The other night I was introduced as a “car guy” at a party. I winced a little bit at this introduction because it reduced me down to two words. It got me thinking that other professions don’t ever get hit with a “car guy” label. People never call a florist a “flower guy.” You never hear a chef referred to as a “food guy.” Some professions do get hit with the monikers like sales guy and numbers guy, but rarely are they introduced at social events this way.
The reason why the car guy label bugs me is the standards for the layperson to be a car guy are low. It might be someone with a subscription to an automotive magazine or one goes to an occasional race. They like cars, but lack any knowledge to make a living working on cars. They might own a flashy vehicle, but have no clue what is going on under the hood.
The reality is that most of the people who make a legitimate living working on vehicles are some of the most intelligent and honest people I know. They typically have strong hearts and even stronger hands. They are pillars of their communities.
All great technicians have a passion for cars, but they appreciate them for their history, technology and financial opportunity. Some technicians take more pride in keeping an older vehicle running economically than owning a fancy or fast car. They get more satisfaction from learning a new skill and what is in their toolbox than just driving fast.
When real technicians run into a self-proclaimed “car guy” it can be a cringe-worthy moment. A real technician will freely admit they do not know everything, and they never pretend to know everything. A car guy will never admit if they don’t know something, they will nod their head, try to change the subject, or just keep motoring their mouth.
Technicians and shop owners deserve the same respect as doctors, executives and engineers. You would never see a “health man” walk up to a doctor and brag about the last pimple he popped. Why do we have to put up with stories from some idiot who thinks that changing his brake pads makes him a mechanic?
Call me a technician or mechanic, not a car guy.
