Do you tend to judge other people by the vehicle they drive?

Question

It's almost a pandemic life-style: Tricked out cars, su'ped up trucks with gilded rims. We live in a country of consumerism, but is consumerism of America horribly excess when it's socially suave to pimp out one's ride? Adding neon lights to the bottom of one's car cleary doesn't improve the safety of the vehicle. Adding 20" spinning rims won't inherently up the retail value of one's car. If that was the case, I imagine more people would flock to pimp out their ride. Why do people do these wierd things?

Answer 1

I don't judge people by what they drive, who cares, at least they have a car!
My bf tricks out his car, it's called a "hobby", ever heard of it? it's not weird, he makes enough money to live well and trick out his car as you call it! you can't blame someone for better themselves in their career, and making good money, he deserves it doesn't he? Maybe people shouldn't get pregnant at 16 and work at McDonald's their whole life, and then hate on people who made a good life for themselves!

Answer 2

I will admit that I do pre-judge people based on their automobiles, but I try to not act on my initial judgments. Instead, I usually find that my initial assessments are overridden by the way they drive. I don't care if it's a brand-new Jaguar or a rusted old Yugo that is tailgating me, I just want the other driver to back off. Seeing a BMW or a Ford Escort run a red light makes no difference to me as I'll voice my displeasure equally (but not to get their attention).

I suppose another overriding factor is how one chooses to express opinions with things like bumper stickers. Seeing a Kerry for President sticker these days is a bit laughable as the election was about 20 months ago. Seeing pictures of the little boy urinating onto something like Jeff Gordon's number is just pathetic in my mind. And automobiles that have two dozen plus bumper stickers with the same theme is just downright amusing.

Yes, initial assessments are make by appearance of their vehicles, and I suppose that is an unfortunate quirk in humanity. However, I'm glad to know that this is minor compared to other factors. I would give more respect to a polite driver of an old dented compact than to a person driving a new Lexus that acts as if the road is all to himself or herself.

Answer 3

Heck if I know! Not that many years ago, I had no car at all, and a friend had a 65 Chevy Impala just sitting in her yard that she gave to me. I charged the battery, named the car the Green Bean, and drove that sherman tank home. I was the PROUDEST car owner you ever saw! It had no heat, no back floorboard, and no muffler to speak of, but I wasn't catching a bus any more! And I drove that tank with pride until I could buy better... and now I drive a 2001 automobile with everything but the kitchen sink...so in answer to your question, no I don't tend to judge by ANY possession a person does or does not have. You never know where that person may be in life, and what hurdles they may have to have overcome to just get where they are right that minute!!

Answer 4

When I do, it goes something like this...

(1) I'm not using that real estate agent that's driving a Mercedes...clearly she does not need my money.

(2) They rent a cheap place, but drive a Lexus...clearly it's leased cause they probably really cannot afford it.

(3) So they flaunt their wealth by driving a BMW, but have they ever tithed...have they ever placed 10% of there money to God...thought not...this world is clearly where their heart is.

Autos are all just metal, rubber, glass, and plastic that depreciate the moment you drive off the lot. It is not an investment -- unless you make horrible investments.

Sorry, if you really take pride in your vehicle...I do not mean to offend you...but these are my impressions.

Answer 5

Listen, I don't get it either, but everyone has a "thing". Some people collect baseball cards, some people play mah-jong, some people spend time putting stupid things on their cars. It is a cultural thing and I am guessing that if you aren't that "culture" you just won't ever get it. Just as they probably aren't big fans of croquet and shuffleboard (or whatever your thing is).

BORN: The sad thing is that usually (not always, but typically) it is people who work at McD's and have a rugrat or two that are doing this. Then it is ridiculous as that person should be spending his/her money on education and bettering their childs life rather than a mere possession that will never, ever be worth the amount of money that has been poured into it.

Answer 6

I do not really judge anyone by what they drive. But there are some exceptions. I walk A LOT. And I know from many, many years' experience which cars are going to bother me (meaning their drivers are either going to honk, whistle, or the like at me).

Approximately 65% are going to be white vehicles.
(So I have figured "white car" = "white trash"---also notice on television how many people on shows like "Cops" & the news get arrested or pulled over in white vehicles.)

Approximately 15% are going to be black vehicles.

About another 5% are blue or red vehicles, but silver ones are moving up to this category.

The other 5% are the funky colours, like purple or bright yellow.

You may not believe it, but it IS true.

*

As for your question weird people do weird things & others do weird things just because they can afford to.

Answer 7

Definitely.

I receive totally different reactions from when I'm driving my car and from when I'm riding my motorcycle. (Lot's of "go girl!" on the bike.)

I think there's a huge difference in mindset between someone who has a nice "off the floor" car like a Mercedes and someone who tricks out an old Honda Accord.

The Mercedes owner is like someone who buys designer clothes, speaks articulately, or otherwise wants to present themselves in a sophisticated manner. (Not to say that having these things actually makes them sophisticated, but I think that's what the true goal is.) Or, maybe they just want a car that is famous for being mechanically reliable.

The tricked out old Honda Accord owner is like a two year old who needs to be the center of attention.

Answer 8

Its a style...a "craze" if you will. Not every American is involved. Most vehicle owners however, do want their ride to look nice, though not all to the extreme extent.
It seem to be a human nature to sort of classify a person by the value of his auto...regardless if it has the bells and whistles or not. A person with a BMW is considered to be wealthier and more respected than a person with a Ford escort. It is unfortunate that our culture idolizes the rich and look down on and ridicule the poor.

Answer 9

Cars are a status symbol in the United States. Pimped out rides don't impress me though. People who drive those are usually in a lot of debt and have no furniture in their house.

I do judge some people by their cars though. If a car has a lot of dents in it I usually move over to the other side of the road.

Answer 10

I am not proud of it but I am somewhat guilty of judging people by their cars. I don't feel near as bad about cutting off a BMW than cutting off a Ford Festiva. And since I'm into off roading, I am also guilty of adding a lot of aftermarket equipment to my rig that does not add resale value. However, that stuff does have a practical purpose when I'm in the hills.

Answer 11

I guess I subconciously do judge people by what they drive. If someones 25 and has a brand new mercedes(not mommy and daddys, and not bought with their money)then I would assume that they are pretty well off. But I think people who trick out their cars(with lights, spinners and the like)are just dumb and are wasting money.