What is a Petrolhead?
Discussion
Browsing the Forum's etc I got to thinking...what is a Petrolhead? Really? Are most here on Pistonheads, Petrolheads?
Is it:
1. Someone who see's cars as a machine to be enjoyed rather than a mode of transport to ferry one from A to B?
2. Someone who is very knowledgeable about cars - the various Marques and their History, i.e. a bit of a car subject anorak?
3. Someone who owns one or several cars, knows a bit about their favourites and goes to Shows etc and takes part in the odd Club run?
4. Someone who is a bit of a grease-monkey and can take a car apart and put it back together again?
5. Someone who enjoys modifying cars?
6. Someone who does Track Day's or Off-Roading? (Can someone who prefers 4x4's to Sports cars be a Petrolhead?)
7. Someone who enjoys cars and driving but isn't particularly knowledgeable nor great at the actual mechanical side of things?
How many of the above are applicable? I would see myself as a mix of 1 and 7. I have very little mechanical knowledge, don't have any great anorak knowledge to bore people with, have never done a Track Day and currently don't own a Sports car (albeit I have done and will again).
Yet, I have a great interest in cars and admire and enjoy them - be they Sports cars or 4x4's. I don't consider myself a 'proper' Petrolhead though...I see that to be someone who would tick numbers 2-6 in my list above. Well, perhaps with the exception of number 3...that might not truly qualify by itself.
Is it:
1. Someone who see's cars as a machine to be enjoyed rather than a mode of transport to ferry one from A to B?
2. Someone who is very knowledgeable about cars - the various Marques and their History, i.e. a bit of a car subject anorak?
3. Someone who owns one or several cars, knows a bit about their favourites and goes to Shows etc and takes part in the odd Club run?
4. Someone who is a bit of a grease-monkey and can take a car apart and put it back together again?
5. Someone who enjoys modifying cars?
6. Someone who does Track Day's or Off-Roading? (Can someone who prefers 4x4's to Sports cars be a Petrolhead?)
7. Someone who enjoys cars and driving but isn't particularly knowledgeable nor great at the actual mechanical side of things?
How many of the above are applicable? I would see myself as a mix of 1 and 7. I have very little mechanical knowledge, don't have any great anorak knowledge to bore people with, have never done a Track Day and currently don't own a Sports car (albeit I have done and will again).
Yet, I have a great interest in cars and admire and enjoy them - be they Sports cars or 4x4's. I don't consider myself a 'proper' Petrolhead though...I see that to be someone who would tick numbers 2-6 in my list above. Well, perhaps with the exception of number 3...that might not truly qualify by itself.
It is true enthusiasm and knowledge (or wanting to learn) about all cars, it is not buying the blingiest new status symbol because you can and then thinking you are a proper petrolhead, there is no shortcut and budget doesnt matter.
Two minutes with a real petrolhead and the pretenders are exposed, like the chap (who professes to be car enthusiast and has had soem notable classics) who told me he wouldnt buy an old 944 like mine due to the wayward handling, what with the engine being in the rear.... or, the guy at work that finds his new Mini to be a bit skittish, what with it being RWD and all.
Two minutes with a real petrolhead and the pretenders are exposed, like the chap (who professes to be car enthusiast and has had soem notable classics) who told me he wouldnt buy an old 944 like mine due to the wayward handling, what with the engine being in the rear.... or, the guy at work that finds his new Mini to be a bit skittish, what with it being RWD and all.
Changedmyname said:
8) someone who drives a 2ltr diesel?
no its diesel and not PETROL.Upon seeing say an Enzo taking up 2 spaces in a car park
Petrolhead - f
k yeah, nice to see one in the flesh etcnon-Petrolhead - look at that knob parking in 2 bays to protect his car, who does he think he is etc
I think both. kingstondc5 said:
Changedmyname said:
8) someone who drives a 2ltr diesel?
no its diesel and not PETROL.Upon seeing say an Enzo taking up 2 spaces in a car park
Petrolhead - f
k yeah, nice to see one in the flesh etcnon-Petrolhead - look at that knob parking in 2 bays to protect his car, who does he think he is etc
Someone who has a positive (i.e not a representative of Brake) interest in cars and or driving. Doesn't have to know lots of facts, doesn't have to be a good driver. If someone tells me they're a petrolhead I would have no reason not to believe them, even if they know fk all about cars. Why be a pretender about being a petrolhead?
Friend of mine for years kept saying Testaratus instead of Testarossa, would constantly have to ask me what size engine this has and what kind of car that is, but lives fast cars and loves driving. A petrolhead in my mind, no doubt, just has a more casual approach to it than I do.
Even auto journalists get it wrong. Mark Hales said how the gearbox being behind the engine in a Countach made it weighty at the back. The gearbox is in front of the engine, practically betwen the seats. He has made other mistakes too, but I would never doubt that Mark is a proper petrolhead, dedicated enough to have made a living out of it. And he knows a hell of a lot more about cars than I do.
I am just a facts and figures kind of person. It defines my daily work, and it defines how I approach any hobby. Lots of people love cars that just look nice and barely care who makes it or what it is. Doesn't mean they get any less excited about cars than I do, it may well be the opposite.
k all about cars. Why be a pretender about being a petrolhead?Friend of mine for years kept saying Testaratus instead of Testarossa, would constantly have to ask me what size engine this has and what kind of car that is, but lives fast cars and loves driving. A petrolhead in my mind, no doubt, just has a more casual approach to it than I do.
Even auto journalists get it wrong. Mark Hales said how the gearbox being behind the engine in a Countach made it weighty at the back. The gearbox is in front of the engine, practically betwen the seats. He has made other mistakes too, but I would never doubt that Mark is a proper petrolhead, dedicated enough to have made a living out of it. And he knows a hell of a lot more about cars than I do.
I am just a facts and figures kind of person. It defines my daily work, and it defines how I approach any hobby. Lots of people love cars that just look nice and barely care who makes it or what it is. Doesn't mean they get any less excited about cars than I do, it may well be the opposite.
Edited by Alfanatic on Friday 28th December 12:03
J4CKO said:
It is true enthusiasm and knowledge (or wanting to learn) about all cars
I find most cars deathly dull - let alone all cars. In fact I take precious little interest in 99.9% of road cars. I don't much care for labels but would still consider myself a 'petrolhead', it's just my passion lies in motor racing rather than road cars. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff