New Yorker

I have these friends who ask you to take your shoes off before entering their house. No big deal. I know some people quietly enjoy "showing off" the shoes they wear, but hey—I'm not one of 'em. Besides, I figure my friends get satisfaction from keeping their floors/carpets really nice. So off the shoes come. My apartment? Not only can you keep your shoes on, you can put 'em up on the coffee table. Or the couch. In fact, I encourage it.

I have another friend who really likes wine. When we go out to eat, she'll sometimes send back a glass or two, 'til she finds one she really likes. I can tell wine gives her great pleasure, so good for her. Me? I've never sent back wine in my life. Guess I'm just not fussy about it. Some people are. Not me.

But… if I want to keep the interior of my 8 really nice—because it makes me happy—god help me.

If I don't say anything, people will, quite naturally, casually drape a purse with metal clasps over the "scratch-if-you-just look-at-it" center console. Or they'll bring in a cup of Starbucks which, inevitably, drips onto the console, seats, or floor. Or they'll open a pack of Twinkies. Or put a case with brass zippers up on the dashboard.

I understand people doing these things as, of course, they do 'em in any car, including their own. Totally understandable. Most cars are just appliances. If I had a Camry or an Altima and a couple of kids and a dog, I'd be putting stuff everywhere too. And probably spilling coffee. I do it now when I'm in a rental.

But my RX-8 is, to me, more than just a car—it's my baby. My little pride & joy. The way some people are with their Harleys. So I take precautions to keep her really nice. Which brings us to the problem: when I gently ask friends and family—gently, mind you—to be careful about NOT putting stuff on the console, or ask them to not eat or drink in the car (except water—obviously water's no problem), they'll listen, smile, proceed to not do those things—and then it gets back to me that I'm "too **** about my car"!

I know I'm **** about my car—as I said, it's my pride & joy. A clean car makes me very, very happy. But I'm not an ******* about it! I bend over backwards to make my passengers comfortable and happy: if someone's hungry or wants coffee, I'm more than happy to stop—right away—and get some. Cheerfully, mind you! With a smile. I made copies of the Sirius channel lineup and placed them in the door storage space and rear center console—just so everyone could have one! And I always ask people what music—if any—they'd like to hear. And I play it—even if it's music I don't especially like. I ask them if it's too warm or too cold. Not only that, I always pick my friends up and drop them off at their door—they don't have to drag themselves over to my place first. (And this in Manhattan, mind you, where people don't have cars, and door-to-door service is considered a luxury.)

No matter. Despite the fact that everyone seems to have a good time, it gets back to me that I'm too **** about my car. Do I—or does anyone—tell my friends they're too **** about their floors? No! Or too **** about wine? No!! But if, god forbid, I ask friends to finish their coffee before getting in, I'm too **** about my car. Doesn't matter that when friends put their (bare) feet up on the dash that it doesn't bother me (and it doesn't, 'cause it doesn't scratch anything). No, that doesn't count, I'm still too **** about my car.

So it's lose/lose for me. If I'm "laid back, easy going guy," my interior ends up scratched and stained. And if I try to keep it really nice, I'm the "too **** about his car" guy.

Oh, the hypocrisy!

deadphoenix52

be ****. they'll get used to it. now my friends dont mind the surgical gloves needed to open the door handles.

StewC625

It's a car. It is sitting there pouring money on the ground like a stuck open faucet due to the depreciation.

Just enjoy it and don't freak. I was that way when it was brand new - and then I had it about three weeks and thought "what the hell am I thinking?"

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

I tell friends that if they spill anything, they WILL immediately suck it up orally. That's usualy enough to make them either consume it or discard it before getting in the car.

Those who know me, know that I like my car much better than most people. The smart ones try to not move down in my hierarchy, and adjust their behavior accordingly...

Hell, just the seatbelt buckle causes scratches on the center console because some people use the "feel" method to locate the buckle receiver. Time for some clear vinyl shelf-paper protection...

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I tell my friends this

My way, or the highway ~

If they're dying to have a cup of starbucks or whatever, Fine. but if they spill anything or if I see any coffee *marks*, I will have them lick it clean and never sit ur butt in my car ever again.

NoTears316

I hate ****... I prefer oral.

Silver_Surfer

It's a car! Normal wear & tear I can accept. It's the other **** I cant stand

reaper1

Wow your a nice guy. If I ever head your way, I might call you up.

1. no eating
2. no smoking
3. no drinking
4. no anything in my car
5. no touching my radio [ listen to what i listen to.]

If they don't make monthly payments on it , then it's my way. Like nycaps said.
I also do this to my kids , so there you go.

I'm very **** and so what.

Rems31

I give people the benefit of the doubt. If they make a mess, they clean it up and are never allowed to eat, drink, etc again in my car.
Like one time we stopped off at BK and my friend and I were eating in the parking lot inside the car. She dropped a piece of lettuce with some sauce on my dash. I kicked her out and told her to eat outside. She got her one chance and screwed it up. she didn't believe me at first but eventually got out of the car...

saturn

I don't know why you're taking it so personally. To them, you are very fastidious about your car -- they're just using different terminology. If they said that you were a douchebag, then maybe you'd have a right to be a little upset, unless of course, you are a douchebag for reasons not pertaining to the issue at hand.

shaunv74

I try to set expectations up front. "Hey guys before you get in I'm **** about my car so please put your stuff on the carpet so it doesn't scratch up the pretty plastic and only drink water." Most people will understand and be courteous.

If you get word back after that about being **** then they simply lose their RX8 privileges. People wise up once they know. The rest that don't are self centered whiney bitches. Your car your rules. They are more then welcome to buy their own if they don't like it.

Even so you probably should find clear plastic protective strips for the silver center tunnel pieces because it does scratch easily and it is unavoidable even by the most careful of people.

Silver_Surfer

Sounds like oneone here has kids?

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

this is why, i rarely have passengers. haha. the only passengers that are usually in my car are my close friends, who already the precautions i take.

VRZOOMZOOM

hmm.......i never ran into this problem even with people i first meet........

I think for me, my car is clean inside that most people are just wowed and suprised by it that they are automatically cautious about getting into my car and then proceedign to make comments like ur car so clean or like OMG, its so clean. i dont want to do antying to ruin anything. or if they have coffee or a drink, they dont event want to use the cupholders, they just squeeze it and hold between their legs. They rather scold themselves than put in anywehere in my car.

But who cares if your **** or not, i dont care if i'm because the truth is, the car cleaniness benefits me, i hate to have a car that smell like bacon or have some kind of smell liek coffee or whatever......thats the way i see it and tell it to others. But most of the time, they have an automatic respect that i must care for my car for it to be so clean.

so i say definitely enjoy ur car cleaniness and if people dont understand or ask questions, tell them why your so "****" about your car being clean. If anything maybe you should develop a handbook or check list before people get into your car. Then you would truly be **** lol. haha.

StewC625

I have kids, which is why I'm not a freak about the interior. My interior is quite clean, but there's no doubt the car has been driven and lived in.

The exterior on the other hand ... set something other than a polishing cloth on my scratchless hood, and I will ORALLY remove your hand from your wrist and use it to explore you anally.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

If you haven't put clear covers on the seats yet, like your grandmother used to put on her sofa- you're not as **** as you could be.

Work on it.

RedLineShinka

Gotta disagree with you my friend. Mine was bought in July 2005 (my Shinka) and the interior looks as if I had just driven it off the lot. No eating, and my wife knows that if she brings her double-shot skim, no-whip latte into the car she's going to be more careful than if she was holding my first-born (exaggeration, but only slightly). The outside is a little different. Sure I double-wash and wax every few days, and dust the outside and all, but my nose looks like I got in the middle of a shotgun battle and fared poorly. My left passenger suicide door has a ding (no scratch, just a ding) and I'm uber-**** about that...

This is my pride & joy and you will respect my authorita!

Shini

It'd stay on that course and just start taking a belt to them.

My 8 means the world to me, and I don't let anyone eat or drink in it. I've seen what happend in my old car when I allowed that type of behavior and I'm not going to let anything like that happen to this car.

636

its your car , you have the right to be **** about it. As for me , i was too easy going...so what happened? I now have stains and scratches all over my car in 1 day. Yup and i have to pay for it in the end with my own sweat and tears....also money >_>

dynamho

My 3 yr old kid knows the rules too and enjoys enforcing them with me when a guest rides and starts to open snacks: "No crumbs, no spills, and no stickies!"
Save them for the daily driver.

LionZoo

Gee. I keep my interior about as clean as you, but in addition I don't allow shoes in my apartment, AND I've sent wine back because I didn't like it.

See, don't feel so **** now do you?

Dumi

Your missing out!

bruce_van

Dude, you don't ever need to apologize about being **** with your car. I'm "almost" as **** as you are.

No one eats or drinks in my car but me. No dirty clothes or feet either. Don't like? WALK!

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

your car. your rules.

but you are asking the wrong people on the wrong forum for advice on whether or not you are being **** about your car. :P

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Again

You dont like it? You can walk, or even better, the Public transportation is here to serve you.

The only *group* of ppl who can override this rule are :

My Parents
My brother
My GF

*sigh* ...