"...if anyone asks, I got 'a good deal.'"

LOS ANGELES—For car enthusiasts, there’s one unwritten rule as sacred as avoiding the self-wash brush: never disclose the true cost of their parts. Much like the “smart guy” who never boasts about his IQ or the “rich guy” who avoids flaunting wealth, car guys keep their spending on the down-low. Why? Because the reality of what they’ve shelled out for mods, performance parts, and customization is, quite simply, excruciatingly painful.

“Look, I tell my friends I got my coilovers for $500. In reality, they cost closer to $2,000,” confesses Luis Romero, a car enthusiast from Miami. “The worst part is that half the time, the parts don’t even make it on the car. But if anyone asks, I got ‘a good deal.’”

The reluctance to reveal part costs is more than just modesty; it’s self-preservation. Many car enthusiasts know they’re diving into a financial pit, but admitting it would mean facing a hard truth. Plus, when car guys look at receipts, they see the trade-off between car parts and what others might consider “essentials” like “food” and “water.”

“It’s honestly easier to just stay quiet about it,” explains Steven Sanz, a muscle car aficionado. “I spent around $3,200 on headers alone, but all my girlfriend knows is that I got them ‘on sale.’ Car guys get it—we’re in a financially painful hobby. It’s better to ignore it.”

Beyond the mental toll, car enthusiasts fear judgment from friends and family. “People don’t understand why you’d drop thousands on parts most can’t even see,” says Ethan Meyers, a street modder. “If I told my parents how much I’ve spent, they’d probably put me under a conservatorship or something.”

Ultimately, keeping the real numbers a secret allows car guys to indulge guilt-free while avoiding the brutal reality that they will never retire.