The EV debate has become one of the most exhausting arguments in car culture.
You’ve got one side calling EVs the future. Then you’ve got diehard gearheads insisting they’d rather walk than drive one.
To hear those opinions firsthand, YouTube channel Chargeheads visited two UK car meets and asked enthusiasts a simple question:
Why do you hate electric cars? The answers were brutally honest.
“They Don’t Make Noise”
This was by far the most common complaint.
One BMW M4 owner admitted EVs are quick and technically impressive, but said they simply lack character.
“They are fast, they are cool, but shame they don’t make any noise.”
That sentiment kept coming up throughout both meets. For many enthusiasts, the soundtrack is part of the experience.
Engine noise, exhaust pops, startup drama, and mechanical feedback are important parts of what make cars cool.
Diehard Enthusiasts Want Manual Gearboxes
One attendee was even more direct. “I want noises. I want a proper gear stick to change gears.”
He said nothing beats rowing through gears and physically interacting with a car. That’s something many enthusiasts feel EVs currently struggle to replicate.
Sure, cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N are experimenting with simulated shifts and fake engine sounds, but many traditional enthusiasts still aren’t convinced.
Range Anxiety Came Up Repeatedly
Not everyone was focused purely on emotion. Some brought up practical concerns.
One owner living in an apartment said charging would be a nightmare because he doesn’t have home charging access. Others questioned public charging costs.
One enthusiast even claimed his friend’s Tesla road trip to southern France ended up costing more than driving a diesel Audi A5.
Whether every calculation was perfect is another story, but perception is important.
Some Simply Don’t Like Modern Cars
Interestingly, several attendees admitted their issue wasn’t exclusively with EVs. They just dislike modern cars in general.
One Camaro owner said:
“I’m not a fan of new cars in general. All cars look the same now.”
That’s a criticism many enthusiasts have aimed at the broader auto industry, not just EVs.
The Renault 5 Kept Winning People Over
This was unexpected. Several people who claimed to dislike EVs still praised the new Renault 5.
They liked its retro styling and said it stood out from the sea of generic crossovers.
That tells us something important: A lot of enthusiasts may be more open-minded than people assume, they just want their cars to have personality.
Even EV Critics Admitted They’re Fast
One participant said his sister owns a Porsche Taycan and admitted, “It’ll eat anything on the road.”
That’s the funny part of this entire debate. Most enthusiasts aren’t denying EV performance anymore.
They’re rejecting what they feel is missing:
- Noise
- Mechanical drama
- Manual gearboxes
- Engine feel
- The smell and theater of driving
This Debate Isn’t Going Away
The video actually revealed something more nuanced than typical internet arguments.
Most of these enthusiasts didn’t hate EV owners, they simply prefer internal combustion because it feels more emotional and engaging.
Honestly, that’s a fair argument.
Cars have never been purely logical purchases. If they were, nobody would buy V8 Camaros, rotary Mazdas, or old BMWs with questionable reliability.
People buy cars because they make them feel something, and that’s the real challenge EVs still need to solve.