Thursday 16 August 2012

Your Car says something about you



I recently made a statement on Twitter and Facebook about how a man's car can tell a lot about his character, which most men seemed to disagree with. Well reason behind that statement; I strongly believe when someone whether male or female buys a car they are buying it for certain reason, reasons that are appealing to each individual.

No I am not able to break it down categorically, and tell you what each car says about you but when car manufacturers advertise they are targeting a specific market, their market are people most likely to buy the car, RIGHT? This is drawn from different character traits people have. eg. associate the following words with a certain car/manufacturer; sporty, affordable, comfort, masculine, luxurious with a touch of swag, panty dropper, arrogance, cuteness, safety etc. I am sure there is a number of cars popping in your head that each word described.

Yes it may not be accurate to associate a certain type of car to a certain person, however our perception of a car is largely based on how the car was marketed as I said earlier e.g. Volvos for safety, Porches for style and speed. It's tough to decipher but stereo-typically people with the same car have similar character traits.

According to an article I read "What his car says about him", the type of car you drive, where it is from may say a lot about a man. Tell me I am wrong ladies half the time after you have met a guy your girls do ask "what does he drive",  depending on what your answer is the next question will either be filled with enthusiasm or disappointment.

On MSN Autos they say car nuts can admit that their rides are a power window to your soul. Dr Leon James said "People construct an ideal in their mind of the perfect car, and those attributes are transferred to its driver as well," noting how negatively we associate the drivers of dilapidated or dirty cars. Some of us get so offended we'll deliver a hand-scrawled scolding, strangely written from the car's point of view: Wash Me. Yeah don't act like you haven't done that at some point in your life. 

For more than 20 years, Dr. Leon James at the University of Hawaii has researched and taught the psychology of driving. In our car culture, James says, drivers idealize their rides and even lend them human qualities. Under hypnosis, drivers will refer to their car as if it were a friend or lover. In everyday life, owners name their cars and talk to them. And whether the car is racy or outdoorsy, owners seek attributes that mirror their self-image.

How many men do you know that call their cars "my baby, my pride and joy etc". How many girls think you a player just because you drive a G5/6 M3 etc, simply because your car has a panty dropper effect? How many times do you grin and think yeah I'm the man after people stare when you drive past?

Believe it or not? I may be wrong but, price range aside and if it was inherited or given to you your car does say something about you!