Alright, purveyors of fine machinery and purer intentions, listen up. Some things in the car world don't need to be etched into stone tablets or blasted on digital marquees, because if you know, you know.
Whether your formative years involved binge-watching Gone in 60 Seconds on repeat, sacrificing hours of hard work wrenching in your driveway, or simply falling down a rabbit hole on YouTube, you've likely absorbed the quiet, often surprisingly specific, code of conduct that defines being a true car enthusiast.
Break them, and you'll hear about it. Usually from someone with a louder exhaust, a stronger opinion, and possibly a more immaculate paint job than yours. These are the sacred commandments of the automotive realm.
1. Thou Shalt Not Spend Other People’s Money
We’ve all been there, grinning ear to ear, basking in that post-purchase glow after finally landing the ride. Maybe it’s your childhood dream car. Maybe it’s just new-to-you but hits all the right notes. And then someone opens their mouth and says that thing:
“You should’ve bought a...”
Buy new? “Why didn’t you just get something used and save money?”
Buy used? “Couldn’t afford new, huh?”
Bought a 911? “Should’ve gone with a Z06.”
Bought the Z06? “Should’ve just sprung for a Carrera.”
People choose their cars for reasons as varied as the cars themselves, budget, reliability, uniqueness, emotion, or just because it felt right. Car culture is about celebrating the passion, not policing the purchase.
So when someone shows up beaming with pride over their new wheels, even if it’s a rough-around-the-edges Jetta with peeling tint, be cool. Be supportive. Let them have their moment without raining on their parade.
2. Thou Shalt Respect All Builds (Even the Questionable Ones)
The beauty of car culture lies in its boundless diversity. From meticulously restored muscle cars to slammed JDM imports with more camber than a broken ankle, from lifted trucks with tires taller than some small children to concours-level European exotics, there's a sub-genre for every taste. Just because a particular aesthetic isn't your personal cup of high-octane tea doesn't mean it wasn't executed with immense skill, dedication, and a small fortune.
You don't have to like every build, but you absolutely must respect the effort, vision, and sheer investment of time and money that went into it. Appreciation for craftsmanship and individual expression is the glue that binds us, preventing the scene from devolving into a homogenous parade of identically modified vehicles. Unless it's genuinely unsafe or blatantly stolen, keep your snark to yourself.
3. Thou Shalt Know Thy Limits (And Thy Car’s)
Any self-respecting car enthusiast knows their machine inside and out. They understand horsepower is useless without adequate braking, proper suspension tuning, and sticky tires. A truly smart enthusiast also understands that raw acceleration means nothing if you can't navigate a corner or, more importantly, stop before you meet an oak tree or, worse, a minivan full of toddlers.
In a sentiment that we can all agree on despite age and style of driving, p_griff joined the Threads conversation with perhaps one of the most important of rules, "Know your limits when driving with passengers and/or in traffic. Your fun shouldn't put someone else in danger."
This isn't about being slow; it's about being smart. Drive within your skill set, your car's actual capabilities (not just its claimed top speed), and the conditions of the road. We care about our cars, our passengers, and every other person trying to get to their destination safely. Public roads are not proving grounds for your questionable driving talent or your car's nonexistent handling. Save the heroics for the track days, where the consequences are only expensive, not fatal. You don't want to end up on a YouTube compilation featuring takeovers gone wrong.
4. Thou Shalt Help Thy Friends (For Drinks, Pizza, and Shared Misery)
If you've ever truly worked on or built a car, you know the unspoken pact. It involves spending untold hours in a poorly lit garage with your closest cohorts, fueled by lukewarm drinks, pizza consumed directly off a grease-stained workbench, and the harmonious soundtrack of power tools, classic rock, and a chorus of muttered profanities directed at that one stripped bolt.
Joining the conversation, Threads user d.faulkner_ shared "Manual labor gets paid for in the form of beer and pizza," with several nods of agreement in the comments.
There are no expectations of monetary gain in these sacred garage sessions. Your payment is the cold beer, the pizza, and the shared camaraderie of busting knuckles and solving mechanical puzzles. It’s the law of the wrench: if a buddy needs an extra set of hands to pull an engine, bleed brakes, or simply needs that one specialized tool you own, you show up. No questions asked. It's the purest form of community in the automotive world.
5. Thou Shalt Always Say Yes to the Kids
This is perhaps the most heartwarming, and arguably the most crucial, unwritten rule. Whether it's giving your engine a respectful blip, letting a wide-eyed kid sit in the driver's seat at a car show, or simply answering their endless questions, the rule is simple: we always say yes. We remember those formative moments from our own youth — seeing a cool car, hearing that intoxicating engine note, or getting the rare chance to actually sit inside a dream machine.
Those fleeting interactions can ignite a lifelong passion. They fuel dreams, just like they did for my friend James, who, after seeing a Dodge Viper at a Little League game as a child, went on to own several as an adult. Inspire the next generation of potential enthusiasts, mechanics, and drivers. A few minutes of your time can create a lifelong automotive addiction.
6. Thou Shalt Wash Thy Ride Before a Public Display
This is my personal nemesis, especially for those ungodly early morning Cars and Coffee meetups, but it’s a non-negotiable. Never, under any circumstances, arrive at a car show or a significant car meet with a filthy ride. This is your chance to commune with fellow enthusiasts and proudly display your pride and joy. Unless you’re rocking an off-road rig that just conquered the Rubicon Trail (and you have the mud to prove it), take the time for a proper shine.
A dirty car at a show isn’t "patina"; it's laziness. It subtly communicates that you don’t respect your vehicle, or the effort others put into theirs. We're currently digging the Mother's California Gold Ceramic line for those quick, impressive results. Your car is a reflection of your passion; make sure it shines.
7. Thou Shalt Back Into the Parking Spot (Especially at Meets)
You don't have to do this every single time you park at the grocery store (though many of us do it instinctively). But if you drive a sports car with rear visibility worse than a blindfold, or a truck with B-pillars wider than a school bus, you probably already do anyway. At a car show or a significant meet, the unspoken rule is simple: always back into your parking spot.
There are practical reasons: it makes for an easier, safer exit, especially in crowded lots. It also subtly shows off your vehicle's often more aggressive or interesting front fascia, which is what most people want to see when strolling by. Plus, according to social media, backing into parking spots really seems to annoy "non-car people," which, let's be honest, is a bonus. We don't make the rules, we just enforce them.
8. Thou Shalt Turn Around and Look (Every Time)
This isn't a suggestion; it's an involuntary, primal compulsion for anyone with gasoline (or electrons) coursing through their veins. After you've found that perfect parking spot, killed the ignition, and stepped out, you MUST turn around and admire your car. Every. Single. Time.
It’s not just about making sure you parked straight or didn't ding the door next to you. It's a final, appreciative glance at the lines, the stance, the way the light catches the paint after a fresh wash. It’s a subconscious check for perfection, a confirmation that yes, this magnificent piece of machinery is yours.
People who just park and walk away are either soulless automatons or they drive something incredibly boring. This is how you know you own the right car — because it still makes you look back. It's the ultimate sign of love (or obsession).
9. Thou Shalt Not Slam The Doors!
This is primarily a directive for your unsuspecting passengers, but it’s a critical one. NEVER slam a car door. Don't even aggressively shove it shut. A well-engineered car door, especially on a newer vehicle or a meticulously restored classic, requires only a gentle push. A firm but soft close is all that's needed.
Slamming causes undue stress on door hinges, window regulators, and delicate interior panels, not to mention the jarring impact that feels like a punch to the owner’s soul. Furthermore, always close doors by the inside and outside handles, not by pushing on the window glass or more fragile painted areas. Treat the vehicle with the respect you'd expect for your own prized possession. It’s not a bank vault, you brute.
10. Thou Shalt Always Refill The Tank (When Borrowing)
If someone extends the ultimate courtesy of letting you borrow their car — especially if it's their pride and joy, or a critical workhorse — your paramount duty is to treat it with the reverence it deserves. The next, equally critical, unspoken rule is simple: never, under any circumstances, return the vehicle with a depleted fuel tank. Even if it was given to you running on fumes, you top it off.
This is more than basic politeness; it's the quiet repayment expectation, the karmic balance of borrowing someone's personal property. This rule is doubly vital if you're borrowing a truck to trailer your broken-down project car, or a show car to a far-flung event. Don't be that absolute menace who thinks "E" stands for "Enough for You."
11. Thou Shalt Not Eat In The Car (Especially Not My Car)
Full disclosure: this isn't a rule I strictly adhere to in my own vehicle. In fact, a late-night fast-food run, where I can sit in my ride and contemplate the philosophical nuances of a glowing Harbor Freight sign, is practically a sacred garage ritual. However, that’s my car.
When it comes to someone else's vehicle, the rule is ironclad: no eating, no crumbs, no sticky residue, no lingering smells. No matter what you're munching, the chances of making a mess — crumbs in the seat crevices, grease on the steering wheel, that faint aroma of stale fries — are astronomically high. Never assume you have carte blanche to treat someone else's meticulously clean interior like your personal drive-thru dining room. If you wouldn't eat a chili dog while wearing a white suit or dress, don't eat it in my car.
12. Thou Shalt Appreciate All Cars and Enthusiasts
At Guessing Headlights, we believe every ride is cool — even if it’s not your cup of oil.
"Everyone’s got different tastes, different budgets, and different skill sets. That doesn’t make anyone better or worse — it just means we’re all at different points in our automotive journey. And that’s something worth celebrating," shares Michael, a fellow car enthusiast.
We live by one simple rule: don’t be a jerk. Sure, we’ll poke a little fun when a manufacturer totally misses the mark or when we spot one too many time-out dolls at a car show. however we never judge the person behind the wheel. If you love cars, you’re one of us. Whether you’re wrenching on a rustbucket, chasing your dream build, or just admiring from afar, welcome to the cult of car.
13. Thou Shalt Not Mock Displacement (Unless It’s German and Forced Induction)
If your childhood soundtrack included the thrum of a big-block V8 or the guttural roar of an LS motor, chances are you live by the undeniable truth: there is "no replacement for displacement." And no amount of modern technology, efficiency targets, or environmental regulations is going to change your mind. We can't blame you.
While the industry pivots to smaller, hyper-efficient, forced-induction engines — because, you know, physics and fuel economy — the raw, unadulterated grunt of a naturally aspirated V8 remains a primal, emotional experience. Does your turbocharged 2.0-liter make 400 horsepower? Excellent. Does it shake the earth when it idles, deliver instant, linear torque that threatens to peel the asphalt, and sound like a symphony of controlled explosions? Probably not. We respect the numbers, but we feel the cubic inches. It’s an old adage, yes, but some truths are eternal, even if your daily driver is a silent EV.
The Rules That Keep the Culture Alive
Car culture isn't merely about horsepower figures, flashy paint jobs, or how many trophies you can collect. It's fundamentally about the people, the shared values, and the unspoken code we all inherently follow. These commandments might not be physically inscribed on a wall at your local meet, but they are intrinsically understood by anyone who's ever turned a wrench, wiped down a fender at sunrise, or simply appreciates the artistry of a well-built machine. They are the bedrock that keeps the scene vibrant, respectful, and genuinely alive.
Did we miss one of your sacred car guy commandments? Does your local scene operate by a different, equally vital, unspoken law? Drop it in the comments below, we want to hear the rules you live by. Just don't touch our paint while you're at it.
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