Do you stereotype people by their car? (not in a bad way...)

luckylauren14 · January 2013

I've realized that I stereotype people by their car. Even if i'm just driving behind them and never see them.

For example: I assume someone who drives a Prius is a democrat (or at least more liberal), anyone with a Subaru is outdoorsy, mini-van=practical, etc.

I know the owner's most likely don't fall into these categories, but it's more how I see the cars, so that's what I impose on their owners... Smile

penguingrrl · January 2013

Yes I do. It's why I refused to even consider a minivan even though I'm sure it would be practical with 3 kids.

missyishere · January 2013

Where I live, anyone from a honky to a judge drives a big truck. I can't really apply stereotypes.

OhSewCrafty · January 2013

I stereotype people by their driving and park jobs. Oh, you have a huge swipe across your passenger side AND you've cut me off three times in five miles? Makes sense.

suv75 · January 2013

missyleaferg:
Where I live, anyone from a honky to a judge drives a big truck. I can't really apply stereotypes.

What is a honky? I haven't heard that term since the early 80s! Is it what I think it is?

luckylauren14 · January 2013

Ha ha about the Miatas! My MIL also drives one, but I do get the gay pride parade feeling when I see a grown man driving one. Smile

It's funny what some people think about cars and thus, their owners.

theseaword · January 2013

I have a Subaru forester! I am straight and hate the outdoors. Like dogs but do not have one. I bought it because it handles well in the snow, and has the storage capacity of a small SUV but feels light to drive. My parents have an outback and are also not crunchy.
I only stereotype the MA green license plate. I assume anyone with that plate is 109 years old and a horrible driver.

gimmietimmies · January 2013

Bahahahaha, those are funny! I'd like to add BMW drivers, at least the ones here have no clue what a turn signal is or the speed limit is a suggestion. So, metrosexual and entitled? It applies to a few guys I know, clearly not everyone!

missmuffin87 · January 2013

BostonKisses2:
I try not to, but sometimes I do. I'm kind of afraid I'm going to get stereotyped once I start driving my grandmother's Buick lol.

Ha. I was about to say that I assume anyone who drives a Buick is either very old or a teenager who inherited their grandmother's car when she got shipped off to the home.

Also in MA we have 2 different color license plates. The old ones are green, but they switched over to red a long time ago. So when you see someone still driving with a green license plate you know they are old and should be avoided at all costs.

luckylauren14 · January 2013

I Heart The 80s:
Wait! Mini Vans can't just be for moms that aren't cool! I promise, I'm cool. Although the fact that I'm saying that probably negates any coolness. But seriously..mom jeans? I don't own them! Bad hair? Not me!

Me thinks thou doth protest too much Wink

Ha ha! j/k.

It's funny, when I was a kid, it was SO cool if your mom drove a mini-van. It's funny how perspective changes as you get older.... Smile

gimmietimmies · January 2013

-auntie-:
gimmietimmies:
Bahahahaha, those are funny! I'd like to add BMW drivers, at least the ones here have no clue what a turn signal is or the speed limit is a suggestion. So, metrosexual and entitled? It applies to a few guys I know, clearly not everyone!

They lease.

There is little financial incentive to operate the vehicle in a manner that preserves it past its trade in. Plus, according to DS, they're all douchebags.

ETA: I'm teaching DS to drive. He's a little timid, not unsafe timid just super careful. Whenever someone lays on a horn because he's not going 20 mph over the limit or waiting to make a turn- it is always a BMW. Never a Benz or a Bently or a Jag. Douchebags.

Nailed it! Lawyers and and financial wizard wanna bes in this case. And you ds is so right!

mom2pottamus · January 2013

I stereotype myself--I have a big mom Volvo. My husband picked it out, and every time I go to get in the car I sigh and think that I need to pick up tennis.

klondikebar · January 2013

I eyeball the stickers on cars and can usually tell which ones are going to be driving sh!tty.

A minivan with sports stickers for 4 different children: The mom is either frazzled and driving like a bat out of hell weaving between cars or so worn down that she'll almost sideswipe another car while merging and go at least 10 miles under the highway speed limit.

Soxgirl07 · January 2013

TwilightMV:
I only stereotype the MA green license plate. I assume anyone with that plate is 109 years old and a horrible driver.

I used to think it was cool to have an old green plate. On my first car I had my father's old one I inherited. I was so mad when I changed the registration to me (instead of my parents) and they made me trade it in!

It used to be a source of pride around here, but now that they've gotten so many of them off the road, your assessment is probably right.

Also, mini vans are for uncool moms (and sadly probably my next vehicle.) Hybrids are for rich liberals. Crown Vics are either undercover cops or cheap people who bought their cars at police auctions. And the huge SUVs are for short men with a complex. I'm a Honda girl, so I automatically like anyone with one, unless they turn out to be a sucky driver.

luckylauren14 · January 2013

mom2pottamus:
I stereotype myself--I have a big mom Volvo. My husband picked it out, and every time I go to get in the car I sigh and think that I need to pick up tennis.

This made me LOL. Especially b/c my aunt drives a crossover Volvo and she's fits that mold. Smile

MrsGoodkat · January 2013

I drive a Subaru and am not outdoorsy at all, don't care for dogs, and have only slept with men, though I've fantasized about women.

I live in New England and feel more secure with 4WD and Subarus last forever. I will probably only ever buy Subarus and Hondas as long as I live here.

colliebabe · January 2013

I usually think that 20 something guys who drive BMWs, Audis and Mercedes are trying to make up for the fact that they have a small peen.

gimmietimmies · January 2013

-auntie-:
I Heart The 80s:
-auntie-:

gimmietimmies:
Bahahahaha, those are funny! I'd like to add BMW drivers, at least the ones here have no clue what a turn signal is or the speed limit is a suggestion. So, metrosexual and entitled? It applies to a few guys I know, clearly not everyone!

They lease.

There is little financial incentive to operate the vehicle in a manner that preserves it past its trade in. Plus, according to DS, they're all douchebags.

No! I drove a BMW for years. I owned and I am not a douchebag. My husband still has his, and he is not douchebag like at all. Promise.

Gimmie was referencing men specifically. Is your DH a an entitled metrosexual?j/k

A few years ago DS got sick right before he was supposed to leave for BSA Jamboree so I had to pull him off the bus to VA. My car was in the shop, so I rented a Prius to drive him there a few days later. DS watches entirely too much Top Gear and was mortified to be seen in such a car. Men.

It was, however, a decent road car and fun to drive. I made it to Ft. A. P. Hill and parked in some huge field repurposed for parking just as the gates opened for the day. It took me 4 hours to find his base camp, gossip with my scoutmaster buddies, and get back to the impromptu parking lot. During that time the lot filled with humongous SUVs- Expiditions, Yukons and that sort of manly God and Gay fearin' vehicle covered in NRA and Prolife swag. It took me over an hour to local the teeny tiny Prius among the sheet metal monsters. So much for scouting and their conservation minded "Outdoor Code".

Lol 80s, no, not you! I have some individualsnin mind that ruined BMW for me. I still like the cars, but the douchebags sadly stand out. I would probably own one, but it's not practical! I also think that guys in jacked up hummers are overcompensating, but that reference is to one specific person (and he is over compensating, and an ?ss). Besides, your dh is probably an unassuming Brooks Brothers wearing office jockey (no insult there, I'm one too!). I call that practical.

Lol, Aunite, too funny!

I have a minivan, so that puts me in the giving up category, jk! For me its the I refuse to have an SUV with bad gas mileage until we can afford the van we need. The cool car is for dh, and going out. He's got a Mini. So impression I get from people is that it's a girly car (no, see Jason Statham, Yummo), or for Brits (which dh is).

pennysuedog · January 2013

Ha, Mh is a huge Subaru fan( he even has sweat shirts with diagrams of the moteor on them) Geeked and although he currently does not drive one has has owned three in the last 10 years. He is super conservative and he actually modified one into a lifted off road vehicle/jeep thing.

I always think people with smart cars are actually dumb.

gimmietimmies · January 2013

-auntie-:
The only person I know who has a Hummer is my niece, I suspect she's on Team Sappho.
I drive a Passat. Boring. DS drives an ancient Jeep Cherokee. He also has a classic MGB courtesy of my parents who had no room in the garages when the Miata came home.

Passat is practical. Jeep Cherokee is a great for newish drivers, it's one we're looking at for ds. And lucky on the MGB!

Top Gear fan here too, so if you could pick any car, what's yours Auntie? I'm Aston Martin DB9.

gimmietimmies · January 2013

Spooko:
The subaru ones are cracking me up. We just bout a legacy and love it. I am probably the most indoorsy person ever, and definitely straight and feminine. And I don't like dogs. Hmm...was there anything else?

Lol, hAve you seen the Subaru commercial with the crunchy couple, the dog and the baby going to their cabin! That isn't helping the image! I love the WRX, and if it fit us, I'd have an outback. I'm only sort of outdoorsy.

gimmietimmies · January 2013

colleenb262:
I usually think that 20 something guys who drive BMWs, Audis and Mercedes are trying to make up for the fact that they have a small peen.

Cinfirmed, ESP about the

Latter.

LoveBeingAWife33008 · January 2013

BostonKisses2:
I try not to, but sometimes I do. I'm kind of afraid I'm going to get stereotyped once I start driving my grandmother's Buick lol.

I assume everyone with a Buick is either an old Jew or a black person.

SandiaPinaMama · January 2013

DH and I own a Corvette. People make lots of assumptions based on that. Mostly untrue.

wino2006 · January 2013

Yup. I feel the same about those vehicles. Also, large Buick/Cadillac=slow, elderly driver and large pick-up truck with cab=slow, republican likely to have a gun. Hummer=a$$hole.

ATMmom324 · January 2013

Buick =old people

Truck with giant tires=red neck

[Deleted User] · January 2013

missyleaferg:
Where I live, anyone from a honky to a judge drives a big truck. I can't really apply stereotypes.

Are you serious, Clark?

RondackHiker · January 2013

DH drives a Prius, but not so much because we're crunchy as bc we got a great deal on it used and it's pretty cheap to operate. There have been times he's had to drive long distances daily. The has milage is great!

I've got a Pontiac vibe, but was tempted by the Mazda five... That mini minivan?

I don't get the minivan hate. Oh no, someone might know you're a mom?! So what? We'll likely end up with one. Big dog and one kid works in a sedan. We'll need more space eventually.

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