Poll: do you judge people based on the car they drive?

goodheartedmommy · December 2010

I'm really curious about this. That toyota commercial where the kid's so embarrassed of his mom's station wagon got me thinking about this. I did feel quite judged in high school for the car I drove--it was an old car, and most of the rich private school kids had much nicer cars than I did. Do adults judge other adults or make fun of them for what they drive?

[Poll]

august06mom · December 2010

I hate that commercial with a passion.

To answer your question, I try not to, but I'm sure I do on some level. It's hard not to notice when it's in the extreme level -- a Jaguar or a rusty shtbox, for example. But most of the time I don't think I notice. I tend to be pretty oblivious to cars since I'm not really into them.

DevonPow · December 2010

I judge based on things like bumper stickers, fake gunshot holes, and those horrid fake testicles that some people have hanging from the bottom of their trucks. But the car itself? No. UNLESS it is a Hummer. I hate them and automatically judge anyone driving them.

MelandJeff · December 2010

I might more than I realize? It isn't something I intend to do, but i do. I more so "judge" by thinking when I see a major beater that "oh no, I wonder if that car has heat, or a/c" Not like, "oh, they are LOSERS for driving a hoopdy".

I am a mean judgey mc judgerson though when it comes to people driving expensive cars on occassion. Sometimes, they have major small penis syndrome and think that if they drive like asshats in their expensive car that it will magically make their appendage larger. I laugh at this because *I* know the truth---- and the truth is that their wieners will remain sad and small no matter what they drive and how they drive it. Sad revelation they will have some day.

CTFandme · December 2010

I don't judge if the car is a beater, but I guess I judge if it's a super expensive car. I think to myself 'you must have soooo much money that you just don't know what else to do with it.' because to waste it on a car is insane.

Bellisimo · December 2010

DevonPow:
I judge based on things like bumper stickers, fake gunshot holes, and those horrid fake testicles that some people have hanging from the bottom of their trucks. But the car itself? No.

Haha! This!

But to answer the question truthfully, no, I sure don't. Some of the wealthiest and most philanthropic people I know drive VERY under the radar older cars. Some of the poorest and most financially irresponsible people I know drive BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars and the like. Same goes for clothes, handbags, homes, etc.

luckyluvr · December 2010

Sometimes I look at the car and wonder who in their right mind would buy such an ugly thing. I just assume it was a prize or something. I know, ridiculous, but you're judged by your appearance all the time; it's unavoidable, and a car you choose to buy (not just one given to you) says a lot about you.

Bellisimo · December 2010

CTFandme:
I don't judge if the car is a beater, but I guess I judge if it's a super expensive car. I think to myself 'you must have soooo much money that you just don't know what else to do with it.' because to waste it on a car is insane.

Ironically, the majority of the people you see driving those cars don't OWN those cars. Most likely they lease or simply can't afford them. Some are on government assistance...nothing wrong with gvt assistance so let's not go there...but I do have to wonder when they're on gvt assistance but drive pimped out Escalades. Makes me wonder what their "side job" is. At least this is something I've observed in and around the area where I live.

emiliemadison · December 2010

That commercial makes me want to throat punch the kid. Yes. I want to punch a kid. I think it's horrible.

And no, I dont judge people based on their cars (or lack of cars).

mamarazzi · December 2010

I think really expensive cars are just dumb. I assume the people driving them can't really afford them and they're such in-your-face status symbols that I cringe. My uncle went bankrupt and then had Mercedes for years. Gross.

Carol*Brady · December 2010

I don't make a value judgement--but I am sure I make other assumptions.

Scooter359 · December 2010

I hope people don't because for the longest time I drove a beater. I drove my 92 Sentra until it begged for me to put it out of it's misery. And if I could still drive it, I totally would. I loved that car. But when I see a tiny middle aged woman driving an oversized lifted truck that she will mever haul anything in I can't help but roll my eyes.

juniper19 · December 2010

I don't even have a car.

DH's uncle is very wealthy but he drives the same old Acura Integra from the 90s. You never know...

winery · December 2010

I do, but not in the conventional way.

Like I saw a 1982 Ford Escort wagon on the road the other day and thought to myself "MAN! I can't believe he's driving that still. He's perfectly happy in that car and I'm SURE he doesn't have a car payment. He's got the right idea."

And the other extreme, when I see a young adult in a huge Range Rover, I wonder if she's really using it to go off-roading (highly doubtful) and that her car payment must be through the roof.

I joke on people who get the "gold package" on their Lexus'.

veloelle · December 2010

I've wanted a BMW since I saw one for the first time in 4th grade. I hope it's my next car, and I will own it. I love cars. I drive an 00 jet w/ 241k on it, and DH drives an 89 Volvo with 275k. People can judge all they want while they make $600 car payments, lol. When I was younger I'd judge. Now, I just roll my eyes at ridonk cars like lifted 2x4 that can't even go offroad, or those giant rims.

winery · December 2010

Bellisimo:

But to answer the question truthfully, no, I sure don't. Some of the wealthiest and most philanthropic people I know drive VERY under the radar older cars. Some of the poorest and most financially irresponsible people I know drive BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars and the like. Same goes for clothes, handbags, homes, etc.

In my previous life I was a banker and the wealthiest people came in and they were the nicest, most inconspicuous people. Deck shoes, tee shirt or polo shirt. Jeans. Smiling.

The a-holes that were demanding I refund overdraft fees were wearing incredibly expensive suits or carrying LV handbags but didn't have enough money to pay their expensive car payment.

AnnapolisLari · December 2010

The richest person I know of (approaching billionaire with a b) lived in a modest older ranch home in a nondescript suburb. He drove a nicer American car, but it was probably about 10 years old.

A car for me is a way to get from point A to point B. I have a newer Corolla, but no car payment. Prior to that I was driving a 99 Taurus.

If I judge at all, it's the more showy cars, not the beaters. People who own beaters generally don't have payments and insurance that they can't afford.

Desert*Flower · December 2010

I like to guess who the person driving the car is, so kinda judging I guess. Like if I see one of those fast and furious little hondas (the ones with the super high spoiler, crazy paint job, neon lights, etc) as it speeds by, I don't think "that mom must be late picking up the kids from soccer practice!" I guess, "that 19 year old kid must be late to his shift at Best Buy."

Lisa102304 · December 2010

emiliemadison:
That commercial makes me want to throat punch the kid. Yes. I want to punch a kid. I think it's horrible.
And no, I dont judge people based on their cars (or lack of cars).

Ugh, this times 952 million. I HATE that kid, HATE that commercial. I am sure the kid IRL is a great kid who doesn't deserve to be hated. But I don't care. I hate him. The commercial is stupid.

I don;t really care who drives what and why they drive it. However, I do judge the 1st time moms on the trimester boards and my birth month board who think now that they are having ONE kid they NEED to run out and get a minivan or giant SUV. Like having one child equals you MUST have the biggest car in the world. Stupid.

GettinNervous · December 2010

I haven't seen the commercial. I don't judge people by their cars, but I do judge people who judge people's possessions. I cannot stand people who think they are better than other people just because they fell into money or they live in a certain town, etc. I can drive an expensive car and live in a pricey town, too . . . I just won't have anything to live on when I'm 75.

WBs_Bride · December 2010

Well, we just got rid of our '95 Geo Prizm last year, so I know what it's like to drive a beater and get judged for it. Like most others said, I judge the other way, and I'm even more likely to judge if you're driving like an a-hole. Interestingly, I find it's almost always a Jaguar or Lexus SUV that's tailgating me than a beater car.

Melett · December 2010

No, I usually don't notice, but I'm not really a car person. I bought an Acadia a couple of years ago and plan to have it 8-10 years. I am die hard Ford or GM since my parents work there so if a person is driving like a nut in a foreign car, in my head I am thinking , "get your foreign piece of sh!t outta my way!" My uncle is a doctor and the head of some department at a very well known hospital and he drives this old jeep, it must be from the 90's, he said his books just make him happy, now his wife drives a BMW on the other hand.. Everyone is different I guess.

KRISTA555 · December 2010

I agree with most of the PP's--- I negatively pre-judge drivers of fancy cars, but tend to positively pre-judge drivers of older cars. I always think that the fancy car driver has a ridiculous car payment just to keep up with the Joneses.

I'm a Dave Ramsey plan follower, and one of the main things he points out is that most millionaires buy used cars. I agree with this in my experience.

moseyma · December 2010

Now, I'm a fairly judgmental person, and I drive a pretty nice ride, as do my parents...but this is something I do not judge, thanks to dear old Dad, who, despite always owning very expensive new cars, chose to frequently drive us to school in a frickin mid-70's International Scout....oh lord, the embarrassment. It was crazy loud and backfired often, and it had holes in the floor you had to watch out for, it was big and brown and just awful. He said it "had character" and we both knew he did it to take us down a peg. To this day, he'd rather roll in his pick up then his Porsche. Mom, on the other hand, is much more ostentatious. It really goes to show though, you can't judge a book by it's cover, Dad has more money than he knows what to do with, but he's not at all showy. He's partner at his firm and it's not uncommon for him to roll in wearing work boots and jeans. I overheard a client comment on his attire one day and he said, "well, I can go home and put on a suit, if you prefer, but you should know I'll charge you another hundred bucks an hour" lol! He says he's been in this business a long time and he's not hurting for clients, they can take it or leave it.

Not only that, but tons of people overextend themselves and with leasing, it's not that difficult for people to have nice cars. Personally, I don't know who they think they're fooling, b/c when people work certain jobs you know there's a ceiling to what they could possibly be earning, and yet they max themselves out in debt to have nice cars, etc. So, I'm actually more likely to judge that person, really.

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