There’s a strange kind of silence right before it happens. You’re standing there, keys in hand, pretending you’re calm, but inside you’re a mess. Your palms are sweaty. Your heart’s beating faster than the tach needle will in a few seconds. You’re not just starting a car — you’re about to wake up a machine you’ve been dreaming about for years.

You try to play it cool. Maybe you tell your friend, “Yeah, I’ve driven better.” Maybe you convince yourself not to expect too much. But that’s all a lie — you’ve been replaying this exact moment in your head since the first time you saw this car in a YouTube video at 2 a.m.

You slide into the seat. The leather (or maybe well-loved cloth) greets you like an old friend you’ve never actually met. You grip the wheel. And then… you turn the key.

At first there’s a split second of mechanical whirring — the sound of anticipation — and then it happens. That sound.

That deep, rich, utterly addictive sound.

It’s not just an engine running. It’s the sound of hundreds of parts moving in perfect harmony, like an orchestra that only knows how to play your favorite song. The hairs on your arms stand up. Your mouth curves into a grin so wide it feels ridiculous. Your brain can’t even process words anymore because it’s too busy screaming, “Oh my… yes… this is it.”

You tap the throttle. Just a little.

The car answers back with a bark that rattles your ribcage. You tap again. And again. And now you’re in trouble — because you can’t stop.

The exhaust note bounces off nearby walls, echoes down the street, and reminds every single neighbor that you, indeed, have made it. Someone’s probably peeking through their curtains, already drafting a noise complaint. You don’t care.

Because right now, in this exact moment, you’ve unlocked a level of happiness that no video game, no dessert, no motivational poster could ever give you. This is the sound of persistence. The sound of every late-night shift you worked. Every cheap lunch you ate to save money. Every friend who told you, “You’re wasting your time.”

And maybe it’s a Ferrari. Maybe it’s a Miata. Maybe it’s a newer Civic you’ve poured your soul into. It doesn’t matter.

The first time you hear your dream car come alive… it’s more than an engine starting.

It’s you starting.

And you’ll remember that sound forever — because it’s not just in your ears.

It’s in your bones.