foolish?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,800
Likes: 2,653
From: Down south in Dixie
They're just jealous, and scared they will never attain what you did Don. It's their problem, not your's. As Lisa said, F 'em, and feed 'em fish. Enjoy your Vette, you deserve it.
As far as getting off remarks, I really don't get them. All of my long time friends know I will never drive a blahmobile, and would think I was sick if I did. My newer, and younger friends are probably cautious because they expect at my advanced age I may be a bit forward in my response.
As far as getting off remarks, I really don't get them. All of my long time friends know I will never drive a blahmobile, and would think I was sick if I did. My newer, and younger friends are probably cautious because they expect at my advanced age I may be a bit forward in my response.
Last edited by Rebel Yell; Jul 21, 2015 at 02:21 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 20
From: San Francisco CA
I get mostly positive comments (I'm 55), but once a person jokingly said, "Midlife crisis?" I replied, "No, midlife celebration."
I also tell people that I've always owned cool cars (I bought an E-type Jaguar at age 17, while working at Sears), and my current Corvette is just the latest in a long line. What's funny is that I just recently sold my 1970 Firebird Formula 400, which was a much less practical car and more of an impulse purchase (something that a person having a midlife crisis might buy), but nobody seemed to connect it to old guys trying to hang on to youth. I don't know why the Corvette has its reputation, but the best way for us to dispel that notion is to be nice guys ourselves. Changing minds one person at a time...
I also tell people that I've always owned cool cars (I bought an E-type Jaguar at age 17, while working at Sears), and my current Corvette is just the latest in a long line. What's funny is that I just recently sold my 1970 Firebird Formula 400, which was a much less practical car and more of an impulse purchase (something that a person having a midlife crisis might buy), but nobody seemed to connect it to old guys trying to hang on to youth. I don't know why the Corvette has its reputation, but the best way for us to dispel that notion is to be nice guys ourselves. Changing minds one person at a time...
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 17
From: San Antonio Texas
I think it's sad when people say "mid life crisis," etc. Sad for them.
Could you imagine going through your life and not enjoying it? Used corvettes aren't even expensive. $30k for a pristine vette is the norm, and people spend waaaaaaay more than that on cars and trucks, daily. Everywhere you look, soccer moms in SUVs that cost double that are whipping around town.
People in Texas have $70k pickups, everywhere.
So, it's clearly not the price. It's the "I'm not happy so you shouldn't be either" attitude.
Jealousy rears it's head in many forms.
Next time you 60 and 70 year old guys get **** from someone about your vette, just say:
"Haters gonna hate"
And do a burnout
Could you imagine going through your life and not enjoying it? Used corvettes aren't even expensive. $30k for a pristine vette is the norm, and people spend waaaaaaay more than that on cars and trucks, daily. Everywhere you look, soccer moms in SUVs that cost double that are whipping around town.
People in Texas have $70k pickups, everywhere.
So, it's clearly not the price. It's the "I'm not happy so you shouldn't be either" attitude.
Jealousy rears it's head in many forms.
Next time you 60 and 70 year old guys get **** from someone about your vette, just say:
"Haters gonna hate"
And do a burnout
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
I get a lot of positive comments on my black corvette from the younger guys/girls mainly because of the sound of it cam,headers.intake,Borla Stringers & tune. But I also get the same when I cruse in my 1968 Restro mod Camaro...I like it at 72 years young...
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,118
Likes: 122
From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
At 73, anytime younger girls or older women look my way, I always smile first and then they usually do too. I really don't care if it's the Vette, a crazy hat, or the funny way I walk that gets their attention. Regardless of how they viewed me before I saw them, the smile is the flirtatious complement that all women crave and you don't have to be single or handsome to do it. And after all, what guy doesn't look at women?
A smile works with men too, since it can be interpreted several ways depending on the attitude of the guy who is looking.
A smile can start a friendly conversation or stop an unfriendly one from ever happening.
A smile works with men too, since it can be interpreted several ways depending on the attitude of the guy who is looking.
A smile can start a friendly conversation or stop an unfriendly one from ever happening.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 317
Likes: 24
Recently I have started to feel foolish when I'm in my vette. It draws a lot of attention as you guys know and peoples reactions to it has started to bother me. I'm 63 now and though most everyone likes the car they react to me with disdain. It's "oh look another old guy trying to hang onto his youth" or younger women doing all they can to catch up to me only to look over with a reaction of disappointment its an older guy's vette. I know-who cares what others think? Well we all care to some degree or you would be alone your whole life. Anyway just wondered if anyone else is dealing with this.You younger guys 'do you get negative reactions for other reasons? 
People who truly don't care what other's think don't have mirrors in their homes.
I felt some of that at 60. But I sold the Vette more because I was obsessive about it. I bought a Miata MX5. The MX5 does not draw much attention. I park it anywhere I want and leave it in the driveway, drive it in the rain and don't clean it much.
It doesn't scream SuperCar nor does it have a long history of the perception of an exotic expensive car, The stereotype is a hairdresser's car....I can deal with that.
Looking at the C7 , I could never drive something that draws that kind of attention.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'm over on the C6 side because I'm thinking of getting one. 64 here and a C6 would be my sixth vette, so this thread is a good one.
I agree with the general consensus that it really doesn't matter what other people think, I'm not that fragile.
But to the OP if the attention bothers and you still want that vette experience, try driving a C4, you're invisible to everyone. Even C6 drivers.
I agree with the general consensus that it really doesn't matter what other people think, I'm not that fragile.
But to the OP if the attention bothers and you still want that vette experience, try driving a C4, you're invisible to everyone. Even C6 drivers.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 102
Likes: 20
I think it's sad when people say "mid life crisis," etc. Sad for them.
Could you imagine going through your life and not enjoying it? Used corvettes aren't even expensive. $30k for a pristine vette is the norm, and people spend waaaaaaay more than that on cars and trucks, daily. Everywhere you look, soccer moms in SUVs that cost double that are whipping around town.
People in Texas have $70k pickups, everywhere.
So, it's clearly not the price. It's the "I'm not happy so you shouldn't be either" attitude.
Jealousy rears it's head in many forms.
Next time you 60 and 70 year old guys get **** from someone about your vette, just say:
"Haters gonna hate"
And do a burnout
Could you imagine going through your life and not enjoying it? Used corvettes aren't even expensive. $30k for a pristine vette is the norm, and people spend waaaaaaay more than that on cars and trucks, daily. Everywhere you look, soccer moms in SUVs that cost double that are whipping around town.
People in Texas have $70k pickups, everywhere.
So, it's clearly not the price. It's the "I'm not happy so you shouldn't be either" attitude.
Jealousy rears it's head in many forms.
Next time you 60 and 70 year old guys get **** from someone about your vette, just say:
"Haters gonna hate"
And do a burnout
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 60
From: Missouri City Texas
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Demotte Indiana
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 60
From: Missouri City Texas
Hey Donwill, you really can't let others steal your joy. When I drive, I look at the vehicles around me as required to drive safely, but I don't look at the drivers. I don't care to see who's driving unless they do something stupid, in which case I make it a point to make eye contact with them. So enjoy the drive and ignore the faces and expressions of those behind the wheel, you don't have to look at them to see how they drive...lol...which is my ONLY concern when on the road.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 163
Likes: 5
From: Central AZ
56 years old here and it really bothers me when I Hear "mid life crisis". I wish I did not care but I must because it gets to me. My wife of 32 years looks prettier to me now than she ever did. I am healthier than ever. My kids are doing great. My retirement is secure. There is no crisis here and I resent people assuming that I am compensating for some problem. I have always had cool cars and this is my dream. Some people just don't understand and for some lame reason, I care.
At 69 I'm relieved that I'm finally too old to die young. It's a relief.
Pilgrim
