Does your car reflect who you are?

[Margaret]

In some of the other forums I lurk/participate in (automotive oriented), there always seems to be such strong opinions of the type of vehicle that you drive reflecting the type of person you are (or to some such effect). So if I drive both a 1974 VW Bus and a 2000 Ford Excursion? Does that make me schizophrenic?

Margaret

[Love2Drum]

Hehe, growing up my mom drove a 70's VW bus. It was the ugliest thing. It was two-tone, neon green on the bottom, then a thin blue stripe about window height, then the top was neon yellow. Think thats bad enough? The interior was BLACK PLASTIC. This thing sucked in the summer time, let me tell you!

My wheels are a 1999 Black Toyota Tacoma Prerunner. I always wanted a black Toyota truck since I was a kid. I think it fits me to a "t". I like to play hard and don't balk at getting dirty. Plus I'm always hauling things. I've never felt right driving a car. My first truck was a silver Mitsubishi Mighty Max that was a hand-me-down. We had that for over 10 years before it finally died and I bought the Toyota. I love my truck!

[AllisonB aka Sweet Reed]

So if I drive both a 1974 VW Bus and a 2000 Ford Excursion? Does that make me schizophrenic? Nah...sounds more like former hippie turned soccer mom! :wink:

I drive a '96 Suburban. Originally purchased for taking the kids on those loooong trips to Tennessee to visit the in-laws but now it's the perfect vehicle for making trips to Highland Games. It even made the trip to Aurora one summer! I don't think it reflects the type of person I am, though...but who can afford a brand new Jaguar S-type..."sporting character" (as in "sports car") yet "luxurious"?? :wink:

[ChickaDee]

Unfortunately, yes. Mine screams, "MOM, MOM, MOM"!!!!!

But in my mind, I'm driving a Ferrari!! :thumb:

[AllisonB aka Sweet Reed]

Originally posted by ChickaDee:
But in my mind, I'm driving a Ferrari!! :thumb: Ooooooooh! So that explains it!!! :wink:

[ChickaDee]

Originally posted by AllisonB aka Sweet Reed:


Ooooooooh! So that explains it!!! :wink: Uh uh!!! Then why am I always LATE!!! :wink:

[Celtic Mitch]

I drive a "torch red" 2000 Chev Impala..tinted windows...alum rims...yip...she's me. And her name is Isabella Impala and she's had a tune written after her.

[AllisonB aka Sweet Reed]

Originally posted by ChickaDee:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Originally posted by AllisonB aka Sweet Reed:
<span style="font-weight: bold">

Ooooooooh! So that explains it!!! :wink: Uh uh!!! Then why am I always LATE!!! :wink: </span></div></div>Beats me! 'Cause you drive that mini-van like it's a ferrari!! :wink:

[lonewlf4]

I drive a fire engine red ford f-150 extended cab half ton - soon to be replaced by a crew cab with a honking big v-8 (same colour). I too love my truck, and the only reason I'm getting a new one is because beloved daughter No. 1 is now 5'11" and doesn't fit in the back seat of the extended cab. Beloved husband refuses to vacate the front seat for her, so - we get a new truck. And, it has to be a truck for hauling two sets of pipes, one snare drum, two kids, occasionally a bass drum, dog or husband!

[Marathon Piper]

Not yet....that Toyota Sienna with the scrapes down the side is NOT ME....REALLY :p

Me, well, I covet a bright red SMART car with silver trim..... (ok, so maybe my image screams "good mileage in a compact package...").

As a related question, do your pipes reflect who you are?? Loud, mellow, bright, ...etc., etc. or are they a distinct and separate personality (requiring naming and christening...see other thread :wink: )

MP

[Love2Drum]

Here's one. How soon before your car was "broken in" by your band?

Mine was broken in just after I got plates on it. Volunteered to carry the drums to a band gig (before I was in the band). Drums were all in the bed of the truck. I watched the drummers, bass especially, grab the handle of the case, drag it to the edge, then give a mighty pull and drag it down the side. They took just about all the paint off the bed and put nice scrape marks down the side. :mad:

The next day I had to put a bedliner in. Ever since its been the workhorse carrying all sorts of band gear!

[piper2b]

I don't care what's on the outside, but all of my vehicles have plenty of horsepower on the inside. As long as I can hum down the road as a graceful, powerful blur (88+ is my favorite), I'm happy. Oh yeah, nice sound system for pipe bands, room for drums and pipes and dogs, okay, maybe people too, if necessary! :thumb:

[Margaret]

Originally posted by AllisonB aka Sweet Reed:
]Nah...sounds more like former hippie turned soccer mom! :wink: Actually, it's Slacker Mom !

Margaret

[Monty]

Gosh. . . I don't know that I can recall what my car actually looks like. . .its been in the shop for three weeks. :wink:

[Achurnside]

99 tacoma 4x4... lift, big tires, big bumpers, big winch, yada yada.

I guess that fits me... since I like to get out and explore the backcountry!

[Joe Battle]

"It's got a cop motor, a 440ci plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, and cop shocks; it was a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas."

http://moparmusclemagazine.com/projectbuild/155_0403_cop_1_s.jpg

[Monty]

I am impressed Joe - Classic Blues Brothers! :thumb:

[brad]

Just got it washed - and it's very reflective now.
:eek: :eek: :lol:

'96 toyota camry - practical
Little bagpipe sticker on back, and an "I Love My Wife" sticker, with a soccer sticker on the window.
So....YES....it's very reflective of ME.

Brad

[phyx]

Originally posted by Margaret:
Actually, it's Slacker Mom !

Margaret Now I just need to find Slacker Dad...

:p

[RosieJ]

Ah, Joe, nice to see your OTHER car!
Hehehe, Monty. There must be a subconcious message hidden there somewhere....
Nancy: What!!?? No room for horses???!

Unfortunately, or fortunately, my van says ME all over; teal Grand Caravan with most of the backside taken over by piping/church/political bumperstickers.

"I swear, honey, I haven't put any more on!! They must be reproducing at night!!...." :rolleyes:

[Rat Bast*rd.]

"Does your car reflect who you are?"

Not being sure of who I am, it's difficult to say.


In my case I presume a pattern would be more indicative.
My first set of wheels was a two door hardtop, I drove for less then six months.
Living in a tiny town in the Texas panhandle, I discovered a "car" was not exactly a chick magnet! So I decided to use it for the only thing it was ever good for; a "trade-in" on my first pick-up.

That was thirty-five years ago, and everyday since, I've driven a truck. My wives have driven nice cars, but I have no use for them.

:)

[Grant L]

"Isn't that the bagpiper's porsche?"

Leaking Land Rover (http://www.lilford.net/images/smcarrain.jpg)

1996 Land Rover Defender 100 Stationwagon with the 300 TDI (so it gets about 30 miles to the gallon). Leaks a lot (I am thinking of painting the roof, skylights, engine and transmission with airtight). Needs constant attention and tweaking, just like bagpipes. But it wades through Kampala potholes and handles the S-bends and speedbumps en route to Fort Portal without a thought. Room for the family, their closest friends, and their luggage. It's my dream car.

Grant

[Margaret]

Originally posted by Grant L:
"Isn't that the bagpiper's porsche?"

Leaking Land Rover (http://www.lilford.net/images/smcarrain.jpg)

1996 Land Rover Defender 100 Stationwagon with the 300 TDI (so it gets about 30 miles to the gallon). Leaks a lot (I am thinking of painting the roof, skylights, engine and transmission with airtight). Needs constant attention and tweaking, just like bagpipes. But it wades through Kampala potholes and handles the S-bends and speedbumps en route to Fort Portal without a thought. Room for the family, their closest friends, and their luggage. It's my dream car.

Grant Ah, your description of a commute must be what people in the new developments around us dream about when they drive their new Range Rovers and Hummer 2's to the grocery store :rolleyes: !

Margaret

[Margaret]

This is my idea of the ultimate pipe band party barge for surviving the games: http://www.airstream.com/product_line/motorhomes/skydeck_home.html

Margaret

[Love2Drum]

One night coming home from band practice I drove by one of those old old early 60's style School Buses. It had a For Sale sign on it and all I could think of was how cool it would be to buy it and make it our band bus! I would've painted it all up in Tartan or something cheesy. I could totally see us driving to games and gigs in it, our PM at the wheel yelling at everyone to be quiet as he takes the hills and bumps at 70 MPH :thumb: .

Man, what a gas that would've been!

[phyx]

My truck is heavy, slow moving, rusted in some areas, bald in other areas, veers to the right a bit, and is full of crap...

can't think of a better reflection of me. :p

I call it "Treebeard". It is definitely not hasty--it never goes anywhere unless it's worth taking a long time to get there. When you start it up, it gives off a good loud "burrarrruuuummmm". :D

[EDIT] Sorry, not a female, but had to comment on my truck...

[Klondike Waldo]

my first car was a '66 Mustang, british racing green 289 V8, with a auto floor shift, 8 track stereo, chrome wheels, leather bucket seats. I followed that in 1973 with a used '69 IH Scout, then a new '76 IH Scout Traveller dubbed "The Waldo Wagon' The Waldo Wagon had a 196 Cu in slant 4 engine, four speed manual trannie, 4 barrel carb and 4 wheel drive. When I set up a cot, cooler and stove in the back it morphed into the "Waldo Astoria". 4 years after we got married, (and after 260 K miles on the Waldo Wagon, I got an '86 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer which I finally traded in in 2000 for a new Honda CRV. of all the cars, I'd say the Mustang and teh Waldo wagon came closest to reflecting who I was at the time I had it. The Honda's great, but it doesn't have the same feeling of "ready to grab the gear and hit the stream or the hills that the old Waldo Wagon had. On the other hand, it's a lot more reliable and gets much better mileage.

[piper2b]

Originally posted by RosieJ:
Nancy: What!!?? No room for horses???!

Unfortunately, or fortunately, my van says ME all over; teal Grand Caravan with most of the backside taken over by piping/church/political bumperstickers. Ahh, when I drive my car the horses are under the hood. When I'm in the big deisel truck, the horses are in the trailer! :D
Rosie -- a friend of mine told me about a van he spotted the other day in the Governor's Mansion curve. I declared it yours after hearing the description of 1 and a half bumper stickers! You truly have a unique and expressive vehicle. :thumb:

Nancy

[Grant L]

Originally posted by Margaret:
Ah, your description of a commute must be what people in the new developments around us dream about when they drive their new Range Rovers and Hummer 2's to the grocery store :rolleyes: !

Margaret We sometimes find ourselves dreaming about driving our minivan on Interstate 95 (not often, though). Nice thing is that we live on campus, so don't have to rely on the Land Rover for a daily commute.

It is appropriate that this thread started in the Ladies Room, even as the gentlemen debate more civilised ways of sitting.

Grant

[Curt]

http://www.corvetteforum.net/classics/curtis/

Does this reflect me now? No. My daily is a '96 Jeep Cherokee with 165K miles on it with original clutch. When I bought it new in my 20's I really liked it and restored three homes with it, but now I am ready for a practical car. I would say my Jeep doesn't reflect me at this time. Sold the vette. As I get older I just want something practical and don't want to spend much on gas. My most used vehicle in the warmer months is my bike (you know the kind you pedal).

I have no interest in anything that says hemi or V-8 on it. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Hummer. I just don't understand people who drive them to be honest.

Enjoy,
Curt

[Margaret]

Shoot, this was supposed to be a picture, but I can't figure out how to do it (sigh).

Margaret

[AllisonB aka Sweet Reed]

I have no interest in anything that says hemi or V-8 on it. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Hummer. I just don't understand people who drive them to be honest. If I could afford a hummer :rolleyes: (won't happen!) I still wouldn't buy one. There are a few in the neighborhood and surrounding subdivisions and I see them riding by on top of tow trucks quite frequently! :lol:

[John McCain]

Originally posted by AllisonB aka Sweet Reed:
There are a few in the neighborhood and surrounding subdivisions and I see them riding by on top of tow trucks quite frequently!On purpose? :)

I understand Hummers are the lowest rated vehicle for customer satisfaction. I think they're (along with Expeditions, Suburans, etc.) are just parents way of making sure their kids won't grow up to be killed or injured in auto accidents - by using up all the gasoline as quickly as possible.

Best, John

[rpeitzsch]

Originally posted by John McCain:
Hummers are the lowest rated vehicle for customer satisfaction.The biggest reason for that is the poor gas milage. What I want to know is why were the buyers surprised by that? I mean, the thing weighs a few tons... :humm:

[Atisha]

If my car reflected who I am, I would most definetly be driving a "striped tomato"... :blush: :D :blush:

[Margaret]

Originally posted by John McCain:
I understand Hummers are the lowest rated vehicle for customer satisfaction. I think they're (along with Expeditions, Suburans, etc.) are just parents way of making sure their kids won't grow up to be killed or injured in auto accidents - by using up all the gasoline as quickly as possible. Best, John It's funny, there are 5 Hummers around our area here, and they are all in the new housing developments that are sprouting up on neighboring farmland, and they're all driven by men (I never see kids or women in 'em!)AND, they are never towing anything....no boats, horse trailers, nuthin.....Although many are spotted at Starbucks and the mall :lol: .

The only reason I have an Excursion is that I can't pull a 3 to 4 horse trailer with my VW bus....The Excursion is technically a fully enclosed 3/4 ton Ford pickup (I've had 5 trucks over the years, and it's identical). I actually use mine for what it was originally intended, packing it to the gills with family, gear, and pulling a big trailer down the road.

It seems to me that the "soccer moms" have SUV's (many do out here, but its fairly rural so some are dual purpose for towing too), because their moms drove station wagons, and the soccer moms wouldn't be caught dead in something that their mom drove. It's kind of too bad, I still show up in my 31 year old bus to everything. It's only a couple inches longer than a VW Beetle, and I can park it anywhere in downtown Portland, and get this, it is rated as a 1 ton truck (I kid you not).....of course if you hauled that much payload, with the sewing machine engine its got, you'd waddle about 10 mph down the road :) !

Margaret

[Curt]

Originally posted by Margaret: [/qb]It seems to me that the "soccer moms" have SUV's (many do out here, but its fairly rural so some are dual purpose for towing too), because their moms drove station wagons, and the soccer moms wouldn't be caught dead in something that their mom drove.Margaret

I think most of the soccer moms that drive these huge SUV's are doing it because they get a testosterone rush out of it. Many of them like to tailgate and talk on their cell phones. It is all about power IMHO. I think it is starting to go out of style however. When oil hits 60-80 a barrel, which many economists think it will, driving these huge gas guzzlers will look even more silly than they do now. With all the problems in the mid east and our huge dependance on oil, you would think people would actually start thinking they should not over-use these resources. I think in 50 years or so, kids in school will be reading about this generation called the "me" generation; they will be scratching their heads and say... "what were they thinking?".

Enjoy,
Curt

[John McCain]

Originally posted by Curt:
I think in 50 years or so, kids in school will be reading about this generation called the "me" generation; they will be scratching their heads and say... "what were they thinking?". The mystery to me is why we're not collectively doing this now.

For centuries, we used a couple of horses to pull a wagon - now we're justifying buying a wagon to pull our horses.

Best, John

[B McCarthy]

Boy are we not starting to sound like the morality police!

Many good points being made however, freedom involves making decisions in life. These decisions usually have consequences and responsibilities. You cannot legislate responsible behavior. If you could we wouldn't need welfare, a court system, etc. Those that buy 'em pay one way or another for 'em.

Now the corporate or government responsibility for oil availabilty, pricing, drilling rights, tax incentives(writeoffs) for these gargantuan vehicles is another story all together.

I feel however, that you live in a free society so live and let live. The higher the gas prices the fewer Starbuck latte's they can afford.

As far as Curt's inability to understand the Hemi allure now that's getting personal. I drive one and I do it because I can. I paid for it without govt. assistance and I also pay at the pump. When someone else starts paying for my fuel then I'll discuss it. I also own two other very fuel efficient vehicles because I'm not totally insane.

Besides, my patients think it's great that I drive a pickup truck and not a Mercedes like all the other 'Rich Doctors'. Somehow they feel I'm more like them. Especially in the rural(rapidly becoming suburban) community in which I live.

Hell yeah my car reflects my personality. Big, basic, utilitarian, white, made in USA, what you see is what you get, not pretentious with a few dings but clean and well cared for.

Just my two bits,

Brian Mac

[Tommy P.]

Wah..wah..wah, I'm burning up all the gasoline I can, and havin' a blast doing it!

I'm gonna be on my death-bed with a big ol' smile! Telling my family to enjoy their life, cause mine has been one great big party, and I don't regret a second of it,......not: "Hey, I saved you some gas!"

[Curt]

Originally posted by B McCarthy:
I drive one and I do it because I can.

Brian Mac I just had to repost this part. It is classic. :wink:

Curt

PS One of my favorite bumper stickers I saw was to be put on the back of a huge SUV. It states, "Osama thanks you".

[ChickaDee]

Ahem.....don't make me stop this (insert vehicle of choice!!) :humm:

[B McCarthy]

Curt, I wouldn't have owned a full sized pickup when I lived in Pgh. You know parking, narrow streets (ie:Rte51 and every other road), financial limitations (resident's pay).

Guilt is just not where I live when it comes to this subject. There are so many other factors involved in the fossil fuel and energy issue. Corporations, countries, governments, and politicians have a much larger effect.

By the way, Bin Laden made billions of $$$ off of the American stock market. Should we scrap that institution or should I feel guilty about my 401K.

My point is that we need to keep a perspective of the big picture not only the politically correct knee jerk response.

I put my greatest efforts into those individuals I can help directly. Not some world geopolitical concept. If we cut back on consumption the price will escalate. They(corporations, governments) will not lose.

Go Stillers, Pirates and Primanti Bros,

Brian Mac

[B McCarthy]

Curt, By the way, aren't they now considering taxing fuel efficiency in Oregon. Boy that's sending a message. The government will not lose revenue! Maybe someone from Oregon can enlighten us further.

Brian Mac

[Grant L]

We pay $1 a litre for petrol (yup, $5 a gallon) here as opposed to about 90c a litre for diesel. (A diesel engine is also twice as fuel efficient as a comparable petrol engine). Sounds terrible until you realise that the average Ugandan earns $280 a year, then it sounds even worse. One Ugandan in 100 owns a car, so most people take public transport, most of those diesel-powered toyota minibus taxis and 50cc "boda-boda" motorcycle taxis.

We also almost never see the one-man one car phenomenon. Even the motorcycles often carry three people. The best was a boda-boda carrying a broken boda-boda and its driver.

Grant

[Michael F. Bell]

Originally posted by B McCarthy:
If we cut back on consumption the price will escalate. You might want to review something called the law of supply and demand in your old Economics text books! :eek:

[Calypso]

Originally posted by John McCain:
The mystery to me is why we're not collectively doing this now.

For centuries, we used a couple of horses to pull a wagon - now we're justifying buying a wagon to pull our horses.

Best, John:confused: What would you suggest for getting horses from one place to another when long distances are involved? Have the horses gallop down the highway alongside the car while someone sits on the roof of the Prius and holds the reins? :humm:

[B McCarthy]

Michael, That's the point. Oil supply doesn't always equate to price. I know it's supposed to work that way. It doesn't always work that way in a cartel situation. Ie: diamonds. There is no shortage of diamonds. But the price is controlled by the cartel. Dental care prices are another good example where I live. Prices are out of sight and there is a dentist on every corner. Higher prices mean you need to see fewer patients each day. My dentist friends laugh at those of us that deal with Medicare and insurance companies. I took economics in college and once believed as you do. But reality is quite different.

Brian Mac

[Curt]

Here is a link to it.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/14/eveningnews/main674120.shtml

As far as cars go, that is just a personal choice. I still think 50 years from now the kids in school will say, "what were they thinking?" I like to think I do what my conscience says, not what my pocket book can afford.

I will say this, the car I drive now doesn't reflect me as I stated earlier. I want to buy a new car, but they are so expensive. I mean you have to pay $25K for anything at all, if you buy new. Then they depreciate like crazy. Certainly not a good investment, but you need them to get around. There are not many cars that I like. My Jeep is 10 years old with 165K miles on it. I looked at the Prius and liked it, but you can not buy a manual tranny and I have some concern about handling and longevity. I really don't care for an auto of any kind. Hard to find something that gets good MPG that is safe enough to drive amongst all the huge SUV's on the road. I may go for the BMW 330i. It gets 30MPG on the highway and that is where most of my driving is done anyway. Not the greatest, but it is a good car I think. They make it in a 6 speed as well. I enjoy riding my bicycle around to Whole Foods and the local co-op during most of the year. I really don't need to drive that much other than my travels. No work commute since I work out of the home.

Enjoy,
Curt

[Dave Sanderson]

Hnmmm....my pipes are now worth more than my car. Though I should qualify that I am going to drive this one into the ground; long paid for, low insurance, good mileage and it still runs great.

[Curt]

Originally posted by Dave Sanderson:
Hnmmm....my pipes are now worth more than my car. Never thought about that, but my pipes are worth more than my car as well! If I added up all my pipes (SSP's, 2GHB, borders), I could buy quite a car indeed. I would rather have the pipes though.

Curt

[David Corbett]

Hmm,

#1) 2002 Chevy S10, 4-banger, with "Got Bagpipes" sticker in rear window, various red, amber and white strobe lights and occasional fullsized $2000+ lightbar.

#2) 1999 Honda 600cc Shadow Vlx

#3) Various fire &amp; rescue trucks, ladder truck, ambulances..

#4) Various rental Cessna 152 &amp; 172s (when funds permit continued lessons)

#5) Do sneakers count?

[piper2b]

Originally posted by David Corbett:
#5) Do sneakers count? Sure, especially when tastefully tricked out with ground effects lighting! :thumb:

Nancy :)

[ThugPiper '72]

DeLorean DMC-12

[Margaret]

Originally posted by Chicken Fried Haggis:
DeLorean DMC-12 I worked with a guy who drove a Delorean, and I always wondered if he felt silly driving it after the trial of John and all the media fallout....

Margaret

[Vermont Piper]

My car, too, was broken in by the band (mileage wise). I bought it because it was better on gas with all the miles we were driving to comps and band gigs - I put 45,000 miles on it within the year I bought it! :eek: awwwwww.... my poor car....

It's a light blue 2000 Ford Taurus SE sedan with a 24 valve v6 DuraTech (ooo, power!) and leather interior. It's a big, safe car, which I like, but I think in my heart I'm a Highland Green 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback... :thumb: For now, I'll just have to leave the Mustang emblem on my Taurus. :p

Jackie

[ThugPiper '72]

Originally posted by Margaret:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Originally posted by Chicken Fried Haggis:
<span style="font-weight: bold"> DeLorean DMC-12 I worked with a guy who drove a Delorean, and I always wondered if he felt silly driving it after the trial of John and all the media fallout....

Margaret </span></div></div>The Delorean will rise again!

[Tammy]

I drive an SUV (2004 Chevy Trailblazer) and I love it. It's definately a reflection of my personality - and I'm NOT a soccer mom! It suits my lifestyle and often has surfboards on top and pipes in the back. (I like to pipe at the beach while my son is surfing)

But if I could afford it I would drive an Escalade or a Navigator complete with spinner rims sparkling in the California sun. Now that would be a relection of the "inner" me waiting to escape the mom mold.

[RosieJ]

Originally posted by piper2b:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Originally posted by RosieJ:
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Nancy: What!!?? No room for horses???!

Unfortunately, or fortunately, my van says ME all over; teal Grand Caravan with most of the backside taken over by piping/church/political bumperstickers. Ahh, when I drive my car the horses are under the hood. When I'm in the big deisel truck, the horses are in the trailer! :D
Rosie -- a friend of mine told me about a van he spotted the other day in the Governor's Mansion curve. I declared it yours after hearing the description of 1 and a half bumper stickers! You truly have a unique and expressive vehicle. :thumb:

Nancy </span></div></div>Yeah, and believe it or not I got another one up in DC that hubby insists I better not put on :wave:

[piper2b]

RosieJ,

PLEASE bring it to practice tomorrow night, anything with that sort of introduction has GOT to be good!!! Are you going to the banquet? If so, any chance you might go out with us afterwards? :wave:

Nancy

[JRM]

my car...old and starting to rust...grumbles at times, decent shape, reliable, mechanically sound and moves like a bat outa hell. Now that I think about it, sounds alot like me. :lol:

[Bannergirl]

Monty you crack me up....that was so deftly put.... :smokin:

[Dennis McCarthy]

Fun topic...

My first "vehicle" when I was younger was a motorcycle... then I got married and sold the bike! Went through a truck phase and then bought a Mustang and modified it heavily for drag racing... but it just wasn't me so I sold it! Now I ride a Harley! I am back to my roots and loving it!
(Good on gas too!!) :smokin:

[Margaret]

Good heavens, We've added another vehicle to our strange tribe, which still make me a very schizo car driver....egad <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif -

Although I did notice that I can get my bass drum into every vehicle we've got:

1974 VW Bus
1989 Volvo Wagon (Turbo yeeha) the new one
1995 Lincoln Continental
2000 Excursion

Margaret

[HepcatBob]

Originally posted by Margaret:

Although I did notice that I can get my bass drum into every vehicle we've got:

I've gotten a bass AND at least one tenor in mine. And that was with both of them in hard cases. :thumb:

I made my car reflect at least part of who I am. I drive a black, 2002 Acura RSX Type S. It's got a 200 hp, 4 cylinder with a 6 speed manual transmission. It's a great car that's a lot of fun to drive. My license plate is LNDYHPPR (Lindy Hopper) because I love to dance to old swing music. The plastic frame around the plate reads "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing." It's got one bumper sticker that reads "Enough is Enough Vote Libertarian" and another that reads "Support Your Local Piper".

[Tommy P.]

does your car reflect who you are?

I was gonna post something stupid as usual, like;
"Yeah it does today,...'cause I finally washed the dirty bast#rd, and for the first time since February I can actually see a reflection!"

But after Hepcats post I thought; well....yeah I guess it does.

It's just a no frills, no nonsense work truck, that carries several scars earned from an honest days work, as well as a few reminders of what a careless person can do.
And despite a lot of love and care, it is beginning to get a little old and tired. Which to me is a little disheartening,...but to my wife, who tells me although it may not be "new" anymore, it's got a lot of "style", and she's still happy with it. :)

[Ian Lawther]

As a stay at home Dad I am proud to drive a minivan.... :68dance: I must be a sad man because I have wanted one since the Renault Espace first appeared in Europe over 20 years ago.

My license plate frame reflects the other part of me.....that which my younger brother describes as "the musical tart"

http://storetn.cafepress.com/nocache/0/13267400_F_store.jpg?r=632505519252893508

Ian

[Margaret]

As a kid, I thought those old Citroens were so cool, the way they wooshed up and down on the air suspension. I'm sure there was a Pink Panther movie that had one cut in half and still drive around.

Margaret

[rpeitzsch]

A typical Saturday morning in a parking lot....

"So which car's yours?"

It's the dark green Explorer over there. Can't pick it out? It's the one with the roof rack for the kayaks and scratches from where the kayaks slide on and off. Still can't pick it out? It's the one with a couple dozen soccer balls, cones, and other equipment in the back and a soccer ball sticker on the back window. Still no luck? It's the one with the Scotland sticker with a celtic cross, a "I Love (heart) Nessie" sticker, and a University of Richmond sticker.

"Oh, THAT one!" :thumb:

:wink:

[Chip Shuler]

I own a 2002 MINI Cooper S, and I absolutely love it. And yes, I think it reflects my personality: Don't judge a book by it's cover. On the surface, it looks harmless, but when stirred to action, it'll get up and move. The rally light covers on the front (painted by yours truly) are the only strategic deterrent I have to get cluebirds out of the fast lane who are in my way, too!

Plus it has just enough room inside to get two drummers, three snares, and all of the associated uniforms and equipment inside for both for a 5 hour trip to a Highland Games weekend in comfort.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/chip_shuler75/smallLFcovers.jpg

[Bogatyr]

Bother, can't believe I didn't see this thread until now, being a car geek and all...

My daily driver is a 1996 Honda Civic LX, 127k miles. We've had it since 2001. It's cheap to maintain and returns an *average* of 40mpg. I've seen as much as 49mpg on highway trips...it's a keeper.

The weekend fun mobile is a 1970 Land Rover IIa 88". I built this thing over the course of four years as it needed a new frame and extensive welding on the firewall. Mine's the green on in the shot below, stuck on some ice a few weeks back...

I also have another Land Rover waiting to be rebuilt and a 1984 Honda CRX as my sports type vehicle...

So yes, a vehicle does represent one's personality, but, being one who contains multitudes, I guess I have to have multiple vehicles to reflect the different facets of my personality...or I'm just a sucker for rusted out Land Rovers...

http://home.nycap.rr.com/bogatyr/cars/Orlando20050403.jpg

Bogatyr

[Feo]

If vehicles are a reflection...then I am either incredably cheap... or incredably evil !
I ride to band practice on my moped, with my drones sticking up out of my backpack. And in my crowded state all those huge expensive SUV's and expensive little 2-door speedy cars have to stay stuck behind me, not able to pass me because of oncoming traffic.... MUH HA HA HA HA !!!
wow, I just saw an evil reflection of myself
wait, Im Scottish too, I must be cheap :lol:

[Chip Shuler]

Bogatyr - that LR is bad to the bone. Congrats on the restoration! She's a beaut' even with, er... traction problems.

[CM]

1) Toyota Prius hybrid
2) Chevy Suburban 1500 4x4
3) No kids

I have no idea what this has to do with piping.

[Heli-um Piper]

Your Car: Politics on Wheels
By JOHN TIERNEY , The New York Times
04/04/2005 07:29 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Body: IT has always been tempting to think you can figure out who a person is and what he thinks by what he drives. That subject was raised recently by Chely Wright in her country and western hit, "Bumper of My S.U.V.," in which she tells of a "lady in a minivan" giving her a vulgar hand gesture for driving a car with a Marines bumper sticker:

"Does she think she knows what I stand for/Or the things that I believe/Just by looking at a sticker for the U.S. Marines/On the bumper of my S.U.V.?"

The lady in the minivan might not know, but some of the finest minds in market research think they do. By analyzing new-car sales, surveying car owners and keeping count of political bumper stickers, they are identifying the differences between Democratic cars and Republican ones.

Among their findings: buyers of American cars tend to be Republican - except, for some reason, those who buy Pontiacs, who tend to be Democrats. Foreign-brand compact cars are usually bought by Democrats - but not Mini Coopers, which are bought by almost equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. And Volvos may not actually represent quite what you think.

How valuable is this information? "I think it's fun to talk about," the political analyst James Carville said, "but I mean, you see a guy in a pickup truck with a rifle and a Confederate flag, and you know how he's going to vote anyway." But upon further reflection Mr. Carville acknowledged the value of the surveys. "It actually does have some merit, especially when used in conjunction with other information about consumer habits. It can be a very accurate predictor."

Last year, the Republican National Committee applied data supplied by Scarborough Research, a New York market research firm, to a range of leisure-time and consumer activities to find where it could reach potential voters with advertising. Part of Scarborough's effort was to survey 200,000 car owners about their political affiliations.

Scarborough found that Porsche owners identified themselves as Republican more often than owners of any other cars, with 59 percent calling themselves Republicans, 27 percent Democrats and the rest either calling themselves independents or declining to answer. Jaguars and Land Rovers also registered as very "Republican" vehicles.

Scarborough also determined that Volvos were the most "Democratic" cars, by 44 to 32 percent, followed by Subarus and Hyundais. But although a lot of old Volvos on the road are driven by Democrats, the customers in Volvo showrooms no longer fit the old stereotype, according to a survey of 163,000 new-car buyers last year that was conducted by CNW Marketing Research of Bandon, Ore.

As Volvo's advertising has stressed performance in addition to safety, more and more Republicans are buying Volvos. The CNW survey last year showed that Democratic buyers of Volvo cars outnumbered Republicans by only 32 percent to 27 percent.

"Volvos have become more plush and bourgeois, which is a Republican thing to be," said Mickey Kaus, a dual expert in politics and cars as the author of the Kausfiles and Gearbox columns for Slate. "Subaru is the new Volvo - that is, it is what Volvos used to be: trusty, rugged, inexpensive, unpretentious, performs well, maybe a bit ugly. You don't buy it because you want to show you have money; you buy it because you have college-professor values."

The CNW survey, which measured political affiliation not just by make but also by model, found that a Jeep Grand Cherokee S.U.V. was more than half again as likely to be bought by a Republican than by a Democrat, at 46 percent to 28. Among Hummer buyers, the Republican-to-Democrat ratio was a whopping 52 to 23.

According to CNW's figures, staunch Democrats drive S.U.V.'s too, but they tend to prefer smaller, foreign-made ones. Republicans generally like them bigger and American-made, or at least bearing the name of an American company, even if they were built elsewhere.

The survey also found that minivans skewed blue, just as Chely Wright surmised in her song. At first glance, this might seem odd, because Republican car buyers tended to have more children - 3.5 on average, versus 1.7 for the Democratic buyers. Explaining this apparent contradiction offers a look into the increasing exactitude marketers seem to be applying to the question of who drives what.

"You might think with all the kids, they'd want the practicality of a minivan," said Art Spinella, the president of CNW. But practicality was not the Republican customer's highest priority, as Mr. Spinella's company discovered by tracking the customers throughout the buying process.

"There is a certain resistance that male new-car buyers have to minivans even in a household with two or three kids," Mr. Spinella explained. "For the most part, red-state households are more male-dominated when it comes to decision-making for a vehicle. In blue states, it's more of a joint decision-making process." Because the Democratic women get more of a say in the decision, their families end up with more minivans than S.U.V.'s.

The Democrats also tend to consider a wider range of cars before buying. "In red states, there's more affinity to specific brands or loyalty to the same brand they had before," Mr. Spinella said. "A person in a red state will start with an average of 2.5 vehicles on the shopping list. In the blue states the average is 6."

The blue-staters, not surprisingly, are a lot more likely to put hybrid cars on their list: buyers of the Toyota Prius hybrid were Democrats by a 35 to 22 percent. Democrats in general are more fond of smaller cars (the Ford Escort and Dodge Neon both skewed blue by about 34 to 20), although energy efficiency is hardly the only reason. Besides having fewer children, Democrats tend to be younger, less affluent and more likely to live in cities where small cars are easier to park.

Some of these differences have more to do with geography than personal politics. Democrats are concentrated in port cities with more links to Europe and Asia, making them more open to foreign car companies. Republicans are more likely to be living in the heartland, where there's room for bigger cars and a tradition of loyalty to the American cars built in nearby factories.

But car buyers are also responding to the political images that come with some cars. Some foreign car companies have marketed cars as environmentally friendly, and some have at times focused on parts of the Democratic base. Saab and Subaru were the first and most visible to aim advertising at gay drivers.

Midsize and large American cars skew Republican, and so, of course, do big American pickup trucks. That may have something to do with American car companies marketing themselves through one of the great symbols of Republicanism, Nascar, which is enormously popular in the red states.

"Nascar has an American-made-only requirement for cars and a variety of other rules that discourage foreign makers from competing," said Steve Sailer, a conservative journalist who has analyzed the red-blue divide. "Toyota has dipped its toe into Nascar's truck-racing series with its American-made trucks, but there isn't a lot of demand for Japanese participation.

"In truth, a lot of fans would be sore about ending the all-American monopoly. Nascar has become a covert ethnic-pride celebration for red-state whites of Northern European descent."

All surveys found that nothing is more Republican than a big pickup. "The No. 1 vehicle bought by millionaires is the Ford F-Series pickup truck," Mr. Spinella said. "They're farmers, ranchers, contractors, independent businesspeople. They basically work for themselves and they have substantial assets."

The Saab is a Democratic car, according to both CNW and Scarborough, which found that Saab owners were about twice as likely to be Democrats. It's an upscale car an affluent Democrat can drive without feeling guiltily ostentatious while also reveling in a different sort of status symbol, said the president of Scarborough, Bob Cohen.

"The Saab owner is not going after the obvious status symbol like a BMW," Mr. Cohen said. "He wants to make a statement that he's in a small group with specialized knowledge who don't go for a safe choice like BMW, because he can get a better deal with a Saab."

A less affluent version of that car buyer might go for a Saturn, the offbeat brand of choice for aficionados who skew heavily Democratic, by 39 to 11 among last year's car buyers. Mr. Kaus says they appeal to Democrats because they are "clunky, Earth Shoe-like cars."

SATURN owners were also prone to put their Democratic loyalties on display, at least according to a count undertaken by Political Bumpers, which was billed as "an extremely unscientific" project undertaken near the end of the presidential campaign last year.

Volunteers counted more than 1,300 bumper stickers in a half dozen states from Sept. 20 to Oct. 31 and came up with results (www.laze.net/bumpers (http://www.laze.net/bumpers)) that roughly jibed with the much larger market-research surveys. Like the larger surveys, the Political Bumpers totals added up to within a couple of percentage points of the 51-percent-to-48 result of the 2004 presidential election.

The Political Bumpers spotters, who recorded bumper stickers in favor of or against any of the candidates in the 2004 election, found that the drivers of pickup trucks and large S.U.V.'s were overwhelmingly right-leaning. But the leader of the project, Ryan MacMichael, of Leesburg, Va., said his biggest surprise was the pronounced Democratic skew of bumper stickers on economy cars (71 percent were left-leaning) and station wagons (67 percent).

The most left-leaning models with at least a dozen sightings in Mr. MacMichael's project were the Honda Civic (80-20 left-leaning), Toyota Corolla (78-19) and Toyota Camry (74-26). The list of most right-leaning was led by another Toyota, but a midsize S.U.V., the Toyota 4Runner (86-14), followed by the Ford Expedition (76-24) and Ford F-150 (75-25).

To Mr. Spinella, those bumper stickers merely provided further proof of the most fundamental difference between the two parties.

"Democrats buy cars," he said. "Republicans buy trucks."

Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company

[Chip Shuler]

Yes, bumper stickers often serve as a snapshot into the mind of the person behind the wheel who you're "trusting" to share the road with you.

[Spunky]

I have a big DARWIN fish (a fish with feet) on the back of my car. It's sole purpose is to annoy anyone who has a Jesus fish on there's. I do like the EVOLVE fish too. It's a fish holding a spanner (wrench).

[brad]

by punkSay:
I have a big DARWIN fish ... on the back of my car. It's sole purpose is to annoy anyone who has a Jesus fish punkSay, they aren't annoyed, they're worried for you, and probably praying.

Hey, the post about the types of cars related to democrats and republicans was interesting (and HUGE).
I wear a pair of "Doc Martins", with big polyuerathane looking soles, and was told they are "democrat shoes" the other day!!
Pretty funny, but that post made me think about the comment.

Brad

[phyx]

I've worn Doc Martins for years and years--and I'm no Democrat. It probably stems from my punk rock days as an angry teenager. I had steel-toed Doc Martins and Get-a-grip boots as well.

I'd say that Birkinstocks would be closer to Demo-shoes. :p

[Margaret]

Huh, I just read that whole article. Judging by the cars my husband and I drive, we've got'em thoroughly confused - nice to keep them guessing :wink: .

Margaret

[Spunky]

Brad,

Don't waste your time. I'll be fine. Thanks.
What we should be worried about are people who can't say the word "nuclear."
By the way, my car's a piece of junk. It's a 1990 Nissan Sentra that I bought for $500 after crashing my Acura Integra at turn 2 at Mosport Race Track only 2 1/2 weeks after buying it. I should be dead but I wore a very expensive helmet (worth almost as much as the car) that was also destroyed in the crash.
Hey! Who's selling classic scooters? I'm looking.
This is a pipe band forum...Don't hem a kilt.

[Ian Lawther]

There was another "Cars and Politic" story in The Guardian this week. They got a Labour and a Conservative election candidate to test drive a car normally associated with people of the opposing view....the Tory getting a Kia and the Socialist an Aston Martin.....the results are here. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1475113,00.html)

Ian

[Tommy P.]

:lol: ROTFLMAO! :lol:

Love the new name!

[Bashful]

Well, technically, I don't have a car of my own at the moment. However, I do drive two of my parents' cars. :D

My "mom's" car is a 1995 white Chevy Astro van. It got all us kids around to all our events (swimming, rowing, basketball, etc.). It doesn't reflect me at all unless you count that it suits my height better and it has a drum kit in the back. :wink: :lol:

My "dad's" car is a 2004 black Chevy Epica. THIS car is more like me. This is the one I usually drive to band, and the one that I'm most likely to get when my dad gets his new work car. It totally reflects me, except it's lacking something that tells I'm a member of a pipe band, unless you open the trunk and see the drum case and uniform. :p