I must admit that I was aware of the toxicity in the tuning community ever since I started engaging with social media, but it never really bothered me until a few days ago.
What triggered this shift and ultimately inspired this article was a question I recently received. For some context, I’m currently working on a rally-spec Dacia 1300, which happens to be an old communist car.
I don’t often talk about this project, but someone asked me why I was wasting money on such a slow piece of junk.
At first, it didn’t bother me, but I couldn’t help but wonder why this person was so concerned about how I choose to spend my money?
Among all the hate that circulates on social media, I also come across occasional posts that encourage people to take pride in what they have and even call out the very problem we’re discussing today.
However, these posts are rare. I could easily just say, “respect all builds,” and move on, but that wouldn’t change anything. So, let’s take a deeper look at this issue.
After countless hours of scrolling, I’ve noticed (and you would too) that certain builds tend to be widely accepted and celebrated by the car community.
These builds tend to share common traits: they’re usually extremely expensive and pack a lot of power.
If you own something like a Supra, a GT-R, an RX-7, or a BMW M model, it seems to grant you a certain social media status. These cars elevate their owners to a level of “nobility,” and frankly, that’s a problem.
Let’s do a little experiment. Open Instagram and check out the comments on the first ten car-related posts you come across. This will give you a better sense of what I’m talking about. Do you see a Miata? slow.
An old, stock ‘Vette? – boomer-mobile. A lowered Civic on replica wheels? – ricer. The point is, if your car isn’t among the most popular, expect to face some harsh opinions.
I think the root cause of this behavior is insecurity. I truly believe that these trolls are either unhappy with their own cars or are craving attention.
So, they lash out, projecting their frustration onto people who are simply minding their own business and enjoying their rides.
While you don’t have to like every car modification style, there’s absolutely no reason to spread negativity. Personally, I’m not a fan of stance cars or rolling coal, but you don’t see me throwing hate around.
It’s simple let people enjoy their cars as much as you enjoy yours. If you don’t like someone’s build, just keep scrolling until you find something that appeals to you.
I understand that social media is a free space where everyone can express their opinions, but that’s not what this is about. It’s about what the car community can stand to gain.
You often hear people boasting about how this space is meant to be safe and respectful for all. The problem is that these same people are often the ones disrespecting other people’s builds.
I hear older car enthusiasts reminisce about the “good old days” when everyone got along, and although that might just be a nostalgic memory, I wish we could act that way today.
Spreading hate is childish and detrimental to the car community, especially for newcomers.
And if you find yourself on the receiving end of such hate, I’m truly sorry. I’m sorry you have to deal with these trolls, and I hope you won’t let them deter you from pursuing your passion.
Combatting these haters is simple: just ignore them. As soon as they stop receiving validation, they’ll stop making negative comments. Be proud of what you’ve built, no matter what it is. It’s your car, your money, your effort, and your vision.
Build your car however you like. If you’re into stance, go for it. If you’re into drift cars, build one, even if you’re on a budget. It’s your car, not theirs, so shape it however you want.
Sure, people may not like it, but why should that matter? Whether you spend $100,000 or $1,000, the point is that the car should bring you joy – that’s what matters most.
And if you’re one of those people who feels compelled to leave unnecessary comments, please try to hold back.
Nobody cares, and you’d be better off focusing on your own car, not criticizing someone else’s Miata that’s just there to enjoy what’s left of the good aspects of the car community.