Which company's drivers get labelled the most and is the label good or bad?

mercedes has totally lost every supporter it has, i recently went to fletcher jones motorcars their most respectable and largest dealer in the U.S and they frickin scratched my 65K car!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BMW, Hybrids.

Audi still has the best interiors!

General labels are assigned to all makes and models. The ones that I find the most amusing is the seeing the cars made for the younger crowd being driven by older people (Scion models, Element, etc).

In the end I would like to say that Audi's definitely have the best interiors ;).

BMW530i-

BMWs are for yuppies! Look at logical! He has a RAZR!

Aargh...

I have a Blackberry... that's better than having a RAZR at least. My wife has a RAZR.

I think Audis have the best image out of the German Big 3 for sure. Mercedes is very staid- Mercedes is the ubiquitous car for old people with good taste, but Jaguar is the cool car for middle-aged people with good taste (a bit different). BMW is for the people who usually can't afford BMWs. In reality, most people who have 3 Series BMWs don't have a lot of money. It's all smoke and mirrors- leases, mortgages, etc. while I'd guarantee that a lot more A4 owners are loaded. However, Audi isn't seen that way- they're for people who are usually wealthy, but don't love to "show off", per se. People know they're nice cars, but they're for people with a more conservative taste (also contemporary).

I think Porsche drivers are good. Especially 911 and Cayman drivers- those are beautiful...

Lamborghini? Those aren't really labeled, because you don't see a lot of them. They're for people who know how to DRIVE.

Rollers... usually for the rappers. Rolls-Royce has been ruined by BMW. No style there... it looks like a casket.

S4 - you are right about RAZRs, most of people I see in the day have RAZRs. GO Palm. Also alot of BMW owners (few outside the enthusiasts groups care about the performance, 50-50 weight distribution, and the magic feel) are in it for the image of owning a BMW, same goes with MB and Lexus. Audi is a really good alternative to these other makes, besides the other facts (you know the design, performance, and lets not forget the best in the world interiors).

Like I have said before, it is sad that people have to buy certain cars to boost their self-image. Buy the car for the drive and feel, etc.

What about Ferrari's???

Mercedes really has no appeal in the US anymore. They only sell because people want to say they drive a Mercedes. The interiors, fit, finish, paint, and overall quality is quite bad.

A lot of Mercedes owners switched to Lexus, and then want to rate Lexus as prestigious as Mercedes, being completely ignorant to the fact that although the product is superior in quality, innovation, heritage, and international recognition are lacking, making Lexus nothing more than a sucessful startup.

And what is this about Audi owners not wanting to show off. I don't know where you guys live, but A4's and A6's are just as "prestigious" as a 3 or 5. In fact, my lease rate is more than $100 over a comparable 3 series.

In Dallas, you roll up to a club in a 4, 6, or 8 and you command respect.

And I should add Dallas is one of the most superficial, money driven places in the US. Second to LA for the amount of fake tit recipients. So, that says alot.

I think this "drivers get labelled" really differs in which part of the city/state/country you live in.

In SW part of the States, personally one car I would like to be seen in is a S Class. One of tha reasons being is because all tha divers just seem to have that "status" if you wanna call it.

If you drive 7 Series, you're most likely to have "dubs" or 22's 24's, which give BMW as a whole, a bad image.

Even tho I'd rather buy 7 over S, I'd rather be seen in S.


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Mercedes really has no appeal in the US anymore. They only sell because people want to say they drive a Mercedes. The interiors, fit, finish, paint, and overall quality is quite bad.
=================================

I have to disagree. MB is still a very appealing brand despite the poor press recently. BMW and Audi have not exactly been trouble-free either, yet you only mention MB. Why is that!?

Fit and finish have improved and so has overall quality. I am sure the reliability issues are being worked out. MB's were always solid and they still are, except for the first generation M-Class and the original current C-Class before the facelift. But look at how the brand has improved its interiors, engines etc. over the last few years.

That has got to mean something. To me, MB is saying: "We're doing something about it."

BMW's for yuppies? S4, I don't know if you're being sarcastic or serious. I agree that BMW has gotten a bad name over the last few years because of snobby owners and posers, but BMW is still a brand which appeals to a wide variety of people. Most of these admittedly want the badge, but they've got the cash so let them be. ;)

In my country Audi drivers are usually badged as criminals, thieves and suspicious "businessman".

Audiman4 - You are correct about Dallas and "status".

Walk into a club and start a conversation, and within the first 5 mins the subject will come up, "what do you drive". This is after she has looked you over and determined if the Tag watch you are wearing is real or a knock off.

The better the badge in her eyes, the better your chances of redeeming your manhood.

My boss has a RAZR and an Audi. I have a BMW and a Nokia 6151. So what's your point?

GermanNut - why did you post such a pointless article?

All you are doing is reinforceing stereotypes. And the problem with stereotypes is that they are not accurate.

IN YOUR OPINION, BMW drivers are yuppies, Merc drivers are old and AUDI drivers are cool... but I know people with BM's, with Mercs and with Audi's and none of them particularly fit your stereotyping.. You say BMW's are for estate agents. Of the three estate agents that works near me, one has a Range Rover, one has a 730d(?) and the other has an S3....

I judge people on the way they drive, not on what they drive.

Yes I drive a BMW and I am aggresive - I've been driving for just over ten years and have had no accidents - just lots of speeding fines.

The Lexus camp begs for respect, the Rodney Dangerfields of the automotive world. Exceptionally talented but never respected.

The Audi camp is always the underdog, respected by many and discounted by the vocal few. Long on merits and criticisms.

Porsche guys used to be labeled as arrogant and prickly. But that is changing, they are coming across as the consumate performance freaks.

They may have been replaced by the arrogance of the BMW propoganda lately, and the crop of wannabes that buy them. The trend here is "We are the chosen ones". Proof a few bad apples can indeed ruin an attitude towards an educated and intellegent marquee.

Mercedes is portrayed by both the new money and the old money crowd.

Dallas???? You guys are comparing Dallas to LA? You're kidding right? The average home costs around $145,000 in Dallas. That's like pocket change to people in LA. Good luck finding anything at those prices in LA. Maybe you could rent out that dumpster behind your local In-N-Out Burger. Atleast you'll get food while you're at it. Anyways, what kind of respect are you commanding with your A4, A6, A8 in Dallas? All the trailer tash rednecks?

I'm actually laughing about the "commanding respect" Audi comment.

I think BMW has the worst rep, with yuppie snobs at the wheel, although I guess I fall in that class :)

mkk21- $145k in LA is a house in the Demilitarized Zone in LA. It is a <10-year-old starter home in Dallas. Actually $750K in Dallas will buy you a $4 million home in LA. Maybe that is why all of you guys are moving here?

So since the cost of living is relatively low you get a lot of $35K millionaires. Low house payments or rent allow them to buy a BMW or MB way before they should. Actually a large BMW payment is probably the same as their house bank note or more. Pretty insane.

These same people are the ones that complain about the cost of parts. Actually if you really thought about the purchase, you would have considered those run flats will cost you $1600 for a set. They become disenchanted and evolve over to a better fit eventually. A Toyota or possibly a Lexus where the parts are more traditional and less costly.

Is the car the fault? Nope, it is poor planning on the buyer. Living beyond their means causes bad feeling when day to day expenses arise they have difficulty paying for, hence a bad rap The younger the core audience with lack of maturity and the relative accessibility of the brand and lack of funds to maintain causes attitudes on both sides of the fence. These attitudes range from a false sense of self worth to a disgruntled owner.

A pretty polarizing effect that you see portrayed often here often. “I own Brand X and I am better than you”. People of real worth, typically don’t have such a myopic view of life. When I think of those portrayed by the marquee I have to look at the maturity factor of those involved and sort out the fools from the players.

I wouldn't necessarily lump all BMW drivers into the same label - same goes for all Audi drivers, MB drivers too....

If some guy rolls up in a 318 - I think idiot!
If some guy rolls up in an A4 - I think big deal!
If some guy rolls up in a C240 - I think loser!

Adversly if some guy rolls up in a M5 - I think dude!
If some guy rolls up in an S8 - I think style!
If some guy rolls up in a SL65AMG - I think whoa! (sexiest car on the planet as far as I'm concerned)

Loki- I agree you can't lump anyone into a group. Including you or me.

What about those that drive up in an A4, but also owns a S4. Does your opinion change with the ride? I guess first impression may matter, but you can't judge a book by its cover.

The opinion is basely solely on the car so of course it changes from vehicle to vehicle - it's all about the individual ride and less about the vehicles that fall under the whole BMW or Audi umbrella. That's what this discussion is about.

My take is that sure a company's drivers get labelled but the company's individual vehicles are equally labelled in some fashion. Not all BMW drivers get the "wow, I'm driving a sought after machine, so I must be cool" factor. Sure the guy in the 318 and guy in the A4 "feel" cool but in reality it's the guy in the M5 and the SL65AMG that "are" cool and are labelled accordingly.

Like me for instance - do I get labelled differently in my Acura Legend as I do in my NSX. Of course!

Car Enthusiasts Judge by Model.
I know from experience that what a person drives has almost no bearing on the person's Net Worth; HOWEVER

A BMW 318 Makes no sense to a Car Enthusiast because you do not get to experience the thrill that BMW buyers claim their vehicles Exhude so we will assume the person only bought the car for the Badge or the Looks (Usually True)

A Golf R32 makes Enthusiasts say COOL because the person could have bought a 320 coupe but spent his money instead on something that will be Loads more enjoyable.

While I know that not everyone is Lucky enough to purchase the Cars of their Dreams i have always held the attitude that id rather Own a Top Of The Line & Fully Loaded SEAT LEON than a 318 with Cloth Seats and No Climate Control or Similar Standard CLK
(Over Here all you get Standard from BMW or MB is 4 Wheels/Tyres and an Engine )

MDalle is Correct

Unless you Own your own business and do not need to Network you need to be seen in a good Car, Its just how the world works, people have to make a snap judgement about you and having the right Automobile and Watch and Clothes gives the impression that you are somewhat Successful in whatever field you are in and thus you have their attention.
(Sad but True and If You Cant Beat Them, Join Them)

BMW530i-

"Most of these admittedly want the badge, but they've got the cash so let them be. ;)"

You just proved my point.

And usually, BMW owners (specifically 3er owners) have less money than you think. They get amazing rates on 325s and pose with their cars next to their studio apartments.

MDalle: "That doesn't change the fact that people judge you by the car you drive!
...But when it comes down to it, no matter who you are, people who don't know you will judge you by the car you drive. And truly rich people do care about image and big cars equals image... "



maybe most europeans ARE snobs then! or at the least, overly image conscious.

the OPPOSITE tends to be true in america. the truly rich DO NOT FEEL any need to impress. (only the aspiring middle class and nouveau rich seem to have that particular "need" here.)

the MOST POPULAR daily driver for rich americans, according to numerous studies and surveys by the authors of "The Millionaire Next Door," is the very ordinary ford f-150 TRUCK! then, in no particular order, toyotas, hondas, mercedes.

my richest brother, who easily has a net worth in the 7-figure range, drives a more humble vehicle than i do. and i only drive an '03 toyota corolla!

my rich sister, of similiar or greater wealth, drives an aging toyota van; her hubby a camry about as old as my car. (in QUITE comfortable retirement, they take about 3-4 full package tour trips a year.)

with regard to the original topic: bmw owners seem to have the strongest "yuppie" and "aggressive driver" images.

which may possibly be working in DETRIMENT for other potential buyers. there was a thread recently that mentioned 75% of luxury car buyers DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER bmw.