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What Drives You?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:02 pm
by Reaper13D
Just as the title says...i want to know what drives all of you to build your cars..call me a sap or just really in touch with my emotions, but we all have a reason to build and drive our creations. So whats yours?

for me, i built/building my car because it creates an enjoyment inside me that i can't get anywhere else willingly. It helps me seperate myself from the outside world and all the stress and worries that come with it. When i was able to drive the car and when i will be able to once again when this stage is done, the feeling of being able to drive something that i created with my own hands feels great and it's something that no one can take away. I hear that saying that working on a car is a waste of money and that i'll never get the money i put into it back, but to me that doesn't matter for the same above reasons. It's something that makes me happy and you can't put a price on happiness...hehe that's all i got right now XD ... ya it's a bit cheesy but hey it's what drives me and like i said, no one can take it away.

courtesy of me and my S13 aka. Project 240 Reaper ^^

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:17 pm
by s13grady
What you speak of here is a rare gene that runs through most men.
I like the passion, the feeling of success, the knowledge, creative outlet, and adrenaline most of all. There is so much satisfaction you get when you create something that is yours and only yours, especially when you did it all with your hands.
This holds true for many other trades as well, not just automotive. Everyone finds their niche.

Cars are money pits yes, but ***** that. A hobby is a hobby.

Side note, my s13 was my first love. Shes my bi*ch. Sentimental attachment is an unavoidable thing as well.

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:26 pm
by Reaper13D
thank you :) my S13 is my second love, my first was my 97 mitsu eclipse with the 420a...i learned off that car and boosted it with help, but i transfered that knowledge into my 240 and it's better than ever...it's an attachment and almost an extension of myself. i look at it and see myself.

Drive

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:33 pm
by slidewayzagain
A vehicle has been my most loyal cuonselor for as long as I have been able to get behind the wheel.
I have had many vehicles, my first love was a lavender cream 74 type lt camaro (father son project).
Next a factory play toy 84 5.0 with lots of little mods, super light weight reduction and a stage 2 suspension setup.
The came my greatest a 80 280zx 2+2 uglys as incest, but omg I got it from a mechanic.
The mechanic had taken a haynes manuel and written what every sensor read and the results of tweaking, so for the next six years I done the same.
My latest is a 90 s13 with a de swap in process of being a T I hope to revive the feelings that the 280 gave me.
Or perhaps surpass them.
Behind the wheel of a vehicle is the greatest place I can imagine, and I have traveled far seen and done alot.
I have turned wrenches since my dad handed me a rering kit for 76 toyota stout pickup 6pm and said I got 12 hours to get back to work I'll help you a little but the rest is up to you.
Until then I had never done an oil change. At 6 am the next morning I was adding oil and hoping I done it right cause it was our only transportaion.
dad hit the key a few cranks later I was setting timing by ear and he was adjusting the carb to idle.
Talking about Viagra I was 15, since then I have built many different vehicles for many different people. Never built one for me.
Now it is my time my dime my sweat my blood my pride, and my ride.

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:44 pm
by Reaper13D
i respect that man, we all have our stories and journeys as to what brought us to where we are now. Some of us fail the firt time or succeed, but with each fail and success we learn from them and continue to fuel ourselves and never give up on what we love.

I never really had help learning except advice from my uncle for bits of info...but i tore my Ka24de down by myself...first motor i've done on on my own, and rebuilt it in my garage with my own tools and put my own parts together to make it...everything i learned was from all of you on this forum and some sister forums as well...and i owe you all for the help...now when drive people don't just see the car...they see me

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 9:37 am
by s13grady
The only true way to learn is by using self initiative. That's exactly what you did.
For me, I had one buddy that went to UTI to talk to. And me as a person, felt ashamed of myself about even asking questions when I absolutely had to. My tools, cars, the internet and ka-t.org are what really educated me to where I'm at now. Will never regret it one bit.

Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:40 pm
by Walperstyle
I was never interested in cars when I was a teenager. It wasn't until after high-school in 2001-2002 that I started to self learn everything.

In the past 10 years I've driven every model of GTR, 512TR, Ford GT, and I'm still amazed by the 'little guys' like the S-Chassis, DSMs, Miatas, etc. Nice to have a sub $20k invested car take down Porsche Turbos.

This last week my 1965 Chrysler broke down and I had to limp it into my previous home town at night with no lights, as my battery wasn't charging. I ended up replacing the alternator myself, and then found out the voltage regulator was 'wonky'. Having minor tools I limped the car 3 hours away only on battery to get a voltage regulator. Installed on the side of the street and back home 700+miles. Sometimes situations suck, but If I was a regular person, I'd have to wait a minimum of two days, while paying $80/hr labor while they figure out everything else I already figured out.

I learn something every day, but now I find it funny how I know a lot more then the certified individuals that are under a $80/hr labor wage. :lol:

So is it passion? maybe... but I think I am just a cheap cunt at the best of times :lol: I'm only building a S-chassis to destroy Porsches in the Rocky Mtns. I always wanted a Porsche Turbo, but don't feel like buying one.


but that said, its always nice to see what others are doing, and so I purchased EVERY ONE OF THESE DVD's. www.240sxtechdvds.org

Perfect for anyone that really wants to know the car inside and out.

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:46 pm
by Reaper13D
wow...thats nuts XD hehe that reminded me when i got into cars...yeup i was a fast and furious fan boy...started out with the ricer wing and fart can and multi colored bumper...then i read and observed and that slowly changed lol...but to be honest i was infactuated with the nissan skyline from the time i saw it in the video game ... Tokyo xtreme racer zero.... that was when i thought it was a mitsubishi LOL.... needless to say i knew nothing about that car...but i knew i wanted it and used it in every game since...that's probably where my first push started then progressed from there :)

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:12 am
by iveexcaped3
Mine was when I was 11 restoring my g-pa el camino with my pops. (Needless to say neither one of us recived it) then doing Jr drags at 13 hitting the 1/8 mile and building our engines for the next weeks race was no other, moving between my 2 gmc sierras Camero and g35 I've done work on them all. the one person that always need help with their car was my brother who passed. So I think I work on cars to keep that connection going even though he's gone. Since then my knowledge for cars has increased in an insane percentage and don't worry about the money. You can't take it with you when die so spend it in what makes you happy while your still alive

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:36 pm
by Reaper13D
sometimes some of us forget why we do what we do and it's that little reminder or piece of motivation that pushes us again.

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:22 pm
by Reaper13D
to add, i had a bad day at work the other day and i found myself going into the garage around midnight and working on the car...helped me calm immensly ^_^

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:24 pm
by supakat
Yes, working on the car adds extra years to our lives. It is a vice I use to bring me back down to earth. When I am stressed with kids, work, or wife. To the garage!

Just to keep the thread going. What fuels me is building the car yourself and proving people wrong. Bitter sweet enjoyment when someone who paid some company to build them a motor/car with tune and you beat the socks off of them and spent way less than they did. That is utter bliss in my book. Other factors include I like tinkering with things and need to keep busy as well. Idle hands is the devils playground. Put them to use.

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:18 pm
by Reaper13D
bitter sweet is for sure :P i just relocated my fuse box...spend the entire day without eatting and screwed it up then i re-did it and got it to work and i felt great...i litereally ran out of my garage and jumped with joy and my neighbors saw me and looked at me like i was crazy lol.... in anycase, i used to have people help me when i had my eclipse, but this time i do it and i pass what i learn onto others to help them :)

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:45 am
by supakat
Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6RDqSwt ... e=youtu.be

I always smile and enjoy the celebration. EPIC!

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:22 pm
by Reaper13D
hahaha ya just like that minus the sound effects lol

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:22 am
by NeverSatisfied
To answer the original question, I do it because I live for this ****. Its the only thing that makes me so excited. Just working on it, driving it, looking at it, even just thinking about it. I've learned a lot through working on cars...I've learned patients and determination, and how to think outside the box. No better feeling than when I fixed or did something myself. Except when you hit boost. That's even better lol. Its what I love to do, it makes me happy. And its a passion me and some awesome friends share in common, and I continue to meet more great people out of a simply hobby.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 1:30 pm
by vrmilionzx
Reaper, I think you put it pretty well. Everyone here has voiced a similar sentiment (for the most part) that I have to agree with.

You're building something yourself. You work on it. You bleed for it (and sometimes on it). You put love, heart, and soul into it.

The feeling of driving it, having all that effort and love come to culmination is fantastic.

To me, my car is my "safe" place. I can think in my car. I can listen to music and cruise, I can stomp it and feel the boost hit, I can just listen to it purr. I can't think of a good way to put it, but when I'm sitting in the driver's seat, I feel like it's been carved out just for me. The way I fit in the seat, the way the car "wraps" around me. It's awesome.

Building, driving, cleaning, and learning with it make it almost like a part of you.
I still catch myself looking at the lines of my car from my window, or the shadow it casts on the side of the road as I'm headed home from work.

Love is the only word for it.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:05 pm
by N4kedsquirrel
Love. Gotta agree with that. I think I like the personalization more than anything. I have always loved fast things. I am an Air Force aviator and love flying but at the end of the day the job is stressful and I love being able to blow of steam by working on my car, knowing that it is mine, and mine alone. I cant get enough, it is down right now but I have faith I can get it working with its new KAT, I look forward to being able to once again park and stare at it as I walk away, completely ignoring my girlfriend.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:19 pm
by DjayS12
I love feeling G forces, I love having a clean car that people don't see everyday, and I love to see that this 25y/o piece of steel can move damn well... haha I love when people go: woah nice AE86, celica, prelude, delorean, etc.

And more than everything, I love to look at it and realize how much better the car is now since the very first day I've owned it.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:12 pm
by Reaper13D
Love is definitely the best way to describe those who enjoy the bond they have with THEIR car. I can easily say i randomly walk into my garage and just stare at my work just to take it in and i always look towards it as i'm backing out of the driveway. And N4kedsquirrel, just don't make sure she catches you ignoring her :P, Djay .. gotta love spanking on new cars with an 18/19 year old car that can still hold it's own ;)

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:36 am
by Jmcc
i grew up with a race car in the house for my hole life. and have been at a drag strip since i was 3. for many years car's never really did it for me.
but after geting in my teens and was getting close to start driving. cars really cought my eye. not just car's but the hole car is what im so fascinated with. motor's, electrical, body lines, driving styles, and the best of all the sounds of the motor and exhaust, just every thing. i like many of us it just brings a smile to face, and puts me in my own little world where every body els can go f them selfs cause im driving my car lol. but only me 40 i dont really care when im driving my integra tho i dunno why lol.