How old do you think the age is where people start to care a little more for their vehicles and don't just let them get nasty sitting around? Or is it not age so much as paying for it, or is it something that you either do or don't do?

I was just thinking about that on the way to the car from campus (I got to Auburn) while I was looking at parked cars. Some kids here have some nice cars, a few mercedes, lots of bimmers, I even saw a M3 in the lot. But almost every car I see is downright filthy, rims are black from dust, car is brown from just never being washed. Granted it's been hard to keep a car clean here this week, I washed mine yesterday and it already is starting to look bad. But still, it's easy to see these cars haven't been washed in ages. I just don't understand how you can own a car, much less a nice one, and let it stay disgusting.

 

HaHa i know exactly what you are talking about. I was down in boca raton last year for school. There was a girl the drove one of those 4 door mazeraties and the thing was filthy. I watched he back into another car get out and look at it like it was nothing. I mean i know some spoiled kids but jesus. Those are the kids that i hate. They all give us bad names. I am 18 and when i drive down the street people think my car is to nice for me to own. They think its my dads car. One time at auto zone some guy comes up to me and goes wow nice car how did you let your dad take that out. I was like its mine. He started laughing and said its way to clean for a kid like you. I mean how much nerve do you need to say something like that. Some people call me spoiled because i drive around a srt. I dont belive that. I think spoiled means some kid that has a car like me or something better and treats it like its a 1976 mini van that has rust all over it. I can't stand it. sorry for any spelling errors im dyslectic.

 

i think its more about how you were raised. my father always took pride in his car and taught me to do the same.
nowadays people dont keep cars as long as they used to, (lease cars 0 downpayment and trade off) so they care less about them. i do believe if you buy a car to keep for a long time you take better care of them. just my .02

 

Ya i guess that is true i never thought about it like that. My step dad has a 1997 land rover defender that he kepts mint. I think is also has to do with our car. I mean how many other crossfires do you see driving around everyday. I have seen one in 4 months. I feel embarresed when my car is dirty.

 

I get the "did Dad buy you that car" all the time. My dad didnt even know I had the car till I pulled up in it. Cops are the worst about it here in hawaii, I always get the, "Do you want me to call your parents and tell them you were speeding" which is funny becuae I don't live with them anymore, but just because I'm 18 they just assume, its fucked up. But just looking at the university here I can see where they get that. I seen a kid pull out of the handicap spot he had pulled into with his new G37 without looking and he got smashed by some other student driving a boxster who wasn't paying attention.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head here, I am a little older than most of you (not much, at 26) but I still catch some **** for being young in my car. My car is ALWAYS clean and looking top notch because I have respect for it, the same way it has NEVER been through an automatic carwash. I think 32Krazy is correct in saying it was the way you were raised. You did not have to be raised by a 'car guy' to learn that you respect and take care of things you spend a good amount of money on. I see kids who have nice cars neglect them all the time, and this is horrible because you know they don't pay a nickel for them. It is nearly as bad when you see a guy in a 100K mercedes pull up with black caked on brake dust and he is smoking a cigar in the car - I mean damn, I just want to slap them all LOL

 

I think you make some good points, as I think it's a number of things, but mostly pride in what you drive, if it's yours or your parents. If It's a car you really wanted, and you got it, I think you will take care of it. There are people who are car people, and others that just see it as transportation, especially if it's dad's or mom's car. There's also the point of did you buy it, or did dad give it to you (and there's nothing wrong with that). If you are a car person, you will keep it clean.

I've always kept my car clean. Even my first family car hand-me-down when I was a kid.

 

To some degree it depends on whether you're a car guy or if you simply look upon your vehicle as an appliance, a way to get you to whatever destination you need to get to. And it doesn't matter what sort of car you drive either. Some people will buy the MB or BMW just for appearance sake without really caring about driving dynamics, etc. It's sort of the proper car for their socio-economic situation. Let's face it, you don't see a lot of people living in very expensive neighborhoods driving entry level cars - it's an image thing.

I've talked to guys who thought nothing of dropping well into 6 figures on a new car then spent $5000 on after market tires/wheels, $3000 on an exhaust and another $2500 on a sound system (and they quote these numbers with pride) but they look at me like I'm out of my mind when I suggest spending a few hundred bucks on the proper tools and materials to keep it looking perfect. "That's what the local car wash is for - wash, wax, vacuum, etc for $25 a week. My car looks great!" Yes, sir, yes it does. Those are the shiniest swirls I've ever seen. Good for you.

 

Exactly right, Mike. This is the same reason why my car is going back to Jimmy's for another few days to get everything taken care of the right way...

 

Good points all - there is no age. I was washing and waxing my older buddies 66 Corvette, 66 396 Malibu way before I had my drivers license. For my trouble I learned to drive a 4 speed in the Corvette. So by the time I had my own car in 1967 I knew it had to be clean. 42 years later I'm still out in near freezing weather in the winter washing my car, they will never see a car wash. My Crossfire and my wife's car get washed every week and waxed once a month. Once every late spring I tidy up the wheel wells, brake calipers anything you can see that might look a bit dirty, it all gets cleaned or painted and I forgot the spring clay bar. It's just what I do.

 

Mine is Automysophobia! (Fear of dirt).

 

I remember in 1979 talking with a guy from HS about how awsome his TA was, I drove a primer gray 67 Coronet. He was cool and said someday you'll have a cool car yourself. Well it took 20 plus years and in that time Ive had several cars. Didnt take care of them all but save for a few that "did it for me" they got spoiled Seems as I hit my mid 30's and was spending $ on family things that I developed a deeper sense of appreciation for my cars. Now at 49 my crossfire gets the best treatment of any car while my wifes caliber and my beater car get simply well maintained...but never abused.

For what its worth, Ive never had anything given to me and all I have Ive worked/sacraficed for=APPRECIATION

 

I've never been a "car guy" but I always tried to keep my cars clean as it seemed the right thing to do. I didn't do the whole waxing thing as it was as someone put it, an appliance mentality and I just didn't see the need to waxing a car as it seemed just a waste of time...not anymore. I seldom let it stay dirty more than a day and I wax it frequently and polish it frequently as well.

I actually showed up for a local meet with a little rain dust and some break dust (it is an NA after all) and the surprised look on Shark067's face was enough that I can't let that happen again...

 

Same here....

 

If you truly like cars, you'll take special care of them. No matter what it is.

 

I agree 100%, when I was much younger, I have a hand me down beige ford taurus. It was about the most unassuming car ever - but I always had her clean and standing tall, none of my friends could understand it - they are not true car people.

 

I think it's a personal preference. I set the example by hand washing/waxing my roadster and SRT6, and do the same during the summer to my A6 (it looks pretty darn good for a 2003 with 152k miles). I have to nag my 19 year old son to wash/wax his 2007 XF -- the last two times I started it myself and shamed him into helping. He likes having a nice car but is too lazy to REALLY care for it. On the other hand, I bought my 17 year old daughter a 2003 A4 and she washes it 2-3x per week and waxes it at least weekly in the summer. Just different kids. Different personalities. Same difference in their homework effort, btw.

 

To all you youngsters out there - - - WHOA!!! Car care is not dependent upon the age of the owner. As a 76 year old guy with two cars (Crossfire & DeLorean) that get entered in local, regional and even national cars shows, I assure you that they are extremely well maintained.

Neither of these cars is ever towed to events. They are nearly daily drivers in the summer. Because of the nature of our winters, they pretty much stay in the garage from November to March. Now, having said that, you may see one of my cars on the street and it may well have dust, dirt or road grime on it at that moment. However, living as I do in the mountains of Colorado and at the end of 1.8 miles of gravel road, they can look fairly ratty just being driven to town. Trust me, they gleam at show time.

Tolerate us old folks - - we aren't as bad as we look !!!!

 

Why would you buy both your kids cars? My dad easily had enough to buy me a car but he didn't and though I was pissed at first I realized how much
more respect I had for the car after. It feels better when you know you worked hard to get something by yourself and not just have it given to you. The closest my dad came to buying a car was a used versa for my sister as a present for getting her PHD. Every kid I knew in high school that got cars from their parents were spoiled, one went as far as to complain because their dad didn't let then get a new s2000 and they had to settle for a new BMW. So although it seems like something you should do, don't buy your kids nice cars, a 80's civic will get him there and back for $500

 

Amen - -Amen!