Cars as social status indicators

[Ross]

As a junior in HS last year, I got to drive a very pleasant 1997 Malibu. This past summer, something came up and I found myself in possession of an ugly 1986 Pontiac 6000. My first reaction was horror in anticipation of what my peers would think of me. More into the summer, other activities allowed me to learn how to not give a shit about what a bunch of idiot teenagers thought about me.

Now, I'm very pleased to drive around my '86 "General Lee", as I call it. I use it only as a tool for travel, not a social status indicator. I'm going to use it until it becomes unreliable (opposed to working my ass off now so that I might buy a nice-looking car).

Reading a peer's blog, he confessed about how ashamed he is to park next to other kids' brand new SUVs and the like which were bought by their parents... And his car is not half as disturbing to look at as mine is!

This perplexed me. Is this a product of western-world crass commercialism? I guess this can be paralleled to a number of other status-indicator products... The stuff people buy if only for showing-off purposes (brand-name clothes, pet rocks, iMacs).

[Suburbanite]

Some kids just feel ashamed for being stupid and express it in other ways, like car-shame

[Mia]

I have to have a 'status' car in my business. Otherwise, my clients wouldn't take me seriously.

But it just so happens I love it, and the long-range cost isn't more than a no-status car. The BMW is truly the ultimate driving machine.

[PatrickHenry]

Depending upon your ideology, you can go the OTHER way with your wheels.

It could be a statement of a person's unconcern with status if they drive an old economy car. That is a statement in itself. Some folks make shopping at Salvation Army a political act and the same could apply to what you drive. Voluntary Simplicity...

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/960415c.htm

[Mia]

There are some super-nice economy cars now. I don't know anyone who looks down on those who choose them. We admire their low payment and gas bill!

[Suburbanite]

Ford Focus 2003 baby here I come.

[castille]

I once drove a Type 90 tank to a shopping mall.

Of course I got a week's detention for that, but it was worth every second to watch those office men with their big SUVs eyes wide mouths open.

[Mia]

The newer body style Neon is a great economy car, and that's coming from an American car hater.

I was mad when I got it as a rental, but the 4 cyl. has enough torque to get up and go like my 6, and it was comphy and quiet enough. It took forever to get the gas needle to move, which was awesome.

[Mia]

Originally posted by Suburbanite,
Ford Focus 2003 baby here I come.

Yuck.

[mlauriston]

Cars are social status indicators. As a teenager from the south I want to be the first to say "what you have represent the type of person you are and the type of business you run". For example, Mia's business might be booming right now because of her BMW. I can imagine how successful that BMW makes Mia look. The bottom line is an individual would rather do business with someone that has something to show, which in this case is a car. My final thoughts is that cars are social status indicators.