What Your Car Says About You: Expectation vs Reality

Some of these stereotypes are based on personality, whilst others are based on profession and lifestyle, and it’s incredibly interesting to see how you might be perceived purely based on your vehicle of choice. To help you come to terms with the stereotypes that your car holds, we’ve put together this article, where we’ll be looking at the common expectations that are held for the driver of certain cars and comparing that to the reality of the people that drive them!

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Stereotypically bad drivers

The Vauxhall Corsa – is it just for chavs?

What Your Car Says About You: Expectation vs Reality

For most people in the UK, there’s a very particular stereotype given to those who drive Vauxhall Corsa’s, and it isn’t always a positive one. With the Corsa being such an affordable and accessible car, it is one of the most common vehicles on the roads in the UK and has been adopted as the car of choice by younger generations looking for a car that can be modified and customised in the style of the typical “racer” style. The common view is that the Corsa is a “chavvy” car, which refers to the car’s prominence in some of the poorest areas of the country.

Whilst the above may be somewhat true, research conducted by ChooseMyCar actually found that the Corsa is most popular with teachers, who are usually seen as a very reputable group of people who are pivotal to any society. With the car being cheap to insure and run, and very affordable to purchase or finance, it makes sense that teachers, who often find themselves underpaid, are turning to this stereotypically “chavvy” car as their vehicle of choice. This is a great example of stereotypes being nothing more than just that, with any car being able to serve a purpose if given the opportunity to.

Who drives a Ford Fiesta?

Another car that’s become synonymous with wannabe racers is the Ford Fiesta, which boasts a surprisingly powerful engine and nimble steering that’s sure to appeal to people looking for a fun, speedy drive. In general, Ford Fiesta drivers are seen to be of a younger generation, perhaps even freshly passed drivers too, who are looking for a car that’s cool and who don’t pay too much attention to the rules of the road or the lessons they’ve been taught by their instructors.

In contrast to this common opinion, our research finds that the Ford Fiesta is a popular choice of car for support workers and health care assistants, who are held in high regard for their caring and responsible nature! The Fiesta is a prime example of the old adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover”!

Do you drive a Ford Focus?

If you’re driving a Ford Focus, you’re likely to be seen as a young driver who’s just passed their test and is looking for something that’s cheap to insure within your budget. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with looking for a good deal, there is a certain stigma that is attached to young drivers, which is that they simply don’t care about the rules of the road and only drive for themselves, with no consideration for anyone else.

In reality, the Ford Focus is actually a popular car with adventurous types, particularly chefs (who’d have guessed?) – this is probably thanks to the bigger boot and ample cabin space, which makes the car a fantastic option for travelling and exploring!

Who drives a BMW 1 Series/3 Series?

Everyone knows what to expect from a BWM driver. They’re loud, obnoxious, and only drive for themselves, but is that just a stereotype? If the research is anything to go by, then it’s right on the money. BWM drivers have been frustrating the rest of the cars on the roads for many years gone by – these flashy businessmen can be seen on their hands-free, sipping a flat white, and acting like they own the road in cities across the country, so it’s no shock to see so many people feeling such frustration towards these bullish drivers.

The most common VW Golf drivers

Another car that seems to be very heavily involved in the wannabe racers category is the Volkswagen Golf, a fierce hatchback that really does pack a punch. With power under the hood, responsive steering, and a great set of interior features to accompany that driving experience, it’s no surprise to see young, brash drivers adopting this car as one of their preferred vehicles. If you’ve ever heard a revving engine passing by your house at an unreasonable hour of the night, you can put your money on it being a show-off in a suped-up Golf, or so the stereotypes go…

When delving into driving trends, we actually see that the VW Golf is most commonly driven by managerial staff and those from the world of fitness – could it be that this full-throttle hatchback is a further representation of their fast, pedal-to-the-metal lifestyle?

What cars do the good guys drive?

Of course, not all drivers fall into this category of acting like maniacs and benign a general nuisance to the rest of the road and for every BMW driver, there’s a safe, courteous, and respectful driver to help balance out the universe. Let’s take a look at some of the cars that you can expect only the kindest drivers to be gliding around in:

The stereotypical Qashqai driver

When you see that you’re behind a Nissan Qashqai driver on the road, you know you’re not in danger; whilst these cars can pack a punch and are more than capable of defeating a Golf with ease from a stationary start thanks to the beast of an engine under the bonnet, but they’re very rarely seen being driven by the racer crowd. Instead, the Qashqai has found its place as a reliable family car that mums and dads adore – it’s got ample space for the weekly shop, a couple of passengers, and even your belongings for a weekend away.

Unsurprisingly, this car has been found to be a national favourite for our beloved nurses; who better to trust when it comes to choosing something that’s safe and reliable! Whilst these drivers might sometimes be seen taking their time and doing everything by the book, it’s all in the name of keeping themselves and those around them safe, so we applaud you, Qashqai drivers!

Juke drivers: who are they?

With recent reports showing that the Nissan Juke is the UK’s most popular used car, it’s quite difficult to pinpoint exactly who it is that we expect to see driving one, as there are just so many of these cars on the road! If you’re a Juke driver, it’s fair to say that you probably aren’t the most expressive or exciting driver, but that’s okay – it’s not you. Juke drivers are reliable and responsible drivers who want to make sure that everyone gets to and from their destinations safely, and that’s nothing wrong with that at all.

The Juke has proven itself to be one of the best cars on the market in recent years, selling over 58,000 units in Europe alone in 2020! Boasting respectable fuel economy numbers at around 44.1-47.9mpg, a surprisingly enjoyable driving feel, and a stylish look to round things off, it’s easy to see why the Nissan Juke appeals to so many UK motorists.

What your Astra says about you

Last, but not least, we have the Vauxhall Corsa’s bigger, tamer, and less popular older brother, the Vauxhall Astra. Whilst it’s easy to think that the Astra will appeal to a similar crowd as the Corsa (it is, after all, very similar to look at and comes with a more powerful engine), this really is not the case – the Astra is a car that’s favoured by families and practical drivers who are looking to get a great car for the money that they’re spending. If you’re an Astra driver, we expect that you’re fun in all the right ways, responsible when you need to be, and you know how to keep others safe on the road – you’re everything we could hope to find in a driver!

Here at ChooseMyCar, we’re experts in helping people to find the right car regardless of their circumstances; a car is a vital need in modern-day life and we believe that everyone deserves access to a vehicle that’s safe, reliable, and practical for their needs. If you’re on the lookout for a new car or have discovered which car best suits your personality thanks to the above guide, feel free to get in touch with our team or start browsing our wide collection of vehicles today. With finance deals available on all of our cars and payment periods to suit every budget, ChooseMyCar is able to help you purchase your dream car the right way.

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