How do i become Car-Literate?

NoKids · 10-07-2007, 11:13 PM

So how did you become knowledgeable with cars? Did you go to school, did you work in a garage, did you learn by taking care of your own car through trial and error, did a website online help you, did you read car magazines growing up, playboy?

Ever since taking that car IQ test which said i was a fiat doblo, i've been wanting to improve my knowledge. first i started by googling "fiat doblo" to find out what the hell it is, and god damn that is one ugly car! my car knowledge is pretty bad. i can drive, i just cant tell you "how" anything inside the car works.

i think wikipedia is a pretty well organized place to learn about cars. but there are so many cars, should i just start off by learning about bmw's and then work my way to other german cars, then american, then japs. . . the amount of information is very overwhelming.

561design · 10-07-2007, 11:16 PM

Buy a beater car. When it breaks, you fix it. That's how you learn about cars.

e90fanatic · 10-07-2007, 11:21 PM

take your car apart and build it back.....lol...try hitting the books? lol and wiki man...this is a stupid question, take it off....are people trying to be the most retarded member on here????

!Xoible · 10-07-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

take your car apart and build it back.....lol...try hitting the books? lol and wiki man...this is a stupid question, take it off....are people trying to be the most retarded member on here????

at the same time

people are on forums to ask stupid questions they cant ask in person

NoKids · 10-07-2007, 11:27 PM

soo, wiki = bad. mkay

e90fanatic · 10-07-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

at the same time

people are on forums to ask stupid questions they cant ask in person

lol....most of us dont have patience for these questions. consult with friggin professor if people want to ask these types of questions, not e90post.

!Xoible · 10-07-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

lol....most of us dont have patience for these questions. consult with friggin professor if people want to ask these types of questions, not e90post.

lol.. then dont answer if u dont have the patience

someone else will...

e90fanatic · 10-07-2007, 11:36 PM

anyways...to answer the question, it depends what u want to learn about cars...lol...it's like talking about finance...there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY different things!!

e90fanatic · 10-07-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

lol.. then dont answer if u dont have the patience

someone else will...

i see that he's not having much luck....

!Xoible · 10-07-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

i see that he's not having much luck....

yah i was going to say... if his question is boring he prolly wont get replies.

NoKids · 10-07-2007, 11:42 PM

basically i'm asking how did YOU learn about cars? if you dont want to answer the question Mr. e90fanatic, there's the door . . . .

BaLLzZz · 10-08-2007, 12:23 AM

start doing what ur doing now ask questions but in regards to cars. Much is attained from just reading and other sources such as hands on experience or even a good friend who will educate you with there knowledge. But ur question was funny thats like goign to college and saying teach me how to learn LoL

Revlis · 10-08-2007, 12:32 AM

Buy an old car that isn't running. Tear it all down and rebuild it. No Shit, you'll know all you ever wanted to know.

Buy a subscription to a couple of Automotive magazines.

I'd recommend Road&Track, and Automobile. Car and Driver is pretty useless...

But Reading is your friend.

timn · 10-08-2007, 01:06 AM

just keep reading the forums and you will learn.

karliejai · 10-08-2007, 02:04 AM

laern how to DIY and you will discover more as you go

e90fanatic · 10-08-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaLLzZz

start doing what ur doing now ask questions but in regards to cars. Much is attained from just reading and other sources such as hands on experience or even a good friend who will educate you with there knowledge. But ur question was funny thats like goign to college and saying teach me how to learn LoL

+100000000000000000000000000000

Josh49 · 10-08-2007, 08:23 AM

I think the best is hands on as people are saying. However, I think if you picked up a Bentley Book for any car really (I'd actually say a bit older would be better before all the computer modules kicked in) and read it cover to cover, you'd get a pretty good idea of the parts of cars, how they go together, their functionality, etc..

For some good visualizations, such as engines, engine timing, transmissions, etc, go to howstuffworks.com

NoKids · 10-08-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh49

For some good visualizations, such as engines, engine timing, transmissions, etc, go to howstuffworks.com

yup, i've been there.
that's how i found out what 2.0 'liter' meant.

UncleWede · 10-08-2007, 11:23 AM

I started by washing cars for my parents. then I saw teh neighbor kid who was a few years older than me working in his garage, and I lent a hand. Then when he moved a few blocks over I helped him totally rebuild a 70 GTO. We stripped teh engine, painted all teh parts, rebuilt the tranny. Mostly he needed me to help him with transporting parts to various shops

And I did all my own oil changes, then got the service manual for the car and started fixing things as they broke. Could replace alternators, change brake pads, swap out radiators and water pumps. And I always knew when it was way over my head and took it somewhere professional. But even when you do that, ask questions, spend some time, even if you have to stand outside the bay and watch.

achien · 10-08-2007, 11:24 AM

the good old fasion way: get your hands dirty!!!

nmulax · 10-08-2007, 12:42 PM

I'm far from the most car-literate person out there; but as everyone's said, hands-on experience is the best way to learn. If you're an extreme beginner, start with some simple DIYs, and read mags and online forums. Go to local meets and talk with the guys who have modded cars.

Year's_End · 10-08-2007, 12:53 PM

Well, I think there's two ways of being car-literate:

a) You can be knowledgeable of car specs. I started out being an MB fanatic. Memorized the entire lineup when I was about eleven. Then I learned their specs. Didn't know what they meant, just memorized 'em. Then my dad got his Bimmer, and my tastes expanded. Since then I've read as many magazines and web articles as I can about every car that gets released. I've also learned what everything means.

b) You can be knowledgeable of how a car works. Pretty obvious as to what that would include. I feel like I know the general process of how an engine, tranny, etc. works, but I don't know the specifics. I need to go buy a beater car and a manual to screw around with.

That's my .02¢.

10-07-2007, 11:13 PM	#1
NoKids Major 346 REP 1,343 Posts Drives: ... Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	How do i become Car-Literate? So how did you become knowledgeable with cars? Did you go to school, did you work in a garage, did you learn by taking care of your own car through trial and error, did a website online help you, did you read car magazines growing up, playboy? Ever since taking that car IQ test which said i was a fiat doblo, i've been wanting to improve my knowledge. first i started by googling "fiat doblo" to find out what the hell it is, and god damn that is one ugly car! my car knowledge is pretty bad. i can drive, i just cant tell you "how" anything inside the car works. i think wikipedia is a pretty well organized place to learn about cars. but there are so many cars, should i just start off by learning about bmw's and then work my way to other german cars, then american, then japs. . . the amount of information is very overwhelming. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-07-2007, 11:16 PM	#2
561design z4um Hooligan 158 REP 586 Posts Drives: 3.0Si Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodstock,Ga iTrader: (1)	Buy a beater car. When it breaks, you fix it. That's how you learn about cars. __________________ Charles flickr
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-07-2007, 11:21 PM	#3
e90fanatic Absolute0 178 REP 5,078 Posts Drives: Has a Roundel Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TO/HK/NJ iTrader: (6)	take your car apart and build it back.....lol...try hitting the books? lol and wiki man...this is a stupid question, take it off....are people trying to be the most retarded member on here???? __________________ To procede or not to procede......
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-07-2007, 11:27 PM	#5
NoKids Major 346 REP 1,343 Posts Drives: ... Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	soo, wiki = bad. mkay __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-07-2007, 11:36 PM	#8
e90fanatic Absolute0 178 REP 5,078 Posts Drives: Has a Roundel Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TO/HK/NJ iTrader: (6)	anyways...to answer the question, it depends what u want to learn about cars...lol...it's like talking about finance...there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY different things!! __________________ To procede or not to procede......
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-07-2007, 11:42 PM	#11
NoKids Major 346 REP 1,343 Posts Drives: ... Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	basically i'm asking how did YOU learn about cars? if you dont want to answer the question Mr. e90fanatic, there's the door . . . . __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 12:23 AM	#12
BaLLzZz Colonel 132 REP 2,298 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	start doing what ur doing now ask questions but in regards to cars. Much is attained from just reading and other sources such as hands on experience or even a good friend who will educate you with there knowledge. But ur question was funny thats like goign to college and saying teach me how to learn LoL __________________ Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein 01 e46 m54 - Current : 14 f10 n26 - Boring & Gone : 15 f30 n26 - Current : 08 e92 n54 - Gone & Missed!!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 12:32 AM	#13
Revlis Now With 33% MORE Sarcasm Free! 168 REP 3,462 Posts Drives: M4 i3 X3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (0)	Buy an old car that isn't running. Tear it all down and rebuild it. No Shit, you'll know all you ever wanted to know. Buy a subscription to a couple of Automotive magazines. I'd recommend Road&Track, and Automobile. Car and Driver is pretty useless... But Reading is your friend. __________________ A BMW is Just a Car, it doesn't make you smart, handsome, clever, better, cool, or wealthy.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 01:06 AM	#14
timn First Lieutenant 55 REP 321 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palo Alto, Ca iTrader: (4)	just keep reading the forums and you will learn.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 02:04 AM	#15
karliejai Da Kid 124 REP 4,576 Posts Drives: JetBlack e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (4)	laern how to DIY and you will discover more as you go __________________ MODS: OEM Front Splitter \| ACS Roof Spoiler \| OEM Trunk Spoiler \| Matt Black Front Grill \| Black Shadowline Window Trim \| Painted Front Lower Rod \| Blacklines \| JDM Yellow Fogs \| Custom Silver CF Headlights with LUX 4.0 \| Eisenhaus Sports Exhaust
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 08:23 AM	#17
Josh49 Major General 267 REP 6,664 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (33)	I think the best is hands on as people are saying. However, I think if you picked up a Bentley Book for any car really (I'd actually say a bit older would be better before all the computer modules kicked in) and read it cover to cover, you'd get a pretty good idea of the parts of cars, how they go together, their functionality, etc.. For some good visualizations, such as engines, engine timing, transmissions, etc, go to howstuffworks.com __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 11:23 AM	#19
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18,691 REP 9,445 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	I started by washing cars for my parents. then I saw teh neighbor kid who was a few years older than me working in his garage, and I lent a hand. Then when he moved a few blocks over I helped him totally rebuild a 70 GTO. We stripped teh engine, painted all teh parts, rebuilt the tranny. Mostly he needed me to help him with transporting parts to various shops And I did all my own oil changes, then got the service manual for the car and started fixing things as they broke. Could replace alternators, change brake pads, swap out radiators and water pumps. And I always knew when it was way over my head and took it somewhere professional. But even when you do that, ask questions, spend some time, even if you have to stand outside the bay and watch.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 11:24 AM	#20
achien AC 102 REP 2,387 Posts Drives: E90 Post Members Crazy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	the good old fasion way: get your hands dirty!!! __________________ Your Supreme Leader
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 12:42 PM	#21
nmulax Brigadier General 409 REP 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	I'm far from the most car-literate person out there; but as everyone's said, hands-on experience is the best way to learn. If you're an extreme beginner, start with some simple DIYs, and read mags and online forums. Go to local meets and talk with the guys who have modded cars. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-08-2007, 12:53 PM	#22
Year's_End Lieutenant General 1,271 REP 12,446 Posts Drives: 2020 Shelby GT350 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Well, I think there's two ways of being car-literate: a) You can be knowledgeable of car specs. I started out being an MB fanatic. Memorized the entire lineup when I was about eleven. Then I learned their specs. Didn't know what they meant, just memorized 'em. Then my dad got his Bimmer, and my tastes expanded. Since then I've read as many magazines and web articles as I can about every car that gets released. I've also learned what everything means. b) You can be knowledgeable of how a car works. Pretty obvious as to what that would include. I feel like I know the general process of how an engine, tranny, etc. works, but I don't know the specifics. I need to go buy a beater car and a manual to screw around with. That's my .02¢. __________________ Past: '08 E92 335i\|ZPP\|ZSP\|6AT Past: '15 Mustang GT\|401A\|PP\|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350\|6MT
	Appreciate 0 Quote