GTP Cool Wall: 1969 AMC AMX 390 "Go Pack"

[Slash]

And even if it is a classic, most people are plenty fine with you saying "old Camaro". That sounds cooler to the average person than "1969 Camaro Z28".

I still don't agree. Sure some people would be fine with "old Camaro" but saying "oh I have a '69 Camaro Z28" sounds cooler because the "Z28" sounds performance oriented. A lot of people associate car names with numbers/letters because numbers make the car sound like the car is fast and impressive. If it wasn't some sort of performance car, then Chevy wouldn't have called it that.

If you had a 1970 Mustang Boss 302, you can't tell me you'd sit there and say you just have a plain old 1970 Mustang, you'd be proud to tell everyone you've got the famed Boss 302 and you'd make it well known. Just because "Boss 302" by itself sounds 🤬 badass.

Lets agree to disagree. I have a feeling this argument won't end.

 

[Tornado]

I'd say the year in this particular instance is pseudo-important (though it really should probably have been nominated as "first generation" or a year range or something) since the followup car in 1971 was considerably less impressive than the original Corvette competitor.

I don't tell people I have an '07 Sony Playstation 3 60Gb PAL. I tell them I have a PS3. If they're interested, they'll ask me for more.

What? I always lead in conversations with how I got a good PS3.


"How are you today?"

"I've got an original CECHA 60GB PS3, so pretty damn good."


It's perfect for derailing people you don't want to talk to.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I still don't agree.

No?

Sure some people would be fine with "old Camaro"

Ah. So you do agree. See, that didn't take too long!

numbers make the car sound like the car is fast and impressive.

And yet the alphabet soup that is the subject of this thread does not strike me as the fastest or most impressive car based on it's name alone.

If you had a 1970 Mustang Boss 302, you can't tell me you'd sit there and say you just have a plain old 1970 Mustang, you'd be proud to tell everyone you've got the famed Boss 302 and you'd make it well known. Just because "Boss 302" by itself sounds 🤬 badass.

I'd tell most people I have a classic/old Mustang. I'd tell people I know would care that I have that specific trim. I don't feel the need to thump my chest at people who quite likely don't give a crap what I'm driving. Posturing and bragging are pretty much the definition of uncool anyways.

 

[Famine]

So you'd say its a '96 Mazda Miata.

Nope. I'd say it's an MX-5. Almost everyone knows an MX-5.

Sometimes people will ask "Oh is that a new one or, like, a poppy-up light one?" and we'll have a conversation about.

Incidentally, since you like bits of car information, the Merlot was a Europe-only special edition - analogous to the Japanese Eunos Roadster VR-Limited - so to call it a Miata would be erroneous. And in fact the "Merlot" part somewhat makes the year irrelevant, since it was a one year only car.

So you'd say its a '96 Mazda Miata.

Nope. I'd say it's an MX-5. Almost everyone knows an MX-5.

Sometimes people will ask "Oh is that a new one or, like, a poppy-up light one?" and we'll have a conversation about it. Most people won't and we won't. If I kick off with "A 1996 Mazda MX-5 1.8i Merlot limited edition", I'll receive enquiries about my medication status.

Incidentally, since you like bits of car information, the Merlot was a Europe-only special edition - analogous to the Japanese Eunos Roadster VR-Limited - so to call it a Miata would be erroneous. It's an MX-5. And in fact the "Merlot" part somewhat makes the year irrelevant, since it was a one year only car.

If you had a 1970 Mustang Boss 302, you can't tell me you'd sit there and say you just have a plain old 1970 Mustang, you'd be proud to tell everyone you've got the famed Boss 302 and you'd make it well known. Just because "Boss 302" by itself sounds 🤬 badass.

It's smashing to be proud of it and all, but you have to realise that three quarters of people don't care. They'd just about know that a Mustang is some kind of loud Ford and you'd just be bombarding them with information that has no relevance to them if you said anything else. Stick to "Mustang" and you've got a chat.

On the other hand, you lead in with "Mustang" and your conversation partner says "Oh neat. I'm a Ford guy myself. What year?" and you've got a chat.

 

[Tornado]

I'm kind of curious how cars are supposed to be nominated now if putting the year and anything else specific about them automatically counts as a knock against them.

 

[Slash]

Ah. So you do agree. See, that didn't take too long!

I agree with you that some people would be fine with it. Doesn't change the fact that I wouldn't say I drove just an old Camaro. To me, it doesn't matter what other people are fine with as far as what they'd except for a name of a car. If I drive a car I think is special, I'm gonna tell someone, regardless of if they give a hoot or not.

And yet the alphabet soup that is the subject of this thread does not strike me as the fastest or most impressive car based on it's name alone.

To you, maybe. I think it's cool. Isn't that what we are here for

I'd tell most people I have a classic/old Mustang. I'd tell people I know would care that I have that specific trim. I don't feel the need to thump my chest at people who quite likely don't give a crap what I'm driving. Posturing and bragging are pretty much the definition of uncool anyways.

I feel you have all the right to brag if you worked for it and/or restored it. Bragging might be uncool to some, but I'll be the first to brag all day long if I worked my butt off for it.

On the other hand, you lead in with "Mustang" and your conversation partner says "Oh neat. I'm a Ford guy myself. What year?" and you've got a chat.

No, most of the time it ends there. Bring up "Boss 302" and you might peak interest if the person you are talking to is a fan (lets say you don't know them). Either way, you can say it how you or I say it, and if they are interested, they will ask about it. It doesn't matter which way you say it. The fact is if they want to talk about it, they will.

 

[White & Nerdy]

And yet the alphabet soup that is the subject of this thread does not strike me as the fastest or most impressive car based on it's name alone.

AMC = American Motors Corporation. That's an inherently cool name.
AMX = American Motors eXperimental. For some reason, anything "experimental" is automatically cool.
390 = 390 ci engine. Nowadays that's pretty big.
Go Pack = Obviously named special performance package (which is cool in itself), which makes the car faster and more visually obvious (also cool).

So that name is actually packed with cool.

 

[Joey D]

So that name is actually packed with cool.

Maybe to you, but that whole name just sounds lame to me.

 

[Famine]

No, most of the time it ends there.

That's what I said in the previous sentence...

Bring up "Boss 302" and you might peak interest if the person you are talking to is a fan (lets say you don't know them).

Different people like different things. Assuming the person you're talking to likes the same thing as you do isn't wise unless you're at a meet for that thing - and will actively drive the majority of people away.

I'm kind of curious how cars are supposed to be nominated now if putting the year and anything else specific about them automatically counts as a knock against them.

Good question - one to pose to the Cool Wall arbitrator, I suspect.

Personally, I'd put the year in parentheses after the name - AMC AMX 390 Go Pack (1969) - or the GT method of the two digit year at the end of the name - AMC AMX 390 Go Pack '69. Perhaps judge models rather than trims?

However, in this instance it's not that specifics are uncool - it's that these specifics are. Not that I'm sure Mazda 6 2.2d TS2 Smoker Pack '09 would be any better.

 

[Slash]

That's what I said in the previous sentence...Different people like different things. Assuming the person you're talking to likes the same thing as you do isn't wise unless you're at a meet for that thing - and will actively drive the majority of people away.

In my experience, it's the exact opposite. And as you all know, I like to talk about Ford. A lot.

 

[Joey D]

And as you all know, I like to talk about Ford. A lot.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

AMX = American Motors eXperimental. For some reason, anything "experimental" is automatically cool.

Ah, I'm glad you're coming around to the NSX and CRX.

In my experience, it's the exact opposite. And as you all know, I like to talk about Ford. A lot.

Yes, and the typical response around here isn't "gee golly, tell me more!" - and that's on a sub-forum of a site filled with automobile enthusiasts. The average person who cares even less about them?

 

[Famine]

I like cars - really like cars - and I can tell you that if you started off the answer to the question "What do you drive?" with the model year of your car, I wouldn't hear a single other thing you said.

 

[Slash]

I like cars - really like cars - and I can tell you that if you started off the answer to the question "What do you drive?" with the model year of your car, I wouldn't hear a single other thing you said.

Then so be it. But I'll continue because I think it's cool. Never bothered anyone I've ever told in person.

 

[Famine]

Then so be it. But I'll continue because I think it's cool.

And I'll continue thinking it's the least cool thing in the universe. And my vote reflects that.

bothered anyone I've ever told in person.

... as far as you're aware. But you can see, here, on this car-dedicated sub forum of a car-based game, that about half of respondents don't agree with you - and in the about half that do there's a man who obsesses over people liking a cartoon...

 

[Bopop4]

^Sure, that's like saying Hitler enjoyed ice cream, so everyone who eats ice cream is like Hitler.

Pretty simple, if you don't get the year from someone then it becomes impossible to paint a mental image of that car.

Which is pretty much why you're talking to them about it in the first place.

 

[Slash]

Pretty simple, if you don't get the year from someone then it becomes impossible to paint a mental image of that car.

Which is pretty much why you're talking to them about it in the first place.

Pretty much this.

And I'll continue thinking it's the least cool thing in the universe. And my vote reflects that.... as far as you're aware. But you can see, here, on this car-dedicated sub forum of a car-based game, that about half of respondents don't agree with you - and in the about half that do there's a man who obsesses over people liking a cartoon...

That's fine. It's your opinion and I can't change that.

I don't really care if it bothers them, it's not my concern. As Bopop said, if I wasn't already having a conversation about cars I wouldn't have brought it up at all. If it bothers them that I said the year of a car before the car names, then they have a problem. It shouldn't be an issue as far as I'm concerned. Like I said, who really cares. It's a freaking number.

 

[Famine]

Pretty simple, if you don't get the year from someone then it becomes impossible to paint a mental image of that car.

Which is pretty much why you're talking to them about itin the first place.

To most people a car's just a convenience device. They couldn't paint a mental image of your car with a photograph of it.

They're not interested. It's difficult to accept, but the general public are not interested in cars. Or games. It's not important to them. "What do you drive?" is an empty question like "How you doing?" and "Crazy weather, eh?".

 

[Slash]

Why the hell would you randomly walk up to a person ask them what they drive in the first place to start a conversation?Like if you're in a store or something, and just randomly do it. You'd come off as some weirdo. I'd have to already be engaged in conversation, that's already about cars, before I even bring it up.

 

[Bopop4]

To most people a car's just a convenience device. They couldn't paint a mental image of your car with a photograph of it.

They're not interested. It's difficult to accept, but the general public are not interested in cars. Or games. It's not important to them. "What do you drive?" is an empty question like "How you doing?" and "Crazy weather, eh?".

Now I just have to copy what Slashfan said, if you're talking about cars then they are most likely a car person, which is why you need to indicate the year.

 

[Roger the Horse]

You wouldn't, but you might be having a conversation with someone at a party and have the matter of what car you drive come up as small talk, and I can honestly say, as far as that's concerned, there's a car on my drive that would generate far more conversation among most people than any muscle car.

A Prius.

------

If someone said to me that they had a Boss 302 Mustang my first response would be to ask them whether or not that was the really ugly one. Not a great way to start a conversation with a fellow car fan. I don't care enough about old Fords sold in a country I don't live in to remember which model is which off the top of my head. Wikipedia reveals the model I'm thinking of is the Mach 1, but how should I know?

 

[Famine]

Why the hell would you randomly walk up to a person ask them what they drive in the first place to start a conversation?

Whut?

Like if you're in a store or something, and just randomly do it. You'd come off as some weirdo. I'd have to already be engaged in conversation, that's already about cars, before I even bring it up.

So you've never been in a conversation not about cars and the conversation has progressed to "What do you drive?"

Jebus. I know I'm anti-social, but that's a new one on me. Just today I was having a conversation about lactose-free milk that turned into a conversation about Florida...

Now I just have to copy what Slashfan said, if you're talking about cars then they are most likely a car person, which is why you need to indicate the year.

When you've established that they're a car person!

I always find it desperately uncool when people lead with one in the car's name. Sure, mention it if asked, but "What car do you drive?" needs to be followed with a badge or a marque (or both), not a date.

 

[Slash]

Whut?So you've never been in a conversation not about cars and the conversation has progressed to "What do you drive?"

Jebus. I know I'm anti-social, but that's a new one on me. Just today I was having a conversation about lactose-free milk that turned into a conversation about Florida...When you've established that they're a car person!

You totally just read that wrong. I have been in plenty of conversations about cars where that question has come up. Which is why I clearly said I'd already have to be in a conversation for that question to come up, in which I'd state I had a '69 Boss 302 if asked what I drove. I'm not just going to randomly walk up to strangers in the mall and ask them what they drive. Seems kind of weird to do that.

You wouldn't, but you might be having a conversation with someone at a party and have the matter of what car you drive come up as small talk, and I can honestly say, as far as that's concerned, there's a car on my drive that would generate far more conversation among most people than any muscle car.

A Prius.

That's funny. True though. Usually it's about how much people hate them. Never in my life have I seen a car get that much hate.

my first response would be to ask them whether or not that was the really ugly one.

If you did that here, you'd either get a nasty look or a black eye. Or both. People here are dumb in that regard.

 

[Famine]

You totally just read that wrong. I have been in plenty of conversations about cars where that question has come up.

I said conversations NOT about cars...

You suggested I was talking about just going up to people and asking them what car they drive. In fact you did it again in that post:

I'm not just going to randomly walk up to strangers in the mall and ask them what they drive. Seems kind of weird to do that.

I wasn't. I was talking about conversations you have with people - you know, idle chat with a stranger on the train, the checkout assistant, as you do to be friendly, sociable and a human being - which at some point involve vehicular transportation.

It seems incredibly weird for that kind of chit-chat "Oh, really? What do you drive then?" to be met with "I DRIVE A NINETEEN NINETY EIGHT FORD MONDEO TWO LITRE TURBODIESEL GHIA X WITH OPTIONAL SMOKERS PACK" rather than just "Oh, just a Mondeo".

 

[Slash]

You're taking this way out of context. I wouldn't have said more than "Oh I've got a Ninety-Eight Mondeo". Boom done.

Anymore questions and I'd go on with "It's got a 2 liter turbo-diesel engine, it's good for what it is".

 

[Bopop4]

It seems incredibly weird for that kind of chit-chat "Oh, really? What do you drive then?" to be met with "I DRIVE A NINETEEN NINETY EIGHT FORD MONDEO TWO LITRE TURBODIESEL GHIA X WITH OPTIONAL SMOKERS PACK" rather than just "Oh, just a Mondeo".

You don't do that with an econobox. I'm not going to tell people I drive a 2007 Ford Focus ZX5 SES Canadian Winter Package Aqua blue, I'll tell them it's an 07 Focus.

When you have a classic or rare car you're going to elaborate on it more, a 1969 Mustang fastback is a completely different animal compared to a Boss 302.

 

[White & Nerdy]

I personally find it irresistable to explain my car in some detail (I'm quite proud of having a V6 among I4s), and I've found that most people actually aren't driven off by it. I've actually found at least one other "car guy" where I work, and he seems to think I should put straight pipes on the Sunbird.

In any case there's a lot less hate for that car in the real world than there is on the internet.

 

[Famine]

You're taking this way out of context. I wouldn't have said more than "Oh I've got a Ninety-Eight Mondeo".

"Oh, just a Mondeo".

You don't do that with an econobox.

Why not? It'll be rare one day.

I'm not going to tell people I drive a 2007 Ford Focus ZX5 SES Canadian Winter Package Aqua blue, I'll tell them it's an 07 Focus.

"Oh, just a Focus."

Why's the year important on a Focus or Mondeo, but the other useful information not? Why is being an '07 Focus so important over being an '08 or '06 (or any Mk2) it has to be mentioned in idle conversation, but being a ZX5 isn't? Why does it need mentioning it's a '98 Mondeo rather than a '97 of '99 (or any Mk1) when the more useful part, the Ghia TD, is skipped?

When someone in idle chit chat says "What do you drive then?", all they need is the model. If they want more, they'll ask for it. They only need to know I have a Playstation and that I'm from Sheffield (or, if they're very foreign, the United Kingdom) - if they want more, they'll ask for it.

 

[Slash]

Because of the different generations and the differences between them.


Again, you stress if they want the information they'll ask for it. If they want to talk about it, they will. Regardless of what information I supply them with. I'm with W&N, I find it tough to retain talking about some certain aspects of a vehicle. Bopop also makes a good point.

 

[Famine]

Because of the different generations and the differences between them.

As I just stated, '06-'08 Focuses are the same generation and '97-'99 Mondeos are the same generation...

So I'll repeat the question and bear that in mind this time.

Again, you stress if they want the information they'll ask for it. If they want to talk about it, they will.

And if they don't you just gave them no option but a barrage of meaningless drivel...

I'm with W&N, I find it tough to retain talking about some certain aspects of a vehicle.

Yes. I'd noticed. I think Slip's point that everyone has noticed and the general reaction - on a car-specific subforum of a car-based game site, naturally tilted towards car enthusiasts - is not one of fascination but verging on boredom has perhaps been missed.

Well, maybe it's amusement in the case of the Sunbird.