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Journal: Does Your Significant Other Understand Your Automotive Passion?

Does Your Significant Other Understand Your Automotive Passion?

By
February 18, 2013
30 comments

I’m very lucky. Although my wife, Kika, does not drive (yes, you read that correctly!) and never thought twice about cars before she met me, she has taken an enormous liking to vintage cars and in some ways has become even more afflicted than I am. Whereas most wives try to talk their husbands out of buying yet another car, Kika not only gets excited when I get another Alfa, but she also drops hints here and there about picking up a Fiat 500 or asks whether we could consider a Miura.

I am indeed very fortunate in this regard!

– – –

Now I’d love to hear from you.

What does your significant other think about your automotive passion? Does he or she understand it?

Tags Question/ Significant Other/ Understanding Your Automotive Passion
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Jordan Livingston
Jordan Livingston
5 years ago

My wife and I were married IN our DeLorean at a drive through chapel in Las Vegas. Does that answer your question?

1
Anthony Sogg
Anthony Sogg
6 years ago

My fiancee originally didn’t understand my passion for all things automotive. Now we browse BaT together and bid on European classics that she likes. Just this week she encouraged me to try to buy a Alfa GTV or a Autobianchi Giardiniera for her.

1
Steve
Steve
6 years ago

I’m into Mustangs. On our first date I met her with my Roush Mustang. Over the course of our 2 years of dating before getting married she came to understand how i am about cars. I told her when i paid off my current Roush i was going to buy another one. She had no problem with it . Now she likes both of my cars and enjoys doing car stuff with me and riding in them.

She wants me to teach her how to drive stick in the Spring. So she can drive one of the Mustangs and so she can get a Focus ST next fall.

I was lucky to find a woman that understands my passion for cars.

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Komisiripala
Komisiripala
6 years ago

My wife hemmed and hawed at it and needles me constantly about the project cars I have. But that one day showed up at the track with my son to support my very first drag race: I knew I had a winner!

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Alejandro Rosa
Alejandro Rosa
6 years ago

My girlfriend is very supportive when it comes to my car addiction.

I daily drive a 1973 Chevy Coupe Serie 2 (Argentinean Chevy Nova).
When we started dating I was finishing its restoration process, so from the very beginning she knew I was a Petrolhead.
She even encouraged me to study Automotive Design, my unacomplished carreer dream.

After 2 years I am finishing a GM 350 V8 swap for my car and she is as supportive as the very first day, she can’t wait to go for a spin!

She also follows me arround, camera in hand, in some automotive showcases like Autoclasica every October or some other classical car meets.

1
Subhasish Satapathy
Subhasish Satapathy
6 years ago

It started on a different note but slowly the petrohead kicked in. All the wheels I have ever owned, 4 or 2, she formed a bond with it. Driving and a little more. . And yeah, vintages give us a smile each time. Restoring an original 500 is always on her cards. Lucky me 😀

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DomM
DomM
6 years ago

Yes and she knew from the very beginning. We met when I was studying automotive design and got to witness this burning desire to pursue the career along with my admiration for all things automotive. She knew automobiles and the emotions that compelled me were a part of my identity. Not to say that’s all there is to me, but it’s a boyhood fascination that I’ve manage to make a career and lifestyle out of. It also helps she’s a graphic designer so she finds intrigue in vintage automotive typography, vintage liveries, etc. I’m very grateful she does. A lot of her friend and family think I’m weird while others respect that I’m highly passionate about something on a non-superficial level… It also helps she let’s me do all the driving so I can have all the manuals I want except for one beater automatic. I may need a proper family car when we have kids, like a V40 R Design or something from the Mazda family.

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CJ_Madson
CJ_Madson
6 years ago

Well, many years ago my fiance was supportive enough to go on a long drive with a clanky trailer down to L.A. and pick up my dream car (’66 E-type coupe). And she never rolled her eyes at the lack of progress in getting it going, or moving it from place to place, or having to be careful while getting near it. The payback has been from taking long drives together, working as a team at concours events and knowing I’m happy when I’m out in the garage with the “mistress”. But this will be no surprise to those who know my wife. She tried to talk her dad into buying her the neighbor’s XK-120 as a young girl, knew how to fix her VW in the field, or that she’s a life-long manual gearbox girl. We were married a few months after fetching the car and both of them are nearby, happy and at least partially covered in fabric. And lovely.

2
Maru
Maru
6 years ago

I am indeed a very lucky man! I own 2.5 motorcycles (0.5 is a track bike shared with a friend) and 2 cars, one of which is my dear Mx5 NB 1.8. After the birth of our son, the little miata was 1 seat short, for all 3 of us to enjoy. My wife proposed and “sponsored” to buy a more practical, yet fun to drive car. We now enjoy driving through the Alps with our BMW E30…and still keep the miata!
What more can you ask for??

1
Corran Helme
Corran Helme
10 years ago

Until I bought an Alfa Romeo GTV Bertone in pristine condition, my other half was reluctantly understanding of my passion for cars. Since then, she enjoys our country drives almost as much as I do (well, she is only a passenger as she can’t drive either), and she says she would not wish for me to sell it. I guess certain cars appeal to everyone and the GTV is such a car. Its beautiful, sounds sweet, and drives wonderfully.

0
Caml
Caml
10 years ago

My most recent SO did. She loved vintage 911s and used to make regular trips to VIR with her dad. Shame it ended before we got to kart head-to-head.

0
Jason Wright
Jason Wright
10 years ago

My girlfriend accepts my passion for cars and bikes and she is definitely more into it then she admits. I have been a Motorsport design engineer for over 15 years now with 9 years at the Benetton/Renault Formula One Team. I’m now living in Germany and working for Toyota Motorsport on the LMP1 car so it’s fair to say that I bring my work home with me. Before we met I don’t think she was very interested in ‘old timers’ but she loves my daily driver as much if not more than I do. I have a 1969 MGB GT with some engine and suspension modifications which is great fun to drive. When I recently mentioned trading it for a 911 her response was too colorful to print here!:o I’m lucky to have found such an understanding Frauline and as I write this ‘we’ are watching the F1 GP and waiting for the Moto GP from Texas to start!……………….however I WILL get that 911 one day!

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Paco HC
Paco HC
11 years ago

Mine sadly didn’t, but alas, I’m now happily divorced…

1
Jim Caldwell
Jim Caldwell
11 years ago

Oh, she does. I taught her to drive my ’63 Alfa Giulia Spider when we were dating 47 years ago. I’m now restoring (resto-mod, mechanically) that little jewel – and she continues to remind me that, while expensive, it’s much cheaper than a girlfriend. Smart girl!!!

0
David Biren
David Biren
11 years ago

My wife doesn’t get it but she supports my sickness. I even found out that she secretly keeps notes on what I’m up to.

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Adam Fairfax
Adam Fairfax
11 years ago

Um, with respect Afshin, Kiki is just as pretty as that Alfa!

Tell her I said so too! My Wife just saw this and loves that photo. Will see if we can’t do something similar with the 2.7!

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Adam Fairfax
Adam Fairfax
11 years ago

My Wife gets it, pretends she’s interested, but then when it comes time for a spin, she typically seems to find something else to do. Ok, so I bought my life long dream car a few years ago .. 85, 930 911 in as new condition. Car just sat there and when I asked her if she wanted to go for a run, she says; “it looks too fast and dangerous for me”. She was 34 at the time, and OK so she was 6mths pregnant with our first child, BUT IT HAD BELTS !!!

Then I bought a 2.7 Carrera (Euro Carrera for you folk) and aside from telling me; “its really classy” I only got her to go in it one time (the time I got it sideways in a fast corner). Yeah whatever.

Now, i’m completing a nut and bolt restoration of a 71 240Z, which she tells me she really likes the look of, and that she ‘will’ drive it, however with the caveat of; “so long as its not really loud and smelly”. Ummm think I should have thought twice about that 11:1 CR 8500rpm 250HP L25 race motor then !?!?!? The car is not quite finished, so i’ll have to update you in time!

In a word, she supports it, but stays well clear!

1
Greg Wells
Greg Wells
11 years ago

You bet she does, as she knew exactly what she was getting into we got married 35 years ago. After all, I’d show up for dates in cars like a 1949 Cadillac sedanette or a 1964 T-Bird. Or arrange to tour her mother around Atlanta in a 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III limo. We traveled from our wedding to the reception in a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I limo, too.

The latest proof: “Honey, I have a friend who has an empty hotel bed at Daytona for the Rolex 24 Hours. Do you mind if I go?” “Heck no, dear. In fact, if you don’t want to go, I’ll go in your place.”

Gosh, I love this woman… LOL!

0
Brodie Mills
Brodie Mills
11 years ago

At first, she had no idea what the deal was with my BMW obsession. But as my obsession has grown, she has warmed up to it and started falling in love with 2002 tii’s which I completely support. She’ll understand someday.

0
Jordan Lockhart
Jordan Lockhart
11 years ago

Kika doesn’t drive?! And I’m looking for a significant other that understands ANY of my passions. Just one is all I’m asking!

0
Kartik Kulkarni
Kartik Kulkarni
11 years ago

I’ve been in a relationship with my significant other for the past 8 years now, and my passion and sometimes intolerable obsession for cars goes back a bit longer than my relationship with her. Over time she’s graciously started to not only accept and live with my madness but also be a part of it. She’s begun watching formula 1 over weekends, reads and understands V8’s and turbochargers, and goes as maniacal as I do when we spot an Audi R8 pass by.
The biggest lamborghini Reventon fanatic, I also promised her one day that we will cruise on the country side of beautiful Italian autostradas in my dream Alfa duetto spider ,and she shares my enthusiasm on that one.
Taught her the know abouts of driving in my dad’s car too, and that is indeed a very special moment we’d never forget.

As my significant other, she truly has made my obsession part of her daily life, and it’s something I will always cherish.

0
Doug Escriva
Doug Escriva
11 years ago

My wife and girls love the family sports car. My wife is especially understanding during the summer vintage race season when I off with the boys playing on the track all weekend long.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27357414@N02/6024788896/

0
Ian Lomax
Ian Lomax
11 years ago

Mine does. She supports it enough that she is co-founder of our car related business, Jewel or Jalopy. She’s angling for her own Volvo P1800E someday, and has lived with me long enough to also point out cool old cars. But she’s more into vintage trailers, so of course someday we’ll need a vintage station wagon to tow her ’66 Streamline. 🙂

0
Pete McLachlan
Pete McLachlan
11 years ago

My wife does not drive either, but she is an enthusiastic supporter of my various projects. She does get to be chauffered around in some great old cars, so I consider it a fair trade. And I do have one car that I can make her scream on command by suddenly punching the throttle and that never gets old.;)

0
Adrian Madej
Adrian Madej
11 years ago

Mi last 2 ladies didn’t like it nor even tried to pretend they to. So I dumped them.

0
Simon Lockie
Simon Lockie
11 years ago

My wife is part way in between. She does have a very definite appreciation of some cars, but she does not have an appreciation of performance modifications at all. I’m an all around petrol-head, I love it all, but in the interests of harmony I simply choose my cars from the stable of vehicles that she also likes. We have ‘his & hers’ VW Golf Mk1 GTIs. Her’s is an all white cabriolet and mine is a black hardtop.

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Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
11 years ago

My Wife calls the Daytona, ‘The Mistress’ but she is for the most part very understanding of my addiction. The exception it the smell of old cars. Coming home after a 1,000 mile round trip to Reims in France last summer I walked through the front door with open arms to give my Wife a hug. The smell of petrol and engine oil on me and my clothes meant I needed a shower and all my clothes (including overnight bag) had to go in the wash before my wife would go near me.

1
Inigo Loy Colmenar
Inigo Loy Colmenar
11 years ago

I feel blessed for having a wife who understands and shares my addiction/hobby. The only thing is we have to get “his and hers” for each car that we acquire. It makes things a little bit more challenging…:)

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Adam Kellar
Adam Kellar
11 years ago

Mine is just about as excited to see the latest Top Gear or Drive episode as I am 🙂

We have same/similar taste in cars and she routinely sends me “HONEY LOOK WHAT JUST DROVE PAST!” pictures.

I really lucked out here as well.

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Nate Turnage
Nate Turnage
11 years ago
Reply to  Adam Kellar

Mine most definitely does not understand my obsession, and I get a talking to whenever I buy parts to make the car move faster.

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