Anyone else get banned from the G8X section for making fun of its looks?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

I gave up on watches. I just can't get into them from a comfort standpoint and find the smartwatches don't help me much as I'll end up taking my phone out anyways, not to mention never really cared about them for style either.

I'd put a huge shout-out for the Garmin tech watches for anyone who's active outdoors, esp the Fenix line & Instinct (runners like the Forerunner).

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

There are 4 kinds of watch people:

(1.) Don't care

(2.) Care, but not much (you?)

(3.) Like them as jewelry (your rolex buyers)

(4.) NERDS! These are the people who see them as mechanical art - like maybe many of us see cars: rolling mechanical art.

Many people are a mix of the last two, but the key is, which is primary? I like tooly mechanical art so I'm more of a diver watch guy. BTW, watch (jewelry) insurance is pretty cheap, like $100 / year for most things so you can pretty easily wear something $10k and not worry unless it's an heirloom (except it's going to be hard to replace your Rolex for MSRP).

In any event, mechanical art ...


So for the G8x, I may appreciate it's nerdy performance but I can't get past it's failure as art.

It'd be like if Van Gogh painted "Vomiting Karen" and a bunch of fanbois kept insisting how awesome the turbulence swirls were in the vomit flow - maybe, but it'd still be a fucking ugly painting, ya know?

I think I'm somewhere between option #2 and #3; closer to option #2 though.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

There are 4 kinds of watch people:

(1.) Don't care

(2.) Care, but not much (you?)

(3.) Like them as jewelry (your rolex buyers)

(4.) NERDS! These are the people who see them as mechanical art - like maybe many of us see cars: rolling mechanical art.

Many people are a mix of the last two, but the key is, which is primary? I like tooly mechanical art so I'm more of a diver watch guy. BTW, watch (jewelry) insurance is pretty cheap, like $100 / year for most things so you can pretty easily wear something $10k and not worry unless it's an heirloom (except it's going to be hard to replace your Rolex for MSRP).

In any event, mechanical art ...


So for the G8x, I may appreciate it's nerdy performance but I can't get past it's failure as art.

It'd be like if Van Gogh painted "Vomiting Karen" and a bunch of fanbois kept insisting how awesome the turbulence swirls were in the vomit flow - maybe, but it'd still be a fucking ugly painting, ya know?

Yup I’m definitely in bucket #2. I appreciate the mechanical nature of automatic movements, but I can’t get myself into spending the money on them as they have no utility to me personally. I’ve had friends compare it to my involvement in cars but my counter argument is there is a significant utility to cars as a mode of transport and the modifications I do have a tangible impact to the experience - i tend not to engage in jewelry type mods that you’d find on street/show cars (I.e. I could not stomach paying more than like $2k for forged wheels because I’m a cheap bastard)

Having said that I will probably pick up a Seamaster Aqua Terra or Speedmaster Moonwatch (40mm) one day… and my low key dream watch is the limited release Bremont Kingsman ALT-1 in Rose Gold (too rich for my blood but if I won the lottery I’d probably consider it)

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

I gave up on watches. I just can't get into them from a comfort standpoint and find the smartwatches don't help me much as I'll end up taking my phone out anyways, not to mention never really cared about them for style either.

I actually got used to using a watch to tell time, which was convenient in work meetings hehe. I do have an affinity for rose gold though, I actually just bought a Seiko in rose gold today after this watch talk ha! $400 tho from a discounter… the most I’ve ever spent on a watch. As for style I get you on that, I’m actually a boring fucker when it comes to watches, less is more IMO

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

I actually just bought a Seiko in rose gold today after this watch talk ha! $400 tho from a discounter…

watches can be cool - mechanical movements have a soul.

Some of the <US$1k microbrands (here's a decent list) are going off-the-charts cool these days and I think they're like microbrews in 90s ... just starting to take off.

I like Magrette out of New Zealand (Moana Pacific Professional Titanium - $750):



and, because my grandfather was a WWII pilot, this Zero West with its case built from the metal of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine casing off of a Hurricane P3708 recovered from Foulness Island, Essex, shot down on The Hardest Day (1940) is a pretty cool daily reminder.

Here's the pilot - his yoke gun button was still set to "fire":

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

watches can be cool - mechanical movements have a soul.

Some of the <US$1k microbrands (here's a decent list) are going off-the-charts cool these days and I think they're like microbrews in 90s ... just starting to take off.

I like Magrette out of New Zealand (Moana Pacific Professional Titanium - $750):



and, because my grandfather was a WWII pilot, this Zero West with its case built from the metal of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine casing off of a Hurricane P3708 recovered from Foulness Island, Essex, shot down on The Hardest Day (1940) is a pretty cool daily reminder.

Here's the pilot - his yoke gun button was still set to "fire":

Nice! I just looked at that list, I think I could get into microbrands... tbh I prefer the anonymity of more niche brands in most things.

And that's a cool tid bit about your granddad! My great relatives were soldiers for the British army during WW2, though we don't have many of their relics left (to my knowledge)... I'll have to dig through the family archives back in England for that stuff.

[fiveohwblow]

I have an Apple Watch. It’s super cheap and does stuff. With the auto, racing, bike, gun hobbies I refuse to afford any other. The occasional traveling I do isn’t cheap either, I can’t wait to travel internationally again.

[ABenLauda]

Am I the only one getting bored with these watch convos? Back to cars people!

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by ABenChod

Am I the only one getting bored with these watch convos? Back to cars people!

[fiveohwblow]

Reported

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by alex2364

People with real money buy multi-million dollar houses. Expensive cars are chump change compared to those.

The main difference is that a house is an investment while a car is an expense...

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by ABenChod

Am I the only one getting bored with these watch convos? Back to cars people!

Back to more : What are you buying next?

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The main difference is that a house is an investment while a car is an expense...

Cars also depreciate usually, aside from a few chosen ones.

Certain higher end watches, from my little understanding of watches, can be profitable.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

There are 4 kinds of watch people:

(1.) Don't care

(2.) Care, but not much (you?)

(3.) Like them as jewelry (your rolex buyers)

(4.) NERDS! These are the people who see them as mechanical art - like maybe many of us see cars: rolling mechanical art.

Many people are a mix of the last two, but the key is, which is primary? I like tooly mechanical art so I'm more of a diver watch guy. BTW, watch (jewelry) insurance is pretty cheap, like $100 / year for most things so you can pretty easily wear something $10k and not worry unless it's an heirloom (except it's going to be hard to replace your Rolex for MSRP).

In any event, mechanical art ...


So for the G8x, I may appreciate it's nerdy performance but I can't get past it's failure as art.

It'd be like if Van Gogh painted "Vomiting Karen" and a bunch of fanbois kept insisting how awesome the turbulence swirls were in the vomit flow - maybe, but it'd still be a fucking ugly painting, ya know?

I'm definitely a number one with a side of respect to the engineering/do think a lot of them look really cool and can be art.

Not to offend anyone here but I always thought an expensive watch is the ultimate look at me status symbol. Even more than a car IMO. To me cars like M3/4s, 911s/Caymans etc can do things that 99% of other vehicles can't. A watch's main job is to tell time which again be done by an extremely cheap one.

Don't get me wrong. I don't care what one spends their own money, just my opinion on the matter.

Unfortunately both groups (car/watch) have the same types of people that buy them for status symbols and don't come close to using them as intended. The worst is when have both rolled into one.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by minn19

I'm definitely a number one with a side of respect the to the engineering/do think a lot of them look really cool and can be art.

Not to offend anyone here but I always thought an expensive watch is the ultimate look at me status symbol. Even more than a car IMO. To me cars like M3/4s, 911s/Caymans etc can do things that 99% of other vehicles can't. A watch's main job is to tell time which again be done by an extremely cheap one.

Don't get me wrong. I don't care what one spends their own money, just my opinion on the matter.

Unfortunately both groups (car/watch) have the same types of people that buy them for status symbols and don't come close to using them as intended. The worst is when have both rolled into one.

Eh, most people have no idea whether a watch is expensive or not unless its a Rolex which is the one brand everyone knows. Cars on the other hand, everyone knows which cars are expensive, especially flashier ones like a Porsche, Ferrari, etc.

A vehicle's main job is to get you from point A to point B. Certainly a Honda will do that more comfortably and efficiently than a Lamborghini yet people still buy Lambos. A swiss mechanical watch is no different. People appreciate the finer things in life and will pay for the craftsmanship. An Armani suit, Chanel handbag, Cartier bracelet, Ferrari, etc etc. All of these items can easily be replaced by far less expensive items which will serve the same purpose and perform the same function, sometimes even better. But again, its nice to enjoy the finer things in life.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Eh, most people have no idea whether a watch is expensive or not unless its a Rolex which is the one brand everyone knows. Cars on the other hand, everyone knows which cars are expensive, especially flashier ones like a Porsche, Ferrari, etc.

A vehicle's main job is to get you from point A to point B. Certainly a Honda will do that more comfortably and efficiently than a Lamborghini yet people still buy Lambos. A swiss mechanical watch is no different. People appreciate the finer things in life and will pay for the craftsmanship. An Armani suit, Chanel handbag, Cartier bracelet, Ferrari, etc etc. All of these items can easily be replaced by far less expensive items which will serve the same purpose and perform the same function, sometimes even better. But again, its nice to enjoy the finer things in life.

Also true and good points. The vehicle thing was for those of us that do occasionally track/autocross or track often. Even backroad/canyon runs etc etc. One Honda and one Acura can do those things well. Almost all watches last a long time and tell time very well is my main point.

Also definitely agreed on the finer things in life.

[DDD31]

Now back to our regularly scheduled program of bashing the G8X after thread drift to watches

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...tion-compared/

2nd Place:
BMW M3 Competition

Highs: Racetrack capability with autobahn composure, impressive grip and brakes, upscale interior.
Lows: Numb steering, palpable turbo lag, an overwhelming amount of adjustability.

1st Place:
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Highs: Passion you can feel through the steering wheel, Italian design, linear power delivery.
Lows: Some cheap materials inside, knowing it might break your heart at any moment.



Uh-oh let the G8X fanbois lament..... "But, but C&D liked the Alfa better than the F8X too"...
Of course it's quite strange that C&D still picked the Alfa after apparently the front brakes disintegrated on the racetrack after 7 laps and made the car undriveable.

[Soul Coughing]

Originally Posted by DDD31

Now back to our regularly scheduled program of bashing the G8X after thread drift to watches

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...tion-compared/

2nd Place:
BMW M3 Competition

Highs: Racetrack capability with autobahn composure, impressive grip and brakes, upscale interior.
Lows: Numb steering, palpable turbo lag, an overwhelming amount of adjustability.

1st Place:
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Highs: Passion you can feel through the steering wheel, Italian design, linear power delivery.
Lows: Some cheap materials inside, knowing it might break your heart at any moment.



Uh-oh let the G8X fanbois lament..... "But, but C&D liked the Alfa better than the F8X too"...
Of course it's quite strange that C&D still picked the Alfa after apparently the front brakes disintegrated on the racetrack after 7 laps and made the car undriveable.

I would be driving a Quadrifoglio right now if it didn't have such low reliability ratings and had an option for a manual. It really was a pleasure to drive!

[Darth One]

Originally Posted by minn19

I'm definitely a number one with a side of respect the to the engineering/do think a lot of them look really cool and can be art.

Not to offend anyone here but I always thought an expensive watch is the ultimate look at me status symbol. Even more than a car IMO. To me cars like M3/4s, 911s/Caymans etc can do things that 99% of other vehicles can't. A watch's main job is to tell time which again be done by an extremely cheap one.

Don't get me wrong. I don't care what one spends their own money, just my opinion on the matter.

Unfortunately both groups (car/watch) have the same types of people that buy them for status symbols and don't come close to using them as intended. The worst is when have both rolled into one.

There's definitely a large area of intersection in that Venn diagram of "car enthusiasts" and "watch enthusiasts". I agree that both have gotten way too 'look at me' in recent times, especially with the advent of dat IG culture

Consumption in general has followed the same trend, whether it be cars, watches, travel, dining, bicycles, or wine and spirits - which are all things I enjoy and I think are worth pursuing whether you're on social media or not. But if you're a hard parker or someone who enjoys taking pics of their food more than the food itself, then go ahead and do your thing. At least it lets me know what's out there, so it does add some value for me

[ash4390]

Less BMW and Watches, more P-Car (coming from a guy with BMWs and entirely too many watches hahahah)

I've had my C4 GTS for ~6 weeks as of yesterday, and I've got the itch to try something a bit more track focused after a couple of track days.

Took this out for an extended test drive yesterday, and started crunching numbers with the dealer yesterday.

2018 GT3 in Chalk (PDK for the wife)
Carbon Buckets
Carbon Interior Trim
Bose
Fire extinguisher (because racecar)
GMG Center Exhaust Bypass
BBi roll cage
PCCB
Full car PPF and Ceramic
Salter Aero carbon bits
Brand new Cup2s

This was a friend's old car that they traded in on a McLaren, never been tracked, barely driven. I'm trying to talk myself out of it but it's just SO good... I have another track day on Saturday so hopefully I can wrap this up before then.

[NickyC]

^ Dream car.

Do it.

[ash4390]

Originally Posted by NickyC

^ Dream car.

Do it.

That's what I told my wife. I've been pining for a GT3 since I was 12 years old and the 996 GT3 was released.

It's a numbers game at this point!