do people judge you by what car you drive?

[blingbling]

say if you had a white collar job but kept showing up to work in a car that is not "business like" (along the lines of a hot hatch, rx-8, or mustang) while everyone around you is driving lexus/citroens/volvos, do you think you could give off the wrong vibe?

I am being offered employment in the dallas fort worth area, and the field of work requires a lot of networking and meeting new people so the first impression is important. I am looking to get a sports car of some sort when I am living there, but I am worried that the people I work with (all are at least 15-20 years older than I am) prefer to have all the younger employees essentially do the "bitch work".

I have never lived anywhere with warm weather around the year and would love to have a sports car and not worry about snow tyres but this new job makes me feel as if I need to sell my automotive soul in order to succeed there. Lexus/Buick dealership here I come?

epic fail...

[csl177]

Why would you feel any pressure for your car to conform to their expectations... even if they have any? Unless you're dubbin' or driving a freak ricer, no worries. Buy something you'll enjoy that may even be impressive to your new contacts and workmates. Used M3 cabrios are pretty nice for reasonable money, or perhaps a Honda S2000? Nissan's 350/370 cabrio is pretty sweet, too.

FWIW, in the early '80s I worked as a hired gun for several tech companies in RTP near Raleigh NC. Parking lots at IBM and Northern Telecom were loaded with high-zoot BMWs and Mercs. Over at Burroughs Wellcome several Porsches and a Ferrari occupied the front lot. I was 25, long-haired but dressed appropriately (though rarely a tie) and drove a non-hippy '62 VW bus... almost everyone commented how much they loved it. Being a designer there's some expectation of quirkiness, so long as it's not threatening. You should drive what you like. The only thing potentially threatening in corporate world is if your ride is badder/more prestigous than your managers...

[blingbling]

Originally Posted by csl177

non-hippy '62 VW bus...

hahaha

seriously though that is great and all but mob bosses prefer all their soldiers to drive unassuming vehicles as to not draw unwanted attention to themselves. I believe I have no choice in this matter.

[csl177]

Mob bosses?!?

Get a Camry.

[Ferrer]

Will you work be related with sales, or will you have to visit clients? Then I would say your car choice could be important. I know cases of both extremes, either the car was too good and expensive and therefore the client would get upset and think you were showing off or the car didn't offer a good enough image and the client would think you business may not be reliable enough.

If that's not the case I wouldn't care about what other colleagues from the company would think about my car. And even if it was, I'd still would have a hard time changing my decision on my car, just because of some image-related issues...

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Will you work be related with sales, or will you have to visit clients? Then I would say your car choice could be important. I know cases of both extremes, either the car was too good and expensive and therefore the client would get upset and think you were showing off or the car didn't offer a good enough image and the client would think you business may not be reliable enough.

If you are in the selling business, you would probably have a leased car anywayand the options offered by such companies are severely limited, mostly to middle of the road cars such as Audis, BMWs or Golfs or if you are lucky they let you have a French car

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by henk4

If you are in the selling business, you would probably have a leased car anywayand the options offered by such companies are severely limited, mostly to middle of the road cars such as Audis, BMWs or Golfs or if you are lucky they let you have a French car

True, altough it may not be always the case. For instance where I'm working now, only the top executive get company cars, or the other case where you are the boss or the company is relatively small (very common here) and you get a broader choice. Including non-german cars that is...

[pimento]

If the people involved aren't people who are interested in cars, it's probably the colour that matters more than the model. If you don't want to stand out, get something silver or black with a fixed roof and they probably won't notice, as long as it's not too flashy.

[Lagonda]

It depends on your clientele, but yes I do feel that the choice of car is very important (over here anyway). People get real jealous sometimes and that's something you'd want to avoid. Clients (especially when you are young!) don't like it when you drive a better/bigger/faster/more expensive car.
They see it as if young salespeople/executives don't deserve such a car yet.

I know someone who had to get rid of his S-class because of all the negative comments he got from clients. Admittedly those clients where mainly in social care, goverment, healthcare etc (in other words: socialists).

You're good as long as you avoid 2-doors, convertibles, sports models (AMG, M, etc.). A sensible 4 door BMW, 3 or maybe 5 series would do. 4 doors are also important IMHO. Maybe you'll take clients with you, to dinner etc. Good luck pushing them in the backseat of your Porsche.

Either way it really depends on you clientele and what they drive/expect.

Heck I even get the vibe with my Mini or when I use my mom's BMW 5 to get to clients. They all tell me nice car, but you can FEEL the jealousy and contempt (because I'm young AND in a creative profession (photographer)).

[NicFromLA]

I'll make your life easy: Get a VW GTi (or Golf R if you have the $$). Most people will think you have a practical hatchback, but people in the know will know you like cars. AND best of all - it'll be fun to drive.

[NSXType-R]

If you have to make an impression but are not looking for something too expensive, then get a Lexus. I know I'll probably get flack for it, but it most definitely won't offend anyone and is still relatively reasonably priced. Besides, it's still a comfortable car.

If Lexus isn't your thing, get an Infiniti.

And no matter how cheap it could be, I definitely wouldn't get a Hyundai Equus or Genesis. That most definitely would not impress me.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

If you have to make an impression but are not looking for something too expensive, then get a Lexus. I know I'll probably get flack for it, but it most definitely won't offend anyone and is still relatively reasonably priced. Besides, it's still a comfortable car.

The problem is, what if you are not beige?

Lagonda nails it down very well. And I'd say that at a younger age the smaller the better. In the US pretty much the only choice you have is Germany, and even there's a potential problem, beucause unlike here there are no entry level versions...

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Lagonda

I know someone who had to get rid of his S-class because of all the negative comments he got from clients. Admittedly those clients where mainly in social care, goverment, healthcare etc (in other words: socialists).

you do have a very peculiar definition of socialists.

[Lagonda]

Originally Posted by henk4

you do have a very peculiar definition of socialists.

I knew someone would say that. Don't get me wrong I don't have an issue with socialists or socialism. Most of my family is pretty socialist. Maybe socialist isn't even the right word, I also wasn't "defining" socialists.

It's just that most people working in that sector happen to be pretty leftist and the type of people that's really against expensive cars.

Either way I don't want to go debating politics here.

[novi]

Originally Posted by Lagonda

It depends on your clientele, but yes I do feel that the choice of car is very important (over here anyway). People get real jealous sometimes and that's something you'd want to avoid. Clients (especially when you are young!) don't like it when you drive a better/bigger/faster/more expensive car.

You ARE an adroit and observant fellow, though often the ill-will you sense, is just a result of human nature... some environments possessing more of "it" than one would hope for, as a buddy in Oslo is fond of saying.
Cheerio, mate! Don't let the mindless get ya down...