I believe a person’s car says a lot about them. Which is exactly what car marketers want me to think.
Unfortunately in the case of Mercedes Benz, the association is 100% negative. For whatever reason, no other luxury make carries the same stigma in my mind. When someone pulls up in a Benz, here’s what I think, right or wrong:
- The driver is amazingly self-centered
- The driver thinks they’re better than everyone else
- The driver’s husband makes more than your husband
Basically driving a Benz is a shiny, expensive way to tell the world you’re a jerk. Maybe I’m the only person who thinks of Mercedes drivers in this way. But I’m right way too often to be the only one. And it’s no fault of the car company*, I’m sure they build a fantastic automobile. It’s their customers that are giving them a bad name.
My most recent example of my stereotype being proved in real life was this week at the grocery store. Ms. Real Housewives of Dublin CA unloads her groceries and then leaves her cart in between parking spaces, and drives off in her Mercedes. The cart return was literally 10 feet away.
But again, why should she burden herself pushing an empty cart a few extra steps? They only put that out there for the non-Mercedes-driving customers.
Do you drive a Benz? You’ve got to work extra hard to reverse the terrible image the public has of you. It shouldn’t be too much trouble; you can start by returning your shopping carts.
*Actually the company has a bit of a chip on their shoulder too. Rather than comply with federal fuel efficiency guidelines, they opted to just pay the fine. $30 million! Perfect example of rich, self-centered, better-than-everyone-else thinking.
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What if I drove a ’79 diesel benz? Does that still make me an asshole?
P.S. I’ve only killed two kittens with it so far, but don’t worry they were really cute.
OJ bought Mae a Benz a few year back for her birthday. I think she must be the exception to the rule. (she didn’t even want it!)
Nick, this is totally in the running for my “balla car” i want to get myself whenever i’ve finally “made it”! Yes, it’s totally a status symbol. Does it matter if I earned the car on my own (not having my husband buy it for me)? Either way, I promise to return shopping carts and not drive like an asian woman.
Noooo don’t do it! Any other luxury brand is fine.