First, let’s look at the most obvious signs of fakery. Someone gluing a Mercedes badge to his CLA is obviously not a genuine car enthusiast. More subtle signs of fakery are ignorant car buyers and people buying expensive cars for social prestige. A fake car enthusiast will not buy a Mercedes if he doesn’t know about the history of the brand, and vice versa.
In addition to displaying inflated claims, a fake car enthusiast will never admit that he’s an amateur. Although most wannabe car guys will say they own a lot of cars, they rarely offer any details. Often, they’ll say that they can fix whatever problem they have, but a real car enthusiast will be comfortable admitting when he doesn’t know how to fix something or can’t find the answer to a question.
If you’re in doubt, look for genuine parts. Genuine OEM auto parts come with serial numbers, batch numbers, holograms, QR codes, and RFID tags. These components have these features so that manufacturers can trace the parts’ history and identify fake ones. Moreover, a fake part will have no of these. That way, you’ll be able to spot a fake car enthusiast right away.
An obvious way to spot a fake car enthusiast is if the person is modifying his car. Genuine enthusiasts are likely to work on their vehicles regularly. They’ll spend time repairing their vehicles to look authentic. Moreover, you’ll also know if they’re just playing around. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you! So, remember to be cautious about buying a fake car enthusiast.
