I just heard a story on the radio about how 6 out of 10 people believe your car says something about you, and that 2 out of 10 people have a nickname for their car. We all hear these surveys in the news and yeah, they’re silly but I’m sure there’s some truth to them. I’m a car guy, always interested in the ebb and flow of the industry, design trends, corporate partnerships, car culture and the like. While this board certainly isn’t an automotive forum and a lot of the Ignorance Fighters strike me as being of the “A to B” mindset (or the “it’s just an appliance that gets me from here to there and vice versa” mindset), I also know there are some car folks here. Either way, I’m sure people from both persuasions could chime in on this. Basically a two-part question. I think your car says something about you, and here are some common automotive stereotypes … nobody will be spared!
Late-model luxury import (BMW/Mercedes/Audi/Lexus/Infiniti)
You’ll see my car in six months at the nearest lease buyback dealer because I either couldn’t swing the ridiculous payment or decided to get the same model again fresh off the showroom floor just for the sake of having something new.
Any Acura
I’m such a sucker that I let a salesperson convince me I didn’t just buy a front-wheel-drive Honda with a smoother-revving engine and a bit more insulation.
Hummer
I have a serious attention whore complex and own stock in a petroleum company.
Hummer H2 or H3
I have a serious attention whore complex and can’t afford a Hummer.
Sports Car
I’m divorced or soon will be / My wife hates me just a bit more than I hate her.
Chevy Camaro/Pontiac Firebird
I have a switchblade and a pack of smokes and I don’t need a reason to race you, fight you, or apologize for either.
Ford Mustang
I don’t like the claustrophobic interior of a Camaro/Firebird.
Compact ‘Sporty’ Car
I’m into cars but I’m poor. ← (me)
Fast & Furious Riceboy
I am an attention whore without any taste or interest in what actually makes cars unique or special.
Any best-selling import (Honda Civic/Accord, Toyota Corolla/Camry or any derivation of these platforms to another model)
I have no interest in cars whatsoever. It’s A-to-B for me.
These are all humorous generalizations, of course, but I’m certain there’s a little truth in all of them. So, do you have a nickname for your car, and do you really think the car conveys something about you? I’ll go first. I have a bright blue Mazda 3 which I’ve had for two years and I figured if I hadn’t named it by now, I wasn’t about to start … although a friend of mine called it “Marzdy”, a bizarre portmanteau of my name (Marty) and the manufacturer, and it was so cute it just kinda stuck.
Please share your car’s name or add to the list of stereotypes if you’ve got a good one!
Sorry if this topic has popped up before. I’d be surprised if it hadn’t … but “car” is an unfortunate victim of the Dope’s search feature and “automobile nickname” came back with nil.