Stupid things non petrolheads say....

[walm]

sebhaque said:

(I was a little confused)
Me: "0.9 horsepower..? Has it been modified?"

Yes you were.
That is a ridiculous question.
Of course she meant 0.9l or 875cc - what on earth else could she have meant??

[smithyithy]

Antony Moxey said:

Perhaps your sister would be better advised getting her advice from someone else. SWMBO knows nothing about cars - what's she got? A red one - yet her cars are well looked after, regularly serviced, in decent condition and with little mileage added during the time she has them. Just because she knows nothing about them doesn't mean you should steer well clear of buying them.

This to be honest. Makes no difference if they know nothing about cars, as long as it's well maintained and looked after..

[thatdude]

SimesJH said:

When I bought my 1971 Mustang a few weeks ago, the first thing my 75 year-old mum asked was what the fuel economy was like.

Edited by SimesJH on Friday 21st November 07:50

Whilst missing the point of a '71 mustang, it's an amusing question to ask!

[mon the fish]

SimesJH said:

When I bought my 1971 Mustang a few weeks ago, the first thing my 75 year-old mum asked was what the fuel economy was like.

Edited by SimesJH on Friday 21st November 07:50

The first thing my gran asked about my JCW Mini was how big the boot was.

I definitely didn't buy it for the boot space.

[anonymous-user]

SimesJH said:

When I bought my 1971 Mustang a few weeks ago, the first thing my 75 year-old mum asked was what the fuel economy was like.

Edited by SimesJH on Friday 21st November 07:50

mon the fish said:

The first thing my gran asked about my JCW Mini was how big the boot was.

I definitely didn't buy it for the boot space.

Don't you just love them - know nothing about cars, but asking any question that comes to mind as they're genuinely interested in what you've done..

[scarble]

Or alternatively, they're trying to be deliberately detracting, in both cases asking about one of the cars worst traits.
The correct response with the Mini is, I believe, to show her, while grinning like a loon and when she comments how impractical it is, tell her, look on the bright side, I can't fit you in it

[cj2013]

Antony Moxey said:

Perhaps your sister would be better advised getting her advice from someone else. SWMBO knows nothing about cars - what's she got? A red one - yet her cars are well looked after, regularly serviced, in decent condition and with little mileage added during the time she has them. Just because she knows nothing about them doesn't mean you should steer well clear of buying them.

Agree. What a stupid reason to tell someone to 'steer clear'.

"He can't quote the torque figures love, must be well dodgy"

[ORD]

scarble said:

Or alternatively, they're trying to be deliberately detracting, in both cases asking about one of the cars worst traits.
The correct response with the Mini is, I believe, to show her, while grinning like a loon and when she comments how impractical it is, tell her, look on the bright side, I can't fit you in it

+1

It tells you so much about what a miserable bunch of people the British have become that the first response from most people to seeing a nice car (of which the owner might well be proud) is "I bet that costs a lot to run" or "Not much MPG from that!".

My only response now is "I couldn't give a st". Rude response to a rude comment.

[Kenny6868]

I have a mate who insists that all Ferraris are painted red during manufacture. If you order one in a different colour then they respray it for you before delivery!

This was the same guy who swears blind he saw a Aston Martin DB12!

[Dilligaf10]

cootuk said:

"Me:You drive a Prius and claim to be a petrolhead?"

Bet you said this when synchromesh came out too...

Yes and I drive a V8 Hotrod as well, what category do I fall into?

[TA14]

ORD said:

My only response now is "I couldn't give a st". Rude response to a rude comment.

That may be the way in your neck of the woods but it's not the way I would speak to my 75 year old mum or my gran; pity them for trying to show an interest in what you've bought and not keeping up to date with motoring developments in the last half century.

[DanielSan]

ORD said:

+1

It tells you so much about what a miserable bunch of people the British have become that the first response from most people to seeing a nice car (of which the owner might well be proud) is "I bet that costs a lot to run" or "Not much MPG from that!".

My only response now is "I couldn't give a st". Rude response to a rude comment.

Had a similar thing taxing my Impreza when the V5 came back the other week. Guy behind the counter told me how much it was as I hadn't actually looked before hand And some old fella behind commented saying it was expensive, and asked what it was like to run on everything else.
He didn't believe me when I told him I'd averaged 19mpg that weekend

[Howard-]

TheLordJohn said:

My next door neighbour has a 2009 Golf TSI.
Recently had timing chain failure and dropped a few valves.
I asked her if the garage told her how many valves were damaged, she said "Well, it's a 1.4 so all 14"!

that's strangely adorable!

[smithyithy]

TA14 said:

That may be the way in your neck of the woods but it's not the way I would speak to my 75 year old mum or my gran; pity them for trying to show an interest in what you've bought and not keeping up to date with motoring developments in the last half century.

I don't think he meant it like that.. I've encountered similar quotes about previous cars from work colleagues.

It's like, the only real negative about a nice / sporty car is the slightly worse fuel economy compared to the duller eco-boxes most of the commenters drive, so rather than complimenting or at least asking something relevant, they simply point out the only statistic that their car 'wins' at. It's the old 'you have something nice so I'm going to put you down' mentality that so many people adopt these days :/

[Patrick Bateman]

It's more irritating when they're shocked at the '21mpg' reply.

What the fk were you expecting? 35?

[TA14]

smithyithy said:

TA14 said:

That may be the way in your neck of the woods but it's not the way I would speak to my 75 year old mum or my gran; pity them for trying to show an interest in what you've bought and not keeping up to date with motoring developments in the last half century.

I don't think he meant it like that.. I've encountered similar quotes about previous cars from work colleagues.

I'm simply pointing out that he did reply to someone commenting on things that a 75 year old mum and a gran have said. I didn't think much of the previous posters about those comments either. Maybe I'm getting old or things are different elsewhere but up here I like to think that there's still some repect and politeness left.

[gbrown2014]

F1 drivers are more talented than rally drivers

[Rostfritt]

busta said:

"Road deaths have gone up this year. It's all those people that overtake me."

The ALL died?

Have they? Last year they were the lowest since records began in 1926.

[Silverbullet767]

Rostfritt said:

busta said:

"Road deaths have gone up this year. It's all those people that overtake me."

The ALL died?

Have they? Last year they were the lowest since records began in 1926.

According to the brake story I just made up, it's increased 4000% last year alone. Anyone overtaking anything, including parked cars instantly exploded in a fireball taking out the nearest child holding a puppy. I don't go out anymore. Far too dangerous.

[smithyithy]

Silverbullet767 said:

According to the brake story I just made up, it's increased 4000% last year alone. Anyone overtaking anything, including parked cars instantly exploded in a fireball taking out the nearest child holding a puppy. I don't go out anymore. Far too dangerous.

Is their a completely literally accurate Facebook post I can share regarding this to let everyone know it's serious business?!