What does your car really say about you? In fact, sociological research has revealed that people draw some very definite conclusions about you, as a person, simply from the car you choose to drive. Apparently, the longer the bonnet of a car, the more arrogant its driver is supposed to be. A large boot denotes an older, less youthful owner. And so it goes on.
But why are we so conscious about the pieces of metal we choose to drive and why do we openly judge others in such a brutal way?
Well, there are countless reasons why cars are heralded as status symbols. And why we purchase them with more in mind than simply getting from A to B. Cars are often parked together, in supermarkets, company car parks and, more often than not, on motorways. As such, they’re a ready comparison, there for all to see. Our way of showing the world how successful we are.
Of course, sooner or later, we’re bound to arrive at the subject of motoring and the male psyche. And here we are. Car manufacturers still insist that men are responsible for most family car‐buying decisions, that’s why they pander to men’s preoccupation and obsession with size. As an aside, research shows it’s actually women who make the decisions when buying a new car – something to do with practicality and reliability, apparently.
Back to size. And performance, of course. How many CCs are crammed into the engine? How much horsepower does it put out? How fast can it accelerate from 0‐60mph? These details matter to men. That’s why they will consider paying more than they can really afford for a car that, in their mind, puts them at the top of the motoring chain. That’s without even considering car insurance costs.
Let’s look at a few examples
First off the line, the convertible driver. An exhibitionist through and through. He doesn’t really want his car to be admired, more himself. When the roof comes down it’s not to let the outside world in but to let his ego out. He drives along the road, rain, wind or shine, screaming look at me, look at me.
A close cousin is the sports car driver. Another exhibitionist but also a loner. The sports car driver doesn’t do crowds or boys’ nights out. Which is why his car is far too small to offer anyone a lift – unless, of course, she’s single and very attractive.
Next up, 4x4 man. Secretly, he wants to be piloting a tank. Psychologically, the 4x4 driver doesn’t want to be driving past you; he really wants to drive over you. After all, he’s got an all terrain vehicle that can go anywhere, so who are you to get in his way?
Finally, the guy who bucks the trend. The driver who’s car is covered with wobbly signs and window stickers, explaining that there’s a baby onboard, his other car is a Ferrari and that he’s visited just about every wildlife park in the country. Here, we have a man who opens his heart and his life to the world. He’ll be your friend if you want him to, or for that matter, even if you don’t.
OK, so we’ve picked some extremes and had a bit of fun at their expense. But perhaps we should actually question ourselves about why we desire the sort of cars we do. What kind of image are we hoping to create by parking our personality by the kerb? Maybe we should simply be ourselves and stop relying on a ton or so of shiny metal and four wheels to do the job for us.