# Can Driving a Too-Sporty Car Make You Look Like a Tool? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482 "2009-09-17T19:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/61 "2009-09-18T06:21:49Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > It depends on what performance you’re looking for but how about the Viper SRT-10 roadster with 600 hp, 560 ft-lbs of torque and 0-60 in under 4 sec. The Corvette Z06 isn’t even the top end model and has 505 hp, 470 ft-lbs of torque and can also go 0-60 in 3.6 sec. For comparison the Elise is just under 5 sec on the 0-60 so there are lots of sports cars that can blow them away. > > ETA: the 335i is about 6 sec in the 0-60. Straight line times aren’t really a great measure of what makes a sports car, at least in my book. At the track, I can easily leave behind cars that are faster in a straight line. But even lap times aren’t all that useful as they make no comment on how _enjoyable_ the car is to drive. That’s where a lot of the classic British and Italian sports cars of the '50s and '60s really got things right. They weren’t necessarily all that fast, but they were (and still are) incredibly fun to drive. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/62 "2009-09-18T12:52:42Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > What roadsters blow them away in performance? Maybe an Elise, which works for you if you’re a midget. Porsche 911 and the Nissan 370Z are a couple others to add to the ones already provided. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/63 "2009-09-18T13:38:06Z")
Ok, so if you have a 370Z then you’re cool but if you have a Z4 you’re an old man tool douchebag who’s just having a midlife crisis? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/64 "2009-09-18T14:15:21Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Ok, so if you have a 370Z then you’re cool but if you have a Z4 you’re an old man tool douchebag who’s just having a midlife crisis? I think you’re being a little extreme here. However, yeah if I see someone in a performance car then I think awesome car. If I see someone in a faux performance car, I say meh and think midlife crisis. Going for a convertible changes that from “I think” he is having a midlife crisis to he definitely is having a midlife crisis. Not that anyone should really care. Just buy the car you like and can afford. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/65 "2009-09-18T14:22:21Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > [yes.](http://www.lookatusgo.net/gallery/content/Lucas%20and%20Lesley/Our%20Wedding/us_lotus.jpg) I doubt anyone buys an Elise because it looks cool. There are much prettier cars around for much less. They buy them because they handle brilliantly. To the OP: just nix the convertible top. Instead of a Boxster, get a Porsche Cayman. > [@](#): > > My aformentioned piece of crap is a Toyota Corolla, so Toyotas it is. My fiancee drives a Corolla. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/66 "2009-09-18T14:22:21Z")
> [@Attack from the 3rd dimension](#): > > Well, since you ask, for the longest time it was a Toyota pickup. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > No, Toyota Yaris. Right church, wrong pew. My aformentioned piece of crap is a Toyota Corolla, so Toyotas it is. Hear that ladies? ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/67 "2009-09-18T15:13:31Z")
Not content with fighting ignorance, we’re now making new inroads _cough_ in urban legend development ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/68 "2009-09-18T15:41:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I doubt anyone buys an Elise because it looks cool. There are much prettier cars around for much less. They buy them because they handle brilliantly. I guarantee that looks were low on my list of considerations. If fact, put money down before the US version and its appearance was unveiled. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/69 "2009-09-18T16:03:42Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > **Jettboy** has it in one. If you’re a middle-aged guy with a mid-life crisis, you’re allowed to get the car you drooled over when you were 16. You can justify it by saying you always loved that car. > > OTOH, a middle-aged woman with a mid-life crisis IS allowed to get a brand-new sports car, as long as she’s already gotten the new face and new boobs. She can justify it by saying that since most of her is already new, why not get a new car. Classic cars are the way to go. My father in law just bought an early 80s Corvette and is fixing it up. The first midlife crisis car he bought was an 09 Celica, traded it in, bought an 05 Subaru SRX, sold it and now has the Corvette he always wanted. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/70 "2009-09-18T16:20:33Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > In and of itself there’s no reason that it should make you look like a tool. When I see older guys in sports cars, I think that they’re finally getting the payoff for years of work. When I see young guys in sports cars, I tend to think that they’re probably starving their children to make the insurance payment. > > A middle-aged and older guy _can_ look like a tool if there are other things that go with the sports car, though. Clothes that aren’t you? Hair implants? Tanning-bed tan? Hot blonde that wouldn’t otherwise be with you? Now you’d start to be looking like a tool. This. My pops worked three jobs his entire life. A year or two back he bought himself a Boxster (not red). He’s not an extravagant guy and doesn’t otherwise dress or act like a tool. Maybe it’s just because he’s my pops, but when I see him motoring around in it with my mom and a golden retriever digging the breeze I see him enjoying something he’s always wanted and, by virtue of having busted his balls his entire life like most people of my generation can’t even\* imagine\*, deserves. Good for him. If instead he was riding around with his shirt half-unbuttoned, a gold medallion and a chest pelt, and a hot blonde in fake tits in the passenger seat, maybe a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/71 "2009-09-18T16:28:54Z")
My opinion is the Pontiac Solstice is a “chick” car. Have you looked at the Audi TT Coupe? That seems like a nice, manly, non-toolish vehicle? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/72 "2009-09-18T16:32:18Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > Classic cars are the way to go. My father in law just bought an early 80s Corvette and is fixing it up. Not all old cars are classics. Some are just… old. > [@](#): > > That seems like a nice, manly, non-toolish vehicle? The first generation TT was the utimate hairdressers’ car. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/73 "2009-09-18T16:37:49Z")
To a certain extent, I think, it has less to do with the choice of car as it does your attitude when you’re driving it. If you’ve got that “Hey! Check me out!” sort of look, then yup – tool. On the other hand, I saw a guy the other day – middle-aged, with his middle-aged wife beside him, driving along the highstreet – and they both just looked so _happy,_ just enjoying the drive, and the sunshine, and each others company. And I thought “Yeah, I want to be that guy.” There again, not everyone can suit just any car: [Dara O’Briain tries out a sportscar.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFMaJb_u688) (And for anyone not so familiar with the works of Enid Blyton, [this is who he’s referring to.](http://aticador.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/noddy.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/74 "2009-09-18T16:40:29Z")
I think it also helps if you’re not wearing a toupee. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/75 "2009-09-18T17:26:53Z")
Here is the question. When people look at you in your car, do they see a successfull man enjoying the fruits of his labor? Or do they see a douchebag who is trying to impress people with his toys? It’s going to depend a lot on who you are, what you do for a living, where you live, what you look like and who your friends are. Also keep in mind that if you are driving a $90,000 sports car, the kinds of people who are going to think you are a tool are probably people you don’t give a shit about anyway. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/76 "2009-09-18T17:39:46Z")
I saw a guy in a Porsche yesterday. Said Porsche was stalled in the driveway of a gas station, hood up, with the owner (a young, neatly-coiffed, “bro”-looking guy) quizzically trying to discern the problem. Bro also had a cast on his hand. That did sort of shout “tool”. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/77 "2009-09-18T17:56:53Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > There again, not everyone can suit just any car: [Dara O’Briain tries out a sportscar.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFMaJb_u688) “Not you, rowing machine man, you’re feck-all use to us on _that_ day!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/78 "2009-09-18T18:01:25Z")
> [@stuthehistoryguy](#): > > I saw a guy in a Porsche yesterday. Said Porsche was stalled in the driveway of a gas station, hood up, with the owner (a young, neatly-coiffed, “bro”-looking guy) quizzically trying to discern the problem. \*\*Bro also had a cast on his hand. > > That did sort of shout “tool\*\*”. That’s harsh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/79 "2009-09-18T18:48:06Z")
> [@NajaNivea](#): > > “Not you, rowing machine man, you’re feck-all use to us on _that_ day!” 😃 Ah, but what if there’s a flood? What price your skis then? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/80 "2009-09-18T19:38:47Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Here is the question. When people look at you in your car, do they see a successfull man enjoying the fruits of his labor? Or do they see a douchebag who is trying to impress people with his toys? … How about a douchebag enjoying the fruits of his douchebaggery? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482.md?page=5)