What do you consider a "manly" automobile?

[JMapleton]

I had this discussion with someone recently. You have to word this carefully because when defining a "manly" automobile, you have to first define what is "manly." In that discussion, feelings can be hurt and egos can be bruised when we all (including myself) come to realize we have not lived up to the ideal of what is a "man."

To be "manly", in my definition, is to have the ideal mixture of class/sophistication and ruggedness/toughness.

Very few people in today's society live up to this ideal. I will say myself, I do not consider myself yet a "real man." I have not yet made millions of dollars or climbed mountains or influenced public opinion in some grand way.

With your most idealistic definition of a man, what would be the ideal car for the manliest of men? Name a specific make and model.

Feel free to post yours and refute mine or others suggestions.

I will post mine after this post.

 

[JMapleton]

After several days of conversation with myself, I can only think of one truly "manly" automobile on the market that embodies all the qualities of manliness.

The Mercedes G-Class.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/class/class-G/bodystyle-SUV

You could drive this to the most expensive restaurant in Manhattan and then trek through the jungles of South America the next day. The car would "fit in" in both situations.

Tell me I'm wrong.

 

[Kaido]

After several days of conversation with myself, I can only think of one truly "manly" automobile on the market that embodies all the qualities of manliness.

The Mercedes G-Class.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/class/class-G/bodystyle-SUV

You could drive this to the most expensive restaurant in Manhattan and then trek through the jungles of South America the next day. The car would "fit in" in both situations.

Tell me I'm wrong.

Funny because there are a few of those where I live & they are exclusively driven by women. And all are in black paint.

 

[JMapleton]

Funny because there are a few of those where I live & they are exclusively driven by women. And all are in black paint.

Arguably, women can be "manly" just as a man can. But yes, the bland upper class housewife can occasionally get their hands on one.

 

[Kaido]

I had this discussion with someone recently. You have to word this carefully because when defining a "manly" automobile, you have to first define what is "manly."

In terms of sheer manliness:

1. Anything from Mad Max (even Conan looked pretty manly playing the flamethrower guitar on one)
2. Vintage muscle cars
3. Hummer H1
4. Unimog

A guy in my town has a restored Unimog. I think it runs on testosterone instead of gasoline.

 

[Ramses]

Car does not make the man imo. Man does not make the car other than what it is either, but anyone defining themselves by a vehicle has problems, and problems are not manly.

That said, it's entirely situational imo. A formula one car is quite manly, on the track, and it's not much use anywhere else. A pickup with 5' of ground clearance is quite manly, off-road, but it's comical anywhere else.

 

[Murloc]

for me the definition is reversed.
You can drive an unmanly car, while other cars go from normal to cool but they have no effect on manliness imho.

I think this prize http://www.ledorga.fr/en/election-voiture-gay/voiture-gay-europeenne-de-lannee.html is pretty representative of what cars are a bit too feminine for a wolf-eating lumberjack.

 

[gorcorps]

If you think a vehicle (or drink for that matter) makes anyone more or less of a man, then you are not a man.

It's pretty simple. If you've referred to anything as a "chick car" or "girly drink" then you're not a man.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Only idiots care about nonsense like this.

 

[Plugers]

One that meets your needs and you enjoy driving?

 

[Torn Mind]

Black Cadillac Escalade. People would think I am a gangsta bad boy and out comes a 120 lb Chinese male driving a gas guzzler. Lol. And even that is said partially in jest.

 

[Torn Mind]

If you think a vehicle (or drink for that matter) makes anyone more or less of a man, then you are not a man.

It's pretty simple. If you've referred to anything as a "chick car" or "girly drink" then you're not a man.

I consider some Celicas totally for chicks only. Yet I don't feel any less of a man.

--------------
OP, that Mercedes looks like something built for a safari.

 

[darkswordsman17]

If you think a vehicle (or drink for that matter) makes anyone more or less of a man, then you are not a man.

It's pretty simple. If you've referred to anything as a "chick car" or "girly drink" then you're not a man.

Only idiots care about nonsense like this.

Both of these.

 

[SketchMaster]

Manliest car?

The one that you get into at 7AM, to be at work by 7:30AM, so you can lead the project kick-off meeting at 8AM with coffee in hand. Because you're a grown man with more important things to worry about than what makes a car "manly".

 

[Auric]

Whatever that reason dictates most pragmatic.

 

[Ramses]

 

[JMapleton]

If you think a vehicle (or drink for that matter) makes anyone more or less of a man, then you are not a man.

It's pretty simple. If you've referred to anything as a "chick car" or "girly drink" then you're not a man.

I said in the OP this discussion would hurt feelings as it would reveal our short comings.

A car does not make a man, but like what you wear, it represents the way you think.

Do you not make assumptions about job candidates when they come in for an interview based on what they wear? Of course.

A car is a partial representation of yourself.

 

[JMapleton]

In terms of sheer manliness:

1. Anything from Mad Max (even Conan looked pretty manly playing the flamethrower guitar on one)
2. Vintage muscle cars
3. Hummer H1
4. Unimog

A guy in my town has a restored Unimog. I think it runs on testosterone instead of gasoline.

I disagree with the muscle car option. Muscle cars are childish and anti-intellectual. Real men are not only tough adventurers, but also intellectuals.

H1, that's an option. I like that one.

Unimog is a car for commercial purposes. Not suitable for everyday driving.

 

[Torn Mind]

I said in the OP this discussion would hurt feelings as it would reveal our short comings.

A car do. not make a man, but like what you wear, it represents the way you think.

Do you not make assumptions about job candidates when they come in for an interview based on what they wear? Of course.

A car is a partial representation of yourself.

No, it makes other people assume things about the owner. What other people perceive and what actually is going on in your head rarely match.

 

[Ramses]

I don't assume much of anything about people with newer cars, there are so many ways to get one's self into things they can't afford and it's so easy to just go buy something, it's like scenery to me. You see so many BMW's and Mercedes in trailer parks, it just don't make much of an impression anymore, and they all look alike now so that isn't helping matters. Having a professional background in auto part and auto service has done nothing but solidify my opinion on the matter.

Folks with old cars, or overly unique cars(not necessarily expensive) that are well kept, and that aren't paying someone to do it (you can usually tell), are another story. Those folks you can tell things about, positive things imo.

Show me a man driving an 80's Saab for example that is in good order, well kept, working as it should, by his own hand, and I'll show you a man I can respect to some degree without knowing anything else about him because I know the level of dedication and perseverance and ability that is required to maintain such.

One of the masses in a late model spaceship? I don't make any assumptions about. They could be anyone or anything. Good or bad.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I disagree with the muscle car option. Muscle cars are childish and anti-intellectual. Real men are not only tough adventurers, but also intellectuals.

H1, that's an option. I like that one.

Unimog is a car for commercial purposes. Not suitable for everyday driving.

Old school muscle is childish? OK

 

[Kaido]

Real men are not only tough adventurers, but also intellectuals.

That sounds like something out of a 1960's JFK-era Boy Scout handbook

According to those standards, I fail. I'm terrible at math & science, so that portion of being intellectual is already lost on me, and I mostly like to stay home & watch Netflix while eating junk food, which is not what most people would define as a tough adventure. I do not like the outdoors because of the bugs, heat, and a significant lack of treats and air conditioning. And, you know, it requires effort

 

[Kaido]

Old school muscle is childish? OK

I would argue that old-school muscle cars are intellectual. It requires a lot of thinking to work on old mechanical stuff like that. It doesn't come naturally to me, but I have a friend who has a knack for mechanics & it's amazing watching him work and figure out how to fix stuff.

 

[Ramses]

Muscle cars are actually really simple and easy. It's still skill absolutely, especially proper carb tuning or such, but it's mighty old and simple tech as far as cars go. Rivaled only possibly by an old Harley or such. They are no less admirable for it though.

 

[_Rick_]

Blower Bentley.

Someone rocks up in one of those, and every other male in a 30 mile radius just wilts and withers.

It's simultaneously classy, because it's British and aristocratic, and it requires strength to operate and wealth to obtain, and patience to maintain.

I can not think of a more manly vehicle, short of interbellum racing motorcycles.