Name: Michael Tupac
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA
Age:24
Occupation: New Car Sales Manager
Employer: – Casa Automotive Group- Casa de Cadillac, Saab Sherman Oaks, Subaru Sherman Oaks, Kia Sherman Oaks
Year, Make and Model of Your first car/truck: 1995 Infiniti G20t 5 speed, Black on Black. I still miss that car. I totaled it when I was 17 after driving it for about a year on Santa Monica Blvd. I rear ended some tourists from NYC in a Buick rental (I was only going 15 mph so nobody was hurt). It was a bone head move on my part because I was in afternoon rush hour traffic, but the all new 2003 BMW 745i had just launched and there was one next to me with rainbow license plate frames so I was trying to see if the guy driving was hot…lol. Unfortunately I never got the chance and since I wasn’t out yet I told my parents I was looking at the all new 03 Porsche Cayenne on the showroom floor of the Porsche dealership I happened to be driving by. My Dad still tells people that story as an example of how much I love cars! Oops! Guess now he knows the truth!
What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up? Car designer, Engineer or Architect, unfortunately math got in my way.
How long have you worked in the auto industry? 5 years, but you could argue that I was already consulting and convincing people on there new car purchases from the age of 5 on!
What do you drive now? 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6DI Platinum Silver on Ebony, Navigation and Sport Package. From the minute I saw it debut at NAIAS in January 2007 I knew I had to have one! I love driving a Cadillac- everybody says Im too young to be driving one. It’s great to be different than all those 3 and 5 series, A4’s and A6’s and C-classes and E-classes.
Are you out at work? YES!!!
Was being gay ever an issue at any of your jobs? Nope, nothing ever to my face…maybe its because I’m in Los Angeles?
If you had one piece of advice to give to a gay person wanting to work in the auto industry, what would it be? Don’t let being gay discourage you. In fact embrace it. Manufacturers and most dealerships understand the importance, loyalty, buying power and trend setting ability of the gay community. Just be yourself and passionate about cars and you will be successful. For example my dealership has had a booth at LA Pride the last 3 years, we have also donated the Saab 9-3 Convertibles in past years for the Pride Parade. Most recently this past June we sponsored an event with the help of Subaru of America at a bar/lounge in West Hollywood to premiere the all new 2010 Subaru Legacy. We raffled a new Legacy off to benefit the Trevor Foundation.
Ok, here is the fun part; if you had $25,000 and had to buy a new car, what would it be and why? VW GTI with DSG. I had a 2006.5 Reflex Silver one and still miss it! I even got one of the fast dolls for being one of the first 500 owners of the mark VI GTI
Same question but bigger budget; $50,000: BMW 335i, perfect balance, slick shifting 6 speed, classic coupe proportions.
If money was no object and you had to drive it every day:
2010 CADILLAC CTS-V, record setting lap at Nuremberg Ring, essentially a Corvette ZR-1 motor and room for 5…plus even though it looks bad ass, its under the radar because it is it’s a Cadillac and not a typical BMW M or Mercedes-Benz AMG.
What is your favorite car of all time and why?
It is not sold in the US but the Audi RS6 wagon. Room for 4 in total luxury and comfort, AWD traction 0-60 in under 4.5 seconds with a turbo Lamborghini V10 and room to haul more than enough cargo for weeks touring every major ski resort on any continent.
If your car/truck could talk, what would it say about you?
Slow down, stop driving aggressively….oh and take that limo tint off your windows, Im tired of getting pulled over for it!
Finally, why do you want to be featured on Gaywheels.com? It’s a great opportunity to promote a fun and exciting industry and encourage other enthusiasts.
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