alone. I’m also perfectly aware that personally modifying a car is a petrolhead’s way to express his art to the world, and that is a wonderful thing to do. However, we should also be more considerate towards the future offspring of performance cars as artworks in themselves. The personal art of the makers themselves.

This is part 1 of 6 rants I have that are unpopular opinions. Am I wrong in some of these aspects? If so, do freely express it. I’m open to corrections.
I know I’m not perfect. I’m just an ordinary bird with a big heart for cars as much as all of you. This is merely just my personal opinion, nothing to take seriously. Every man (in my case, bird) to himself, right?
Thank you for reading this! I hope to make more content for you all. Thug Bird, out. chirp chirp

(••) ( ••)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■)

See you guys!

Thug Bird's Personal Unpopular Petrolhead Opinions, Part 1 out of 6

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Alex Antilla

Exactly

02/13/2016 - 07:22 |
0 | 0
Steve Buscemi

Couldn’t agree more, brilliant article!

02/13/2016 - 07:22 |
21 | 1

I couldn’t!!!

02/13/2016 - 17:55 |
0 | 0
Delightful Citizen (Classic Truck Squad)

The only time I get all “built not bought” is when somebody brings a brand new completely stock car to a custom car show.. and then they win first place.
Drives me nuts.

02/13/2016 - 07:30 |
0 | 0

i mean if it was a sleeper id be impressed but in a show about making your car different fron stock, wtf man

02/13/2016 - 08:33 |
0 | 0
Thomas Olins

I don’t care about the end result, I really enjoy the build process.

02/13/2016 - 07:39 |
3 | 0
Utsav Desai

I agree, stock cars also have a lot of value as they are , though I’m not a big fan of driver aids (especially electric power steering)

02/13/2016 - 07:54 |
3 | 0
Unknown

I agree with you. There are certain cars that should be left stock or close to it. However, it is up to personal preference obviously. I don’t think the built not bought mentality is necessarily bad, but it is over the top sometimes

02/13/2016 - 08:10 |
0 | 0
DragzMR2

I see where you are going with this and I do agree on some points but I still like to modify my car the way I want it. I know best what I want from my car and the best way to achieve it is by “building” it myself. Sure, I’d never mod a, let’s say, lotus exige but I find great satisfaction in making my car the way I want it to be

02/13/2016 - 08:17 |
1 | 0
Caro

the only way a car is truely “built not bought” is if you’re a theif or if you made a very primitive car out of things you found at a remote island.

“Bought Then Built” not “Built Not Bought” The opposite would be “Bought it Built”

02/13/2016 - 08:27 |
15 | 0
Thug Bird

In reply to by Caro

Hmm, interesting point you got there.

chirp chirp

02/14/2016 - 05:30 |
0 | 0
HenSi

I don’t see why people shouldn’t be proud of what they have built. You’re making it sound like a bad thing. I think you SHOULD be more proud if you’ve built a car that can destroy modern supercars, but I agree with you that one shouldn’t loathe a modern car for what it is.

02/13/2016 - 08:28 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

You convinced me to read on after the first letter.

02/13/2016 - 08:30 |
0 | 0