Kevin Hart talks about his muscle cars on the Call Her Daddy podcast, but the host admits it gives her the “ick”
Kevin Hart’s love for loud muscle cars clashed with Alex Cooper’s honest disgust, and the internet had plenty to say about both sides.
The sound of a car engine usually divides people instantly. People either love the loud, mechanical sounds or find them completely grating. This topic came up during a recent conversation between Kevin Hart and Alex Cooper on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. Their discussion about Hart’s impressive collection of cars turned into a lively debate about whether loud exhausts are cool or just bothersome.
Hart shared some insights about his passion for high-end cars. Cooper mentioned a rumor that Hart owns around 20 cars, but he hinted that the actual number is closer to 50. He has some classic cars with fun names like Bane, Dark Knight, and Birdie; a Bronco he uses for golf trips.
Then Cooper asked him about why men make their cars so loud. “Do you make them loud on purpose?” she added. Hart explained that a muscle car without the muscle, referring to high-performance engines like a Hellcat or an LT5, isn’t really a car. To him, the engine is the heart of the build, and the noise is just a natural result of that power.
She told him flat out that hearing a car from blocks away is the ick for her and asked if there was even a point to it. Hart said, “You can’t appreciate a muscle car with no muscle,” and when she asked, “What does the muscle do?” he explained, “It justifies the car. This isn’t a me thing. We’re talking about the car.”
Cooper also countered that people often drive these powerful cars on streets where they’re limited to just 40 mph, making the noise seem excessive and pointless.
Hart further explained that if you invest in a high-performance vehicle, you should enjoy the sound it makes, even if that means others can hear it coming from far away. “If you’re going to build the car, you want to build it correctly. Like, I want to build if I got a hell of an engine. Well, I want to hear it”, he added.
How did fans react?
The internet had plenty of thoughts on the matter, and the responses showed just how differently people view cars. One person expressed their frustration, saying, “Alex Cooper is giving me the ick over the issue with muscle cars”. For those who enjoy restoring classic cars, these vehicles represent not just a hobby but years of dedication and a respect for automotive history. People who have this enthusiasm can be frustrated when they hear someone calling it a “ick”.
Others shared their love for cars as Kevin Hart has. One fan wrote, “Muscle cars and loud cars are fun”. The excitement of revving a powerful V8 engine doesn’t need any explanation. For many enthusiasts, this hobby is an escape from everyday life, offering thrills that modern cars can’t match.
Some criticized Hart’s stance. One person said, “Oh god, muscle cars equals: small […] energy, but look at me anyway, please. Kevin, grow up”. There is a widespread belief that loud cars are just a desperate cry for attention. When a car disrupts a quiet neighborhood or rattles windows at a red light, it’s hard for the average person to see it as normal. Instead, some call it an immature display of ego that ignores everyone else’s right to peace and quiet.
Additionally, some questioned Alex’s comment about translating car talk for women. The idea that women need a translation to understand car talk felt incredibly outdated to many listeners. Plenty of women work in shops, race on weekends, or know their way around vehicles. Assuming that an entire gender is bored or confused by engine specs ignores the large number of female enthusiasts who are just as obsessed with cars with more horsepower as Hart is.
The cultural divide on the road
Muscle car culture has been a part of American life for many years, and the debates surrounding it haven’t changed much. On one side, you have people who have dedicated a lot of time to learning how to build and fine-tune these powerful cars. They appreciate the deep sound of a big V8 engine, seeing it as a beautiful expression of engineering. On the other hand, some hear the loud engines revving on city streets and question why these drivers are allowed on the road at all.
Ultimately, the argument comes down to how we share public spaces. Some drivers intentionally make their cars loud to attract attention, which is why many find it annoying. However, some enthusiasts truly love the history and craftsmanship behind these vehicles. As technology moves towards quieter, electric cars, the debate over these noisy machines is likely to intensify. The exchange between Kevin Hart and Alex Cooper was a perfect example of two groups of people looking at the exact same machine and seeing two completely different things.
