What do you look at first on an interesting car?

In an article on a different website, the question was asked:

"When you’re driving down the street, and you see a particularly beautiful Mercedes-Benz, what do your eyes immediately search for? Or if you see a lovely example of a 3-Series, what’s the first thing you look at?"

His answer was you look at the badge (implying M or AMG).

My answer was, "I have to see how distracted this driver is so I know how far away I want to be from them." Maybe that is because he used Mercedes and BMW as his example. It may have been different if he had used a Mazda or even a classic. With classics, I tend to look at wheel/tire packages first to see how "original" they look. With a Mazda3 for example, I'm looking for the hood scoop or elevated spoiler or other clues that it is a Mazdaspeed model, so I get his point.

It liked the question, though, so I'll ask it here. When you see an interesting car, what do you look at first?

Anything modified, I look at wheel/tire/stance. Its usually very clear what they like to do with the car just from that.

i always want to see who's driving the thing..

Truck nuts

I've only seen about one or two "beautiful" mercedes on the street - ever. My first thought was holy e36 m3, a '50s gullwing in mundelein, illinois, followed by I wonder if it's real. No one thing I look at - just take it in - original/modded, who's driving... Bride of Burrito's fiat would probably grab my attention more than any modern cars.

ProDarwin wrote: Anything modified, I look at wheel/tire/stance. Its usually very clear what they like to do with the car just from that.

This. I don't really care for the so called 'high end' cars anyway, it's just another 'lookit me' thing. It tells me that whoever's behind the wheel is either lacking in self confidence which drives them to make poor financial decisions or is 'in your face' about their 'success'.

if I'm looking at a car, it's because it caught my eye, and so whatever caught my eye iws what i obviously look at first, be it color, form, etc. You guys are describing what you look at second after whatever it is caught your ye and caused you to look in the first place.

Now, what I look at SECOND depends on the car (whether it's wheels, who's driving, badge if I dont already know it, longingly taking in the beauty of it, etc (like the Aston DB9 Volante I saw the other day)).

The better version of the question is probably "what catches your eye about cars that causes you to look at them?"

Rust.

oldtin wrote: I've only seen about one or two "beautiful" mercedes on the street - ever. My first thought was holy e36 m3, a '50s gullwing in mundelein, illinois, followed by I wonder if it's real. No one thing I look at - just take it in - original/modded, who's driving... Bride of Burrito's fiat would probably grab my attention more than any modern cars.

I've seen that one too, in Vernon Hills. I'm pretty sure it is real, but can't confirm.

I don't look for badges (insert stinkin' badges reference here), I just like to see a nicely preserved example of any car that I haven't seen in a long time, regardless of whether or not I liked them when they were new.

ProDarwin wrote: Anything modified, I look at wheel/tire/stance. Its usually very clear what they like to do with the car just from that.

Yep. Honestly 90% of sporty cars out there don't interest me unless its apparent that they drive such a car in a sporty manner. I'm usually less interested in "clean" cars than I am the Porsche that's got some dirt on it.

Take the RWD Corolla wagon I saw last night. Young kid standing next to it. It sat idling for what seemed like 45 minutes. Looked to have some oldschool "crab" wheels on it. Beat. Rusty. Slammed. Way cool.

I look at the tires. Cheapo china stuff means they are likely a 'show'er' not a 'go'er'.

The price tag on the window underneath the giant neon "sporty!!!" sticker...

Curmudgeon wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Anything modified, I look at wheel/tire/stance. Its usually very clear what they like to do with the car just from that.

This. I don't really care for the so called 'high end' cars anyway, it's just another 'lookit me' thing. It tells me that whoever's behind the wheel is either lacking in self confidence which drives them to make poor financial decisions or is 'in your face' about their 'success'.

That sounds like a bit of sour grapes. If I could afford a GT-R you'd better believe I'd have one. And not because I was trying to "show off my success" but because they are incredible cars!

I'm with ProDarwin, I always look to see if it's lowered/wheels/exhaust.

It could be anything. Stance, an unusual color, being abnormally well cared for, or a model I don't often see. This week I saw two older Citroen wagons that I'd never seen before, one of them was pretty rough looking but judging by the plates and the way it was packed I think it was visiting from overseas. French wagon owners seem to vacation with their cars and a usually meet at least one family a summer that shipped a loaded wagon here so they can see the states.

A poor pic of the second one because I was trying to take a pic and talk to the wife at the same time.

Appleseed wrote: Rust.

Times a bazillion. Second is whatever they have done to hide the rust. Then I look to see if there is a hot gurl unit in the package.

Paint condition is my thing. It doesn't matter what the vehicle is, if it looks like it's just been detailed it grabs my attention. I came out of a store the other day and there was this beautiful emerald green gleaming in the sun. The paint was immaculate, it was deep and flawless. It was on a 1998ish Hyundai Elantra, a car that I have no interest in whatsoever. But that one was beautiful.

NOHOME wrote:

Appleseed wrote: Rust.

Times a bazillion. Second is whatever they have done to hide the rust. Then I look to see if there is a hot gurl unit in the package.

I always check girls for rust.

I tend to look at the interior if it is stopped, I love seeing clean, original interiors on any car, any vintage, I don't know why but It makes me happy to see that people actually care about their car, and rust, I love seeing how clapped out a given car is up here in MA

Who is driving it and what they have done to it.