Alright, we’ve had some fun on Autopian Asks but now it’s time to get serious. There are deep questions we need to ask, things along the lines of “what is the meaning of life” and “what exactly does qualify as yacht rock” but in automotive terms, and you are just the group to answer them.
Certain terms tend to set me off with automobiles, and there’s one that I’ve been chewing on recently. The other day somebody here on the site used mentioned that we are an “enthusiast car” site, and for a moment I realized that I don’t have any idea what that term really means. I mean, I kind of do but I don’t like the accepted definition.
Oh sure, things like a MGB or a BMW E30 3-series easily fits into any description that you might come up with for that term, but there are plenty of others that fit into a grey area or, worse yet, into territory that many “car enthusiast” gatekeepers would say don’t belong.
A great example would be a LeBaron GTC convertible, a car that our own S.W. Gossin owns, loves, and lavishes an immense amount of time, energy and money on to make it one of the better surviving examples out there. I asked AI if that was an “enthusiast car” and got this:
As you can see, even AI doesn’t seem to know, which probably shouldn’t surprise me.
Actually, that AI statement is sort of self-cancelling, claiming that a car with a “small, nostalgic following” isn’t really a “traditional enthusiast car.” I would think that might be the perfect definition of an enthusiast car. Besides, it’s an open-topped turbocharged coupe with styling that even Giugiaro allegedly admired, and it’s easily the best-looking example of any historically significant Chrysler-saving K-platform cars. Love it or laugh at it, that’s some credibility there in any book.
I know stories of people who collect Saturns or even Daimler-era Chryslers that are extremely enthusiastic about these cars that don’t fit into any traditional “enthusiast” category. Personally, I always got sick of people asking me why a “car guy” like me isn’t driving an “enthusiast car” when I was running anything from my old Town Car to the Lexus RX. So, I guess I need a “sports car” (whatever that is these days) and wear driving gloves to be an “enthusiast” now? I’ve never wanted a damn Miata for the decidedly un-sports-car task of driving around the Chicago suburbs or on midwestern highways, and never will.
Thankfully, I saw that the “enthusiast car auction site” Cars & Bids run by our buddy Doug DeMuro now has listed some LeBarons; maybe the world is changing, or is it?
Exactly what is an enthusiast car to you? Does such a thing even exist, or should the term itself go away in the same manner that we no longer talk about “gifted and talented” kids in school? Apologies for asking questions that require essay-like responses, but what other car website has better readers to answer it?
Top graphic image: S.W. Gossin
An ‘enthusiast car’ is the diametric opposite of whatever greige appliance I happen to be driving, because being a ‘car enthusiast’ doesn’t always translate into being an ‘enthusiast car’ owner.
As long as there are few people enthusiastic about a car then it can be an enthusiast car. I think the lower value the car more the it’s more likely it is to be a enthusiast car over something like a collectors car.
I had a friend who taught me that any car can be used with enthusiasm. He had company cars he drove like a NASCAR road racer (Buick Skylark, Pontiac 6000, Dodge Aries wagon, Ford Taurus). It showed that with driving skills and enthusiasm, plain old mass market cars have more capability than one would ever think. It’s the driver who is the enthusiast.
There isn’t really a true definition. It certainly isn’t something related to body style, performance, or aesthetics. To me, it means any vehicle people are willing to collect, modify, or drive enthusiastically. That basically covers any vehicle.
I think an “enthusiast car” is any car that exacts a toll of blood, sweat and/or tears which you will happily pay in order to keep it in your life. My Miata is an enthusiast car. Torch’s 2CV, David’s litany of crapcan Jeeps, Mercedes’ Smarts, etc. are all enthusiast cars by that metric.
Marie Kondo (I think? Check my spelling) got it right.
“Does this spark joy?”
If so, its an enthusiast car. Whether its a 40 year old truck, a brand new EV, a home-built rat rod, or whatever.
If it sparks joy, if you can see that someone enjoys it, its an enthusiast car.
My try at a definition: Something you are really into and want just that one, knowing a lot about all of it.
So even one of the unmentionable EV brand, you know with the nartsi guy, can be an enthusiast car. And his neighbor’s identical one can be just a plain A to B lease.
It’s in the mind of the owner. Can’t think of any car that can’t be a enthusiast car really.
I agree. I think of it as less of a category of cars, and more as an adjective for a specific car.
If that generation of LeBaron wasn’t meant to be an enthusiast car (albeit through the lens of what Chrysler had available at the time) they would have made it look like a convertible version of the Spirit (like Jon Voight’s version did to the Reliant) and not a convertible version of the LeBaron GTS.
For that matter, it’s only due to Chrylser/Maserati’s incompetence that the (absolutely enthusiast if not remotely credible) TC didn’t act as a flagship advanced preview for the design language of the Chryslers of the late 80s and instead came out after basically all of them.
An enthusiast car is any car adopted by an enthusiast or enthusiast group.
And until Gossin does this, he is n9t the greatest enthusiast of the LeBaron Convertible.
https://moparblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Chrysler-Lebaron-tattoo.jpg
So, if we all bought cars purely based on how sensible they are, most of us would be driving Corolla and RAV4 Hybrids. And for every car out there that isn’t by-the-numbers perfect, there’s a little inkling of “Because I Like It” that went into the purchase. Where does the Because I Like It factor outweight common sense? That’s where it becomes an enthusiast car.
In other words, if we treat cars as appliances, a Ford Tempo (in 2026) and a new Corvette are both completely nonsensical purchases, so if you’re buying either of them it’s entirely Because You Like It. Therefore, enthusiast cars.
I think enthusiast car refers to something that, if not purpose built for an enthusiastic pursuit (typically along the lines of track driving or off-roading), is at least more focused than average (hot hatches are very much normal cars pulled in the direction of enthusiast cars). At the same time, enthusiasm for non-enthusiast cars is just as valid. Like, a diesel S123 was not really an enthusiast car when new, it was just a very well-built, very sensible appliance, but they’ve got a good enthusiast following now. I still don’t think it’s an enthusiast car, but that is not a judgement of the enthusiasm surrounding it.
All of my cars are enthusiast cars, and none of anybody else’s. How’s that for a silly answer to a silly question?
If you derive pleasure from being around it, it is an enthusiast car. That’s all it takes.
Feel like I’m just repeating what others have said, but an “enthusiast car” is any car someone is enthusiastic about. A McLaren Senna, LeBaron Convertible, Yugo, Citroen DS, Volvo 240, XJ Cherokee, all are enthusiast cars in the right hands.
I think an enthusiast car is a car that is worth more than what non-enthusiasts would be willing to pay for based on specs/age/features/etc. LeBarons are a great example, they were historically just new or used cars, but their weirdness and rarity have pushed them to have more value than a FWD automatic slow convertible or coupe from the 80’s otherwise would be (aka $500). NC Miata is far more enthusiast focused than say an Eos or Sebring, NC is worth 6-15k, good luck getting over 10k for even the nicest Sebring or Eos.
I think an enthusiast car can be literally anything that someone is enthusiastic about, and it does take all kinds. I know people who are well-heeled Porsche enthusiasts with their own concierges at their respective local dealerships, and plenty of MX-5 drivers, some of whom have full roll-cages and hundreds of track hours. I also know a fella who is very enthused about his 2004 Toyota Camry LE with high mileage, and another who loves his perfectly ordinary Tesla Model 3 to pieces.
For me, I am most enthusiastic about large luxury sedans and coupes, especially in proving people wrong about them being complete money pits. Which doesn’t always work out for me, because sometimes…they are. Ironically, the two cars on which this was most true were a pair of fourth-gen Lexus LSes, a 2008 LS 600h L and a 2010 LS 460 L AWD.
If there’s a car that someone cares for is willing to fix and repair and drives for pleasure instead of just basic transportation and they’re willing to work on it if needed. And it brings them joy that’s an enthusiast’s car.
It is like the definition of art. Hard to pin down and fiercely argued.
Right. It is a bit of a nebulous thing.
If it’s a car, it’s an enthusiast car. If it’s not a car, well I can’t really help you with that.
If you, the owner, are enthusiastic about it, that’s all that matters. It is your enthusiast car. Every other definition is exclusionary garbage. Most people want to go to something sporty, but that can’t be it. Jeep Wranglers and Ford Broncos are enthusiast cars. VW Camper Vans are enthusiast cars. So why can’t a LeBaron be an enthusiast car? The world is your oyster, and any car can be an enthusiast car. Go find one for you.
An enthusiast car is one that someone is enthusiastic about.
It need not be any more complicated than that.
If you have a passion for your mom’s 2006 GMC Envoy, then I welcome you as a fellow enthusiast, and the vehicle as an enthusiast car.
Ditto.