You might never have thought of your vehicle as reflecting your personality, but in a general sense, it can.
Consumer choice and motivation to buy cars and other goods are driven by two major factors: hedonic considerations and utilitarian considerations. Sports cars and convertibles, for example, are based primarily on hedonic factors: shape, price, speed, handling, and prestige. On the other hand, a minivan or medium-sized crossover is based primarily on utilitarian considerations: gas mileage, safety rating, cargo space, and the number of available seats.
Do you prioritize safety or prefer cars that excite you when you hear the engine roar" Do you value social status and seek luxury vehicles like those from BMW or Mercedes-Benz" If you like the great outdoors, there might just be a Subaru or Jeep parked in your garage. These two factors – hedonic and utilitarian considerations – are always present when we make a big purchase, offering a window into our priorities and personality.
Cars & Personality Types
According to a comprehensive analysis from the University of California in 2002, there are fundamental personality types and lifestyle factors at play when selecting a vehicle. If cars are extensions of our personalities, then it might be relatively easy to analyze people by what they drive in a general sense. Here is a summary of what the researchers from the University of California found (although it would be interesting to see an updated stu...