Enjoy and Ignore the Haters 
Wrongfully judged?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 703
Likes: 101
From: Duluth MN
Wrongfully judged?
Anyone been judged or categorized negatively for owning a Corvette? It has happened to me more than once and am having trouble understanding why. I am a person of average means and have worked hard to get something I have always wanted.
Popular Reply
Aug 12, 2018, 09:13 AM
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 585
I didn't drive mine to work for the first year because I didn't want to hear crap about it. I told people they paid more for their (insert car type here) than I did for my Corvette and if they wanted one, they should have bought one.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 585
I didn't drive mine to work for the first year because I didn't want to hear crap about it. I told people they paid more for their (insert car type here) than I did for my Corvette and if they wanted one, they should have bought one.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 18
From: Travelers Rest, SC
Some people are truly ignorant and have no problem showing it. I remember in 2010 I paid 17k for a 40k mile FRC, I expected to get crap for it from people at work, and I did. Granted our parking garage is full of $30k Accords and $40k base model Audi/BMW/Mercedes, but what do I know.
Last edited by MSUGTO; Aug 12, 2018 at 09:31 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,044
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
corvette...must be nice"...and I just smiled and didn't even answer...eh...WTF is it with lots jealous people?
Carry on Sir...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 308
From: Mont Belvieu Tx
Yes. And by those closest to me. It is something I enjoy and is my hobby. If they don't get it then they are the ones with the problem. Life is short and filled with duty and obligations. There is nothing wrong being able to find something to enjoy as a product of your labors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Lost count of the number of times I have heard that, or something very similar. I bought my C5 new and boy, did that get the green eye brigade going. Never mind that I had colleagues with Beemers and Benz's, they were still envious.
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No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,024
Likes: 7,328
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Yes, it's just another one of the typical stereotype generalizations that comes with this cars name. Friends, family it don't matter. You'd swear it was a Ferrari or something. I've even had the mid life crisis BS bantered at me by a few jokingly. Just have to brush it off.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,929
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
In August 2004 I got layed off my job, a friend who did construction hired me to do some grunt work building stairs and remodeling a house in San Francisco, I had no experience doing construction but he said the fact I spoke English it was a plus. Lol
Anyways one Friday night after working, I didn't go home right away (I lived about 45 minutes away from San Francisco) and decided to cruise around and goof off a little first.
I was in fisherman's wharf area, tourists area at a red light when some guy started screaming at me.
I heard him saying "F#% you you rich F&(%er!"
I said what?
" You heard me you effing rich mother effect, eff you!!"
I said I'm not rich, then he mocked my words sarcastically.
Probably 25 years old and had on a back pack, maybe he was homeless and mad at the world.
I was sweaty and dirty from working all day in my clothes one would use for doing car work or and labor that would mess up nice clothes.
Anyways one Friday night after working, I didn't go home right away (I lived about 45 minutes away from San Francisco) and decided to cruise around and goof off a little first.
I was in fisherman's wharf area, tourists area at a red light when some guy started screaming at me.
I heard him saying "F#% you you rich F&(%er!"
I said what?
" You heard me you effing rich mother effect, eff you!!"
I said I'm not rich, then he mocked my words sarcastically.
Probably 25 years old and had on a back pack, maybe he was homeless and mad at the world.
I was sweaty and dirty from working all day in my clothes one would use for doing car work or and labor that would mess up nice clothes.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,929
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
Ok let's move on to March 2005, I started a new job(hvac tech) in Tempe Arizona, I had been getting to work early and parking the Corvette not right in front of the building.
The guy I was riding with asked if I brought my tools, I said yes and told him I would put them in his van.
He said where did you park and I pointed to the area he said which car, I said the red one.
He said the Vette, I answered yes.
He gets on his Nextel radio and tells everyone to come out of shop and come see new guys Corvette.
One guy was pissed and was rude about it, as long as I worked there he was rude to me, over my car.
The dispatcher said "wow you must make good $!"
However most people are cool about it and give compliments.
The guy I was riding with asked if I brought my tools, I said yes and told him I would put them in his van.
He said where did you park and I pointed to the area he said which car, I said the red one.
He said the Vette, I answered yes.
He gets on his Nextel radio and tells everyone to come out of shop and come see new guys Corvette.
One guy was pissed and was rude about it, as long as I worked there he was rude to me, over my car.
The dispatcher said "wow you must make good $!"
However most people are cool about it and give compliments.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 305
From: Feeding Hills, MA
Back in the early 80s my wife drove our 79 to work. First time one of the warehouse workers came out and said the "must be nice" crap. He had the nerve to ask what it cost per month. She told him the same as your bar tab and smokes. It's all about your choices.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 518
Likes: 264
From: Jasper GA
I've owned two Corvettes and a Ferrari, among other cars, and I've never had a negative encounter with anyone. I always talk to people, happy to share my cars, talk cars, whatever, and I've always been treated well. One of my best memories is taking the Ferrari to a Rides to Remember event, and taking sick kids on rides around Atlanta Motorsports Park. That was absolutely incredible. I have to admit, these kinds of threads (negative impression, street racing, etc.) have always puzzled me. I have never had anything like this happen, maybe because I live in the genteel south?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I've owned two Corvettes and a Ferrari, among other cars, and I've never had a negative encounter with anyone. I always talk to people, happy to share my cars, talk cars, whatever, and I've always been treated well. One of my best memories is taking the Ferrari to a Rides to Remember event, and taking sick kids on rides around Atlanta Motorsports Park. That was absolutely incredible. I have to admit, these kinds of threads (negative impression, street racing, etc.) have always puzzled me. I have never had anything like this happen, maybe because I live in the genteel south?
Drifting
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 147
It's funny i admired vetts since i was a kid but didn't buy one until i was about 66 years old. I can say when outside looking in i was never like that. Anyone that has a cool car is ok by me. Now that i have one i could care less what others think. The only negative i've got was a guy who just bought a '66 vette. At a show he kept pointing how his was worth more than my '02 z06. He was pissed when i took 2nd in my class and he took 3rd.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,024
Likes: 7,328
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I've owned two Corvettes and a Ferrari, among other cars, and I've never had a negative encounter with anyone. I always talk to people, happy to share my cars, talk cars, whatever, and I've always been treated well. One of my best memories is taking the Ferrari to a Rides to Remember event, and taking sick kids on rides around Atlanta Motorsports Park. That was absolutely incredible. I have to admit, these kinds of threads (negative impression, street racing, etc.) have always puzzled me. I have never had anything like this happen, maybe because I live in the genteel south?
I live in Washington State In fact a lot of people just call this Northern California now unfortunately.
Anyways, I think you are missing the gist of this thread. We're not talking about random people at the mall or people at a car show. I'm talking about friends, family and coworkers. Well I can't speak on behalf of the OP, but I can speak for myself.
Last edited by Mr. Black; Aug 12, 2018 at 05:11 PM. Reason: less snarky.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Not realizing their Taho/Suburban/Navigator costs just as much, if not more, than my C7....and that my C5 is 18 years old with 118k miles...and neither knowing nor caring that 10 years of no car payments, savings, and wise financial choices is what made the C7 possible..
Or
the kids of a friend of my GFs who call me a “white priviledged (insert various 4 letter terms here)”
(Yes, through no fault of their own, their family receives loads of taxpayer support - and dad does not encourage self reliance, preferring to teach them “those with more owe it to you” )
Yea, been there done that. I think in the examples above, some of it is jealousy, some of it is ignorance.
