Do cars have Souls???

[WealthBuildR]

Reading through ferrari forums, and speaking to ferrari owners, they always refer to the car as having "soul" while other cars like, say the 911 turbo, are "soul-less". I remember a past post on Fchat (348 vs. NSX), many ferrari owners said that the nsx has no soul while the 348 does. I've really been trying to figure this out for quite some time.. what is soul? Is soul the sound of the motor screaming, the color of the car, the interior, the exterior, the fact that its high revving and naturally aspirated, the responsiveness of the car, the race-car feel, the badge on bonnet, the fact that the car is made in Italy.. I mean what exactly are the characteristics of a car with or without "soul"? I mean i would have to say that my NSX has soul. Once i hear that motor scream at 8k rpm, and I experience the responsiveness, race -car feel of the nsx, i would have to say the my car does give me that sensory experience and a rush that stirs my blood and puts a smile to my face. Now would this qualify as a car with soul? I've had the opportunity to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo, as well as ride in a 360 modena and F355 both with Tubi exhausts. I was awe struck and greatly amazed by all these cars, but then again i felt the same way after riding in an NSX and Carrera 4. I notice that ferrari owners and enthusiasts are the only people i hear claiming that their car has "soul", yet i don't hear Porsche owners, Lamborghini owners, or NSX owners talking about this "soul that their car has". Maybe this has to do with the racing heritage that Ferrari has, but then again, Porsche has about as much if not more racing heritage than ferrari, or is it just a biased opinion that every car owner has towards the make of his or her car? I think its more subjective and matter of personal opinion.

What do you guys think? I'm utterly confused and clueless:biggrin: What is soul? This is in no way to bash or offend ferrari or ferrari owners. I love and have an obsession for ferrari's, and have plans to own many in my lifetime along with other car makes, this post is merely a means for figuring out exactly what "soul" is.

 

[jalnjr]

is the pope jewish?

f'ers sound like they aspire to be jim jones/ heaven's gaters.
what they are reacting to is a serotonin/dopamine dump in their head.

yeah my car has a "soul" too. it's me, and we make beautiful music together.

interesting post wealth, calling all philosophers.

 

[Jin1976]

Probably NSX is one of the many sportscar with the deeper soul. Whenever I think of it, it reminds me of its evolution from Formula 1, Ayrton Senna involvement, then Zanardi, then JGTC racing involvement, its aluminium constructions and so on. Too many to tell.:smile:

This photo by AutoVation would nicely desribe the NSX.

And this music video Impossible Dream first posted by NSXLuvr.
http://www.beam.tv/beamreels/reel_player.php?reel=XwQxnvMbqy&reel_file=RMXFVdsJRG&fs=

 

[demigod]

This photo by AutoVation would nicely desribe the NSX.

I really like that wallpaper. I'm pretty sure that Honda was the one who made it.

 

[LeftLane]

If by "soul", F-car owners mean "constant, undeniable, and overwhelming need to be serviced, at both inconvenient times and extraordinary cost", then I guess the NSX doesn't have a soul.

I would argue that it requires a sentient being to have a soul. While certain cars arouse your spirit, they are still just metal and fiberglass creations.

Look into the eyes of a 6 year old boy after he has fought leukemia for 3 years, enduring the worst you can imagine, only to still succumb to this ravaging thief, and you'll never again wonder if inanimate objects have a soul. You will know with 100% certainty. What you will know will depend on you.

 

[AU_NSX]

Reading through ferrari forums, and speaking to ferrari owners, they always refer to the car as having "soul" while other cars like, say the 911 turbo, are "soul-less".

I think by "soul" Ferrari owners are refering to the fact that their cars "seem to be a living being" When they go to their car they are not exactly sure if it is going to start or not... If it does start, how long is it going to run for before it starts to complain about something and throw a tantrum and shut down. Then it wants to be carried home for some more TLC... Some Ferrari's are better behaved than others but no-one can tell you why? They are as unpredictable and fallable as a human being...

The fact that for Italians, engineering comes a distant second to fashion and design is as obvious as the Germans are the complete opposite...

"Soul" I think is another word for unreliability!.... JMO.. :smile:

 

[mindretch]

Virginia, your little friends are wrong.

Yes, WealthBuildR, the NSX does have a soul. It exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no NSX! It would be as dreary as if there were only Corvettes. There would be no childlike delight to a winding road then, no poetry in travel, no romance to make tolerable this existence. The eternal sportsmind with which Honda fills the world would be extinguished.

And most certainly, Virginia, when an NSX dies that soul goes to heaven. A Ferrari's soul, of course, can go to ....

 

[enesexdreamer]

sup Wil,.. cars have no souls,..cars are nothing but earthly material possesions. when people say they're cars have soul is because maybe they spend plenty of time, money, and love on it. do you guys ever remember when you were in your adolesant years and you had this certain toy or stuffed animal,.. and you sweared it was a real person, not saying a real person but a friend. you know what i mean. our imaginations gave that toy or doll a "soul". but in reality its just a soules toy. just like cars,.. our nsx's have no soul, neither do p & f cars. but i do believe cars have character and personality.

the only time a car may have a soul is when the owner is driving it. like when i drive my nsx, it borrows my soul. :biggrin:

 

[dnicho05]

Now I know that cars do not have souls, but I used to own a 1972 Ford Pinto that I bought in high school (my first car), actually restored it, and drove for over 15 years. My wife and friends called it Christine.:tongue:

Nobody could (or would) drive it but me. Every time anyone else got in the driver's seat (including my wife), the car would do something bizzare. The typical thing was that engine would start bucking all over the place, but there was one time when the radio went nuts when my brother tried to drive it, and one time at night when the lights refused to turn on until I got back in the driver's seat when my best friend tried to drive it.

The funniest time was when I left my friend Mike in the passenger seat alone for just a minute while I ran into a bakery to get a loaf of bread. When I came out Mike was standing outside the car telling me that the car started thrashing all over the place the minute I went in the store, and stopped the second he jumped out. The car was purring like a kitten when I came out, so it was funny as heck. :biggrin:

 

[NeoNSX]

"Soul" I think is another word for unreliability!.... JMO.. :smile:

ROFL... Exactly!!!


This begs the real question; if cars have a body & soul, then surely they have a Spirit. Food for thought.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Now I know that cars do not have souls, but I used to own a 1972 Ford Pinto that I bought in high school (my first car), actually restored it, and drove for over 15 years. My wife and friends called it Christine.:tongue:

Nobody could (or would) drive it but me. Every time anyone else got in the driver's seat (including my wife), the car would do something bizzare. The typical thing was that engine would start bucking all over the place, but there was one time when the radio went nuts when my brother tried to drive it, and one time at night when the lights refused to turn on until I got back in the driver's seat when my best friend tried to drive it.

The funniest time was when I left my friend Mike in the passenger seat alone for just a minute while I ran into a bakery to get a loaf of bread. When I came out Mike was standing outside the car telling me that the car started thrashing all over the place the minute I went in the store, and stopped the second he jumped out. The car was purring like a kitten when I came out, so it was funny as heck. :biggrin:

LOL, Douglas, have you checked the family book of your Pinto?? Maybe she's a cousin of Herbie or something......

But in a more technical level, everyone had different driving habbits that's a little difference. And for some cars, especially those had aftermarket treatment, they would probably like the specific way of driving than the others. Ferrari used to have soul as the car customer got was the exact same one raced in LeMans, Daytona....etc. (probably the one!) Which there was a history in it... Someone famous winning the race, someone famous not winning the race because of ABC reason, but come back to win next race at the end grid....... Whatever... modern Ferrari cars are way different than that and more like the same as any other cars.

I do believe cars had soul, as owner taking care of the car, it will eventually taking care of you. Try to explain that, is that if you care about the car, you would probably pay some attention to it more with detailing, maintaining, checking...... Perfect example is that people who got flats on the side of road, got late to the important meeting, straining in a cold dark morning, most of them were deserving it, because they neglected the condition of the spare, jack(is it even there?), and they never pay attention to the car so they never know there's a slow leak on it.... (I believed most flats were slow leaks caused by debris, nails, aging of tires...etc)

Ferrari owners will consider only their cars have soul, but nothing else, much like most of the poeple out there laughing me about my love-relation with my accord still. Even after I own my nsx for couple years now.

Come to think of it, a lot of the exotic car owners own more than just one Ferrari and might have different makers of cars. The rear car guy would appreciate all cars in general.