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Ryan Horan stands admiring the scenery of the Angeles Crest Highway as we admire our new Lotus Evora | Gabrielle R DeSantis

Becoming a Car Enthusiast Isn’t as Hard as you Think

The world of cars is vast and full of history and heritage. When you start getting into the weeds, the amount of information there is about cars can be pretty overwhelming. From understanding each brand’s history to the mechanics, and even modifications, each car can be different, and that’s a lot of information to absorb. …

The world of cars is vast and full of history and heritage. When you start getting into the weeds, the amount of information there is about cars can be pretty overwhelming. From understanding each brand’s history to the mechanics, and even modifications, each car can be different, and that’s a lot of information to absorb. For many aspiring car enthusiasts, it can even be overwhelming, but becoming a car enthusiast isn’t just about what you know or what you drive, in fact, it is much simpler than that.

What do you like about cars?

At the core of car enthusiasm is your own personal preference towards cars. You might have an emotional connection to certain vehicles based on your personal life experiences, or you might just like the look of some more than others. The beauty of cars is that there is such a variety because people want and like different things. If you want to start learning about cars, the easier way is by figuring out what cars you like, and knowing it’s okay if someone else doesn’t agree.

1967 Jeepster Off-Road Test | Erwin Rosen/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images

Watching other car enthusiasts

There is a secret to working on your car that most car enthusiasts won’t admit: we YouTube just about everything. Need to do an oil change on your 2009 Toyota Camry? YouTube. Want to install a wide-body kit on your Nissan 350Z? YouTube. It sounds silly, but there is a lot of educational YouTubers out there that can teach you a lot about working on cars. In fact, some things might seem easier than you might have originally realized, though we wouldn’t recommend diving straight in with an LS-swap for your daily driver.

2022 Nissan 400Z | Nissan-2
2022 Nissan 400Z | Nissan

Remember what it’s all about

At its core, having any car hobby can be expensive and time consuming. What is important is that you remember what it is you love about cars, and what drives you to your passion. Even if you daily drive something most people would consider boring, being a car enthusiast is more than about what you drive, or if you have a manual transmission versus an automatic one.

An image of a Koenigsegg Regera speeding down a runway.
Koenigseg Regera | JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

Being a car enthusiast is just like any other hobby, it might seem overwhelming to learn all of the new information out there, and it might even be intimidating if you don’t know all of the answers. But, just like anything else, what matters is the passion you have for it, and everything else will fall into place.

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