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Which automobile enthusiast blogs have the best and worst member communities? They range from those with good discussion and debate between enthusiasts while others are filled with juvenile or off-topic comments and name calling from biased people who know little to nothing about cars.
In the Philadelphia region of PA
As the title would suggest, I was wondering what would be a good, first car for a enthusiast that's actually sporty and not something akin to a Civic(my first was 98 Accord EX). Been driving for a long time now(15+) so I can handle something over 200HP+. Between saving for a few years now, at 11K now, and after convincing my step brother to get a GR86, I'm in a good place for something fun but honestly, I don't know what. This isn't 2000 anymore where there was a bunch of coupes around. Everything a sedan or worse, a crossover nowadays, which I don't want either. I daily drive a 06 pristine Stratus with mild milage so this wouldn't be my first car. I might drive it to work occasionally but I'll probably be driving it on the weekend so it doesn't need Camry/Civic reliability. I'll probably finance it.
As for cars I've been thinking about, I'd rather sprint a slower car around corner than a faster car like a challenger down a straight line. I've thought getting myself a GR86 after convincing my step brother to get one since he's got it good, but there's literally only ever a handful of them in my entire area and their all black or white(I like bright colors like orange ok lol) but with tariff's, yeah, pretty sure everyone would agree a 2025 GR86 isn't worth 40K+, used ones don't really go for much lower than a new one, and from what I understand, the first generation isn't really desirable, also probably been drifted to death knowing my luck, and most people cite there much slower than the new gen.
I thought about a Miata, but I'm not really fond of the old, bubbly, girly looking ones(not judging If you drive one). I'd also prefer a hardtop. If I was getting something new, I'd rather prefer a GR86 for practically sake. At least than, I could keep the winter tires in the back. Beyond that, even the ones I don't like are like 15K+ where I live. I get the drift taxes but still.
There's also the fair ladies but given their age, I'm sure most have been beaten to hell and back. Finding a decent example gonna be a B in a half. I am aware the 370 doesn't have the same issue's that the early 350's had. Don't know anything about the Infinity G35 admittedly. S2000 out due to drift tax obviously.
I've also thought about the F body camaro's but they fall under the same list as the 350Z, plus older and probably finding one that's decent gonna be hard. I also don't like them. I grew up with a 89 cherry red IROC with corvette rims so It's kinda hard to like the F bodies for me. Pretty indifferent with the mustangs of that generation. I do like the firebirds/TRANS AM's but there usually worse off than even the Camaro's in my area.
I kinda hate gen 5+ camaro's. I grew up with a 69 SS Camaro in my garage as a kid and I still don't really see the dam similarities between the two. I don't like their design, and from what I've heard, their cockpits kinda suck to sit in. Also....can't drive a V6 muscle car If I'm gonna be a RWD hooligan LOL
I do like gen 5+ mustangs but I don't know anything about them. Just like the 350Z and the other muscle cars, I'm sure finding a decent example probably be hard.
Should probably also mention my old man is a former viper tech, who restored classic muscle cars for the boss and even owned plenty of them back in the day so he is someone I can take it to, but he's not reliable If you know what I mean LOL
Edited: Hagerty’s says that there are roughly 31m enthusiast cars, but there are a bunch of folks out there who love cars and can’t afford the price of the average enthusiast car. I wonder how big the “I’m passionate about cars” crowd is.
Hagerty’s defines enthusiast car as a vehicle that’s “30 year older with broad market appeal beyond daily transportation” (they also include a few younger cars in there).
Grab Turismo had like 80m players. There are lots of different community elements (videos, games, magazines).
How many people are “car people”?
We know that there are roughly 31m enthusiast cars,
How do we know that? What's the cutoff for an "enthusiast car"?
It depends on how you define a car enthusiast. If they love cars and are interested in driving or the mechanical side, I would call them an enthusiast even if they may not own an “enthusiast car”.
do you necessarily need to love FAST, GAS GUZZLING, NEED FOR SPEED type cars? or if you simply like cars for their reliability and how well they're built? do you need to hold arcane knowledge about cars and what makes them go?
I am not a huge car fan but... I kinda held back on joining sone communities because my car knowledge seemed superficial. Nowadays im learning not to really give a damn, but i am curious as to what really makes somebody a car enthusiast.
I’ve always been intrigued by what all must do in order to be able to still love such an expensive hobby/pastime that is being a car enthusiast- especially considering the diversity of cars you all own here.
For me, I’m currently an Intern for my county’s Public Health Department whilst going to college for a Bio degree (want to be a doctor, but school’s hard so I’m thinking about being a nurse). My first car (or truck, for those that care) was a 2001 F-150 XL extended cab long-bed, and my current car is a 2000 Honda Accord LX. Nothing necessarily exciting, but I’m hoping to finally save up enough money this summer to buy either a stick Miata/Acura/Accord coupe/anything.
So what do you all drive, and how do you afford it?
An 07 Toyota Yaris. The question that more appropriately fit’s me is why
Car is in my tag. I’m an Army RN so I’m an officer. I’ve been able to get additional schooling so that gives me extra money and then I have signed on for additional years for some another bonus. Also bought my car CPO, at 3 years old and 23k miles so I only paid about 58% of the original msrp.