# Is my co-worker's car what he claims it is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127 "2017-06-16T16:48:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/41 "2017-06-19T11:02:37Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Why do people want a Holder? Color me confused. AFAIK, Holden isn’t held up as the premier manufacturing nor design house at GM. And for bonus points, I used to deal with the President of Holden, Chris Gubbey, when he was in a different role at GM China Young car guys do stuff like this in order to try to impress people. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/42 "2017-06-19T11:12:58Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > It would be simple enough to tactfully let him know that he has either been sold a dud or that you are on to his lies. > > “Hey, ah that car of yours is a left hand drive isn’t it? I think the previous owner might not have been completely honest with you.” > > Leave it at that. No big expose. It doesn’t look like you’re being a stalker. You’re just giving him a bit of friendly advice. Sounds like the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/43 "2017-06-19T13:44:00Z")
Are really quite sure the way to go is to just not say or do anything about this guy and his car? What are you picturing from telling him he has a fake? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/44 "2017-06-19T14:09:24Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Are really quite sure the way to go is to just not say or do anything about this guy and his car? What are you picturing from telling him he has a fake? I’d be happy to discuss the ethics of this situation(and others) in the appropriate forum, if you wish to start a thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/45 "2017-06-19T15:26:58Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Are really quite sure the way to go is to just not say or do anything about this guy and his car? What are you picturing from telling him he has a fake? I can’t answer for **Czarcasm** , but if I were in his position it would be this: _ **If co-worker did the rebadging** _: Letting him know that I can tell he’s a liar, and that I don’t like being lied to. _ **If co-worker was suckered by a previous owner** _: Letting him know that he was deceived, so he can proceed accordingly. In either case I agree with **Czarcasm** that this guy opened the door by his bragging and is effectively looking for a response. He may be disappointed that the response isn’t “Wow, what a cool car, you’re a righteous dude,” but he still asked for it. And in either case I would hope to not hear any further boasting from him. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/46 "2017-06-19T18:12:23Z")
Right…and the ass-beating in the parking lot that is not unlikely? The having an enemy at work? You two can play things however you like. I have always found it more advantageous, when dealing with liars, to leave them unaware that I know of their mendacity. To me, this situation sounds like somebody just wants tp play “embarass the braggart” and already has visions of applause and a $100% bill dancing in his head. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/47 "2017-06-19T18:35:47Z")
Where do you live such that “ass-beatings” amongst grown men are a common occurrence? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/48 "2017-06-19T19:11:58Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > “Hey, ah that car of yours is a left hand drive isn’t it? I think the previous owner might not have been completely honest with you.” > > Leave it at that. No big expose. It doesn’t look like you’re being a stalker. You’re just giving him a bit of friendly advice. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Sounds like the way to go. > [@Scumpup](#): > > Right…and the ass-beating in the parking lot that is not unlikely? The having an enemy at work? 😕 Why would you expect violence or enmity to ensue from his being advised that he’s mistaken? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/49 "2017-06-19T19:17:01Z")
Plus the GTO is still a cool car that’s fast and fun to drive! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/50 "2017-06-19T19:20:07Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Where do you live such that “ass-beatings” amongst grown men are a common occurrence? Where do you live that they are not? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/51 "2017-06-19T19:31:44Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Where do you live that they are not? That kind of shit stopped about midway through high school. About 25 years ago is the last time I saw people have a physical fight over something. When did you last see a fight and what was it about? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/52 "2017-06-19T19:36:38Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > That kind of shit stopped about midway through high school. About 25 years ago is the last time I saw people have a physical fight over something. When did you last see a fight and what was it about? About a week ago. It was over a hand of cards. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/53 "2017-06-19T19:44:12Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Where do you live that they are not? Move. That’s not normal among grownups, anywhere outside of prisons. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/54 "2017-06-19T19:59:39Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Plus the GTO is still a cool car that’s fast and fun to drive! Exactly, I don’t get why it is necessary to do anything else to a pretty cool car to start with. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/55 "2017-06-19T22:00:46Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > About a week ago. It was over a hand of cards. You need to get around with different people. I want to say that your experience isn’t typical, but I don’t know if it’s you or me having the atypical experience. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/56 "2017-06-20T00:24:01Z")
In the scruffy parts of scruffy towns **Scumpup** ’s experience is pretty typical in the US at least. As are fisticuffs in the parking lot down at the mill. Male-male interaction is all about pride and “face”; disputes are frequent & escalate to violence as often as not. Generally lubricated by alcohol or the like. Some people live fully in that milieu. Others never encounter it. There’s not a lot of overlap. Cops & EMS get to visit both sides of the tracks. Most other folks don’t. We’ve learned where **Scumpup** lives and/or works. We (I at least) don’t know whether **Czarcasm** is in the same or the other boat. But he does. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/57 "2017-06-20T00:50:29Z")
Since it seems that the answer to the OP’s question has pretty much been answered as somewhere between VERY UNLIKELY and ABSOLUTELY NOT, I’d like to comment on how to let him know you know it’s a fake, if you feel you must. I’d go the concerned work-friend route. Tell him you thought his car was really cool so you looked up more information on that model. You have some bad news, you think he might have been conned since they never built left hand drive versions. If you were him, you’d double check the VIN to make sure it’s a Holden. If he says he has, start asking questions about how hard it was to get a grey market car imported and titled without it getting crushed by the government. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/58 "2017-06-20T01:18:57Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Plus the GTO is still a cool car that’s fast and fun to drive! In fact, many say it’s the car that killed Pontiac. Jot down the VIN, and send it to a enthusiast’s group for verification. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/59 "2017-06-20T01:29:48Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > In fact, many say it’s the car that killed Pontiac. who says that? I mean, apart from people who think they know what they’re talking about because they watched _Top Gear._ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127/60 "2017-06-20T02:14:06Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > … > Jot down the VIN, and send it to a enthusiast’s group for verification. The OP said he already ran the VIN through CarFax which reported that the car left the factory as an ordinary GTO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-co-workers-car-what-he-claims-it-is/789127.md?page=4)