The American Car Culture or Why cars are an extension of our lives

We love cars. It is that simple, our vehicles in our lives have become an extension of our lives. Every single one of us can relate a part of our lives to a car. My first car was a Nissan 240sx. I became the coolest kid in high school when I went to school in that car! I later fell in love with Jeep Wranglers. The open concept of that vehicle provided nothing but freedom for me. We have people that love American Muscle cars, individuals that will own nothing but Japanese Imports and tune them up, we have many that will drive nothing but German Engineering. The car culture has taken this country in a single wave. 

     What is it about a car that drives us (no pun intended) to accept a machine that is nothing but metal, paint, gears, sprockets, valves, rubber, and fluids to become a part of our family? Is it the fact that each car has a personality? And does that personality of the vehicle attract to our own? Lets look at me for 2 minutes. I am a free type. I enjoy open space, I enjoy being able to go anywhere, anytime. Restrictions and myself do not go hand in hand. The jeep wrangler provides that! Nothing beats a drive in the open country with the top down doors off on a hot summer night listening to some good music as I "jeep" along to my destination. Another personality trait of mine is I love attention! I guarantee you, if I go to a party and all I know is the host, by the night is over I will have 5 new best friends! (And some of you already know me and how quickly I want attention) The jeep wrangler provides that for me. Top down, doors off, lifted suspension, oversized tires on the 101 freeway in Los Angeles screams LOOK AT ME NOW!

     So many different personalities and so many different cars. It's no wonder why we treat our cars as an extension of the family. Working in the service drive for Porsche for 8 years now, I have come to learn a lot about my clients. Many of my beloved clients treat their Porsches as part of the family. They are multiple car owners, so its not that they are worried about their one car, but more of "How is the patient doing?" "How was the check up?" "Will she be ok Doc?"

     Now, there are the clients that need to have the flashy car to show the world that they have money. Why? Because money makes money. Show the world you have money and they will trust you, follow you, want to be you. Regardless of the type of vehicle, it is more of the value of the car. Real estate agents will want to show up in BMWs or Audis; to show the clients that they can sell homes, buy homes and get the client the best deal or the best service. You aren't going to buy a house from someone that shows up in a beat up 1995 Nissan Sentra now are you? What does that car tell you about the real estate agent?

     Now some of you might disagree with me, you those of you are more than likely correct. Demographics could play a key part here. I am writing this from Los Angeles; and nobody walks in LA (You sang that line didn't you?) 15 years ago our conversations went something like this:
"Do you know Bill?"
"I don't think so, what does he drive?"
"He drives the blue targa"
"Yes! I know him, he was in the office last week!"

     Now, nothing has changed; we still discuss people by their extended life, their car! 
Our cars have become our offices on the road, our home on the road, our private sanctuary, our place of peace or our place to destroy the world. (For the ones reading this who endure the wonderful 405 freeway in Los Angeles) We drive what we want, because we drive on who we really are. CEOs and Entrepreneurs drive what they have earned. Entertainers drive what they feel they deserve, because some need to continue to entertain us in other forms other than music of movies. (Thank you Justin Bieber for the high speed chase on the freeway a few years back) 

     The rest of the world drives what they can afford, but we drive who we are. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are the one's that invented the cup holder, so why not take advantage of who we are and remind ourselves that our cars, are a part of our family.  Next time you walk by your vehicle and neglect saying Good Morning, remember, it has feelings too!