The Three Kinds of Car People
Automobiles have been a part of the global culture for a long time now. There is no denying the impact the car industry has had on millions of people across the world. Car ownership is a rite of passage into adulthood. A materialized sense of responsibility that calls on our personal tastes and styles to be reflected onto our vehicles of choice. I have humbly come to the conclusion that in the grander scale of things there are but three kinds of car owners. The logical budget minded., the dreamer, and the project manager. Let’s take a closer look at each and let us hope to find out where you fall within the three categories.
The Budget Minded
When presented with car choices, this individual will by-pass any juvenile daydreams of owning a supercar for the vehicle that will get then from point A to B as efficiently as possible. Heated seats, parking assist, and backup cameras are unnecessary options that only exist to squeeze out more out of their wallets. All they need is something safe and reliable. Impulse buying isn’t in their future nor is buying a used car from a shady corner store car lot. The budget minded are a slave to logic. Secretly, they hope that a future in autonomous vehicles and bike friendly cities brings in a new era in transportation that removes the pressure of finding the right deal at the right time.
The Dreamer
Seeing an exotic car on the highway or parked on a driveway set this individual down a wonderful path. The notion of being a Porsche, Ferrari, or a rare classic car owner is cemented as a reality in the back of their minds and nothing will stop them from getting there someday. Regardless, their current car is just as important as every car they’ve owned. As all the cars they’ve owned holds a special place in their heart and destined for a spot in the expansive car garage of their dreams. The dreamer won’t just tell you their favorite car, they will do so with accuracy. Engine type, sports package, and entertainment options are just as important as the make and model of a car after all.
The Project Manager
Every single car no matter what state they might be in is just waiting to be adopted and restored back to its glory. It is not a matter of budget or access to parts but a matter of time and the dedication to the craft. What others see as eyesores, they instead see a potential historical artifact disgraced by neglect and exposure to the elements. Manufacturers like Datsun, Alpha Romeo, and AMC are treasures ready to be found discarded in the right barn or backyard. The hunt is half the battle, where lies the prestige is within the perfect Sunday afternoon drive in a car perfectly restored to glory.
I know simplifying drivers to just three labels can seem impossible but think about the car drivers in your life. Everyone at their core can be labeled as one of these three labels. While some entrenched in the car culture would look down at the budget minded for only looking at their vehicle as a means to an end that kind of behavior is to be avoided. Keep in mind that we all play a part in the enrichment of the car culture. If it wasn’t for the success of the Camry, Toyota wouldn’t have gifted us with the Supra after all. The dreamers only adds to the allure of the exotic Italians and in doing so continues to elevate the supercar. While the project managers in the car world restore history for future generations of car enthusiast.
Which one of the three listed above are you? Be honest. So that the next time you see that neighbor with the tarp over a car that hasn’t moved or the couple with a reliable sedan in the driveway or that person rushing to take a picture of a sports car out on the street, you might just smile. We are all a part of this wonderful automobile culture after all.
