Page 38 - 2019 Auto Show Guide

By Desiree Miller
desiree@stressfreebaby.com

Face it. Odds are you make an immediate Psychologists and researchers present a different spin on cer-
assumption about someone driving a cherry tain vehicles than you may think when you take your seat and
grab the steering wheel.
red car, and a very different assumption when
you see another driver behind the wheel of a Here’s an example: If you’re drawn to expensive, flashy or
vehicle that’s lime green. Chances are you im- bright red vehicles, psychologists say you’re looking for pos-
itive attention from others, but because red cars and sports
mediately draw conclusions about someone
cars are most likely to be stolen or pulled over by police, it
speeding down the road in a shiny new McLar- shows owners are also willing to risk negative attention that
en, and quite a different one about the person may make a dent into their investment through tickets or theft.
And while men may think fast and exotic cars are attractive to
chugging along in what could be considered
the ladies, one marketing research firm found most women
a classic in a couple more years. think men with those kinds of autos are arrogant, or what may
be worse to many, that they’re insecure and compensating for
We all know our car often says quite a bit about us. For some, shortcomings (Harris Poll, March 2014).
that doesn’t matter much. After all, the car’s real purpose is to
get us from point A to B, and as long as that happens without In that same study, 32 percent of women said a car can reveal
incident, we’re thrilled. But for others, that vehicle is largely an what kind of family man a guy will be. For example, women
extension of themselves. Some believe it can be interpreted looking for long-term relationships may be more attracted to
as a pretty public display of who we are. But what you think it a man in a luxury sedan than a sporty roadster.
means may be very different from what others are really think-
ing.

Color says quite a bit, too.

Are you driven to park yourself in a black car? Research shows men (and
women) who back a black car tend to be more rebellious. But it’s also
known to be a sexy and sleek color for vehicles, representing luxury, so-
phistication and power.

Silver car owners like to conform and experts say they are calm and
sometimes aloof. Those with white are said to be seeking status and
want to be seen as fresh, young, and modern (Axalta Automotive Color
Popularity Report for 2013). According to BASF, who supplies automak-
ers like GM with exterior coatings, the most popular car colors today are
greyscale shades, along with variations of blue. This tracks along with
well-established trends in color choice in recent years (Newswheel.com).

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