Cars and the Men Who Drive Them

Automobiles and personalities are almost always in sync with cars that reflect the character, preferences, dreams and goals of their owners. What men want and what men get as their vehicle of choice is almost always a statement of how they perceive themselves and how they want others to perceive them.

Sports Cars

Sports car guys love fast and flashy cars with an expensive and sporty look — the kind that can be adorned by an amazingly beautiful woman in a sophisticated garment. The sports car represents excitement and adventure, things that may be generally lacking in their personal lives. Driving a fast and elegant car may be just the ticket. There’s nothing more sensuous than a high-performance sports car. For the man who wants to feel extraordinary, UK Autocar recommends these Top Sports Cars:

1. The new Porsche 911 delivers features that are either new or improved, such as electromechanical power steering, a seven-speed manual gear box and more aluminum to reduce weight. The primary visual design feature of the cabriolet is the exciting panel bow-top roof, giving this vehicle a high tech and sleek look that stands out in a crowd.
2. The Audi R8 has essential new features, like a restyled exhaust system, restyled grill and updated valence in the rear. A seven-speed manual clutch transmission makes for a hassle-free ride, while standard sat-nav, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity keep you in touch at all times. The New Audi R8 has a level of agility and response that everyone desires in a sports car.
3. Nissan’s GT-R has superior industry-leading performance at a surprisingly low cost.

Luxury Cars

Luxury vehicle owners may be more concerned with branding, prestige and image than they are in value. One example is Landover – a high priced mediocre car with a poor performance record, great look and hyped history. This vehicle is frequently acquired by men preferring image to substance. More savvy luxury owners are the movers and shakers who want to see great things accomplished and who value productivity. These are the men who expect top quality and get it. Forbes top pics for luxury cars are:

1. Bentley – The new 12-cylinder Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible is a rugged coupe with a ludicrous top speed of 205 mph. Those in a rush will be delighted with its acceleration — 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. It’s one of the fastest production models ever.
2. The Mercedes-Benz CLA compact sedan competes neck and neck with BMW for sales supremacy and has the performance and quality most seek in a top-of-the-line luxury vehicle.
3. The 2013 Cadillac ATS is the only American car taken seriously in Forbe’s luxury list. It is aiming directly for BMW with its fast, sporty ATS.

Earth-Friendlier Cars

Tree huggers who feel responsible for our environment gravitate towards low-emission, hybrid vehicles. As nurturers of the planet’s environmental health, they choose vehicles with the least environmental impact. Add a set of tires from Kumho, a company known for its earth-friendly manufacturing techniques, and the carbon footprint gets even smaller. Mother Earth News analyzed the best green cars of 2012 and here are some of the top findings:

1. As America’s best-selling passenger car, the Toyota Camry Hybrid has a spacious, well-designed passenger cabin and an efficient 200-horsepower Hybrid Synergy Drive system. When you consider its combined 41-mpg, it’s easy to see why this impressive vehicle leads the pack.
2. 2013 Toyota Prius V is the largest member of the Prius family and offers the most utility. Despite an impressive 44 mpg in city and capacious cargo capacity, its fuel efficiency and practicality are heads above other vehicles in the same class.
3. Chevrolet Volt is an extended-range electric compact hatchback with 95/93 MPG, electric range of 25 to 50 miles and 375 combined miles using both electric and gas.

Family Cars

Conservative family men valuing safety and comfort will no doubt share their vehicle with spouse and children. Many will look for the latest high-tech safety gadgets and the smoothest ride.

Yahoo Autos recommends the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV and Jeep as the most popular SUVs. What all have in common is a powerful look and standard equipment that includes fuel efficiency and 5 or 6 speed automatic transmission.

1. The Toyota RAV 4 has a 176-horsepower engine with MPG ratings of 24 city and 31 highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.
2. The Lexus LX comes with a standard 2.4-liter, I4, 185-horsepower engine and gets a 23/31 mpg. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.
3. Jeep’s Laredo 4X2 is equipped with a standard 290-horsepwer, 3.6-liter, V6 engine and gets 17/25 mpg.

Practical Cars

Practical men who are logical, reasonable and likely to make great accountants or engineers prefer cars that are compact, are efficient and have great safety records.

1. The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric, compact hatchback with the equivalent of 106/92 MPG. The annual fuel cost is estimated at $600 – a great buy for the practical minded man. The Leaf is the most successful all-electric car ever, but competition from Ford, Honda and Tesla is not far behind.
2. Volkswagen Passat TDI is a brand new diesel sedan with 30/40 MPG and annual fuel costs of $1,800. It is the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid on the road today and excels in efficiency as you can travel 800 miles without refueling.
3. The Mitsubishi I electric compact hatchback has a low annual fuel cost of $550 but has a limited electric range of 62 miles – suitable for a local commute.

Author: Jonah Berg

Jonah is a dad and tech blogger who loves to work on cars in his spare time.