Not just Cars boys, it’s Life. At some point its just generally hard to be impressed or moved by anything. A sunny day, cup of coffee, smile from your kid , that’s what it’s about
@@Harry-hyl My kids used to act like they had it rough. I've been to islands where half the locals lived in tin shacks, trying to sell handmade trinkets to tourists to put food in their kids' mouths. Seeing the way so much of the world lives makes you appreciate what you have, and understand why so many people want to live here in the US.
that's the most important thing indeed, it's tghe basiocs for happiness. but you can add to it with things like a cool sportscar. problem is if you have only the sportscar and shiny things without the basics taken care of.
As a fellow GTI owner, I could not help bursting into laughter as Jack shared the harsh reality of these cars, only to hear the audible bing of a dash light before he could even finish his thought. 🤣
Car people are torn between buying a car with their head and buying a car with their heart. When we're making compromises between the two, we often make bad choices that aren't smart and don't make us smile with joy. Once we end up with some spare money we might blow it tilting at windmills and then regret it later.
I bought a 4 cyl Camry because I did alot of research on a car that would just last a looooong time with minimal maintenance. But I'd be lying if I didn't feel like I regret it some days in favor of something more fun. My Camrys been paid off for a few years now and I'm saving for a weekend car.
that's why i stopped compromising on cars a long time ago. don't listen to the wife, don't listen to anybody, don't think about the 10% of times where i would need a hauler or something bigger and just go for the most insane car within my budget and my taste. since then, 90% of the times i have a blast driving it and the other 10% i happily rent something else for those handful of occasions where my fun car isn't the right vehicle for the job
@@hazardeur best solution for me is: get your fun car and get a cheap workhorse you can replace easily. obviously owning two cars can be more expensive, depending on where you live.
@@Mr.Marbles This is great advice. I've kept my trusty '17 civic hatchback for years while C63 AMGs, M3s, and other cars have been in the stable, never can replace it for its value.
@@hazardeur i agree, people get crazy about what stuff they buy has to accomplish and loose themselves and everything fun about the topic in the process. Also - just buy something and flip it, buy used. This makes testing stuff way more affordable and not a collossal waste of money that gives you regret.
@@terryyee4271 Arby's has ventured beyond the normal fast food realm and now all of its decadent meals are as premium as Piano Black HVAC controls or Nissan CVTs.
I used to be addicted to games to the point where I was on the screen whenever I had any spare time. I thankfully realized my stupidity (after a few years) and put a stop to games completely as it started affecting my mental health. I would describe addiction as the feeling of never having enough, constantly repeating the action that produces short term relief/pleasure. One thing I've learnt from this complete shit show I went through was , 'everything in moderation'. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less." -Socrates This applies here and elsewhere in life. Great video Mark and really interesting discussion, this is what keeps me coming back. Wouldn't expect this from a car channel, but glad to see it.
So what you are saying is the answer really always is Miata. A bit more seriously - forget 700hp, forget 0-60 in 3s, forget the branding. Instead, enjoy the ride.
Indeed. I love being a minimalist. I think it also helps to explain why "slow car fast" just fits me. Sure, i've driven fancy fast cars. But they were never as fun as bombing through backroads in my old Volvo 245, or the 765. Or my Corolla FX16. I picked up a better FX16, restored it, and every time I drive it, its a new rush, and a smile. 112hp is enough for me to have fun.
3:30 I agree that you wanted to recreate being that age Mark. I bought a Four Loko the other day to try to recreate my sophmore in college days but it just gave me really bad diarrhea and pissed off my wife cause I passed out on 2 pm on a Sunday
Money can't buy happiness, but when I get into my Miata RF (In no small part due to SG) and it gets pretty darn close. That car seriously brightens my day as I slot through the gears at 35mph. You just need to buy for you and what makes you happy, if you chase numbers or specs or clout you'll always come up short. These days cars are all about HP numbers, 0-60 times, 'Ring times, number of screens, etc and getting caught up in that will always leave you wanting. Great video guys!
I'm seriously considering a Miata, new or used, as a completely impractical car that can just be fun. It's to replace my not-so-hot hatch (Fiesta) that was totaled and was my do everything vehicle.
Agree with you 100%, would take that car over my M any day, that car totally took me by surprise. I commend Mazda for offering such a gem of a drivers car, and the best part of it is affordability.
As a 30th anniversary RF owner I will have a hard time parting with this vehicle. It was a sheer emotional purchase. I drove a scion eco box tc for 11 years. Getting into my orange rf every morning and zipping around with top down and rowing gears at 40 mph is pure joy. I laugh when I see 400hp cars on roads because it's just so much for public streets. Sadly the miata is the last of its kind and will likely go electric so I'm gonna hold onto this
My Miata RF has absolutely ruined me for any other car. I now hate driving anything but this amazing vehicle. I’ve owned a lot of cars, but this one is by far my absolute favorite. I usually get tired of cars quickly, but not this one. It’s the best and most fun vehicle I’ve ever owned period!
I needed this reality check... recently been looking back to a particular car I owned in my late teens, early 20's. What ties such good memories of that car is less about the car, more about the good times with great friends, freedom, and my whole life ahead of me.
I want my 1995 Ford Thunderbird LX 5.0L with 4-speed automatic...but even if I got one it wouldn’t feel the same anymore because my brain is older and doesn’t register experiences the same way
Disposable income helps. If you have it, it is easier to have a blast from the past as a 2nd or 3rd car. If it's a push, ownership may not deliver the emotions we hope to feel. Of course, those emotions will be hard to come by, regardless of $$ at a later life stage : (
This will resonate with lots of viewers, and even though is such a simple thing, We appreciate the fact of you guys putting it out here. This video and conclusion was much concise and accurate then 6 months of therapy with my Psychiatrist
I think what I learned from this video is that buying specific cars to relive past experiences is a fruitless affair so instead we should buy cars to have new experiences with them. A joyful moment in time will become mundane when experienced over and over again so we should look to the future for happiness and not the past.
I went from having a crappy, rattly, cheaply made C5 Corvette that was insanely fun even with an automatic, to a brand new 2021 GTI SE manual with more than enough options to me. 2 totally separate experiences that are fun in their own way, but the GTI is so overly refined in a good way. I was in disbelief that it feels like a luxury car and Hot Hatch at the same time.
Mate, I agree with you 100%. I got r35 to get something as what I had with my r33, just to be left disappointed. Then got 86 after, completely different, and loved it. Bizarre ey. It just felt new and fun.
What Mark said at starting 3:20 hits deep and I know what he's talking about exactly. I tried to recreate experiences like that too, I even tried to play the same music that was on during the initial experience and it never worked. It just made me think "what the hell am I doing here"
@@savagegeese I had my 5 high school soccer teammates packed into a 98 Civic Hatchback driving to an away game with Common - The People playing on the radio when it came out. It was just something about that that was unique and that's why I loved that car and that's why I'll never buy it because it just won't be the same. I don't even listen to that song anymore because I want it to be attached to that experience.
@@WKaliberr That's like Nirvana "Smells like teen spirit". Although it's basically THE song of my youth and still one of the greatest of all time i never listen to it.
@@000GunterGabriel000 That's for the better so that when you DO hear it somewhere, you are reminded of your youth and not of being stuck in standstill traffic on your way to a dead end job with it sounding like crap coming out of Spotify compressed Bluetooth audio
Is the memory from the experience not enough? For me most of the time it is. And what about trying to make new? Taking my family somewhere is a another new experience. It isn't the same as throwing my BMW down a small B-road in Scotland, but it is a new experience, and I enjoy it just the same.
There is something special about a first car. Everyone remembers their first car and the crappier the car, the more character it has, the more you remember it. I used a tennis racket to prop up the hatch on my 98 Civic Hatchback. AC condense line leaked into the passenger side floor so I put a plastic Tupperware container there and emptied it once a day. The roof used to loudly pop when it was in the sun because it had a big dent in it and the sun expanded it and it scared the shit out of me every time it happened. I drove it to school, soccer practices, McDonalds, my local 7-11 where I used to be able to buy Coors Light or Natty Lite as a minor. Memories. But if I had that car now, I would sell it immediately cause now I don't have time for all those things that made it a fun, interesting car. Life moves on and then you die.
@@hazardeur It's a drink of choice when you want the beer with best ABV to price ratio and your beer drinking tastebuds aren't evolved enough to realize its an awful "beer"
You guys nailed it.... I'm in my late 30's and I've been trying to chase my experiences from the golden 90's/00's during the Import tuner/Fast and the Furious era....After many purchases old and new, I'm always left with a empty feeling that never takes me back to those days. This is the deepest car enthusiast video I have ever seen, thanks guys. You guys may have altered my future.
I'm about the same age, and I am fortunate enough to have been able to keep my old Audi I purchased 16 years ago. I worked hard, life worked out, that obviously doesn't happen for everyone. What I want to say is this: try driving cars you never considered before! If you were into Japanese cars, go out and drive something German, or even something totally different. Go on a new adventure and see what happens! I recently experienced total shock when I had a chance to drive a 2015 Mercedes GLK 250 Bluetec - I actually liked it, and I don't like SUVs. It had a diesel, it had loads of torque, had some character, and I liked it! I didn't see that one coming, so you've got nothing to lose - give it a shot and see what you find...
You could sum up the video to 2 words : Hedonic adaptation! It does work for almost any material thing that you pursue. However you could fight it and make your Mk7 GTI enjoyable again by living great experiences with it : going on track, having a road trip with it, etc...It's the experiences that are proven scientifically to fulfill us and make us happier as humans. Hedonic adaptation should be also tricked by stopping the use of that car for few days or weeks weeks and then drive it again. You're welcome for the tips ;)
This happens with about anything in life: relationships, cars, houses, vacations. After you have experienced all there is to experience, you become jaded and require more new stuff to get you excited. As one wise man said, there is nothing new under the sun.
Agreed. Rates of depression and prescription drugs used to combat that depression are highest in countries with the highest standards of living. It’s because the more we have the more we want and it’s like a dog chasing it’s tail. Or it could be the medical and pharmaceutical industry is completely profit driven and are enablers and will misdiagnose just about anything to make a buck.
Man, this was a gut punch. I just put down a large down payment on my dream car from when I was 16 (I'm in my 40's now). I subconsciously know it won't be as great as I dreamed for the last 20+ years, but I am desperately hoping I'm wrong.
Bro, I wish you enjoy the car as much as you can! Remember, everything is how you let your mind react to the situation. You’re in charge of enjoying what you just bought :)
Yeah ive been holding off on either a new 911 or m4 with the same reasons, deep down I know I don’t drive fast and it wont be any better than my 2016 honda in 99% of uses and will probably be worse in many use cases
Nostalgia makes you focus on the good things you lost, but it glosses all over the negative feelings you had back then, just like how your present situation has its ups and downs and uncertainties for the future. Changes that happened since resolved some of the bad stuff that was making fog around the good things, and knowing the path that unraveled afterwards solves the uncertainty problem. Sadly, now you realise all the great things you lost and never truly appreciated, because you were distracted by negative stuff, uncertainty for the future or even nostalgia you had back then.
Totally related to this video. For years I regretted selling my 2nd generation Acura Integra LS which I bought new out of college and dreamed of getting it back. One time, a few years after selling it, in a huge parking lot (IKEA in northern VA), I found it (the college stickers still in the back window and a small scratch on the read bumper) parked nose to nose with my current car. The probability of this happening took me aback. If this was a sign from God, I completely missed what he was trying to tell me. It was a good car for the time but Mark is 100% right, what I missed about that car all along were the times I had with that car. Nothing can bring those youthful days back to me.
I think several factors play into this. Here are few I can think of: 1) Our tastes change over time. I adored my 1989 Honda CRX Si. A few years after I sold it, I test-drove one as a lark. The things about the CRX that 5 years earlier were non-issues (the noise, the harsh ride, the door-mounted seatbelts, the goofy steering wheel/pedals relationship, etc.) had become significant drawbacks. 2) We went through a period of remarkable automotive transformation from the 1970s through approximately the 2000s. Cars rapidly (and haphazardly) improved over time. In such a rapid change environment, snagging a standout car like a Mark 2 GTI, or a 2nd-gen CRX, or a Miata, or an E36 M3 was more possible, and the benefits of having such a car were much more tangible. In the 2020s, almost EVERY car is "pretty good" and the differences between them (especially at a given price point/market segment) boil down to things like safety features, infotainment, long-term reliability, and such. Those factors do not enhance the emotional experience of ownership the way the driving experience of a B13 Nissan Sentra SE-R compared to a contemporary Toyota Corolla did. 3) What makes a car "special" to us is not always rational or even explicable. When I traded in my CRX for an Acura Integra GSR, it was a far superior car in every measurable way...and I ended up dumping it in less than 2 years. Conversely, I adore my current 2016 Mazda 3 (2.0 liter). I can't tell you why...except that it "sings" to me in a way other cars (including other Mazda 3s I test-drove) do not. We need to learn to recognize when things "sing" to us...and also accept that we probably won't know why they do.
I currently have an Integra LS that sings to me and would love to just upgrade to a GSR when a well-priced one comes up. I’m in my mid 20s and plan to hold on to my Integra and s2000 combo. Still have aspirations to own maybe a e46 or e90/92 m3 but I’ll hold off for now.
I test drove over a dozen select cars used and new last year for a third happy car not for a commuter appliance and it was the most difficult decision. Most didn't provide value for money or weren't comfortable. So what did I buy? A 2021 MX-5. There really is no substitute to a pure car. No sport mode no gimmicks. Thanks for this video
I love this channel so much. These guys fucking get it. I turn 27 in a few months and I’ve been noticing more and more that cars satisfy me less and less. Every “next car” is a nicer, faster, better one than what I have. I’m chasing something I’ll never have. So anyway I think I’m gonna get a Porsche in a few years.
Not that this comment will be seen, but I feel like you guys should discuss in-depth the future for the automotive enthusiast in a world that's going electric. Curious of your perspective on this.
You can avoid nostalgia-driven angst by just buying something that efficiently meets a real transportation need, maintaining it, and driving it until your needs change, or the manufacturer & aftermarket supply chains for it dry up and render it truly obsolete. That’s been my approach to my 26yr.-old Dodge pickup truck that I bought new. It’s got 244K miles on it, and with annual rustproofing re-treatments, remains structurally sound and cosmetically close to original. It was never a thrilling ride, and isn’t now, except when it efficiently picks up and totes around one of my malfunctioning motorcycles (that are even older), or when I get an admiring “Oh, wow-nice truck. How long have you had it?” from a young gearhead guy or gal. I just sort of feel sorry for folks who spend a bazillion bucks thinking they’ll find happiness from buying the latest, and then reselling the quickly-depreciating greatest.
Car not level? Light. Car not on a lift but on a jack? Light. Windshield washer fluid low? Light. Your wife just gave birth at home and you don't know? Light.
This video is exactly why I won't ever be able to replace my M3. I regret selling it everyday but I know if I bought another one, it won't be quite the same and that will be a disappointment. Just gotta enjoy the memories and move on!
I’m over 50, had tons of great cars over the years (Maserati, M3, M5, Porsche 928, Mercedes SL) and have lost some of that feeling as you mentioned. I then wanted to try a Tesla as it was such a disruption to the status quo. I’m having fun again! It’s fun now to be stealthy, shoot out of corners silently, and finally not have to worry about coming up on that next expensive European maintenance schedule.
This is a great point. I feel like people now, not younger, but older people now buying these Challengers, Camaros, Mustangs, well, they're not going to recapture anything. They're different vehicles that superficially look like the older vehicles. But get in to the original and now they just look old and you realize just how far cars have come. I use to have a favorite subway train in NYC. It's still running. But now it just looks old. When it was new and for many years, it seemed special. There have been some changes and a lot of aging over the years and although some of the original feel is there, they're just old now. They're no longer special. Just still around. Whatever material thing or you may even think is some extra special product you get to try to fill some void, it likely won't work. I find what works for me is new discovery. New music, musicians, sometimes spots to go to with different people in them. Go to the same spot and it's depressing. The vibe is nothing like it was when you were a certain age. Even if you see some of the same musicians you saw 15-20 years ago, they're different because you were different then. And so where they. And if you are into cars, drive the old car to the same places you used to. Not the same experience., It'll never feel like your car. I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion.
This was spot on. In my 20s I had three cars that I liked a lot, a 2.8 BMW Z3, a RSX Type S and then an Acura TL (6 speed). Now in my low 30s, when I was able to afford to do so, I bought a 3.0 Z3, another RSX Type S, and a Honda Accord Coupe 6 Speed. This was exactly just because of nostalgia, and I regret every single one of them, they were special at the time because of my life in those days, they just don't fit with my current self and I had to sell them. Thanks Mark for touching this subject, I thought I was the only dumb ass buying nostalgia cars.
That’s what I got out of it. I almost sold my m2 for an m2c buy part of the reason I didn’t was because when it was time to do the paper work I didn’t want to actually sell my car that I already loved. I didn’t want to hand it over to anyone else. The M2C is objectively better, but I didn’t love it like mine. If I bought it back some day later down the road would it be the same?
That's why I've had my DC2 ITR for the last 18 years. It's bought me such joy, especially when times were tough. When my finances were such that I considered replacing it with a cheap Porsche I decided against it, and instead modified the car with the money I would have had to spend. Less weight, better sound, better connectedness/feel with the road, more power, stiffer body, better traction, fixed all the vibrations and rattles. And I've not been tempted to "upgrade" it since because I can't afford even a used GT3 here in Australia, and frankly nothing short of that sort of money would in my mind be a real upgrade to the things I love about the car. Indeed, the lesson is, when you really love something don't let it go.
Exactly! 16 years ago I bought a brand new A4 B6 (1.8T Quattro) when I graduated from university. I saved my money, didn't go away for school so I didn't have to pay to stay on campus. The old girl isn't a sports car, but I love the thing. I stopped using it as a daily 3 years ago, and now it just comes out on the weekends. I'll never sell it, even though I've driven faster and better handling cars. It's got character and mechanical things I love - hydraulic steering, completely mechanical old-school quattro, a manual handbrake, I can actually hear the turbo when it spools up (and it comes complete with turbo lag). Man, that interior really held up well too - hard to beat a VAG interior of that vintage. I'm so glad life circumstances and hard work allowed me to keep her!
I’ve been watching the channel for about a year now, but just now stumbled across this video. Interesting timing, I’m scheduled to fly cross-country next month to pick up my second go at the DC2 Integra Type R and street drive it 2800 miles home. I owned one a decade ago and was forced by life to sell it, when my plan had always been to keep it for life. This video has me pondering what that will really feel like, on some level maybe I do want my youth back and to tear around in an Integra at 16 again. We’ll see.
Me when my whole motivation to progress in my career has been a need to consume more and more (in my case, cars). It can be depressing, although a quick drive around the block helps.
I'm in a similar boat when I finally splurged on a 2019 Bullitt last year at 27yo. It's a heart decision that I rationalized in my head to make it fit.
This is why I’m a subscriber. Instead of droning on, like 95% of similar UA-cam content creators, you mix it up. I agree as I’ve recently owned an ND1 Miata, STI and two Mini Coopers for the love of rally racing and Dakar heritage. All but the Minis are gone. I’ve given up on the new car market after coming to the same realization. The Mercedes AMG dealership is pissed. The only thing that excites me now is the used, private market. The new car industry has spun out of control. Way to stay relevant fellas!
What an interesting video, gentlemen. Got me thinking about my own (much longer) experiences buying and owning cars. My first was a '54 Kaiser 2 door sedan when I was in HS in the mid '60's. Its most endearing quality was the fact that two teenagers could lie down across the rear seat. My girlfriend and I made extensive use of that feature. Before I graduated I replaced it with a '61 Beetle that took me halfway across the country to college. I loved that car until it threw a rod after several years. I followed it up with a '63 Dodge Dart that got me through college and on to grad school. It was worthless in the winters of upstate NY so I replaced it with a Saab 96 with an V4 engine that was built on half of the block of a Ford V8. Its FWD was rare in those days and a marvel in hilly, snow bound Ithaca, NY. No need to put sandbags in the trunk for traction when winter came as I'd done with the Dart. It plowed up and down the hills of the steep hills of upstate NY regardless of the weather and it took me and my bride to Michigan for more school. Sadly the winter road salt in NY and Michigan eventually rusted the Saab in two (literally). Eventually I moved out of the snow and rust belt to Austin, TX. Finally had a job and enough money to get an early GTI. Another vehicle love affair for some years until another move took me to Berkeley, CA where a Datsun 240Z (It was still Datsun and not Nissan in those days) entered my life after my wife and I parted. Forged a strong emotional attachment to that great car based no doubt on an early midlife crisis and I held onto it for years. Eventually, I moved to Washington State and faced challenging winters again. First in Spokane and after a move to Seattle with winter ski trips in the Cascades. Now FWD and AWD alternatives were widespread. Married again and a Mazda MPV van seemed a versatile choice and a bargain. It extracted us from a deep, snow covered ditch on a lonely logging road and probably saved our lives. You don't forget vehicles like that. Later, a Volvo 850 and a much loved Saab wagon served us well. I love wagons and I miss their versatility. A few years later the disappearance of wagon alternatives drove my wife and me to consider an SUV. Tough decision but as my wife wanted a higher driving position to better cope with Seattle traffic and didn't want the stigma of being a minivan driving soccer mom. The vehicle was my wife's daily driver so she had the majority vote and in 2012 we purchased a KIA Sorento. It turned out to be a "goldilocks" family truckster as well as my wife's daily driver. We replaced it in 2018 with another one. At the time a rare instance in my life when I've purchased the same vehicle twice in a row. Emotional attachment? No, but a really, really practical and versatile vehicle. Meanwhile, I managed to deal with my ongoing midlife crisis with several cars. I purchased a Mazda 626 coupe in the late 1980's. Its engine detonated after 7K miles but Mazda replaced the engine under warranty and I drove it for another 120K miles with no issues. Every automaker turns out an occasional lemon. I just happened to have owned one. Its major weakness was its bright red color and foot tall letters on the side that read "TURBO". It was the only car I've ever owned that netted me multiple speeding tickets and I continue to believe that the color and the graphics had something to do with that. In '94 I replaced the Mazda with a new Honda Prelude. Beautiful car. Fast and with VTEC a very flexible engine. I drove it for 10 years and 120K miles and never did anything but put fuel in it, changed the oil, replaced tires and windshield wipers and performed a few other maintenance tasks. I really loved that car. I might even have purchased another Prelude but Honda had discontinued the model by that time and the Accord coupe didn't do it for me. Neither, of course, did the highly functional Accord 4 door sedan. So to continue to feed my (now late) midlife crisis I went with the Mazda RX-8 in 2004. A four seat sports car with hidden suicide rear doors that gave it the appearance of a two door coupe. A rotary engine with a 9000 RPM redline for the 1.3L rotary engine. 232 HP and159 lb feet of torque at 5500 RPM. Fantastic driving experience on twisty mountain roads revved to the max but it was like driving a 4 wheel 600 cc Japanese motorcycle. In normal traffic it was a slug and had the fuel economy resembling a 700 HP Dodge Charger. Furthermore it was prone to flooding if the ignition was turned off before the engine reached operating temperature. Not a major problem in most cars but in the RX-8 it meant replacing the single spark plug with the car on a lift since once flooded the car could never be restarted without a new plug. A great track toy but otherwise infuriating. In 2012 I sold the Mazda with warnings to the HS kid who bought it. He was happy as a clam and if I were 17 I would have been, too. At that point I bought one the last MK6 GTI's and one of the last before VW moved production to Mexico. I fell in love all over again. Even after many years it felt like the GTI I'd owned before in the dim, dark past only much, much better. Put about 30K miles on it before adding a Stage I APR tune that transformed its performance with virtually no impact on its perfect reliability. Slight impact on fuel economy but that was the fault of my right foot. After about 75K miles I traded the GTI for a MK7.5 version. That decision was driven by the fact that my teenage daughter was nearing driving age and I wanted her to have all the driving assistance and safety features that had been added since the MK6. It was difficult giving up the MK6 but after a couple of weeks I was completely seduced. Overall "tightness" and fit and finish (fewer squeaks) are significantly improved over my German built MK6 GTI. I only have about 25K on my current generation GTI but like the last model the reliability has been perfect. Haven't added a Stage I tune as yet in part because the new model doesn't feel nearly in need of a performance boost as the MK6 and partly because I occasionally share the car with my teenage daughter whose right foot may not be as disciplined as mine. My daughter is anxious for me to get another vehicle and turn the GTI over to her. She knows that the thought of trading it out of the family is like considering selling the family dog. I'll be looking at the MK8 GTI or the Golf R when they arrive in the US but from what I've seen I'm not anxious to give up my GTI (even to my daughter) for either one. Instead, I'm intrigued by the possibility of getting a VW Arteon with its version of the VW EA888 engine or a KIA Stinger with the new 2.5L four cylinder base engine. Each is a proper GT (Grand Touring) sedan in the European mold and a Stage I tune of the Arteon would erase the on-paper spec advantages of the Stinger powerplant. Maybe I'm finally old enough to consider a midsize sedan. :)
I'm so happy you guys discussed this topic. I find that the more I have long conversations about car enthusiasm, the more I feel like I need to discuss something else because the same phrase, "they're just cars" keeps rushing back to me. They are just cars. They can't make you happy. We can be happy about the unique characteristics and the memories and thoughts and feelings they bring up, but they can't deliver those things by themselves. What helps me is to simply look at a particular car and enjoy it for exactly what it has to offer, for what it is and nothing more. Then I can really enjoy it and not have any expectation or envy about something similar, because I know that this car is unique for what it is, and that's good enough!
As soon as you turn your passion into something you're paid for, there's a good chance it will become less a passion and more a job. Thanks for the brutally honest video. Refreshing to see some honesty these days.
I lost my first car in a rear end crash in 2019 and the nostalgia is so powerful. Once I lost it, I knew I'll never be able to fill the spot in my heart. I'm glad you made the connection between cars and a pet. you never forget your pets and it's always a comparison between the best and the worst. so I'll always be comparing my old car with the future through glasses of nostalgia. very sad but unavoidable
So true. Speaks directly to the hedonic treadmill. To add: Those two people on the elevator with you, one with the 150k Mercedes and the $3MM house is just as worried as the guy with the 150k house and beat up F-150 about how he is going to pay his bills.
You guys have hit the nail on the head with this one. The nostalgia for past experiences and memories is what drives a lot of purchasing and lots of other decisions. For better or for worse this is what part of our human nature is I think. I know that I have made car purchasing decisions based on the desire to feel certain way and when that wouldn't fully materialize I would look for something else. At the same time if you are a "car person" or motorcycle person or whatever else person that is a part of who you are and that's not necessarily wrong. We all look for experiences that either help us recapture an old feeling or maybe help us build new ones. It does help to stop and think about why you're doing something though, just so you understand you're doing it for the right reasons.
Great video as always Jack and Mark. This video described my feelings exactly. Purchased an S2000 across the province (in Ontario) for my 24th birthday. That car was one of my favorite cars growing up and finally owning one made me feel the best I've ever felt. Many first time S2000 owners can say the same thing like you mentioned. Eventually got rid of it due to practically, marriage and looking towards the future (family) so I sold it and got a 2017 C300 which I hated every second of driving for a year. Traded it in for a 2018 M2 which I loved driving but I knew it was a purchase to replace that S2000 feeling which it never really did. It was an amazing car but after the first 6 months, the engine start feeling I got from it just wore off unlike the S2000 where it was always there. Now I'm driving a 2018 S5 which is a good vehicle, practical and works for my needs but again, I felt so dejected from driving for "fun" or "enjoyment." I finally came to my senses during this pandemic and gave up on yearning for that feeling of getting butterflies in my stomach every engine startup. It's gone and will probably never come back - it's just about accepting it as you said!
I bought a new 2 Door MKV GTI back when I was college and loved it dearly for a couple years. Almost a decade later I bought a new 4 door MK7 GTI in the same silver to try and bring back those memories. It was a good car too, maybe not the same level but was fun. Ended up trading it a couple years later for a Lincoln MKC (😂) that I only kept 6 months until I got back on the German car train again. You can never bring back your youth!
Great vids, Boys. I can relate to alot of it, but involving motorcycles instead of cars. My first bike was a 2006 ninja 250. I put 14000 miles on it in one year. I toured several states on it. Climbed mountains with it. Went camping with it. Every bike that I've bought after it, I've always tried to recreate that era of when I had the Ninjette and I cant. There are too many circumstances that were unique , because they were virgin experiences and you cant recreate that. I can go on and have 'new' adventures on a new bike. But I can never have the ones that I remembered from the old ones. This was a great video and really gives me something to ponder for the rest of the day. This is one of the things that I really enjoy about the channel. I enjoy about how you describe how the car feels and makes you feel.
I seriously connected with this video at such a emotional level, it is shocking. My car hobby has never been ruined by making it my job. That's why I would never do that.
That’s smart. I’m a car guy turned career mechanic. I’ve worked for a high-end collision shop for the past few years. Driving AMGs is a near daily occurrence. It’s very rare that any car feels special anymore
I've stopped trying to buy vehicles from my youth, mostly because I've always been disappointed with not being able to recapture the feelings from the moments in time I originally owned said vehicles. I've started to dive into vehicles that I would have never given two shits about before, and have been pleasantly surprised at my experiences and feelings thus far. The most recent example has been a 2004 Jeep Liberty, which had a good body but bad engine. I scored a wrecked 2006 Liberty CRD at the same time and swapped the CRD's entire drivetrain into the gas 2004 vehicle. My 'new' CRD-swapped Liberty has put more smiles on my face and made me giggle far more than it ever should! It doesn't make sense! But like anything else in life, I'll enjoy it while I can!
Very well timed video. I actually think that my passion for cars is a victim of the pandemic. I used to drive 30,000 miles / year as part of my job. Going to see customers, driving with them to see equipment. In the past 12 months I drove only 5000 miles (mostly getting groceries) yet my performance at work has actually improved. I currently own 4 cars and I really did enjoy them all, but looking forward, I can't see the point of buying any new cars that'll just end up sitting on my driveway. Nothing excites me anymore. Maybe I should get into bicycles.
This is easily one of the best car review videos I've ever seen (and I watch a lot). I had two MKII GTIs in my 20's - back to back. I had the second one the longest, and I had a lot of great memories in that car. It also left me stranded several times, too. I ran the second GTI into a Jetta and totaled both. Thankfully, no one was hurt. In retrospect, I kinda feel like I killed two birds with one stone.
After GT3, 458 you need to go to a quality restomod. When you have cars with such performance, you have to go back in time, when cars were not so capable and the driver was the most important part of the car. You will be slower than the rest, but you will be smiling from ear to ear. And with a quality restomod, you can still have some modern necesities in the car :). Modern cars are quick, but they do not excite you anymore. Basically the car drives you instead of you driving the car. And great video, also very true: I tried to buy my first car half a year ago. And when I test drove it, it came to me: what the hell am I doing in this peace of junk. I have idealized it, since it was my first car, but… And yea, no car will make you 18 years old again.
This video has hit home with me. I have bought seven new cars since 2016 to try to make myself happy. I just went through motorcycle training and received my endorsement. I bought a $5,000 new motorcycle and it brings a smile to my face every time I ride it. My newish car just sits in the garage now. I should’ve bought a cheap used car years ago after looking back how much I blown on trading in cars for a different model.
Bikes are awesome. But speaking from experience, it's even easier to fall into the same trap with them, because they're generally cheaper and easier to store. I went through several years trying (and failing) to fill the gaping hole in my life with motorcycles...
I can relate to everything said in this video, especially the part about making the mistake everyone told you not to make. Brings back memories of when I bought my first new car in 2013. Everyone was saying buy used, and take way less of a hit with depreciation, but I didn't listen. Luckily I only had that car for 3 years and it was replacement by the dealership due to recurrent faults. From there I got into a new 2016, which ended up being faultless, but the experience wasn't the same. By then I was jaded and new car ownership had lost its gloss. Fast forward 4 years, I currently own a 95 Civic and an 03 Mazda 6. If you told me 5 years ago I'd be driving two car over 15 years old, I would have said you're crazy... but here I am. The ownership experience for both has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but generally it's been a lot more rewarding than my past 2 new cars. I also don't have any car loan to worry about!
I remember spending years looking up car reviews trying to find a car that would fill that happiness void. I finally bit the bullet and got my WRX and there were a few months after that I wasn't getting that satisfaction I was looking for. More recently, I started doing mods and joining more groups, and found the true happiness with cars are the friendships you make along the way.
I think what's being described here is "hedonic adaptation". I definitely agree that materialism will never make a permanent positive impact and will never fill whatever void many of us have. As long as basic needs are met in life, we all tend to quickly revert back to our base state of consciousness and happiness when buying luxury items like a nice car. We can all debate what the meaning and purpose of our lives are, but it's almost certainly not to just collect toys.
Brilliant topic guys. Personally owned over 100 cars in the last 37 years. I've learned you have to buy what YOU really want, not what others want, etc. It took a long time and a lot of money to learn that lesson. But no real regrets; some of my best memories have come from behind the wheel.
Spot on hypothesis - I agree 100%. You have to go through these experience 'loops' to understand the point(lessness) of most of it. True wisdom in the end eh? You guys having the benefit of driving so many cars and still coming back to that same conclusion is also an interesting point. I further agree that once you get to a certain spend point it's hard to go back down the other way. The only was is up! Personally I have a '16 Ford Focus ST mk3.5 and am modifying it as far as I can just because I realise this is probably the last chance to do it as well as I want to, before I get too old. After that I guess the itch is scratched and we can embrace the futile life of an EV with autonomous driving to follow. Effing hell .......... Also a final thought - is our growing indifference to modern vehicles directionally proportional to their increasingly anodyne nature?
I can so relate to this episode. I drove Saab's for 35 years. Loved them! When I retired I wanted my next 'forever' car, meaning to last me for 8-10 years. Saab has been out of business for 10 years so I had to switch brands. I ended up with a new 2019 VW Arteon SEL Premium R-Line. Price: $39,500 plus taxes. I absolutely LOVE this car.
Chasing anything worldly, or materialistic will never break you peace. It does give you the thrill of eventually buying the item, but once the novelty wears off after a few months, you are back where you belong. I've made myself content driving a normal car, as an enthusiast, and have focused my time and passion on my family, other people and my faith.
This is really multi-faceted and deep topic. I'm 23, so maybe that's why I can't relate to this feeling as much as others can, but I think the thing that helps me the most with this issue is just appreciating what you have, and where you came from so to speak. I absolutely love the car I have now, a 2017 Honda Accord Coupe V6, and cannot fathom ever selling it. My first car was a 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse with 150hp on a good day, and this car is like a different world. I have two other cars, and I notice that when I drive one of them for a week, I end up really missing my Accord, and it reignites some of the excitement/honeymoon period I had when I first brought it home. That feeling honestly goes both ways because I really like my other vehicles too. But really, even when I do drive it every day continuously, I don't lose the feeling of love I have for it. I'm happy to get behind the wheel every single time. Psychology is weird.
similar thought process with video games too. used to love playing world of warcraft all day and night and now it just feels like a second job. nostalgia is a powerful drug.
This video really hit close to home for me. I loved cars since I was a teenager and a year and a half ago, now in my 30s and financially stable, I bought my dream car, a Subaru WRX. I struggled during the whole ownership with why I had this car. It was fun and fast, but I just didn't care. It wasn't anything bad about the car, I just didn't need the performance. On most days if given the choice I drove my girlfriend's Kia Soul instead. It's comfortable, good on (non-premium) gas and we don't worry about anyone hitting it. I sold the WRX last week (at a profit at least) and was expecting to feel sad, but I didn't. My next car will be something comfortable and practical. The ownership of a performance car was more fun in my mind than actual reality.
Six years ago, at age 69, I bought a 2016 Mazda MX-5/Miata. It joined a 2006 Audi A6 wagon. Now the Audi sits in the garage gathering dust, hasn't run in five years, I drive the MX-5 daily, year round through New Hampshire winters, it still pleases me every time I drive it. What does it all mean? Who knows?
Curiously I kinda of think the same. I had the luck of owing really great cars since early age. I worked hard, had the income and it was my passion. Two years ago I sold my sport cars because I stopped feeling the same. At 45 I’m really pleased of owing an X5 that checks all the boxes for my daily life. I don’t need anymore the trill of speed, sound. I want to relax, get our gear and go to the forests every time we can. Please, do more content like this and the last one. Greetings from Portugal
As I have aged I have become ambivalent to many things including my physical abilities. Now with some cardiac issues I can go out for walks where I used to go out for runs. Cars used to excite me more as well where I would contemplate what my next car would be and now this is slowly leaving me. I need a time machine!! Nice video about cars and the human condition guys.
Can't help but wonder if your visit with Matt Moreman was part of the inspiration for this video. In the early days of Obsessed Garage Matt would talk about building a big garage and filling it with all the cars he wanted from his youth with all the modifications he had dreamed up while working at Tweeter. Around the S2000 CR build I thought he was falling out of love with the cars because he had modified them past what attracted him to it in the first place, but in reality I think he found he couldn't relive the past. Now he has a way to spend 70k on a S2k or 150k on an Si, build the car of his dreams and then give it a proper farewell. Mark - I too have an S2000. Love the car for all the reasons you do but I know if I sell it I won't ever buy another one. No other S2000 will have taken me on my honeymoon with my wife or have it's purchase story. I wouldn't have thought I would feel that way 10 years ago when I bought it. It isn't until you are older and had some of the same experiences that you realize the old Bronco under the tarp at your father-in-laws isn't there because he loves old Broncos Excellent video as always
We are raised in a consumer culture. We always need something more, something new, something better. Social media has made it even worse. All these car channels are constantly moving on to new vehicles just for content or reviewing vehicles that are not obtainable for regular people. Buying shit doesn’t make you happy but we haven’t learned that lesson yet, it’s easier to just buy something new.
I think perspective drives our feelings towards our vehicles. You guys have driven some of the truly best cars in the world, so it’s hard to be impressed by more normal cars that you actually own, even if you have nostalgia for them. For me, I just bought my first new car, a 2020 WRX. Objectively speaking, the car is full of flaws. Not enough power, too much rev hang, inconsistent power delivery, not the best interior, and so forth. But to me and with my up-bringing, it’s the nicest car anyone in my family has ever owned and certainly the fastest. Revving it out brings a smile to my face, even just seeing it across the parking lot makes me happy. It’s not a replacement for true happiness and satisfaction in life, but it’s an amazing tool that I can use to enjoy my hobby, it’s good enough as a daily driver, and I do feel an emotional connection to it.
I was thinking about this same topic yesterday’s as I was driving to work in my one year old Hyundai Santa Fe and realising that I’ve not had one ounce of excitement from this vehicle, that it never matched my expectations. My answer was that I’m over 50 and over cars lol. Or maybe it’s just that Hyundai’s are boring. Probably both.
Unfortunately that's how we are. We act with emotion. I prefer smaller cars but I load almost every option on to the car which can never be regained at resale. At the end of the day as long as we're happy with our purchases.
I loved my 2016 GTI with the DSG. It was APR tuned stage 2. So much fun. One of the best cars I've owned. 38 MPG, huge cargo area and mid 12's in the 1/4 mile. But my Corvette that I currently own is way more special and gets all the attention.
My 2c: define what a special car you can reasonably attain is, splurge, and hold on to it for many years. My first car at 21 was an E39 M5, and I spent everything I had on it. 6 years later I still have it and still love it like crazy. When I watch old video reviews I’m reminded of the excitement and nervousness I felt when I was looking for the car, and now I look upon it with pride that it’s let me meet so many cool people and open up new experiences. I pity people who go through cars and are never able to find their groove with one, but that’s just my psychology.
Good advice, especially on the "reasonably attain" aspect. People often aren't aware of the memories which last while they're in the making, but hard work paying off is a time honored way to spend and enjoy one's time.
@@theurbanegentleman4550 LOL, I had the e39 M5 in Avus Blue with Silverstone and the e93 M3 convertible in Jerez Black with 6 speed. Great cars - enjoy them!
This was an interesting conversation, especially considering I started this channel less than two years ago, and in that time, it's insane how quickly I've become desensitized to so many vehicles. Digging into where the passion comes from (and how to convey it) has certainly become a greater focus for me. Great video! (Now back to the drawing board....)
I had a golf and that thing dinged at me every time I stepped into the vehicle. Windshield washer fluid, black ice, due for service, check tire pressure!
Your speaking to a portion of enthusiast community. 20 to 40 somethings building Ford Deuce's, Taildraggers, Show Rods and Lowriders exhibit a passion far beyond just Nostalgia. To them cars are a lifestyle and generational. Starting with model cars graduating to bicycles and helping dad build his dream car.Than that dream car, technics and appreciation all passed down to the next generation.
Can relate to this video 100%. I bought an Integra Type R in 2011 when I turned 30 in an attempt to recapture the glory days of my late teens and early 20s when I had an Integra LS. Shortly after buying it, I discovered that as good as the ITR was, it could not transport me back to the year 2000. I sold the ITR a year later after driving it less than 1,000 miles.
Guys, I must tell you it’s time for you to get into motorcycles. Once you’re old enough and understand that you can ride safe and have the uttermost connection to the road, weather and nature around you. You will consider a motorcycle toy to go out on a sunny day and simply ride and smile. But if you’re the type that would never ever consider two wheels. Keep a reliable daily driver and a cheap Mazda Miata for weekend fun. Good luck and have fun!
I agree somewhat, but after the craziness/recklessness/lack of attention drivers have, I only ride trails now. If I'm going to going to get hurt on my bike, I'm going to do it to myself, not get run over by someone recording a Tik Tok at 85 mph in a school zone.
Only if you live in a rural area. I live in a Metropolis and drivers are very aggressive and careless. To quote forum members in my city: "Every person I've known here that rides has been in a wreck/injured. In each case, they were not at fault. One death." "Worked in ER for 4 years. Don't do it." "I bought a motorcycle, fixed it up (70s Honda), and rode it a few times. It's now for sale because in my 10 miles of riding, I had about 5 people pull out in front of me because they were texting or just thought getting to their destination was more important" I would consider a dirt bike and go ride on some trails though
I was into motorcycles in my 20’s and I’ll tell you after laying down my bike and having a family, I rarely ride anymore and will probably sell my bike this summer. Last year a barely rode and with the way people driving now and the lack of enforcement, driving on public roads is seemingly a free for all. But the heart of your comment is totally on point. There is no better way to experience nature vehicularly than a bike.
While I’m late to this video, I found it at a time where I’m going through this myself. I’m almost 30 and I’ve been through over 10 motorcycles and probably 15 vehicles, some of which were repeats cause I didn’t learn my lesson the first time. I too am in the industry, in a dealership actually, and I’ve truly grown numb to being excited by new cars. No car that’s actually feasible for me really wows me anymore, and it’s unfortunate cause my passion for cars is what got me where I am today. I’ve gotten to the point where I buy the most vehicle I can get for my money, that serves as many as my needs as possible and fewer wants. What do I drive? a leased Tacoma. This truly was an awesome video.
What’s funny is that the few people I know that have high end cars...daily drive Ford Raptors. Somehow being a car enthusiast gets you to the inevitable conclusion that public roads are so garbage that you NEED a raptor to be comfortable. And I think there is some truth to that after driving something like a GT3 down a street with potholes and speed bumps.
That's the reality isn't it? Unless one has a commute through nice mountain roads or an autobahn, a nice automatic, quiet, comfortable car is the logical choice.
I think a lot of people have had similar experiences with this car. I bought a 2020 GTI in September and I've done so much with it in less than a year -- 3,000 mile road trip, camping trips, autocross, and just had a track day. The versatility of the GTI is enough to make me forgive its relatively low performance limits. But I'm sure that if I tried to recreate my love for the car in 5 years with the next model I'd feel just like Jack -- frustrated that it's not the same experience. The car is great but we grow and change and get jaded. I'm not sure what the answer is but thanks for sharing this story. Real stuff here that goes way beyond cars.
I’ve mistakenly bought too many cars and now I’m at a point I don’t even want a car. I’m over it. Over the feeling of wanting a different car constantly. Edit. Now that I’ve finished the video. This really it’s hit home.
You guys are doing a fine job!Life is just catching up with you because you have lived long enough now to realize that nothing on this planet will bring you joy and peace.At 57 now and had countless cars great dogs 2 wives last one died of cancer.Lived through the attacks of 911 years of see crazy stuff as a firefighter in Nyc won several national hockey titles it all looses it shine and power it once had in your life because what we are really longing for is to return to heaven our true home.everything else just falls short.
This is why we all start wearing Dad jeans, driving pickups and SUVs, and listening to classic rock. Realize that comfort and predictability are worth way more than some excitement that you will never find again. Rent a sports car for a weekend and see how difficult is is to live with and how little of the capabilities you can use, then drive your F150 to Lowe’s.
I noticed this when I went from a E46 330i to leasing a fully loaded F30 335xD. I grew tired of it after a while when you get used too it, and then I had mad anxiety everytime I parked it because I had to park it on the street, and the first time I parked it side to side next to a car instead of back to front, somebody dinged my car. Then I also got damage when somebody hit my back bumper and didn't leave a note, my insurance claim for simple stuff like this was 1000$. I sold it after a year and bought a Mazda 3 instead for 1/4 of the running costs and peace of mind now for 2 years. Thank you Savagegeese for recommending the mazda 3 and making that great review on it!
Not just Cars boys, it’s Life. At some point its just generally hard to be impressed or moved by anything.
A sunny day, cup of coffee, smile from your kid , that’s what it’s about
Move to a developing country, live there, move back, repeat. Lmao
that's a sign that you've lived too long
@@Harry-hyl My kids used to act like they had it rough. I've been to islands where half the locals lived in tin shacks, trying to sell handmade trinkets to tourists to put food in their kids' mouths. Seeing the way so much of the world lives makes you appreciate what you have, and understand why so many people want to live here in the US.
@@dougrobinson8602 Similar experiences while I was in the military. Traveled the world and was glad to make it back to the US.
that's the most important thing indeed, it's tghe basiocs for happiness. but you can add to it with things like a cool sportscar. problem is if you have only the sportscar and shiny things without the basics taken care of.
As a fellow GTI owner, I could not help bursting into laughter as Jack shared the harsh reality of these cars, only to hear the audible bing of a dash light before he could even finish his thought. 🤣
What's up with VWs built in North America? In Europe they're well done and relative trouble free.
Yeah the rep is odd, my Golfs here in Canada have been among the most solid of my cars. And we beat the crap out of them here!
@@MuitoDaora I have a Mexico built GTI (2017) and it's also trouble free other than perpetual lighting issues and it burns oil lol.
My German mk7 works great
This is so true lmao, say that to my mk6
Car people are torn between buying a car with their head and buying a car with their heart. When we're making compromises between the two, we often make bad choices that aren't smart and don't make us smile with joy. Once we end up with some spare money we might blow it tilting at windmills and then regret it later.
I bought a 4 cyl Camry because I did alot of research on a car that would just last a looooong time with minimal maintenance. But I'd be lying if I didn't feel like I regret it some days in favor of something more fun.
My Camrys been paid off for a few years now and I'm saving for a weekend car.
that's why i stopped compromising on cars a long time ago. don't listen to the wife, don't listen to anybody, don't think about the 10% of times where i would need a hauler or something bigger and just go for the most insane car within my budget and my taste. since then, 90% of the times i have a blast driving it and the other 10% i happily rent something else for those handful of occasions where my fun car isn't the right vehicle for the job
@@hazardeur best solution for me is: get your fun car and get a cheap workhorse you can replace easily. obviously owning two cars can be more expensive, depending on where you live.
@@Mr.Marbles This is great advice. I've kept my trusty '17 civic hatchback for years while C63 AMGs, M3s, and other cars have been in the stable, never can replace it for its value.
@@hazardeur i agree, people get crazy about what stuff they buy has to accomplish and loose themselves and everything fun about the topic in the process.
Also - just buy something and flip it, buy used. This makes testing stuff way more affordable and not a collossal waste of money that gives you regret.
My addiction to Premium Arby's meals and blood thinners is all-encompassing. Not even a PT cruiser can help.
What's a premium meal I can get at Arby's?
@@terryyee4271 Arby's has ventured beyond the normal fast food realm and now all of its decadent meals are as premium as Piano Black HVAC controls or Nissan CVTs.
@@scottursulak3549 😂🤣
potato cakes all day
Go with the PT Cruiser. We can throw you in the back on the way to the ER during an "episode". 🤪
Mark just described addiction, a phenomena when one chases a fleeting or unobtainable good emotion.
As an addict I support this message lol.
100% correct. You spend more and more trying to recapture a feeling that has gained impact through nostalgia.
Any good that can be sold can become an addiction.
I used to be addicted to games to the point where I was on the screen whenever I had any spare time.
I thankfully realized my stupidity (after a few years) and put a stop to games completely as it started affecting my mental health.
I would describe addiction as the feeling of never having enough, constantly repeating the action that produces short term relief/pleasure.
One thing I've learnt from this complete shit show I went through was ,
'everything in moderation'.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
Like the fleeting feeling of discovering a new UA-cam channel.
"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less." -Socrates
This applies here and elsewhere in life. Great video Mark and really interesting discussion, this is what keeps me coming back. Wouldn't expect this from a car channel, but glad to see it.
Phenomenal quote. The greatest generation was probably the last in the USA to prize the mundane so highly, with the war being so fresh.
This is so true. I generally feel happier when I get rid of something that I don't need than when I acquire something.
So what you are saying is the answer really always is Miata.
A bit more seriously - forget 700hp, forget 0-60 in 3s, forget the branding. Instead, enjoy the ride.
Indeed. I love being a minimalist. I think it also helps to explain why "slow car fast" just fits me. Sure, i've driven fancy fast cars. But they were never as fun as bombing through backroads in my old Volvo 245, or the 765. Or my Corolla FX16. I picked up a better FX16, restored it, and every time I drive it, its a new rush, and a smile. 112hp is enough for me to have fun.
This is like a "it's me not you" breakup video with a car. This car should be prepared to be driven by someone new very soon.
The new owner will be a much better "fit" for the car.
Lesson learnt - we need to experience disappointments to savour happiness
Can't have any good without the bad as well
3:30
I agree that you wanted to recreate being that age Mark. I bought a Four Loko the other day to try to recreate my sophmore in college days but it just gave me really bad diarrhea and pissed off my wife cause I passed out on 2 pm on a Sunday
Exactly. As a 37 year old I feel you. You can never go back and recreate that magic. Have to look forward.
Underrated comment.
Best comment 😂
Four Loko kills brain cells quicker than a brain eating amoeba. It should be used for torture instead.
😂😂 you win
Money can't buy happiness, but when I get into my Miata RF (In no small part due to SG) and it gets pretty darn close. That car seriously brightens my day as I slot through the gears at 35mph. You just need to buy for you and what makes you happy, if you chase numbers or specs or clout you'll always come up short. These days cars are all about HP numbers, 0-60 times, 'Ring times, number of screens, etc and getting caught up in that will always leave you wanting. Great video guys!
Same sentiment, same car!
I'm seriously considering a Miata, new or used, as a completely impractical car that can just be fun. It's to replace my not-so-hot hatch (Fiesta) that was totaled and was my do everything vehicle.
Agree with you 100%, would take that car over my M any day, that car totally took me by surprise. I commend Mazda for offering such a gem of a drivers car, and the best part of it is affordability.
As a 30th anniversary RF owner I will have a hard time parting with this vehicle. It was a sheer emotional purchase. I drove a scion eco box tc for 11 years. Getting into my orange rf every morning and zipping around with top down and rowing gears at 40 mph is pure joy. I laugh when I see 400hp cars on roads because it's just so much for public streets.
Sadly the miata is the last of its kind and will likely go electric so I'm gonna hold onto this
My Miata RF has absolutely ruined me for any other car. I now hate driving anything but this amazing vehicle. I’ve owned a lot of cars, but this one is by far my absolute favorite. I usually get tired of cars quickly, but not this one. It’s the best and most fun vehicle I’ve ever owned period!
Jack's face is already morphing into late 40s concerned dad perpetually.
Oh my god, you’re right
holy shit I scrolled up and YUP
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
He doesn't even have "checking the dipstick and change the oil every 1000 miles" to look forward to. He has been doing that for years already!
Looks like he took the covid jab. Hes zombied out.
I needed this reality check... recently been looking back to a particular car I owned in my late teens, early 20's. What ties such good memories of that car is less about the car, more about the good times with great friends, freedom, and my whole life ahead of me.
This right here 👆🏽
Buy a toyota
I want my 1995 Ford Thunderbird LX 5.0L with 4-speed automatic...but even if I got one it wouldn’t feel the same anymore because my brain is older and doesn’t register experiences the same way
Disposable income helps. If you have it, it is easier to have a blast from the past as a 2nd or 3rd car. If it's a push, ownership may not deliver the emotions we hope to feel. Of course, those emotions will be hard to come by, regardless of $$ at a later life stage : (
Not to be pedantic, but your whole life is always ahead of you.
This will resonate with lots of viewers, and even though is such a simple thing, We appreciate the fact of you guys putting it out here.
This video and conclusion was much concise and accurate then 6 months of therapy with my Psychiatrist
Please guys, we need longer form conversations like this.
Cars and Counselling
IMO this is one of the channels best videos in a while, it takes balls to go online with such a big audience and admit you made a mistake.
I think what I learned from this video is that buying specific cars to relive past experiences is a fruitless affair so instead we should buy cars to have new experiences with them. A joyful moment in time will become mundane when experienced over and over again so we should look to the future for happiness and not the past.
I went from having a crappy, rattly, cheaply made C5 Corvette that was insanely fun even with an automatic, to a brand new 2021 GTI SE manual with more than enough options to me. 2 totally separate experiences that are fun in their own way, but the GTI is so overly refined in a good way. I was in disbelief that it feels like a luxury car and Hot Hatch at the same time.
couldn't have said it better!
Mate, I agree with you 100%. I got r35 to get something as what I had with my r33, just to be left disappointed. Then got 86 after, completely different, and loved it. Bizarre ey. It just felt new and fun.
You nailed it.
What Mark said at starting 3:20 hits deep and I know what he's talking about exactly. I tried to recreate experiences like that too, I even tried to play the same music that was on during the initial experience and it never worked. It just made me think "what the hell am I doing here"
I did that in my old Civic often with music. Wierd stuff!
@@savagegeese I had my 5 high school soccer teammates packed into a 98 Civic Hatchback driving to an away game with Common - The People playing on the radio when it came out. It was just something about that that was unique and that's why I loved that car and that's why I'll never buy it because it just won't be the same. I don't even listen to that song anymore because I want it to be attached to that experience.
@@WKaliberr That's like Nirvana "Smells like teen spirit". Although it's basically THE song of my youth and still one of the greatest of all time i never listen to it.
@@000GunterGabriel000 That's for the better so that when you DO hear it somewhere, you are reminded of your youth and not of being stuck in standstill traffic on your way to a dead end job with it sounding like crap coming out of Spotify compressed Bluetooth audio
Is the memory from the experience not enough? For me most of the time it is. And what about trying to make new? Taking my family somewhere is a another new experience. It isn't the same as throwing my BMW down a small B-road in Scotland, but it is a new experience, and I enjoy it just the same.
Screw you guys, my new Chevy Cruze gonna make me the happiest guy on the planet!!
Hats off to you o7
They stopped making the Cruze over 2 years ago, so you either got a used one or a old new leftover.
@@alexnutcasio936 He just means it’s new for him likely lol
@@alexnutcasio936 Its new for me
@@alexnutcasio936 I'm willing to bet some might still be sitting on the lot almost 2 years later tbh 🤣
There is something special about a first car. Everyone remembers their first car and the crappier the car, the more character it has, the more you remember it. I used a tennis racket to prop up the hatch on my 98 Civic Hatchback. AC condense line leaked into the passenger side floor so I put a plastic Tupperware container there and emptied it once a day. The roof used to loudly pop when it was in the sun because it had a big dent in it and the sun expanded it and it scared the shit out of me every time it happened.
I drove it to school, soccer practices, McDonalds, my local 7-11 where I used to be able to buy Coors Light or Natty Lite as a minor. Memories.
But if I had that car now, I would sell it immediately cause now I don't have time for all those things that made it a fun, interesting car. Life moves on and then you die.
"Natty Light" lol. Is that the drink of choice for all those fake nattys outthere?
@@hazardeur It's a drink of choice when you want the beer with best ABV to price ratio and your beer drinking tastebuds aren't evolved enough to realize its an awful "beer"
You guys nailed it.... I'm in my late 30's and I've been trying to chase my experiences from the golden 90's/00's during the Import tuner/Fast and the Furious era....After many purchases old and new, I'm always left with a empty feeling that never takes me back to those days. This is the deepest car enthusiast video I have ever seen, thanks guys. You guys may have altered my future.
I'm about the same age, and I am fortunate enough to have been able to keep my old Audi I purchased 16 years ago. I worked hard, life worked out, that obviously doesn't happen for everyone. What I want to say is this: try driving cars you never considered before! If you were into Japanese cars, go out and drive something German, or even something totally different. Go on a new adventure and see what happens! I recently experienced total shock when I had a chance to drive a 2015 Mercedes GLK 250 Bluetec - I actually liked it, and I don't like SUVs. It had a diesel, it had loads of torque, had some character, and I liked it! I didn't see that one coming, so you've got nothing to lose - give it a shot and see what you find...
You could sum up the video to 2 words : Hedonic adaptation! It does work for almost any material thing that you pursue. However you could fight it and make your Mk7 GTI enjoyable again by living great experiences with it : going on track, having a road trip with it, etc...It's the experiences that are proven scientifically to fulfill us and make us happier as humans. Hedonic adaptation should be also tricked by stopping the use of that car for few days or weeks weeks and then drive it again.
You're welcome for the tips ;)
You could also make it great again by buying a 10 year old base model Corolla and living with that for a couple years.
Hedonic treadmill is the broad problem we face
This happens with about anything in life: relationships, cars, houses, vacations. After you have experienced all there is to experience, you become jaded and require more new stuff to get you excited. As one wise man said, there is nothing new under the sun.
And think of the damage all that resulting over consumption / consumerism does to your planet.
Agreed. Rates of depression and prescription drugs used to combat that depression are highest in countries with the highest standards of living. It’s because the more we have the more we want and it’s like a dog chasing it’s tail. Or it could be the medical and pharmaceutical industry is completely profit driven and are enablers and will misdiagnose just about anything to make a buck.
People who think they've seen or done it all most certainly haven't, the world is a big place
Or you look for meaning outside of consuming shit
@@fakename9931 sounds similar to the Buddha
Man, this was a gut punch. I just put down a large down payment on my dream car from when I was 16 (I'm in my 40's now). I subconsciously know it won't be as great as I dreamed for the last 20+ years, but I am desperately hoping I'm wrong.
Bro, I wish you enjoy the car as much as you can! Remember, everything is how you let your mind react to the situation. You’re in charge of enjoying what you just bought :)
From the video, "I don't view cars as a status purchase." You do you, man. There's no stigma or anything else. It's just you and the car.
Yeah ive been holding off on either a new 911 or m4 with the same reasons, deep down I know I don’t drive fast and it wont be any better than my 2016 honda in 99% of uses and will probably be worse in many use cases
What is it though?
no ... get your dream, it will be fine , that is a nice and necessary stage .... it is the stage after that you will struggle with ...
Nostalgia makes you focus on the good things you lost, but it glosses all over the negative feelings you had back then, just like how your present situation has its ups and downs and uncertainties for the future. Changes that happened since resolved some of the bad stuff that was making fog around the good things, and knowing the path that unraveled afterwards solves the uncertainty problem. Sadly, now you realise all the great things you lost and never truly appreciated, because you were distracted by negative stuff, uncertainty for the future or even nostalgia you had back then.
Totally related to this video. For years I regretted selling my 2nd generation Acura Integra LS which I bought new out of college and dreamed of getting it back. One time, a few years after selling it, in a huge parking lot (IKEA in northern VA), I found it (the college stickers still in the back window and a small scratch on the read bumper) parked nose to nose with my current car. The probability of this happening took me aback. If this was a sign from God, I completely missed what he was trying to tell me.
It was a good car for the time but Mark is 100% right, what I missed about that car all along were the times I had with that car. Nothing can bring those youthful days back to me.
I think several factors play into this. Here are few I can think of:
1) Our tastes change over time. I adored my 1989 Honda CRX Si. A few years after I sold it, I test-drove one as a lark. The things about the CRX that 5 years earlier were non-issues (the noise, the harsh ride, the door-mounted seatbelts, the goofy steering wheel/pedals relationship, etc.) had become significant drawbacks.
2) We went through a period of remarkable automotive transformation from the 1970s through approximately the 2000s. Cars rapidly (and haphazardly) improved over time. In such a rapid change environment, snagging a standout car like a Mark 2 GTI, or a 2nd-gen CRX, or a Miata, or an E36 M3 was more possible, and the benefits of having such a car were much more tangible.
In the 2020s, almost EVERY car is "pretty good" and the differences between them (especially at a given price point/market segment) boil down to things like safety features, infotainment, long-term reliability, and such. Those factors do not enhance the emotional experience of ownership the way the driving experience of a B13 Nissan Sentra SE-R compared to a contemporary Toyota Corolla did.
3) What makes a car "special" to us is not always rational or even explicable. When I traded in my CRX for an Acura Integra GSR, it was a far superior car in every measurable way...and I ended up dumping it in less than 2 years. Conversely, I adore my current 2016 Mazda 3 (2.0 liter). I can't tell you why...except that it "sings" to me in a way other cars (including other Mazda 3s I test-drove) do not. We need to learn to recognize when things "sing" to us...and also accept that we probably won't know why they do.
I currently have an Integra LS that sings to me and would love to just upgrade to a GSR when a well-priced one comes up. I’m in my mid 20s and plan to hold on to my Integra and s2000 combo. Still have aspirations to own maybe a e46 or e90/92 m3 but I’ll hold off for now.
I test drove over a dozen select cars used and new last year for a third happy car not for a commuter appliance and it was the most difficult decision. Most didn't provide value for money or weren't comfortable. So what did I buy? A 2021 MX-5. There really is no substitute to a pure car. No sport mode no gimmicks.
Thanks for this video
I love this channel so much. These guys fucking get it. I turn 27 in a few months and I’ve been noticing more and more that cars satisfy me less and less. Every “next car” is a nicer, faster, better one than what I have. I’m chasing something I’ll never have. So anyway I think I’m gonna get a Porsche in a few years.
Try a motorcycle
911 S. You won’t regret it... at least for a really long time!
There is no substitute.
Not that this comment will be seen, but I feel like you guys should discuss in-depth the future for the automotive enthusiast in a world that's going electric. Curious of your perspective on this.
Tedward has done an interesting video on this topic, however brief it is.
You can avoid nostalgia-driven angst by just buying something that efficiently meets a real transportation need, maintaining it, and driving it until your needs change, or the manufacturer & aftermarket supply chains for it dry up and render it truly obsolete. That’s been my approach to my 26yr.-old Dodge pickup truck that I bought new. It’s got 244K miles on it, and with annual rustproofing re-treatments, remains structurally sound and cosmetically close to original. It was never a thrilling ride, and isn’t now, except when it efficiently picks up and totes around one of my malfunctioning motorcycles (that are even older), or when I get an admiring “Oh, wow-nice truck. How long have you had it?” from a young gearhead guy or gal. I just sort of feel sorry for folks who spend a bazillion bucks thinking they’ll find happiness from buying the latest, and then reselling the quickly-depreciating greatest.
Having a chime notification for low windshield washer fluid is about the most German thing I've ever heard.
In the mk4, the washer fluid alarm is almost the same as the low oil pressure alarm
...And low fuel light/warning too. I miss it.
Car not level? Light.
Car not on a lift but on a jack? Light.
Windshield washer fluid low? Light.
Your wife just gave birth at home and you don't know? Light.
@@thejo6331 lol
lol, my car has a low web fluid i mean washer fluid sensor lol, im like is that really necessary
This video is exactly why I won't ever be able to replace my M3. I regret selling it everyday but I know if I bought another one, it won't be quite the same and that will be a disappointment. Just gotta enjoy the memories and move on!
Owned three. Totally agree.
I’m over 50, had tons of great cars over the years (Maserati, M3, M5, Porsche 928, Mercedes SL) and have lost some of that feeling as you mentioned. I then wanted to try a Tesla as it was such a disruption to the status quo. I’m having fun again! It’s fun now to be stealthy, shoot out of corners silently, and finally not have to worry about coming up on that next expensive European maintenance schedule.
This is a great point. I feel like people now, not younger, but older people now buying these Challengers, Camaros, Mustangs, well, they're not going to recapture anything. They're different vehicles that superficially look like the older vehicles. But get in to the original and now they just look old and you realize just how far cars have come. I use to have a favorite subway train in NYC. It's still running. But now it just looks old. When it was new and for many years, it seemed special. There have been some changes and a lot of aging over the years and although some of the original feel is there, they're just old now. They're no longer special. Just still around.
Whatever material thing or you may even think is some extra special product you get to try to fill some void, it likely won't work. I find what works for me is new discovery. New music, musicians, sometimes spots to go to with different people in them. Go to the same spot and it's depressing. The vibe is nothing like it was when you were a certain age. Even if you see some of the same musicians you saw 15-20 years ago, they're different because you were different then. And so where they. And if you are into cars, drive the old car to the same places you used to. Not the same experience., It'll never feel like your car.
I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion.
This type of video is why this is my favorite car channel. You spoke directly to my car struggle.
This was spot on. In my 20s I had three cars that I liked a lot, a 2.8 BMW Z3, a RSX Type S and then an Acura TL (6 speed). Now in my low 30s, when I was able to afford to do so, I bought a 3.0 Z3, another RSX Type S, and a Honda Accord Coupe 6 Speed. This was exactly just because of nostalgia, and I regret every single one of them, they were special at the time because of my life in those days, they just don't fit with my current self and I had to sell them. Thanks Mark for touching this subject, I thought I was the only dumb ass buying nostalgia cars.
What I got from this video is never ever sell any cars you’ve bought because you’ll never recapture your feelings for them!
That’s what I got out of it. I almost sold my m2 for an m2c buy part of the reason I didn’t was because when it was time to do the paper work I didn’t want to actually sell my car that I already loved. I didn’t want to hand it over to anyone else. The M2C is objectively better, but I didn’t love it like mine. If I bought it back some day later down the road would it be the same?
That's why I've had my DC2 ITR for the last 18 years. It's bought me such joy, especially when times were tough.
When my finances were such that I considered replacing it with a cheap Porsche I decided against it, and instead modified the car with the money I would have had to spend.
Less weight, better sound, better connectedness/feel with the road, more power, stiffer body, better traction, fixed all the vibrations and rattles.
And I've not been tempted to "upgrade" it since because I can't afford even a used GT3 here in Australia, and frankly nothing short of that sort of money would in my mind be a real upgrade to the things I love about the car.
Indeed, the lesson is, when you really love something don't let it go.
And if I had won the crypto lottery and got myself a GT3, I still would not have sold the teg.
Exactly! 16 years ago I bought a brand new A4 B6 (1.8T Quattro) when I graduated from university. I saved my money, didn't go away for school so I didn't have to pay to stay on campus. The old girl isn't a sports car, but I love the thing. I stopped using it as a daily 3 years ago, and now it just comes out on the weekends. I'll never sell it, even though I've driven faster and better handling cars. It's got character and mechanical things I love - hydraulic steering, completely mechanical old-school quattro, a manual handbrake, I can actually hear the turbo when it spools up (and it comes complete with turbo lag). Man, that interior really held up well too - hard to beat a VAG interior of that vintage. I'm so glad life circumstances and hard work allowed me to keep her!
I’ve been watching the channel for about a year now, but just now stumbled across this video. Interesting timing, I’m scheduled to fly cross-country next month to pick up my second go at the DC2 Integra Type R and street drive it 2800 miles home.
I owned one a decade ago and was forced by life to sell it, when my plan had always been to keep it for life. This video has me pondering what that will really feel like, on some level maybe I do want my youth back and to tear around in an Integra at 16 again. We’ll see.
Cars are one of the most emotional products you can buy. Mark's empathy about how we experience life cycles through cars is moving.
>me being 20 in university with the only thing motivating me to go forward being buying a miata when i finish
Me when my whole motivation to progress in my career has been a need to consume more and more (in my case, cars). It can be depressing, although a quick drive around the block helps.
I'm in a similar boat when I finally splurged on a 2019 Bullitt last year at 27yo. It's a heart decision that I rationalized in my head to make it fit.
Yeah, that was me with a Dodge Stealth R/T TT! They were new back then... :)
Just buy a cheap na/nb right now
Jack gives off very real Hank Hill vibes and he should just keep leaning into it.
I know right. I’m probably older than him but I wish he was my dad.
This is why I’m a subscriber. Instead of droning on, like 95% of similar UA-cam content creators, you mix it up. I agree as I’ve recently owned an ND1 Miata, STI and two Mini Coopers for the love of rally racing and Dakar heritage. All but the Minis are gone. I’ve given up on the new car market after coming to the same realization. The Mercedes AMG dealership is pissed. The only thing that excites me now is the used, private market. The new car industry has spun out of control. Way to stay relevant fellas!
What an interesting video, gentlemen. Got me thinking about my own (much longer) experiences buying and owning cars. My first was a '54 Kaiser 2 door sedan when I was in HS in the mid '60's. Its most endearing quality was the fact that two teenagers could lie down across the rear seat. My girlfriend and I made extensive use of that feature. Before I graduated I replaced it with a '61 Beetle that took me halfway across the country to college. I loved that car until it threw a rod after several years. I followed it up with a '63 Dodge Dart that got me through college and on to grad school. It was worthless in the winters of upstate NY so I replaced it with a Saab 96 with an V4 engine that was built on half of the block of a Ford V8. Its FWD was rare in those days and a marvel in hilly, snow bound Ithaca, NY. No need to put sandbags in the trunk for traction when winter came as I'd done with the Dart. It plowed up and down the hills of the steep hills of upstate NY regardless of the weather and it took me and my bride to Michigan for more school. Sadly the winter road salt in NY and Michigan eventually rusted the Saab in two (literally).
Eventually I moved out of the snow and rust belt to Austin, TX. Finally had a job and enough money to get an early GTI. Another vehicle love affair for some years until another move took me to Berkeley, CA where a Datsun 240Z (It was still Datsun and not Nissan in those days) entered my life after my wife and I parted. Forged a strong emotional attachment to that great car based no doubt on an early midlife crisis and I held onto it for years. Eventually, I moved to Washington State and faced challenging winters again. First in Spokane and after a move to Seattle with winter ski trips in the Cascades. Now FWD and AWD alternatives were widespread. Married again and a Mazda MPV van seemed a versatile choice and a bargain. It extracted us from a deep, snow covered ditch on a lonely logging road and probably saved our lives. You don't forget vehicles like that. Later, a Volvo 850 and a much loved Saab wagon served us well. I love wagons and I miss their versatility.
A few years later the disappearance of wagon alternatives drove my wife and me to consider an SUV. Tough decision but as my wife wanted a higher driving position to better cope with Seattle traffic and didn't want the stigma of being a minivan driving soccer mom. The vehicle was my wife's daily driver so she had the majority vote and in 2012 we purchased a KIA Sorento. It turned out to be a "goldilocks" family truckster as well as my wife's daily driver. We replaced it in 2018 with another one. At the time a rare instance in my life when I've purchased the same vehicle twice in a row. Emotional attachment? No, but a really, really practical and versatile vehicle.
Meanwhile, I managed to deal with my ongoing midlife crisis with several cars. I purchased a Mazda 626 coupe in the late 1980's. Its engine detonated after 7K miles but Mazda replaced the engine under warranty and I drove it for another 120K miles with no issues. Every automaker turns out an occasional lemon. I just happened to have owned one. Its major weakness was its bright red color and foot tall letters on the side that read "TURBO". It was the only car I've ever owned that netted me multiple speeding tickets and I continue to believe that the color and the graphics had something to do with that.
In '94 I replaced the Mazda with a new Honda Prelude. Beautiful car. Fast and with VTEC a very flexible engine. I drove it for 10 years and 120K miles and never did anything but put fuel in it, changed the oil, replaced tires and windshield wipers and performed a few other maintenance tasks. I really loved that car. I might even have purchased another Prelude but Honda had discontinued the model by that time and the Accord coupe didn't do it for me. Neither, of course, did the highly functional Accord 4 door sedan.
So to continue to feed my (now late) midlife crisis I went with the Mazda RX-8 in 2004. A four seat sports car with hidden suicide rear doors that gave it the appearance of a two door coupe. A rotary engine with a 9000 RPM redline for the 1.3L rotary engine. 232 HP and159 lb feet of torque at 5500 RPM. Fantastic driving experience on twisty mountain roads revved to the max but it was like driving a 4 wheel 600 cc Japanese motorcycle. In normal traffic it was a slug and had the fuel economy resembling a 700 HP Dodge Charger. Furthermore it was prone to flooding if the ignition was turned off before the engine reached operating temperature. Not a major problem in most cars but in the RX-8 it meant replacing the single spark plug with the car on a lift since once flooded the car could never be restarted without a new plug. A great track toy but otherwise infuriating.
In 2012 I sold the Mazda with warnings to the HS kid who bought it. He was happy as a clam and if I were 17 I would have been, too. At that point I bought one the last MK6 GTI's and one of the last before VW moved production to Mexico. I fell in love all over again. Even after many years it felt like the GTI I'd owned before in the dim, dark past only much, much better. Put about 30K miles on it before adding a Stage I APR tune that transformed its performance with virtually no impact on its perfect reliability. Slight impact on fuel economy but that was the fault of my right foot.
After about 75K miles I traded the GTI for a MK7.5 version. That decision was driven by the fact that my teenage daughter was nearing driving age and I wanted her to have all the driving assistance and safety features that had been added since the MK6. It was difficult giving up the MK6 but after a couple of weeks I was completely seduced. Overall "tightness" and fit and finish (fewer squeaks) are significantly improved over my German built MK6 GTI. I only have about 25K on my current generation GTI but like the last model the reliability has been perfect. Haven't added a Stage I tune as yet in part because the new model doesn't feel nearly in need of a performance boost as the MK6 and partly because I occasionally share the car with my teenage daughter whose right foot may not be as disciplined as mine.
My daughter is anxious for me to get another vehicle and turn the GTI over to her. She knows that the thought of trading it out of the family is like considering selling the family dog. I'll be looking at the MK8 GTI or the Golf R when they arrive in the US but from what I've seen I'm not anxious to give up my GTI (even to my daughter) for either one. Instead, I'm intrigued by the possibility of getting a VW Arteon with its version of the VW EA888 engine or a KIA Stinger with the new 2.5L four cylinder base engine. Each is a proper GT (Grand Touring) sedan in the European mold and a Stage I tune of the Arteon would erase the on-paper spec advantages of the Stinger powerplant. Maybe I'm finally old enough to consider a midsize sedan. :)
I'm so happy you guys discussed this topic. I find that the more I have long conversations about car enthusiasm, the more I feel like I need to discuss something else because the same phrase, "they're just cars" keeps rushing back to me. They are just cars. They can't make you happy. We can be happy about the unique characteristics and the memories and thoughts and feelings they bring up, but they can't deliver those things by themselves. What helps me is to simply look at a particular car and enjoy it for exactly what it has to offer, for what it is and nothing more. Then I can really enjoy it and not have any expectation or envy about something similar, because I know that this car is unique for what it is, and that's good enough!
As soon as you turn your passion into something you're paid for, there's a good chance it will become less a passion and more a job.
Thanks for the brutally honest video. Refreshing to see some honesty these days.
That's part of it, but the other part is simply aging. When you get older, "stuff" like cars, matter less.
This.
I lost my first car in a rear end crash in 2019 and the nostalgia is so powerful. Once I lost it, I knew I'll never be able to fill the spot in my heart. I'm glad you made the connection between cars and a pet. you never forget your pets and it's always a comparison between the best and the worst. so I'll always be comparing my old car with the future through glasses of nostalgia. very sad but unavoidable
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” -Epictetus
So true. Speaks directly to the hedonic treadmill.
To add: Those two people on the elevator with you, one with the 150k Mercedes and the $3MM house is just as worried as the guy with the 150k house and beat up F-150 about how he is going to pay his bills.
You guys have hit the nail on the head with this one. The nostalgia for past experiences and memories is what drives a lot of purchasing and lots of other decisions.
For better or for worse this is what part of our human nature is I think.
I know that I have made car purchasing decisions based on the desire to feel certain way and when that wouldn't fully materialize I would look for something else.
At the same time if you are a "car person" or motorcycle person or whatever else person that is a part of who you are and that's not necessarily wrong. We all look for experiences that either help us recapture an old feeling or maybe help us build new ones.
It does help to stop and think about why you're doing something though, just so you understand you're doing it for the right reasons.
Been there done that... So many times. You also know you’re getting older when you take your car and modify it, and afterwards wish you hadn’t.
It’s nice being old enough to buy a car that doesn’t require serious modifications to be fun.
Great video as always Jack and Mark.
This video described my feelings exactly.
Purchased an S2000 across the province (in Ontario) for my 24th birthday. That car was one of my favorite cars growing up and finally owning one made me feel the best I've ever felt. Many first time S2000 owners can say the same thing like you mentioned.
Eventually got rid of it due to practically, marriage and looking towards the future (family) so I sold it and got a 2017 C300 which I hated every second of driving for a year.
Traded it in for a 2018 M2 which I loved driving but I knew it was a purchase to replace that S2000 feeling which it never really did. It was an amazing car but after the first 6 months, the engine start feeling I got from it just wore off unlike the S2000 where it was always there.
Now I'm driving a 2018 S5 which is a good vehicle, practical and works for my needs but again, I felt so dejected from driving for "fun" or "enjoyment."
I finally came to my senses during this pandemic and gave up on yearning for that feeling of getting butterflies in my stomach every engine startup. It's gone and will probably never come back - it's just about accepting it as you said!
I bought a new 2 Door MKV GTI back when I was college and loved it dearly for a couple years. Almost a decade later I bought a new 4 door MK7 GTI in the same silver to try and bring back those memories. It was a good car too, maybe not the same level but was fun. Ended up trading it a couple years later for a Lincoln MKC (😂) that I only kept 6 months until I got back on the German car train again. You can never bring back your youth!
Ah, the ole Mk5! Fine choice. :)
Great vids, Boys. I can relate to alot of it, but involving motorcycles instead of cars. My first bike was a 2006 ninja 250. I put 14000 miles on it in one year. I toured several states on it. Climbed mountains with it. Went camping with it. Every bike that I've bought after it, I've always tried to recreate that era of when I had the Ninjette and I cant. There are too many circumstances that were unique , because they were virgin experiences and you cant recreate that. I can go on and have 'new' adventures on a new bike. But I can never have the ones that I remembered from the old ones.
This was a great video and really gives me something to ponder for the rest of the day. This is one of the things that I really enjoy about the channel. I enjoy about how you describe how the car feels and makes you feel.
I seriously connected with this video at such a emotional level, it is shocking. My car hobby has never been ruined by making it my job. That's why I would never do that.
you mean, like a auto technician?
@@jaimehernandez4962 yeah, or car salesman, service advisor, detailer, any career centered in the automotive world.
That’s smart. I’m a car guy turned career mechanic. I’ve worked for a high-end collision shop for the past few years. Driving AMGs is a near daily occurrence. It’s very rare that any car feels special anymore
I've stopped trying to buy vehicles from my youth, mostly because I've always been disappointed with not being able to recapture the feelings from the moments in time I originally owned said vehicles. I've started to dive into vehicles that I would have never given two shits about before, and have been pleasantly surprised at my experiences and feelings thus far. The most recent example has been a 2004 Jeep Liberty, which had a good body but bad engine. I scored a wrecked 2006 Liberty CRD at the same time and swapped the CRD's entire drivetrain into the gas 2004 vehicle. My 'new' CRD-swapped Liberty has put more smiles on my face and made me giggle far more than it ever should! It doesn't make sense! But like anything else in life, I'll enjoy it while I can!
Very well timed video. I actually think that my passion for cars is a victim of the pandemic. I used to drive 30,000 miles / year as part of my job. Going to see customers, driving with them to see equipment. In the past 12 months I drove only 5000 miles (mostly getting groceries) yet my performance at work has actually improved. I currently own 4 cars and I really did enjoy them all, but looking forward, I can't see the point of buying any new cars that'll just end up sitting on my driveway. Nothing excites me anymore. Maybe I should get into bicycles.
This is easily one of the best car review videos I've ever seen (and I watch a lot). I had two MKII GTIs in my 20's - back to back. I had the second one the longest, and I had a lot of great memories in that car. It also left me stranded several times, too. I ran the second GTI into a Jetta and totaled both. Thankfully, no one was hurt. In retrospect, I kinda feel like I killed two birds with one stone.
After GT3, 458 you need to go to a quality restomod. When you have cars with such performance, you have to go back in time, when cars were not so capable and the driver was the most important part of the car. You will be slower than the rest, but you will be smiling from ear to ear. And with a quality restomod, you can still have some modern necesities in the car :). Modern cars are quick, but they do not excite you anymore. Basically the car drives you instead of you driving the car.
And great video, also very true: I tried to buy my first car half a year ago. And when I test drove it, it came to me: what the hell am I doing in this peace of junk. I have idealized it, since it was my first car, but… And yea, no car will make you 18 years old again.
This video has hit home with me. I have bought seven new cars since 2016 to try to make myself happy. I just went through motorcycle training and received my endorsement. I bought a $5,000 new motorcycle and it brings a smile to my face every time I ride it. My newish car just sits in the garage now. I should’ve bought a cheap used car years ago after looking back how much I blown on trading in cars for a different model.
Riding is one of life's hidden pleasures that unfortunately most people will never try because they're too afraid of their own mortality
Bikes are awesome. But speaking from experience, it's even easier to fall into the same trap with them, because they're generally cheaper and easier to store. I went through several years trying (and failing) to fill the gaping hole in my life with motorcycles...
I can relate to everything said in this video, especially the part about making the mistake everyone told you not to make. Brings back memories of when I bought my first new car in 2013. Everyone was saying buy used, and take way less of a hit with depreciation, but I didn't listen. Luckily I only had that car for 3 years and it was replacement by the dealership due to recurrent faults. From there I got into a new 2016, which ended up being faultless, but the experience wasn't the same. By then I was jaded and new car ownership had lost its gloss. Fast forward 4 years, I currently own a 95 Civic and an 03 Mazda 6. If you told me 5 years ago I'd be driving two car over 15 years old, I would have said you're crazy... but here I am. The ownership experience for both has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but generally it's been a lot more rewarding than my past 2 new cars. I also don't have any car loan to worry about!
I remember spending years looking up car reviews trying to find a car that would fill that happiness void. I finally bit the bullet and got my WRX and there were a few months after that I wasn't getting that satisfaction I was looking for. More recently, I started doing mods and joining more groups, and found the true happiness with cars are the friendships you make along the way.
Joe you hit the nail on the head, it's the people, the social interaction.
I think what's being described here is "hedonic adaptation". I definitely agree that materialism will never make a permanent positive impact and will never fill whatever void many of us have. As long as basic needs are met in life, we all tend to quickly revert back to our base state of consciousness and happiness when buying luxury items like a nice car. We can all debate what the meaning and purpose of our lives are, but it's almost certainly not to just collect toys.
Brilliant topic guys. Personally owned over 100 cars in the last 37 years. I've learned you have to buy what YOU really want, not what others want, etc. It took a long time and a lot of money to learn that lesson. But no real regrets; some of my best memories have come from behind the wheel.
Spot on hypothesis - I agree 100%. You have to go through these experience 'loops' to understand the point(lessness) of most of it. True wisdom in the end eh?
You guys having the benefit of driving so many cars and still coming back to that same conclusion is also an interesting point. I further agree that once you get to a certain spend point it's hard to go back down the other way. The only was is up!
Personally I have a '16 Ford Focus ST mk3.5 and am modifying it as far as I can just because I realise this is probably the last chance to do it as well as I want to, before I get too old. After that I guess the itch is scratched and we can embrace the futile life of an EV with autonomous driving to follow. Effing hell ..........
Also a final thought - is our growing indifference to modern vehicles directionally proportional to their increasingly anodyne nature?
I can so relate to this episode. I drove Saab's for 35 years. Loved them! When I retired I wanted my next 'forever' car, meaning to last me for 8-10 years. Saab has been out of business for 10 years so I had to switch brands. I ended up with a new 2019 VW Arteon SEL Premium R-Line. Price: $39,500 plus taxes. I absolutely LOVE this car.
Chasing anything worldly, or materialistic will never break you peace. It does give you the thrill of eventually buying the item, but once the novelty wears off after a few months, you are back where you belong. I've made myself content driving a normal car, as an enthusiast, and have focused my time and passion on my family, other people and my faith.
This is really multi-faceted and deep topic. I'm 23, so maybe that's why I can't relate to this feeling as much as others can, but I think the thing that helps me the most with this issue is just appreciating what you have, and where you came from so to speak. I absolutely love the car I have now, a 2017 Honda Accord Coupe V6, and cannot fathom ever selling it. My first car was a 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse with 150hp on a good day, and this car is like a different world.
I have two other cars, and I notice that when I drive one of them for a week, I end up really missing my Accord, and it reignites some of the excitement/honeymoon period I had when I first brought it home. That feeling honestly goes both ways because I really like my other vehicles too. But really, even when I do drive it every day continuously, I don't lose the feeling of love I have for it. I'm happy to get behind the wheel every single time. Psychology is weird.
similar thought process with video games too. used to love playing world of warcraft all day and night and now it just feels like a second job. nostalgia is a powerful drug.
This video really hit close to home for me. I loved cars since I was a teenager and a year and a half ago, now in my 30s and financially stable, I bought my dream car, a Subaru WRX. I struggled during the whole ownership with why I had this car. It was fun and fast, but I just didn't care. It wasn't anything bad about the car, I just didn't need the performance. On most days if given the choice I drove my girlfriend's Kia Soul instead. It's comfortable, good on (non-premium) gas and we don't worry about anyone hitting it.
I sold the WRX last week (at a profit at least) and was expecting to feel sad, but I didn't. My next car will be something comfortable and practical. The ownership of a performance car was more fun in my mind than actual reality.
Six years ago, at age 69, I bought a 2016 Mazda MX-5/Miata. It joined a 2006 Audi A6 wagon. Now the Audi sits in the garage gathering dust, hasn't run in five years, I drive the MX-5 daily, year round through New Hampshire winters, it still pleases me every time I drive it. What does it all mean? Who knows?
It means you are having fun and rightly so.
I’m 17, and I drive a 2017 Giulia TI. I don’t think any car will ever top the joy that that Alfa gives me. Holding on to it for a while.
Curiously I kinda of think the same. I had the luck of owing really great cars since early age. I worked hard, had the income and it was my passion.
Two years ago I sold my sport cars because I stopped feeling the same. At 45 I’m really pleased of owing an X5 that checks all the boxes for my daily life. I don’t need anymore the trill of speed, sound. I want to relax, get our gear and go to the forests every time we can.
Please, do more content like this and the last one.
Greetings from Portugal
As I have aged I have become ambivalent to many things including my physical abilities. Now with some cardiac issues I can go out for walks where I used to go out for runs. Cars used to excite me more as well where I would contemplate what my next car would be and now this is slowly leaving me. I need a time machine!! Nice video about cars and the human condition guys.
Can't help but wonder if your visit with Matt Moreman was part of the inspiration for this video. In the early days of Obsessed Garage Matt would talk about building a big garage and filling it with all the cars he wanted from his youth with all the modifications he had dreamed up while working at Tweeter. Around the S2000 CR build I thought he was falling out of love with the cars because he had modified them past what attracted him to it in the first place, but in reality I think he found he couldn't relive the past. Now he has a way to spend 70k on a S2k or 150k on an Si, build the car of his dreams and then give it a proper farewell.
Mark - I too have an S2000. Love the car for all the reasons you do but I know if I sell it I won't ever buy another one. No other S2000 will have taken me on my honeymoon with my wife or have it's purchase story. I wouldn't have thought I would feel that way 10 years ago when I bought it.
It isn't until you are older and had some of the same experiences that you realize the old Bronco under the tarp at your father-in-laws isn't there because he loves old Broncos
Excellent video as always
We are raised in a consumer culture. We always need something more, something new, something better. Social media has made it even worse. All these car channels are constantly moving on to new vehicles just for content or reviewing vehicles that are not obtainable for regular people. Buying shit doesn’t make you happy but we haven’t learned that lesson yet, it’s easier to just buy something new.
Don't know what it is but Jack really looks like an asian Hank Hill in this one.
His next car is going to run off propane and propane accessories.
‘Yuuuuuup’ (takes a sip of my beer)
I think perspective drives our feelings towards our vehicles. You guys have driven some of the truly best cars in the world, so it’s hard to be impressed by more normal cars that you actually own, even if you have nostalgia for them. For me, I just bought my first new car, a 2020 WRX. Objectively speaking, the car is full of flaws. Not enough power, too much rev hang, inconsistent power delivery, not the best interior, and so forth. But to me and with my up-bringing, it’s the nicest car anyone in my family has ever owned and certainly the fastest. Revving it out brings a smile to my face, even just seeing it across the parking lot makes me happy. It’s not a replacement for true happiness and satisfaction in life, but it’s an amazing tool that I can use to enjoy my hobby, it’s good enough as a daily driver, and I do feel an emotional connection to it.
I was thinking about this same topic yesterday’s as I was driving to work in my one year old Hyundai Santa Fe and realising that I’ve not had one ounce of excitement from this vehicle, that it never matched my expectations. My answer was that I’m over 50 and over cars lol. Or maybe it’s just that Hyundai’s are boring. Probably both.
Well, you did buy a Santa fe. What did you expect?
Unfortunately that's how we are. We act with emotion. I prefer smaller cars but I load almost every option on to the car which can never be regained at resale. At the end of the day as long as we're happy with our purchases.
I loved my 2016 GTI with the DSG. It was APR tuned stage 2. So much fun. One of the best cars I've owned. 38 MPG, huge cargo area and mid 12's in the 1/4 mile. But my Corvette that I currently own is way more special and gets all the attention.
38 MPG= Got 38 MPG one time going downhill.
Source: Also had a '16 GTI.
@@amhoros nice! LOL
I straight up love these guys. Love the sense of humor and quality of the videos. Best car channel by far.
My 2c: define what a special car you can reasonably attain is, splurge, and hold on to it for many years. My first car at 21 was an E39 M5, and I spent everything I had on it. 6 years later I still have it and still love it like crazy. When I watch old video reviews I’m reminded of the excitement and nervousness I felt when I was looking for the car, and now I look upon it with pride that it’s let me meet so many cool people and open up new experiences. I pity people who go through cars and are never able to find their groove with one, but that’s just my psychology.
Just like with spouses, you won the lotto with the e39. Keep and enjoy her for years.
Good advice, especially on the "reasonably attain" aspect. People often aren't aware of the memories which last while they're in the making, but hard work paying off is a time honored way to spend and enjoy one's time.
@@aussie2uGA haha good analogy, I’m also a serial polygamist: I added an e92 M3 that I’m keeping
You're in your 20s. Get back to us in 20-30 years.
@@theurbanegentleman4550 LOL, I had the e39 M5 in Avus Blue with Silverstone and the e93 M3 convertible in Jerez Black with 6 speed. Great cars - enjoy them!
This was an interesting conversation, especially considering I started this channel less than two years ago, and in that time, it's insane how quickly I've become desensitized to so many vehicles. Digging into where the passion comes from (and how to convey it) has certainly become a greater focus for me. Great video! (Now back to the drawing board....)
I would get so irritated by the windshield washer fluid fill alarm. Lmao. Thanks SavageGeese for getting my anxiety levels raging bright and early. 😝
Thanks for explaining.
I had a golf and that thing dinged at me every time I stepped into the vehicle. Windshield washer fluid, black ice, due for service, check tire pressure!
lol, my car has a low web fluid i mean washer fluid sensor lol, im like is that really necessary
@@evank2035 Black ice detector?
@@thabg007 anytime the outside temp fell below 39 degrees F, I'd get a ding to warn me about BLACK ICE!
Your speaking to a portion of enthusiast community. 20 to 40 somethings building Ford Deuce's, Taildraggers, Show Rods and Lowriders exhibit a passion far beyond just Nostalgia. To them cars are a lifestyle and generational. Starting with model cars graduating to bicycles and helping dad build his dream car.Than that dream car, technics and appreciation all passed down to the next generation.
Can relate to this video 100%. I bought an Integra Type R in 2011 when I turned 30 in an attempt to recapture the glory days of my late teens and early 20s when I had an Integra LS. Shortly after buying it, I discovered that as good as the ITR was, it could not transport me back to the year 2000. I sold the ITR a year later after driving it less than 1,000 miles.
I bought a 2022 Kia Stinger GT2 to make myself happy and after 1 month of ownership I have to say... I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life!
Kia is paying car reviewers to say that they bought a Kia Stinger...
Guys, I must tell you it’s time for you to get into motorcycles. Once you’re old enough and understand that you can ride safe and have the uttermost connection to the road, weather and nature around you. You will consider a motorcycle toy to go out on a sunny day and simply ride and smile.
But if you’re the type that would never ever consider two wheels. Keep a reliable daily driver and a cheap Mazda Miata for weekend fun.
Good luck and have fun!
I agree somewhat, but after the craziness/recklessness/lack of attention drivers have, I only ride trails now. If I'm going to going to get hurt on my bike, I'm going to do it to myself, not get run over by someone recording a Tik Tok at 85 mph in a school zone.
yeah it's not about you or us driving safe but the innumerable idiots driving 5000 lb cars 3 ft off the ground while scrolling through Instagram
@@papa_pt well sad. I live in Europe and I feel relatively safe on the country roads, the Alps, coasts etc. I’m not riding in big cities though.
Only if you live in a rural area. I live in a Metropolis and drivers are very aggressive and careless. To quote forum members in my city:
"Every person I've known here that rides has been in a wreck/injured. In each case, they were not at fault. One death."
"Worked in ER for 4 years. Don't do it."
"I bought a motorcycle, fixed it up (70s Honda), and rode it a few times. It's now for sale because in my 10 miles of riding, I had about 5 people pull out in front of me because they were texting or just thought getting to their destination was more important"
I would consider a dirt bike and go ride on some trails though
I was into motorcycles in my 20’s and I’ll tell you after laying down my bike and having a family, I rarely ride anymore and will probably sell my bike this summer. Last year a barely rode and with the way people driving now and the lack of enforcement, driving on public roads is seemingly a free for all.
But the heart of your comment is totally on point. There is no better way to experience nature vehicularly than a bike.
While I’m late to this video, I found it at a time where I’m going through this myself. I’m almost 30 and I’ve been through over 10 motorcycles and probably 15 vehicles, some of which were repeats cause I didn’t learn my lesson the first time. I too am in the industry, in a dealership actually, and I’ve truly grown numb to being excited by new cars. No car that’s actually feasible for me really wows me anymore, and it’s unfortunate cause my passion for cars is what got me where I am today. I’ve gotten to the point where I buy the most vehicle I can get for my money, that serves as many as my needs as possible and fewer wants. What do I drive? a leased Tacoma.
This truly was an awesome video.
This video brought back nostalgia for my first car. Now I’m on Craigslist…
I bought myself a Porsche Cayman S just out of college... Only had it about 4 years, but I've been chasing that nostalgia every since
What’s funny is that the few people I know that have high end cars...daily drive Ford Raptors. Somehow being a car enthusiast gets you to the inevitable conclusion that public roads are so garbage that you NEED a raptor to be comfortable. And I think there is some truth to that after driving something like a GT3 down a street with potholes and speed bumps.
That's the reality isn't it? Unless one has a commute through nice mountain roads or an autobahn, a nice automatic, quiet, comfortable car is the logical choice.
I think a lot of people have had similar experiences with this car. I bought a 2020 GTI in September and I've done so much with it in less than a year -- 3,000 mile road trip, camping trips, autocross, and just had a track day. The versatility of the GTI is enough to make me forgive its relatively low performance limits. But I'm sure that if I tried to recreate my love for the car in 5 years with the next model I'd feel just like Jack -- frustrated that it's not the same experience. The car is great but we grow and change and get jaded. I'm not sure what the answer is but thanks for sharing this story. Real stuff here that goes way beyond cars.
I’ve mistakenly bought too many cars and now I’m at a point I don’t even want a car. I’m over it. Over the feeling of wanting a different car constantly.
Edit. Now that I’ve finished the video. This really it’s hit home.
I love this. Such a refreshing honest commentary instead of a run-of-the-mill car review that u see all over UA-cam. Thanks and keep of the honesty
Never meet your heroes, never (re)buy your dream car.
I’ve owed vettes, 911s, vipers, and now I’m back to my couch on wheels, ‘17 Escalade ESV.
You guys are doing a fine job!Life is just catching up with you because you have lived long enough now to realize that nothing on this planet will bring you joy and peace.At 57 now and had countless cars great dogs 2 wives last one died of cancer.Lived through the attacks of 911 years of see crazy stuff as a firefighter in Nyc won several national hockey titles it all looses it shine and power it once had in your life because what we are really longing for is to return to heaven our true home.everything else just falls short.
This is why we all start wearing Dad jeans, driving pickups and SUVs, and listening to classic rock. Realize that comfort and predictability are worth way more than some excitement that you will never find again. Rent a sports car for a weekend and see how difficult is is to live with and how little of the capabilities you can use, then drive your F150 to Lowe’s.
I noticed this when I went from a E46 330i to leasing a fully loaded F30 335xD. I grew tired of it after a while when you get used too it, and then I had mad anxiety everytime I parked it because I had to park it on the street, and the first time I parked it side to side next to a car instead of back to front, somebody dinged my car. Then I also got damage when somebody hit my back bumper and didn't leave a note, my insurance claim for simple stuff like this was 1000$. I sold it after a year and bought a Mazda 3 instead for 1/4 of the running costs and peace of mind now for 2 years. Thank you Savagegeese for recommending the mazda 3 and making that great review on it!
I'm sitting here still loving my mk6 with 143,000 miles on it lol
Buying materialistic things to fill a void in your life is a trap!