Those "Other" Car-Guys

Entering my neighborhood Taco Bell for the most food 2 people can buy with the $10 in my pocket, I am greeted by a trio of well maintained cars. This is not a rare occurrence, Taco Bell seems to be a haven for young males who spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about the image of their transportation.

Approaching the door, I have two thoughts:

1. The people who drive such immaculate cars must be so dedicated that they only have budget left for ramen, spaghetti, and $3 fast food.
2. The people who drive these cars are dysfunctionally self-conscious young males with loads of time

I spotted the gaggle of 5 crowded around single table with just lonely taco between them. They dress like people you see on MTV dating shows and their conversations ranged from talking about their enemies "who act hard but are really bitch niggas", to what gangs they were promoting according to the color of their clothes and how many buttons in their shirt were fastened. I believe I even heard them critiquing Nike's recent Air Max shoe and talking about who they saw wearing them "in tha cluuhb".

This is why people who love cars sell the Hondas, Toyotas, Chevrolets, and Nissans that they love dearly to buy a BMW. These lepers of the car guy world make the whole of our passion seem hollow, immature, and unsustainable.

I'm not complaining about the money they spend by any means; the sale of projector headlights and clear turn signals must be a healthy portion of what keeps aftermarket afloat. Is it possible that this "crew" could elevate themselves intellectually, materially, and culturally, but still survive as car guys?