Does the car make the driver?, Personality-wise? Options

[CAMAricer]

Just wanted to get some other people's thoughts and opinion on this one...
Do you think the type of car a person drives has some/any influence on how they are as a driver? Or do drivers seek out cars that reflect their personalities?


Do certain car coincidentally have aggressive/reckless/idiotic drivers? For examples, Corvette, H2, Porsche drivers all have the same attitude when they're driving?

On the flip side, are there any cars that tend to have "better" drivers? The new Beetle, ever seen a jerk behind the wheel?

My experience has made me think many truck drivers (F150 etc) are bullies who tail you every chance they get. Ladies in Mercedes are flat out dangerous as they think they own the road and hardly ever signal when changing lanes and always try to pass you on the right. Heck, if they hit you, you'd be dead and they'd have a chipped fingernail, so what do they care, right? College chicks in Mustangs like to drive fast and dart in and out of traffic, but if you try to race them, they chicken out. Guys in Priuses think they can go 90 just b/c they are in hybrids (Newsflash! You're getting the same MPG as my ST, idiot!). And the worse of the worse, Civic guys revving at stop lights just because they see you (or me) in a modded car. Geeze learn more about cars and stop asking me if I got a turbo, it's an ST not A GT4! Also, we both live in CA, so what do you think?

[CelicaST_CALI]

i think its about wat uve done to the car...like us who go on a site to improve our car value our car..now a person who got a Z3 handed to them by their lawyer husband/wife isnt gonna value it at all so she will weave in and out of traffic not caring for that car..thats wat i think..

[xs94st]

yea..my friends don't respect their cars. she drives a 530i n he drives a CTS, don't really care if they crash em cuz if they do they'll get a new one.

n my friend totalled his CTS, got a new one from the dealer the nex day.

i drive mine as if it were made of gold.

[aflacattack]

i wouldn't say that 100% you can define anyone a person by the car they drive. Example, i know a grandmother(70some odd years old) who drives a 2003(?) Porsche 911, nicest lady you've ever met and drives like the stereotypical grandmother. But my old boss, a total ashole had a 911, drove like a bat out of hell, had 2 or 3 speeding tickets from the time i worked there till he totaled it a couple months later. but on average, i would say most drivers can be defined by their car they own and drive.
but i'd say its more specific then that. in what way do they drive the car that they own. and what have the done(mod wise) to the car.

[D-Man]

I'll agree to an extent. I think that when you drive a certain "Name" it gives you an idea of how you "should" be driving, but alot of it has to do with the person behind the wheel. I see all to many people polite and courteous, until they get behind the wheel of their moose-stanks (mustangs ), and burn around like fcuking idiots!

I'm also under the impression that guys with gigantic jacked up trucks have small penises and need to compensate; whereas guys with small imports (say toyota's ) who lower their cars have gigantic penises and are just trying to loose some of the attention b/c we're tired of being haggled by women every 5 seconds

[parriehunter]

I'm also under the impression that guys with gigantic jacked up trucks have small penises and need to compensate; whereas guys with small imports (say toyota's ) who lower their cars have gigantic penises and are just trying to loose some of the attention b/c we're tired of being haggled by women every 5 seconds

Hahaha thats funny,

I would have to agree, When i had the BMW the girlfriend said I was real arrogant, impatient and pushy while driving (I thought it was more an Aucklander thing) but now the drive the Celica she reckons im more courteous of other drivers.

Also Ford drivers down here are just w**k**s .

[forkee]

i dont think its necessarily what kind of car, but more how someone takes care of their car. what ive noticed here in california is that a car is an extension of a person, more than just a commodity. just like how people's clothing and grooming reflects what kind of person they are, the state of a vehicle's condition can show a lot about a person's own habits. over a period of time, a nice clean car reflects a person who pays attention to detail and dresses to impress, whereas a beat up looking car reflects someone who does things "just to get by", only spending an effort in things that matter the most and ignoring other things.

i have two cars. one's brand spanking new and always kept clean and in the garage. the other is showing of age and seldom gets washed. my choice car of the day varies depending on my mood. most of the time i "just get by" lol

[96bluevert]

In some cases, yes. I've seen people with big trucks be real jerks and people in small sporty car be reckless. However, that's not everyone...I've also seen People with Porches who just cruise down the road doing the speed limit and people with POS Crown Vics or whatever be total dumba***s. I'm sure if the people with junkers that drive like mad could afford a nice car they would have one and probably be worse than they are now with a crappy car. So it's not as much that the car reflects how the driver drives..Now when talking about moding a car, yes, how they go about that usually does reflect thier personality in some way. I like to think my celi reflects my personality pretty well

[GriffGirl]

I think it actually goes both ways. The car is a reflection of a person's personality and tastes, as is the condition the car is kept in. Transversely, I also think the car evokes a certain mood or attitude. I'm way more likely to drive in a more spirited manner in my Celica than I ever was in my 4Runner or than I'll ever drive in my g/f's Jetta. Part of that is because my car is familiar to me and the Jetta is way less familiar and takes some adjusting to. But part of that is also because the Celi evokes that "spirited driving" mood more for me than the Jetta does, even though the Jetta probably has more HP. (who am I kidding. A damn scooter practically has more HP than an ST!)

[Taskbot]

I think it actually goes both ways. The car is a reflection of a person's personality and tastes, as is the condition the car is kept in. Transversely, I also think the car evokes a certain mood or attitude. I'm way more likely to drive in a more spirited manner in my Celica than I ever was in my 4Runner or than I'll ever drive in my g/f's Jetta. Part of that is because my car is familiar to me and the Jetta is way less familiar and takes some adjusting to. But part of that is also because the Celi evokes that "spirited driving" mood more for me than the Jetta does, even though the Jetta probably has more HP. (who am I kidding. A damn scooter practically has more HP than an ST!)

I tried to drive a WV once. The feel of the pedals, and how close they were to each other pissed me off to no end

But yeah I agree. Certain cars lend themselves to certain styles of driving. For handling-tuned cars like the Celica its tough to resist driving like a complete knob sometimes just because you can but it also makes its limits pretty well known and its kind of hard to push it beyond the limits.

The cars I find that have the worst drivers are typically larger faster luxury cars.

Pulling out of my driveway earlier this week I was followed by a Mercedes. I gave myself enough room to pull out and accelerate up to speed but apparently 10km/h over the speed limit wasn't fast enough for this Mercedes so he pulled into the opposite lane of traffic and gunned it to about 110 km/h through a residential area. I didn't manage to copy down his license plate before he was long gone.
Normally 110 km/h is not a problem but I know my road very well, its an old country road with ****ty uneven pavement and I've lost traction on parts of it only going about 80.

My hypothesis for why we drive differently(as sports-compact car enthusiasts) is because our suspensions are tuned harder and our cars are smaller. Luxury cars tend to have suspension systems that suppress every single bump so that you feel like you're driving on air even if the back end of your Mercedes is skipping around. The larger size (especially in the case of SUVs) gives the impression of safety even though its usually not the case. I also think money is a factor. If you can afford a $60,000-$130,000 Mercedes I'm sure you can just as easily get it replaced. I am no replacement value on my car, therefore I have to drive extra safe.

This is just my opinion though.

[xs94st]

one thing is for sure, i've never seen a guy in a bro truck drive like anythin less than a d-bag.

[MarcoGTS]

And the worse of the worse, Civic guys revving at stop lights just because they see you (or me) in a modded car. Geeze learn more about cars and stop asking me if I got a turbo, it's an ST not A GT4! Also, we both live in CA, so what do you think?

OMG!!! HELL YEAH ALL THE TIME!! especially in the Cali Honda/Acura Ricer state!! it pisses me off when they go next to you in a street and then starts revving with their sihtty muffler cans. and then if you see them go in the freeway they like go hella slow, slower than the normal freeway speed limit and they chicken out when it comes to racing in the freeways... theres this guy that lives next to me and him and his friend keeps on asking me to 'race them' with their POS acura integra that looks herrendusly FUGLY, every single day they see me.....I told them, " Us REAL tuners dont have time for you STREET RICERS. we have our own standards. If you want to get your car crushed then go look for some other kiddy honda thats stupid enough to race you." Im pretty sure that pissed him off because he stopped talking and walked away.....but im sure one of these days theyll ask again to race.....idiots....

[Havok1997GT]

my dad feels that people in red trucks and green cars drive like assholes. Everyone else is just normal asshole.


I dont think it has anything to do with the car. ive seen people in Smart Cars drive like assholes. its all about the driver. I myself have taken challenges on the high way, but i know my car. Ive tested it. i now what my car will do and what it wont do. And i never go past the WONT DO. thats peoples problem. They dont know the limitations of the car and they take dumb chances when they dont have to, or just want a thrill. the Mommy and Daddy syndrome is a big factor in this too. For those kids that their folks bought the car for them, they dont car because they will get another on if they reck it. I knew a kid in high school that went through 6 mustangs in 2 years. they just kept buying him a new one, and i mean new, none were ever used. I have a big problem with kids getting new cars and a biger problem with parents that buy them.

You have to know your car. Period others wise your a hazard IMO

[CelicaST_CALI]

And the worse of the worse, Civic guys revving at stop lights just because they see you (or me) in a modded car. Geeze learn more about cars and stop asking me if I got a turbo, it's an ST not A GT4! Also, we both live in CA, so what do you think?

OMG!!! HELL YEAH ALL THE TIME!! especially in the Cali Honda/Acura Ricer state!! it pisses me off when they go next to you in a street and then starts revving with their sihtty muffler cans. and then if you see them go in the freeway they like go hella slow, slower than the normal freeway speed limit and they chicken out when it comes to racing in the freeways... theres this guy that lives next to me and him and his friend keeps on asking me to 'race them' with their POS acura integra that looks herrendusly FUGLY, every single day they see me.....I told them, " Us REAL tuners dont have time for you STREET RICERS. we have our own standards. If you want to get your car crushed then go look for some other kiddy honda thats stupid enough to race you." Im pretty sure that pissed him off because he stopped talking and walked away.....but im sure one of these days theyll ask again to race.....idiots....

haha yea when lil ricey tuners pull up and rev i just roll down the window"is that foldgers i smell?" it takes them a little while to get it...

[Taskbot]

And the worse of the worse, Civic guys revving at stop lights just because they see you (or me) in a modded car. Geeze learn more about cars and stop asking me if I got a turbo, it's an ST not A GT4! Also, we both live in CA, so what do you think?

OMG!!! HELL YEAH ALL THE TIME!! especially in the Cali Honda/Acura Ricer state!! it pisses me off when they go next to you in a street and then starts revving with their sihtty muffler cans. and then if you see them go in the freeway they like go hella slow, slower than the normal freeway speed limit and they chicken out when it comes to racing in the freeways... theres this guy that lives next to me and him and his friend keeps on asking me to 'race them' with their POS acura integra that looks herrendusly FUGLY, every single day they see me.....I told them, " Us REAL tuners dont have time for you STREET RICERS. we have our own standards. If you want to get your car crushed then go look for some other kiddy honda thats stupid enough to race you." Im pretty sure that pissed him off because he stopped talking and walked away.....but im sure one of these days theyll ask again to race.....idiots....

:'( <3 DC2 (I did my co-op at an Acura Dealership... the Type R is soo much fun too bad they don't have the JDM front, than it would be a beautiful car. )

Hahah regardless, I know what you mean. Its even WORSE on the east coast, because kids with stock D15-automatic civics will try and race you but they'll go slower than a stock civic because the 30 12" subs the guy has in the trunk weigh the car down.

Its too much about show (and audio) over here, especially with the Honda kids. Half of the fun of having a sport-compact is to strip it down to get a high power to weight ratio and it makes me really sad to see a SiR II or Type R bogged down with speakers and lambo hinges and packed with like 6 people.

[Valo666]

I dont think the car makes the driver. Theres a pretty bad stigma that kinda sticks with alot of honda drivers that they are all gangster out ricers that make their cars look nice but dont go any where and wanna be "pure jdm" and stuff. But now, me being a honda owner and a civic driver..ive noticed that that stigma only applys to a small percentage of honda owners. Like I work at a speed shop 5 days a week for like 45 hours a week. I get tons of honda guys coming in all the time. Maybe 1 in 5 honda drivers/civic owners who come in are stupid ricers. Then theres alot of guys who are really knowladgeable and arent cocky in the slightest. I gotta buddy of mine whos got a dc2 type-r conversion...like complete conversion minus front end parts...and a 500whp on spray H22/23 hybrid powered 92 4door civic thats done up to the tits...most moddest guy you will ever meet and he drives the biggest POS 94 GMC sonoma ever.

I think that the car does make the driver if you want it to..but at the same time..i think a group of drivers give the car they are driving that stigma. Like maybe its not that all F150 drivers, like stated in the first post, are a bunch of bullies that tail gate you all the time..maybe its that people who drive an F150s are nice, but them being frusterated about having to drive an Ford makes them look like bullies. Hell, if i had to drive a ford every day of my life, i would wanna get every were as fast as possible just to spend as little time in the car as possible...lol

[xs94st]

california = ricer extravaganza. i can't drive a mile without hearing the foldgers song and seeing taped on bodykits.

[Taskbot]

I dont think the car makes the driver. Theres a pretty bad stigma that kinda sticks with alot of honda drivers that they are all gangster out ricers that make their cars look nice but dont go any where and wanna be "pure jdm" and stuff. But now, me being a honda owner and a civic driver..ive noticed that that stigma only applys to a small percentage of honda owners. Like I work at a speed shop 5 days a week for like 45 hours a week. I get tons of honda guys coming in all the time. Maybe 1 in 5 honda drivers/civic owners who come in are stupid ricers. Then theres alot of guys who are really knowladgeable and arent cocky in the slightest. I gotta buddy of mine whos got a dc2 type-r conversion...like complete conversion minus front end parts...and a 500whp on spray H22/23 hybrid powered 92 4door civic thats done up to the tits...most moddest guy you will ever meet and he drives the biggest POS 94 GMC sonoma ever.

I want to see that DC2 when its done. Post pics.
Before I got my celi I found a really good DA integra in pristine shape (for a 91) and I was planning on doing a XSi conversion on it, make it look stock JDM with the B16A in it. There's something I still love about Integras, I think its just the styling of the DA6 and the JDM DC2/4. There's a lot of character in the front end when you swap out the bug-eyed fascia. I love those giant long headlights.

Hahaha yeah not all honda kids are ricers, but over here its like 2/3 upgraded hondas are ricer. Keep in mind I usually hang out in a richer suburb of my city that has a large population of Generation Y kids. So its kind of about context. I'm more prone to find 17 year olds racing their mother's hondas (and driving insanely) in their spare time.

As for F-150s, I've driven my parents several times and it feels WAY too easy to drive, its too comfortable. I can see how a lot of people would try and push its limits and tailgate/drive 20 km/ph over the speed limit, but there's just something about the way it gives absolutely no feedback that makes it seem like you're riding a cloud.... even when your leaf spring is broken, your exhaust is falling off and your back end is skipping around A LOT (like my parents').

[Davesceli]

I think it has had to do mostly with the driver. I drive my moms camry like a maniac sometimes...just cuz i can. Doesn't matter what car, its actually more fun to do it in the most unlikely car!! Hell yeah topping out at 95 in your friends geo metro is the BEST!!! LOL. The only other car i've driven thats as slow if not slower than my car!!!

The car can make a difference too...if i ever get a chance to own or at least drive any of the supercars out there, you can bet im gonna put my foot to the floor!!! But in the end its still the driver.

[malpaso]

There one local rumor: Anyone who drives Skoda Octavia 1.9 Turbo Diesel he drives like master of the world . Or if you see old timer wearing hat in a car just run/drive away as fast as you can . My opinion is there must be some connection between brand (or lets say kind) of car and driver. The worst combination is when some dumb with no driving skills drives any sport car. Good car "covers" his driving mistakes till he "cross the line" that car is not able to cover... (I hope you know wha I mean)