ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Fairly often you see poeple say in threads

"I wouldn't be seen dead in a BMW"

Or

"I wouldn't touch an Octavia vRS because its a Skoda"



What is your opinion of these people?

I think we have two catogories:

Small minded Lar de dars..that wouldn't be seen dead in a TK max wearing non-specfic branded clothing. Who are basically sheep to the masses, they do what is seen as trendy or what other people/magazines/tv progs rave about, regardless of the brand being any good or not.

Or

People who are paranoid of being "labelled" or some sort of negative slur put on them because of what they drive. They are more of a fool than the ones that DO buy because of the brand, as essentially, they are like the snobs as they again rubbish a brand on its physical merits puerly on the badge and reputation of its owners.

Both pathetic IMO

I love BMWs even though some are driven by ***** and the VRs is a fantastic car for the money, even if it is a Skoda. Series Land Rovers are usually driven by somewhat odd eccentrics, doesn't stop me pratting about in one. Imprezas ownership has changed to include a bunch of arseholes, but I criticise and compliment the car on the car itself, in priority to the badge or image that comes along with it.

john banks

Impreza, Octavia vRS & BMW. Maybe I have an image problem!

Scooby-Doo

Its as bad as stating that BMW's are driven by *****. Your happy to stereotype drivers to badges but not vica versa ???????

Petem95

A lot of people buy cars simply because of their image. I agree its a pity that the Subaru image has now become 'a chav car', when it used to be more an enthusiasts sports saloon.

The Skoda image is interesting - those who read the motoring press know the cars are basically VW's under the skin, and are generally excellent - yet chav's who dont really have a clue just think back to 80's Skoda jokes, and assume theyre crap cars - and as a result the Skoda brand now has a very-understated quietly confident image.

BMW's do seem to be associated with people who think 'theyre better than everyone else' - and this is a pity as theyre good cars. What really damages the image is the lowlifes who buy a really old BMW, give it the rude-boy treatment, then drive it around town on a Saturday night kidding themselves that everyone is looking at them thinking "wow he must be loaded" when the car is clearly worth f*ck all!

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Couldnt agree more, we have a VW Sharan (basic one) just because thats what we got a good deal on, its the same as the Ford Galaxy or Seat Alhambra, any of the three would have done, not bothered about the badge in the slightest as its a people carrier ffs, its like worrying about what colour your turd is, anyway my sister in law asked my advice about getting one, they tried it and I pointed out that better deals could be had on the Ford via an importer nowadays or a Seat via the dealer but she would not entertain either due to the badge ? its the SAME thing, same engine, drivetrain, bodyshell apart from some trim and spec differences but she would not even try the Ford, to me thats weird worrying about a badge on a car that means you are f*cked anyway !

I like BMW's also and think you are maybe a little harsh saying that all drivers of them are *****, they sell more 3 series than Mondeos nowadays so the cant all be *****, there is however an attitude, like round here the X5 owners that park wherever the f*ck they want whether it causes a jam or not, its the im alright jack mentaility that goes right through this country being manifested in a choice of vehicle, sorry but an X5 just says that the drive will probably be aggressive, ignorant and selfish to other road users, not all, but I find my driving relies on stereotypes to anticipate how other drivers will react, you just know that an X5 will not take any notice and pull out anyway, cos 'I am considerably richer than yow', dont take this as a jealousy thing, we could go and get an X5 if we wanted one, its a good car but to much of a statement. We had a M class Merc (long story, it was poo) and my wife hated it, hated approval of the orange designer mummies at school.

I cant be doing with label snobs, you do tend to find those that worry about such things are insecure and usually have no money anyway, the truly loaded just buy what they want regardless of its label and dont go on about it. I am not saying I am perfect, I am not totally immune to it, its just a case of rationalising it and thinking whether you need something or whether you just need affirmation through your purchase. Still think you should have to a sticker on anything that isnt paid for. I know pwople who still live at their parents houses and take the p1ss out of what I buy, they buy designer gear and still live with mummy.

Quite fancy a VRS, its a bit of an antidote to the above, AUdi used to fulfil that breif but are nearly as bad as BMW nowadays. My in laws went to get an avant something or other and my mother in law exclaimed about the dog getting in and the salesman didnt think they should put dogs in an Audi.

Paul_M

LMAO!

BTW I do think a lot of BMW drivers are *****, and that's from an 840Ci owner Oh and my dad has a 330Ci, so there are exceptions to the rule

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I have never said that...thats what other poeple say But I can't argue with the tendancies...as they often do get driven by badge snobs - which is who I am criticising. So not really vica versa is it?

dpb

I Drive a citroen xsara vtr....

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Before people nit pick...i'll nip it in the bud...I'll edit and add "some drivers". I'm not out to tar everyone of a particular car with the same brush.

astraboy

conciously or unconciously we all do it though.
Having said that I am buying a BMW in febuary, something I swore I'd never do. Ever.
astraboy.

dpb

bored Ali..?..

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

That's the thing with BMWs (and similar brands) though, they are fashionable, so amongst the people who buy them are the ones that I'm ranting about. I'd hazard a guess that they are also the ones who typify the "typical" BMW drivers too. But I'd never let that put me off one.

It is interesting to note, that out of the fashionable car brands you tend to notice more idiots dirving them that other less trendy cars whether that's just perception or a actual fact I could never prove. But if it was teh case it would certainly point to that people who are ***** are the ones who specifically pick a car on it's brand image.

You could make the same observation on the hot headed 20something women driving in little French hatchbacks (Pugs or Renaults ).....I bet some wouldn't be seen dead in a Honda Jazz or a Ford, unless they get sucked in by the Kia Pichanto(sp?) adverts


dpb...I was provoked into action

Bubba po

I think the last 3-series sold so many not because of brand image, but because they are an extremely good-looking, well built motor car. IMO, the new 3-series will bomb by comparison.

Brendan Hughes

When the X5 came out, people raved about it, the best on/off roader in years. So everyone who could afford it, bought one.

Most (not all) other BMWs are considered the same, look at the back of the mags. They are apparently damned good cars for what they do.

The Boxster was raved about also. Sod "poor man's 911" label, it was rated as one of the best handling mid-engined 2-seaters ever.

The Impreza was also rated.

Truth is, those who can afford cars which are universally considered excellent, buy them. Even if they aren't brilliant/considerate drivers themselves. What else do you expect, a millionaire to choose a Kia as he feels like saving money? Do you imagine a 25-yr-old salesman hitting his targets, getting his bonus, and then saying "Wow, I could afford a 330i, but I've got no road etiquette so I'd better buy a Volvo"? And as the price of an excellent car drops from 25k to 5k, so they become available to the lower age range and income bracket. See the Impreza and the chav reputation today. This has happened AFAIR from the mk I Escort and doubtless before that.

I'm not sure the examples given are good. Surely the problem is with people who buy an M-class or an A-class, as it's a Merc, despite the fact that they are commonly reviewed as, well, not really the top of the tree - the X5 and Scenic respectively are supposed to be far superior, but don't have the label. Or the enthusiast drivers who choose a TT over a VX220 as they wouldn't be seen in a Vauxhaull. THOSE are the ones with problems.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Most BMWs are good. Very few can deny that. Me using BMWs as an example was actually sparked off by someone saying and I quote "I'd never ever touch a BMW, because everyone who drives them are t******s"...lunacy It's not the cars I'm really trying to distinguish here...but the people who decide to buy (or not to buy) them purely for badge and image.

The VX220 example is a good one especially when you meet people who sneer at them who opted for an Elise instead <shrugs>.

Rokerlad

Impreza's are suffering badly from an image problem at the minute, because of all the chavs driving cheapo old Jap WRX's.

I still would never have a Skoda mind

Dark Blue Mark

Totally agree Roker.

A few years ago if I mentioned I owned a scoob, most people would be quite interested. Now they just sneer and yes, its due to the **** heads in their old half written off WRX's with all the bling bits on. Totally nothing against old WRX's, I peronally think they're bloody nice (used to have one) mainly due to the small rear wing

Its one of the reasons I dont own or miss having a scoob anymore, sadly.

A newage I would consider though

MB

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I take it back about 3 series drivers, they are tossers, came across one doing 50 in the outside lane of a dual carriageway, me thundering up at 70, completely ignores me for 2 miles until I move into the inside lane, he thought I was going to go through on the inside so indicated in and blocked both lanes straddling the line, in actual fact my turn was coming up and I was just going to go left, so basically he sat there stopping me going past and then objected in an aggressive way when he thought I wasnt having any of it, just being a road captain like they all are, arseholes !

Bubba po

^^Off topic.

Do you think he bought it out of brand snobbery, or not?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Argreed, it does beg the question...thatthe person with that mentality on road usage also has issue with the significance of the brand of car they and others drive?

Is there a link?

Snowy_RA

Went from a scoob to an E39 M5.

The only differences I really notice are.. I get alot less attention in the M5 from the chav brigade. Also If Im trying to get out of a side junction Im there for the duration because Im now 'The flash Wan*er in the BMW'

I drive exactly the same I think, I also believe most of the stereotyping is done in the heads of other road users. i.e. They see me and the above phrase goes through thier heads same as I/we see a burrberry cap'd chap in a saxo and 'Chav' echo's in my/our heads.

We can't help it's human nature.

Snowy

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Snowy, dont find the owners of proper BMW's a problem, i.e. the M5, its the X5's and debadged 3 series that are the **** ends, saying that there is an M3 owner around here (H4LL L) who is quite the most aggressive and dangerous driver I have EVER seen in any type of car, plate was on a Merc CLK before and he drove like a **** in that as well.

Then again, I always find that Green old shape Lagunas are driven by idiots as are GTTDI Golfs and new Minis.

Scooby-Doo

I own an X5 and am not a snob or w&nker. The real problem is the Subaru drivers who think they are participating in a rally every time they get behind the wheel

KiwiGTI

I think all the problems described in this thread are restricted mainly to the UK and the mentality of people who drive here.

gregjd

I think I'm a badge snob to a point, but would overlook it if the model in question was good enough.. ie

Wouldn't have a Skoda unless it was a vRS
Wouldn't have another Renault (cruddy build quality)..but at a push would consider a Clio Trophy

Boring stuff like residual values and perceived build-quality is more likely to put me off a brand than snob value.

Gav

I own a 54plate 320ci sport coupe and i do not drive it like a tw*t It really pi$$es me of when people judge others because one person in a hundred drives like a ****! Believe me i've seen it myself, there are a lot of 3 series driving w4nkers who think they own the road. You get d!ck head kids flying around at 60-70 mph in 30 zones in a scooby, does that mean to say all Subaru Impreza drivers are w4nkers??? No it doesnt, it means theres a select few who spoil it for the rest. So dont judge all 3 series owners on a couple of to$$ers.

And i bought my car not for my image, i bought it because it's a beautifully engineered, and great looking car. Nothing else

Gav..

P.S- J4CKO, there are a lot of i'm better than you people in Wilmslow, just look at them and laugh at how pathetic they are

Flatcapdriver

Not really. It has more to do with jealousy than anything else, although you'd never get anyone to admit that about BMW as it's fashionable to knock them in the same way people who have a go about Boxters being a poor man's Porsche. I mean, who'd want to buy a drop top that has had the roof removed when the better solution is to buy a car that has been designed from the outset as a convertible such as the relationhip between the Boxster and the 911 range.

You also have to bare in mind that an awful lot of people are incapable of original thought on here so merely mimic ideas put up by others.

As has been said, there is a distinct Chav element now part of the Scooby scene which we will all be tarred with and even before outsiders used to nod knowingly about big exhausts etc.

matchmaker

Why? Because of the image?

20 years ago Subarus were driven by men in wellies who carried a haybale and a dog called Shep in the back

KiwiGTI

???? Back then I thought that Subarus were a bit of a premium brand Japanese car that people who enjoyed skiing used to buy.

As I said before the UK must be the most shallow countries in the world when it comes to cars and image.

Ralph Wiggum

i'd certainly drive a skoda , because they make greats cars now and also in the past its only the 80s and late 70s image when the russians were in charge and they shelled out some terrible cars they say **** sticks and its true , skodas of old were innovative and great drivers cars, only true car nuts know that though and ignorant blinkered fools think that the new skodas are still that bad,

and reps in bmws do drive them like idiots BUT no worse than idiots in other cars, infact the past few days i have seen many imprezas being driven like idiots, (mainly going to the d1gp at silverstone) but i wouldn't swap mine cos a few people i love my car

i am thinking of a swap to perhaps a e30 m3 maybe slower but a true drivers car