The 4 Categories of Car Owners: Which Do You Fall Under?

It finally happened. Like your last three relationships, your car has kicked the bucket—no sparks in sight in the garage or elsewhere. It’s probably time to consider whether an airbrushed van is still the right ride for your image. Your next car should reflect where you are in life. If you still have Christmas lights taped around your ceiling like you did in college, then a European beater is your vehicle. (Or maybe it’s time to grow up.) Or maybe you’re a fun-loving good guy who likes to explore the world…

The Hipster

A hipster wouldn’t say you are looking for a used car; instead, you’re picking up a little bit of vintage history. The long-running Volvo 200 series credited its popularity to comfort and practicality. A favorite of college professors and Kurt Cobain (a rocker who had a commitment to automotive safety, Clash magazine says), this boxy offbeat wagon was the answer to the sleek pretension of luxury models. Volvo is known for making reliable cars that handle well, so the cult following of this decidedly unsexy car is supported by the promise of a solid long-term relationship.

Photo of Volvo 240 via Wikimedia Commons. All Rights Released.

The Fun-Lover

Be prepared to cruise down the beachway in convertibles like the Ford Mustang, turning a few heads and moving fast. Since the introduction of the third generation in 1979, Mustangs have packed more power and become more lightweight. The 1993 Cobra could go 0-60 in under six seconds. Though not built to accommodate many passengers, Mustang convertibles over the years have touted comfortable leather interiors and manual transmission options. This car’s not for the family man. Their main focus is speed. The latest model’s top speeds are over 200 miles per hour.

Photo of 1993 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R by InSapphoWeTrust via Wikimedia Commons.

The Good Guy

If you’re the kind of man who will help your buddies move and re-do your parent’s porch, grab a sturdy pickup like the Dodge Ram. With a payload of over 3,000 pounds and a towing capacity more than double that, this truck is able to get big jobs done easily. It’s offered in automatic and manual, and the paparazzi at Celebrity Cars saw Brad Pitt cruising in one on the set of “Moneyball.” Of course, getting a pickup truck doesn’t ensure that you’ll look like Pitt.

Photo of Dodge Ram 1500 via Wikimedia Commons. All Rights Released.

The Global Explorer

Six airbags. Eight passengers. Twenty miles per gallon city, 23 mpg highway. The Chevy Tahoe reaches out to handsome environmentalists by reducing fuel costs as a hybrid, and still allows you to do some serious off-roading to get to your destination. This is the man’s man car, and it’s ready for desert four-wheeling, hunting trips up north and the 150 soccer games your kids play every year. Through the use of regenerative brake technology, even pit stops for street food power the car. The energy formerly given off as heat after braking is translated into battery charge for the electric part of the hybrid system.

Photo of 2013 Chevy Tahoe by Kegan Reese via Flickr

 

Author – Steven Butler

Steve is a classic car collector and automobile enthusiast from L.A.