Hooniverse Asks: What’s the best car with the worst owner base?

Jeff Glucker

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Comments

I don’t love posting Hooniverse Asks questions that aim for negative answers. But lately the Tesla crowd seems to be growing ever more defiant, and for all the wrong reasons. First let’s look at the cars and the company itself. Tesla is a game-changing automaker. Elon Musk forced the hand of the rest of the industry, and he’s doing so for the better. Look, I love a proper V8 but our future is an electric one.

The cars have amazing range. The charging speeds are getting faster all the time. And the performance possibilities are wild. Tesla has turned the electric car into an aspirational machine that’s shaping the minds of the future automotive enthusiast.

Yet the most ardent and vocal Tesla fans seems to have an us versus the world mentality. And I believe it’s harmful to the rest of the EV space. They are quick to dismiss any non-Tesla electric vehicle. They fail to realize that Tesla needs this sort of competition to make its own vehicles even better. But if you speak up against the cult of Elon, you’re quickly dismissed as a Tesla short.

I own exactly zero stock in any automaker. I want Tesla to succeed. I also want other automakers to do well, because this is very much a rising tide and lifting ships scenario here.

That mini rant is a long way to get to my question for today; What’s the best car with the worst group of owners? Tomorrow, I’ll have a similar question by the reverse to stem this pending negativity in the comments below.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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50 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What’s the best car with the worst owner base?”

  1. caltemus Avatar
    caltemus

    Probably doesn’t count as it’s not an automobile; Harley-Davidson

    Reply
    1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
      dead_elvis, inc.

      I think HD is more of a worst/worst front-runner.

      Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      I guess this depends where you’re from. My home town in south east Ireland had one of the biggest harley clubs in the country. Most of them were the stereotypical big old dude with a beard, but I remember any I dealt with being really nice people. Used to do a lot of charity drives and stuff. Tend not to be the ones redlining their bike up the nearest higway at 3AM either (not that the potato machine engines could get to those dizzy 5 figure RPMs, but still). I can’t say I’m a fan of their fuel to noise conversion devices, but they’ve never been a bother round these parts. Probably different in the US.

      Reply
  2. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I know I’m basically Godwin’s Law’ing this, but kind of obnoxious doesn’t hold much water against something favoured by a long list of despots.

    Also, I feel like the obnoxious Tesla owners are sort of negated by the obnoxious Tesla haters.

    https://mercedesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-600-grosser-portada_1440x655c.jpg

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      John Lennon was a bit of an arse alright.

      Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      John Lennon was a bit of an arse alright.

      Reply
  3. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Corvette, especially first owners. They usually don’t get driven like the should until the second or third owner.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Meh, Corvette owners are aging themselves out of significance. I don’t see anyone young driving them, and the old dudes have mellowed out.

      Reply
    2. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      Rich enough to buy a really nice capable car, not rich enough to use it up.

      All the better for the secondary market!

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        You’re easing into the opposite question, which answer is the best owners with the best care who barely can afford expensive base models.

        Reply
        1. neight428 Avatar
          neight428

          Indeed, so much is a matter of perspective.

          Reply
      2. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        I had a boss who would wash his Vette every Sunday, only to put it back in the garage. He sold it when he realized it only accumulated 200 miles per year. Ten years later, he had a desire for another one. He would take his wife 500 miles for a family visit, then drive home with an empty passenger seat, then reverse the process the next weekend, pretty much every month, plus whatever commuting he did… Things can change.

        Reply
        1. neight428 Avatar
          neight428

          Good for him. That sounds like a nice retirement gig!

          Reply
  4. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    The car itself is fantastic but every single KV Mini 1 owner I’ve ever met just doesn’t know when to shut up about it.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/659c055944dd221d203000ad86800eec0a873cc18632de8bb8911015ae437a53.jpg

    Reply
    1. 0A5599 Avatar
      0A5599

      I guess that rules out my intended answer for tomorrow.

      Reply
    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Can you meet yourself? (Don’t meet your heroes!?)

      Reply
      1. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        Yes. (True.)

        Reply
    3. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Nearly as bad as smug Kei car owners.

      Reply
    4. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Nearly as bad as smug Kei car owners.

      Reply
  5. bv911 Avatar
    bv911

    Not offended in the least!

    Reply
    1. bv911 Avatar
      bv911

      I know where you’re coming from, but yeah, we’re not all douchbags…

      Remember kids: never speak in absolutes!

      PS: mine below.

      http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/IMG_88451568434842.jpg

      Reply
      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        Ulster says MAYBE!!

        Reply
  6. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Mitsubishi Montero owners.

    Reply
    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      ZzzING!

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7370cb17a237cfe91c0509e9e6a474cd782a6c380183e2b466a5e198c250c502.gif

      Reply
    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Do you think Jeff was banking on this answer for tomorrow’s question?

      Reply
      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        At least no-one mentioned the Wombat.

        Reply
      2. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        At least no-one mentioned the Wombat.

        Reply
  7. alex Avatar
    alex

    Toyota Prius owners.

    Reply
    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      He said “Best Car”.

      Reply
      1. onrails Avatar
        onrails

        Fair… but the first couple generations of Prius buyers were pretty out there for self righteousness in a way that Honda Insight (the only other serious hybrid available at the time, I think) owners never seemed to be. Don’t hear too much from them these days though.

        Reply
        1. alex Avatar
          alex

          I might’ve been light on the best car side, but I’m dead on with the smug eco warriors

          Reply
          1. onrails Avatar
            onrails

            We joked when people asked how the Prius worked that from your driveway to the street, they ran on a combination of battery and engine power, but once someone saw the driver, then the car ran strictly on moral superiority.

          2. alex Avatar
            alex

            brilliant!

    2. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      When I owned a Prius, I was pleasantly surprised by the owner base, at least online at priuschat. It was full of avid DIY’ers and there was info there about doing just about anything that a Prius might need. On the rare occasion that a condescending jerk made it on the forum, they were not tolerated at all.

      Not to say that there isn’t some basis for the stereotype just that the reality I experienced was contrary.

      I suspect that the obnoxious Prius owners have all bought Teslas by now anyway. 😀

      Reply
  8. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    The first headline I read today was, “Tesla Driver Arrested for Wrong Way Driving on Bay Bridge”. My immediate question was why is it important to the story that they were driving a Tesla? There have been a number of wrong way driving incidents in the Bay Area over the past year, and no other headline ever mentioned the car manufacturer. People just love to hate on Tesla drivers, I guess. (Off Topic: Ask me how I feel about Tesla’s labor relations.)

    Back in the ’80s I worked at a car museum and the annual Jaguar Club Meet was always the worst to deal with, because of the owners. Things may have changed over the decades.

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Taking themselves way too seriously? (the 80’s Jag owners that is)

      Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Well, if the headline was “Bay Area Vegetarian Restaurant Closed for Health Violations”, I would say the detail was relevant. It doesn’t imply that vegetarians are filthy, but given that only about 3-4% of Americans are vegetarian, it’s a descriptor that narrows the subject considerably. Specifying the automaker in this case doesn’t suggest that all Tesla drivers are idiots, but Tesla has what, 2-3% of the U.S. market share? In some parts of the country you simply don’t see them, period– much less going the wrong way.

      Now, if a Tesla driver cut me off in traffic, you can be sure my rant would include the fact that he was driving a Tesla. That would certainly suggest a bit of prejudice on my part. And the Porsche taking up two parking spots at the market? Douchebag. Inherent bias is real, people.

      Reply
  9. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Tesla, no contest. I too want to see the company succeed (if only for the technology to improve), but the self-righteous zealots buying its cars often make me think otherwise. I view Musk and Tesla in much the same way: his mind and aspiration (and Tesla’s cars) are admirable, but his mouth and attitude (and Tesla fanboys) are insufferable.

    Reply
  10. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    Maybe it’s a local thing, but every Holden Monaro based Pontiac GTO seems to be owned by someone too slothful, dumb and lacking in commitment to join the Hell’s Angels.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      No, it seems that way here, too. Not so with the G8, though. I saw a G8 GXP the other day and was surprised at how great it looked and sounded. Wouldn’t mind owning one, and I’ve never be mistaken for a Hell’s Angel.

      Reply
  11. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    I cannot shake my mental association of Preston Tucker = Elon Musk in a different political environment. Tucker was half con man half genius, as is Elon. Both had amazing marketing and fund raising skills and both skated on very thin ice with the SEC. Both came to be viewed by the government as threats to the automotive status quo. The major difference is that the administration during which Tesla got rolling thought changing the status quo was a good thing and supported Musk financially (both directly and legislatively), where as Tucker got crushed for it.

    Elon is a lying nut who can be very annoying, but it’s hard to argue that he hasn’t had some amazing accomplishments. I tend to find the few Tesla owners I’ve met to be true believers, but no usually offensively so. Sort of like happy Buddhists; not very like Elon himself. And a Tesla IS a very cool toy that’s also pretty damn functional.

    In answer to the actual question, I agree with Caltemus that HD owners are in the weirdest bubble and with Number Six that “valet-parked” (not Pit-parked”) Porsche owners are the most condescending. I, as a BMW owner, am pleased to see (since no one mentioned theme that since BMWs have reached the “they’re everywhere like Camrys” status, the porcupines have apparently moved on to other cars.

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Shoulda called it quits at Paypal and just bought an island or something.

      Reply
  12. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    Dodge/Plymouth E body. Worships at the altar of “big blocks only” and “Mopar Or No Car”. Stereotypical douchebro Murrica! car show guy. And I’m saying this as a long time Mopar fan. These guys are the worst.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Oh, good point. They do unfortunately often fit the stereotype you describe. It’s funny, too, because often I see AMXs and Javelins gathered not far from Mopars at car shows, and those owners are typically the complete opposite. Tough to be anything but humble as an American Motors enthusiast.

      Reply
  13. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    Much less of a thing now, but Ireland has always had a pretty strong JDM scene thanks to no real restrictions on used imports. During the “tiger” era, when everyone had loads of cash, EG Civcs were an absolute plague of fart can exhausts, banging the engine off the limiter at 20mph in urban areas, and generally trying to race everybody where the other person was aware they were a race participant or not. Rust and insurance has seen them disappear, nowadays this sort driver has mostly moved to remapped VAG diesels with the DPF removed.

    Toyota “Twin Cams” (AE86s Corollas) have long been the unwanted groupies of the rally circuit here too. You can almost guarantee that at every major rally event, there will be a group of folks near every stage doing donuts on the public road. The worst thing is that this becomes fuel for the moral panic types against the rest of the enthusiast community. Doing donuts isn’t the baby killer its made out to be, but there’s a time and place and it isn’t in front of a crowd, blocking access when roads have already been closed. With rising prices and ageing owners, they’re calming down a bit, but they’ve a rep as our equivalent of Car Meet Mustangs.

    Reply
    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      Are the Irish JDM owners worse than the Irish IDM owners? Shamrock? 😉

      Reply
      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        Dunno,. there’s about 8 of them in the world according to Wikipedia and I’ve never seen one, plus it was owned by an American businessman and intended for export which makes it all the more bizarre. Something about exporting not very good coal to Newcastle. If you want to talk real IDM, the TMC Costin is far more common with an entire 39 cars built. The one owner I vaguely know online seems alright.

        Reply
  14. Vairship Avatar
    Vairship

    F150 Raptor owners? (At least the ones that never go off-road).

    Reply
  15. theskig Avatar
    theskig

    This one. At least in Italy.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f0a103271f7cabc0832842298ec58e5c5079c113bd579ce5434713f987c0d865.jpg

    Reply
  16. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    When I was a valet, 911 owners were the worst. Generally expensive car owners got special treatment with the hope of getting a generous tip. Most of the time that panned out, except for the 911 owners. They seemed to expect the special treatment and rarely tipped accordingly.

    It has been over 25 years since I was a valet, maybe things have changed.

    Reply