# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/121 "2009-09-19T22:23:54Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Well, when I get older and kick my kids out of the house, I fully intend to get an Ariel Atom. I saw a show where they drove one of those and it looked like the kind of the car that even driving just once would be a life long experience, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on the road next to a Semi or even a large SUV in one. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/122 "2009-09-19T22:40:54Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I saw a show where they drove one of those and it looked like the kind of the car that even driving just once would be a life long experience, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on the road next to a Semi or even a large SUV in one. You’re thinking of this: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WaWoo82zNUA/hqdefault.jpg "Ariel Atom - Top Gear - Series 5 - BBC") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/123 "2009-09-19T22:58:42Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I saw a show where they drove one of those and it looked like the kind of the car that even driving just once would be a life long experience, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on the road next to a Semi or even a large SUV in one. Well shit, I drive the antithesis of a sports car now in my Scion Xa. 40mpg, yes, but a paltry 103 screaming squirrels of firepower under the bonnet. And it’s pretty damn small, too. I wouldn’t want to meet a large vehicle in an accident with it! The only car I get to laugh at driving this mini-Toyota is Smart car owners. Even Honda Fit has the edge on me, the bastards! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/124 "2009-09-19T23:12:25Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > You’re thinking of this: > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA) WOW… just wow! No, that isn’t the one I saw but thanks so much for posting that. The one I saw was just driving in street conditions. They hammered it to go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye but not the face deforming speed they did here. I can’t believe it left the sport bike looking like a moped. I still think I’d be a bit hesitant to take it on a highway with trucks and such, but give me an hour on the Blue Ridge Parkway… I’m not sure I’d ever need sex again and frankly I may not miss it with this. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/125 "2009-09-20T00:02:09Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > WOW… just wow! No, that isn’t the one I saw but thanks so much for posting that. The one I saw was just driving in street conditions. They hammered it to go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye but not the face deforming speed they did here. I can’t believe it left the sport bike looking like a moped. I still think I’d be a bit hesitant to take it on a highway with trucks and such, but give me an hour on the Blue Ridge Parkway… I’m not sure I’d ever need sex again and frankly I may not miss it with this. Yeah, if that does it for you, you may also be interested in the Locost: [http://www.locostusa.com/](http://www.locostusa.com/) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/126 "2009-09-20T00:09:48Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > A 335i is fine if you want a toy car. If you something a little more grown up, try a [Jaguar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W2N7dvdJxc). Jaguars have been crap for a decade +. No reliability. Ok, here’s how to buy a sporty car, save money, and not look like a tool. Get a Volvo C30 like I did. You can not _need_ a faster car. (On a twisty road around here I kept up - mostly- with a Porsche. One of the fast over-engined jobs). Even loaded, you’re not out much more than $30-35K loaded with options. People always give me compliments on the car. But when dudes see it- many think “OK, he’s not a rich douchebag overcompensating for his tiny penis, he’s buying it 'cause it’s _safe_”. And, although hardly a fuel miser, it isn;t even closer to a gas hog, either. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/127 "2009-09-20T00:12:27Z")
Wow! That Locost is pretty damn cool. I’m afraid I’d feel somewhat like a…ahem…tool, driving around town in an Atom (kind of like taking an Indy car to go grocery shopping) but I think tooling around in a Locost would be fun x 10. On weekends, when highways cry to be flattened out, is when I’d drag out the Atom. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/128 "2009-09-20T00:15:44Z")
I bought a Vette, not because of who others would see me, but because I was tired of racing a car that kept BREAKING. The irony is: I’ve spend soo much money pushing back 120,000 miles of wear and abuse, I don’t want to race it. Perhaps it’s best to think: If someone thinks I’m a tool, it says more about THEM than ME. When I bought the first Vette, I took some paperwork to the credit union. The lady behind the counter said “Oh I’d NEVER own one of those things, do you have any idea what a fiberglass car does in a crash?” The only response I could come up with was “I didn’t buy it to crash it.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/129 "2009-09-20T00:22:22Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > I bought a Vette, not because of who others would see me, but because I was tired of racing a car that kept BREAKING. > > The irony is: I’ve spend soo much money pushing back 120,000 miles of wear and abuse, I don’t want to race it. > > Perhaps it’s best to think: If someone thinks I’m a tool, it says more about THEM than ME. > > When I bought the first Vette, I took some paperwork to the credit union. The lady behind the counter said “Oh I’d NEVER own one of those things, do you have any idea what a fiberglass car does in a crash?” The only response I could come up with was “I didn’t buy it to crash it.” And once again, when I attain my massive wealth and riches, in addition to the Ariel Atom, a snarling, 640 hp Corvette ZR1 is also on the list! Another “Jesus Christ!” car. 10 second quarter miles? Over 1 g in lateral acceleration? Fuck the Ferraris of the world at 5-10x the cost! ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/130 "2009-09-20T00:23:40Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Yeah, if that does it for you, you may also be interested in the Locost: > [http://www.locostusa.com/](http://www.locostusa.com/) Looks nice, but it involves building it myself and I don’t trust that kind of construction at high speeds. It also doesn’t come with the endorsing quote of “I have bees in my esophogus.” I don’t think I want to own one of those, just give me an hour or so on a winding scenic road and I’ll be fine. For day to day I’ll keep the car with a trunk, back seat, stereo, AC, and a top I can put up in 30 seconds if it starts to rain. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/131 "2009-09-20T00:26:02Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > WOW… just wow! No, that isn’t the one I saw but thanks so much for posting that. The one I saw was just driving in street conditions. They hammered it to go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye but not the face deforming speed they did here. I can’t believe it left the sport bike looking like a moped. I still think I’d be a bit hesitant to take it on a highway with trucks and such, but give me an hour on the Blue Ridge Parkway… I’m not sure I’d ever need sex again and frankly I may not miss it with this. It’s a 1,000lb go-kart with 300 hp and seatbelts. It’s awesome! I want my face melted too! The Atom gets to 60 mph in 2.6-2.9 seconds, depending on the driver, and it only has a top speed of 140mph…which you hit in under 10 seconds, of course. 0-100 in that freaking thing is 6.8 seconds! 6.8! That is indeed face-meltingly fast, and by all accounts is a bargain to boot. And believe it or not, they are planning on rolling out a 500hp version! 500 brake horsepower in a 1,000 pound car! Ridiculous! ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/132 "2009-09-20T00:53:18Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Looks nice, but it involves building it myself and I don’t trust that kind of construction at high speeds. It also doesn’t come with the endorsing quote of “I have bees in my esophogus.” > > I don’t think I want to own one of those, just give me an hour or so on a winding scenic road and I’ll be fine. For day to day I’ll keep the car with a trunk, back seat, stereo, AC, and a top I can put up in 30 seconds if it starts to rain. Well, that’s the point. They’ve been built for as low as $2500. Presumably, by the time you finish welding the frame, you know how to weld. If your first welds concern you, then you do them over. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/133 "2009-09-20T01:06:32Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Well, that’s the point. They’ve been built for as low as $2500. Presumably, by the time you finish welding the frame, you know how to weld. If your first welds concern you, then you do them over. 😉 I think it is an age thing… when I was a kid, my friend and I built a cart with crude steering and didn’t even think about adding brakes until we took our first ride down the steep hill. Maybe 20 years ago I wouldn’t have worried about the posibility of the frame breaking in half at 80 mph, but for some reason now that kind of thing crosses my mind:) ---
**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 20, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/134 "2009-09-20T01:25:52Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Unless I’m mistaken that is the last year of the Firebird. Not everyone is a fan, and even though I drive a Ford now I’ve always been a GM fan. I would expect it probably has the 5.7 which is more power than anyone really needs… along with more fun than most people should have. Sure the body is extreem… I don’t hear people complaining about the Viper. Camaros and Firebirds are the most toolish cars ever built. This is not a matter of opinion. > [@Serenata67](#): > > Maybe it was an 07 or 08 or something… It’s pretty new… but i"m not sure exactly what year it was. The Celica went out of production in 2005. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/135 "2009-09-20T01:55:00Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Camaros and Firebirds are the most toolish cars ever built. This is not a matter of opinion. Funny, because cars are ALL ABOUT opinion. If you like cars, you fall into one of two groups: 1. You like YOUR ONE TRUE CAR, all others are crap 2. You like LOTS of cars and realize that the only difference between your love for Chevys and that guy over there’s love for Mustangs is that you grew up with different pictures on your walls. _The love is the same_ If you can’t wrap your head around the through that some people like Trabants, some like Wolfsburg Limited Editions, some like JDM, some like Holdens, and some even like Firechickens, then it is you that has some growing to do. It does not, in any way, detract from their enjoyment of their cars. But there are LOTS of people that want to make themselves feel superior at the expense of others. That’s some toolish behavior, right there. ---
**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 20, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/136 "2009-09-20T02:03:44Z")
I like lots of cars. Almost all of them, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/137 "2009-09-20T02:45:27Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Funny, because cars are ALL ABOUT opinion. If you like cars, you fall into one of two groups: > > 1. You like YOUR ONE TRUE CAR, all others are crap > 2. You like LOTS of cars and realize that the only difference between your love for Chevys and that guy over there’s love for Mustangs is that you grew up with different pictures on your walls. _The love is the same_ > > If you can’t wrap your head around the through that some people like Trabants, some like Wolfsburg Limited Editions, some like JDM, some like Holdens, and some even like Firechickens, then it is you that has some growing to do. It does not, in any way, detract from their enjoyment of their cars. > > But there are LOTS of people that want to make themselves feel superior at the expense of others. That’s some toolish behavior, right there. Yeah, but the Trans Am was always less rednecky than the stupid Camaro… ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/138 "2009-09-20T02:48:38Z")
And Corvette drivers are all tools, natch. Just sayin’ ya start judging people on their cars and you’re judging the wrong people. They like cars. They’re YOU with a slightly different upbringing. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/139 "2009-09-20T03:15:19Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Unless I’m mistaken that is the last year of the Firebird. Not everyone is a fan, and even though I drive a Ford now I’ve always been a GM fan. I would expect it probably has the 5.7 which is more power than anyone really needs… along with more fun than most people should have. Sure the body is extreem… I don’t hear people complaining about the Viper. > > Again, just because it may not be your taste doesn’t make the driver a “tool.” There are some cars that are considered classics that I can’t stand but I still appreciate that their owners love them and I’d never consider insulting them because their tastes are differnet then mine. > > I really hope I can have a good laugh at how badly I’ve been wooshed here. Thanks, 2002 was the last year of production for the Trans Am. It has the same 5.7L engine that was in the C-5 Corvette, will do 165 mph, or will get 25 mpg when driven normally. Handles great, fun to just cruise with the tops off. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482/140 "2009-09-20T04:01:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Camaros and Firebirds are the most toolish cars ever built. This is not a matter of opinion. My response is that: 1. you have never driven one. 2. you really aren’t all that bright. This IS a matter of opinion. I’ve had tons of fun driving many years and models of both. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-driving-a-too-sporty-car-make-you-look-like-a-tool/510482.md?page=8)