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Wheels.15
Do You Judge People By What They Drive?	Topic Home Topics Forum Home Forums Home Search Settings Help Exit

{Wheels.15.1}: MJ {sfbayarea} Sat, 18 Sep 2004 22:23:37 CDT (10 lines)

I have to admit, somewhat ashamedly, that I do! I definitely have a
stereotypical opinion about those who drive Hummers, although I have
to admit much of it is based on a co-worker who drives one.  He's
egotistical, status-conscious, politically conservative, gun-loving
NRA member, couldn't care less about the environment...so I tend to
think other Hummer drivers might be like him too.

Do you think cars say a lot about their drivers, and if so, what are
you guilty of thinking about some cars/drivers?  I hope I'm not
opening up a huge can of worms here!

{Wheels.15.2}: Michael Cerkowski {michael33} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 03:48:19 CDT (9 lines)

   I think that some vehicles - like Hummers, 'Riced -Up' cars and
Hybrids - make more of a personal statement than others. People
driving Escort Wagons probably just had a Ford dealer nearby, and
liked the color...

   I loathe pretty much all SUVs, including trucks that are used just
for transportation. The little ones I'm indifferent to. I'm a
motorcyclist, but I also dislike sport bikes, because their riders are
just as likely to be assholes as are HumVee drivers.

{Wheels.15.3}: Jil {rabbit} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 06:58:41 CDT (16 lines)

Yes, sometimes I tend to judge people, and then I tell myself I
shouldn't.

One week I was testing a BMW convertible, and that's when it really
hit home. As soon as I pulled up at the first light, I realized I
was "the asshole in the Bimmer". I can't describe it exactly, but I
could see the glances, and I could almost feel the attitude. My
nephew had owned a BMW and traded it in for the same reason -- he
didn't like the attitude other drivers gave him.

The week I drove an Acura MDX, I noticed it, too. Here I was in the
big, dumb, expensive SUV, and people were driving differently. There
was absolutely no quarter given by any other motorist. If I was
trying to get out of a parking lot by a light, and people normally
let me in with an economy car, they'd pull right up to the car in
front so I couldn't.

{Wheels.15.4}: MJ {sfbayarea} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:30:19 CDT (47 lines)

Jil...you hit the nail on the head.  It's the attitude I sometimes
sense from other drivers that makes me uncomfortable, and prompted me
to ask this question.  I drive a BMW...but I hope I'm not
the "asshole in the Beemer"! I certainly try NOT to live up up to
that stereotype anyway.

I sometimes feel uncomfortable in my present car, because for the
past 30 years I've always driven small economy cars.  I learned to
drive on a Chevy Vega (remember those!), went off to college with a
Ford Pinto, bought a Toyota Corolla when I got my first job, bought a
Nissan Sentra after that, and last drove a Honda Civic.  I never
really thought too much about cars...they were basically just
transportation.

For the past couple of years though, I kept noticing the BMW 325i on
the road, in a beautiful color called Metallic Steel Blue.  Every
time I saw one, I jokingly thought "that's my car".  I never really
had any intention of actually buying one! When it came time to buy a
new car earlier this year, I was planning to buy a Honda Hybrid.  I
test drove one,liked it...felt almost exactly like the Civic I had
been driving. Someone in my office, who knew I liked the BMW, asked
if I had ever considered buying one.  I said no way, I didn't want to
have to worry about really taking care of a nice car, didn't want the
added expense, didn't care about cars.  He said to just go test drive
one...just so I wouldn't regret it every time I saw "my car" on the
road.  I went for my test drive...and was absolutely blown away.  The
car felt so solid and heavy, yet handled incredibly easily.  It
turned on a dime, had unbelievable power...I had never experienced
anything like it before.  I was now in love with it, but went home
and wrestled with my decision...do I make the sensible choice or
treat myself to my dream car just once in my lifetime.  I was
hedonistic and went for the BMW.  It was so out of character for me,
and people at worked teased me incessantly.

I don't regret it for a moment though, because I commute about 1 1/2
hours everyday and now I enjoy the drive. I live in the San Francisco
Bay area, and there are tons of luxury cars on the road, so I don't
feel too conspicuous.  Still, I do feel sometimes people judge me
because I'm behind the wheel of a BMW. It's probably my own sense of
guilt, knowing that I indulged in something extravagant, and knowing
I tend to judge people too. But I also know I'm the same person who
has always driven economy cars, and could be just as happy (well,
almost as happy!) behind the wheel of a Honda Hybrid right now. It's
taught me a lesson not to jump to judgement so quickly...although
that's much easier said than done!  Every time I see a Hummer, I
still think to myself "what a selfish ass!"...I guess old habits die
hard!

{Wheels.15.5}: Michael Cerkowski {michael33} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:42:20 CDT (4 lines)

   I don't give the little Beemers the same scorn as the more
expensive ones. I'm surprised a 325 would get that response...

   BTW, how's the gas mileage?

{Wheels.15.6}: Jil {rabbit} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:56:52 CDT (4 lines)

I definitely got the response in the 325. I love BMWs, but I don't
know if I could handle the attitude of other drivers all the time.

Out of curiosity, Michael, why would you scorn the expensive ones?

{Wheels.15.7}: Michael Cerkowski {michael33} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 16:02:00 CDT (3 lines)

   For the same reason I scorn Caddy's, and Lexusususus and Jaguars.
Well, I actually just pity the ones in Jaguars - they must not have
had a Ford dealer nearby...

{Wheels.15.8}: Jil {rabbit} Sun, 19 Sep 2004 18:07:31 CDT (1 line)

So why scorn Caddies, Lexi and Jags?

{Wheels.15.9}: MJ {sfbayarea} Mon, 20 Sep 2004 01:17:55 CDT (12 lines)

Michael...gas mileage is so-so, about 28-30 mpg on the highway. I
bought the 5-speed, so I think the mileage is a tiny bit better than
the automatic.

I have had a few "scornful" looks (I think that 80's and 90's yuppie
stereotype still persists), but practically every other car in the
Bay Area seems to be a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche, or SUV
of some sort. California definitely has a "car culture" that I
haven't experienced in too many other places. I love my car, love the
way it handles and performs, but when it's time to buy a new car, I
probably won't buy another BMW. Next time, I bet the "sensible"
choice will win out.

{Wheels.15.10}: Michael Cerkowski {michael33} Mon, 20 Sep 2004 03:07:50 CDT (8 lines)

"So why scorn Caddies, Lexi and Jags?"

   I think that conspicuous consumption should, at the very least, be
tasteful.

   MJ, I bet you can get 3 more mpg just by making a rule of
accelerating gently unless you have a reason to 'zoom', and putting a
couple more psi in the tires.

{Wheels.15.11}: {beam} Mon, 20 Sep 2004 10:33:05 CDT (0 lines)
{erased by beam Wed, 22 Sep 2004 07:53:08 CDT}

{Wheels.15.12}: Jil {rabbit} Mon, 20 Sep 2004 17:12:09 CDT (6 lines)

<<   I think that conspicuous consumption should, at the very least,
be
tasteful.>>

Eye of the beholder, I guess. I think all three make some very
tasteful vehicles.

{Wheels.15.13}: mordo {mordo66} Fri, 24 Sep 2004 10:45:49 CDT (1 line)

what's the difference between a porcupine and a BMW?

{Wheels.15.14}: Mike McCarty {beagle} Fri, 24 Sep 2004 11:14:14 CDT (1 line)

Man, I've never heard the joke, but that one is OBVIOUS!!!

{Wheels.15.15}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Fri, 24 Sep 2004 13:22:49 CDT (3 lines)

Yeah, the answer is obviously "one is a porcupine and one is a person!".

:-P

{Wheels.15.16}: Jil {rabbit} Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:02:18 CDT (17 lines)

You don't put gas in a porcupine ...

Came home last night around 11 pm, going north on one of the major
streets. As I came up to the main intersection I noticed flashing
lights. Lots of flashing lights. Turned out to be three firetrucks,
an ambulance and several police cars.

Kid in a Honda -- faded red paint, black primer hood, badly-screwed-
on ground effects -- had almost mated the front bumper to the back
one around a telephone pole.

He'd gone into the passenger door, which is why they were trying to
get him out whole and not with a tablespoon. I don't know exactly
how he did it, but it looked like he'd tried to make a left at the
lights and spun around; he'd gone in backwards and sideways.

All I could think of was, "That'll learn ya."

{Wheels.15.17}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:09:05 CDT (1 line)

Wasn't wearing a seat belt?  Jesus.  Kids is stoopid.

{Wheels.15.18}: Jil {rabbit} Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:13:11 CDT (4 lines)

I was going to say, "Where did you get that?" and then I realized
that what I wrote could have been misconstrued ... I have no idea if
he was wearing a seat belt. I meant that the passenger side of his
car went into the pole.

{Wheels.15.19}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Sat, 25 Sep 2004 20:39:48 CDT (1 line)

Oh. OK.  Ha!

{Wheels.15.20}: mordo {mordo66} Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:10:44 CDT (1 line)

on a porcupine, the pricks are on the outside.

{Wheels.15.21}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Mon, 27 Sep 2004 15:41:56 CDT (2 lines)

Heh.  I knew that was the real punchline.  I was just having fun
coming up with my own.

{Wheels.15.22}: 99 Saturn SW {kitty} Wed, 17 Nov 2004 18:21:18 CST (15 lines)

This has been quiet for a whhile, but I still think I'll put in my 2
cents worth.

I do judge people by what they drive.   I judge morons driving
around with primer all over the car.  I judge morons using a Hummer
as a Mom-mobile.

If someone wants to pay the price of a house for a vehicle, I get to
think they have more money than sense.

I don't automaticly loathe people driving SUVs.  Some people do live
a life that makes that the sensible choice.

I do automaticly loathe bright shiny Hummers driving down the
highway.

{Wheels.15.23}: 92 SVX, 59 TBird, 68 F250 {fvehafric} Wed, 17 Nov 2004 18:23:01 CST (3 lines)

Hummers are no worse than any other pickup truck. I tend to feel
sorry for the dipshits who think they are driving something special.
It's a freaking ugly pickup truck.

{Wheels.15.24}: Jil {rabbit} Wed, 17 Nov 2004 20:12:34 CST (1 line)

I like hot rods in primer ...

{Wheels.15.25}: 99 Saturn SW {kitty} Wed, 17 Nov 2004 21:17:00 CST (2 lines)

Frank, I disagree.  You can haul manure in a pick up truck.  You
can't do that with a Hummer.

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