Anonymous wrote:Volvo/Audi = “I’m pretending I’m ‘low-key’ and don’t care what others think but I know everyone knows these are expensive cars and I’d never be caught dead in a Kia or Buick”

Exactly this.

Car people care about the car, not about the image.

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Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

DP. Right. Not sure what you are implying by "trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile." How much time do you want to spend thinking about your dishwasher or vacuum? A car is just another piece of household equipment that I need but don't want to spend time focusing on.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

As a "not a car person" with a Subaru and a Mercedes, I can tell you it has nothing to do with image and everything to do with car seats and ease of parking. Also, we spent a long time researching dishwashers. I want to do enough research on the front end to get what I need, but that's it - I'm not emotionally invested in these purchases and they have nothing to do with my self identity. A car for me is exactly like a dishwasher in this regard. For that matter, my DH spent like 2 hours recently researching irons because he is particular about his shirts. Do you consider our choice of iron to be about image too?

This is a meaningless statement that does not disprove that your Subaru and Mercedes were not about buying in to a brand identity or projecting an image.
Literally every car manufacturer offers a car that easily accommodates car seats.
Literally every car manufacturer offers a car that is easy to park.

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Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

DP. Right. Not sure what you are implying by "trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile." How much time do you want to spend thinking about your dishwasher or vacuum? A car is just another piece of household equipment that I need but don't want to spend time focusing on.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

As a "not a car person" with a Subaru and a Mercedes, I can tell you it has nothing to do with image and everything to do with car seats and ease of parking. Also, we spent a long time researching dishwashers. I want to do enough research on the front end to get what I need, but that's it - I'm not emotionally invested in these purchases and they have nothing to do with my self identity. A car for me is exactly like a dishwasher in this regard. For that matter, my DH spent like 2 hours recently researching irons because he is particular about his shirts. Do you consider our choice of iron to be about image too?

tweet above*

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Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

DP. Right. Not sure what you are implying by "trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile." How much time do you want to spend thinking about your dishwasher or vacuum? A car is just another piece of household equipment that I need but don't want to spend time focusing on.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

Bingo. And the tweet about about Volvo is hilarious.

Anonymous wrote:LOL! Yes I notice that all the time too...

+1

Anonymous wrote:Oh I thought not a car person meant you knew nothing about cars and didn’t care (I’ll spend money on a car, but I’m going for safety and size over flashy speed and the thing that makes the loud noise).

Do you mean not car people don’t have cars?

+1

“Not car people” would definitely drive a Volvo & Tesla.

Discussion on Twitter reminded me of this thread. Sums up the Volvo people perfectly IMO.

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Anonymous wrote:We're not car people and we drive a Toyota.

+1 all the “not car people” I know drive Hondas or Toyotas. Almost regardless of wealth/income.

Yes absolutely this. Describes my Bethesda neighborhood perfectly and our own family as well.

Except they all still drive the top trim level even though none could tell you what extras it included over the trim level below.

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Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

DP. Right. Not sure what you are implying by "trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile." How much time do you want to spend thinking about your dishwasher or vacuum? A car is just another piece of household equipment that I need but don't want to spend time focusing on.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

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Anonymous wrote:We're not car people and we drive a Toyota.

+1 all the “not car people” I know drive Hondas or Toyotas. Almost regardless of wealth/income.

I am a car person, and drive a Honda. They make exceptional engines. Partial to Subaru boxer engine too.

Lol, 20 years ago, sure. These days? There is nothing interesting about a Honda engine. They no longer innovate, they simply follow. They completely misread the shift to small turbos and are now paying the price. The Civic Type R is special on the whole, I will give you that, but a 300hp 2 liter turbo 4 is a snoozer. This day and age.

And a Subaru boxer engine? Lmao.

If you want to see exciting development, go look at what the Europeans are doing with small turbo engines, with things like dual stage injection, integrated intercooler, electric auxiliary turbos, etc. Go watch some Engineering Explained YouTube videos. That guy got excited about the S2000 for a hot minute, rightfully so, but quickly sold it for a more modern Miata, rightfully so.

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Anonymous wrote:We're not car people and we drive a Toyota.

+1 all the “not car people” I know drive Hondas or Toyotas. Almost regardless of wealth/income.

Driving a Toyota or Honda is a great choice if you aren't a car person. They are both reliable card but the most boring driving experiences ever.

Yes, this is true and I'm happy with it. I want to be bored by my car. I've been "excited" by enough cars in my life to be able to diagnose engine issues by sound or smell like a freaking uncredited third member of Car Talk. I want it to always work, not scream "pull me over!", and last a decade. I will say that the driving experience is all relative - our last car was a 16 year old Ford so the Toyota feels like a rocket ship in comparison, and since it's a hybrid it has a sport mode option that I call "the Mazda button" because it feels like you're driving a much more zippy car. But I am a boring non-car person and rarely push that button.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

DP. Right. Not sure what you are implying by "trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile." How much time do you want to spend thinking about your dishwasher or vacuum? A car is just another piece of household equipment that I need but don't want to spend time focusing on.

Haha this is spot on PP. We are "not car people" and have bought 2 new Toyotas in the last few years. Just want to get from Point A to B and have enough space for kiddos!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not car people and we drive a Toyota.

+1 all the “not car people” I know drive Hondas or Toyotas. Almost regardless of wealth/income.

Yes absolutely this. Describes my Bethesda neighborhood perfectly and our own family as well.