What Your Car Says About You

By MARKHAM HEID

Forget what you eat—you are what you drive.

“People think of cars as extensions of themselves and their personalities,” says Jon Linkov, deputy auto editor for

Consumer Reports. When you’re shopping for a vehicle, you’re looking for a ride that fits the three dimensions of your “self concept”: who

you think you are, who you want to be, and how you’d like others to see you, says behavioral psychologist Joseph Sirgy,

Ph.D., a professor at Virginia Tech.

Those three dimensions combine to nudge you toward one car or another—whether that means buying a Porsche to impress,

or a used Volvo to prove you’re responsible.

We pored over tons of reports from YouGov, a global technology and market research firm that conducts surveys and

collects consumer behavior data on more than 200,000 Americans. Their findings reveal traits, behaviors, and beliefs

that buyers of certain brands are more likely to exhibit than the average American.

Here are the insanely detailed results. Do you see yourself in your car?

FORD

You think of yourself as friendly but direct, and you work in building or construction. You own a dog, and you’re either

a Gen X’er or a Baby Boomer.  You love football, beef jerky, and pumpkin pie, and you don’t care much about “looking young” or “feeling attractive.” 

You turn up the radio for Toby Keith and Van Helen, and you like getting your hands dirty gardening or fishing.  You prefer to buy American. You wear Converse and Dickies, and shop at Wal-Mart.

TOYOTA

You’re probably a Gen X’er, and you likely work in logistics or transportation. You love Indian food, guacamole, college

football, and soccer.  Your friends are important to you, and so is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You like to think of yourself as 

spontaneous.

You shop at Banana Republic and the Apple store, you love the movie Wall Street, and Kevin Hart cracks you up. You read

the New York Times and watch a ton of ESPN.

Your friends are important to you, and so is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You like to think of yourself as

spontaneous.

You shop at Banana Republic and the Apple store, you love the movie Wall Street, and Kevin Hart cracks you up. You read

the New York Times and watch a ton of ESPN.

You like steak and eggs—together or on their own—and you think of yourself as mechanically inclined. In fact, your

garage is your happy place.

You love dogs, football, and NASCAR. You identify as a leader, but acknowledge you can sometimes be too demanding.

You blast Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kid Rock. You don’t mind losing your hair, and you would never consider plastic surgery.

HONDA

You’re a Millennial who works in education or health care. But you prefer to spend your free time outdoors, visiting

parks and historical places.

If you’re not a parent already, you can’t wait to have kids—and you think science is cool. Maybe your future children

will appreciate it, too.

You feel satisfied with your life, but you also think you spend too much time online. You wear Nike apparel and shop at

Target, and you wish The Office was still on TV.

CHRYSLER

Compared to other drivers, you’re more likely to think of yourself as dependable.

There’s a good chance you’re older than 65, and you enjoy a good Waldorf salad or beef casserole. You also love going to

the movies.

College football dominates your fall Saturdays, and you’d probably admit you go too long between haircuts.

You’re sincere and forgiving, but you can also be hyperactive and clingy.

You spend a lot of time online each week—36 to 40 hours—and you spend even more time watching TV.

DODGE

You think of yourself as bighearted. You prefer to wash your own car, and you disagree with the belief that electric

cars are the way of the future.

You don’t style your hair, and you don’t look after your health as much as you should.

You like bacon, fried fish, NASCAR, dogs, and Subway.

You’re usually tuned in to NCIS and the Discovery Channel, and you’ve probably seen George Strait in concert. When you

shop for clothes, you opt for comfort over style.

BMW

You consider yourself knowledgeable. You’re likely under 30, and you work in accounting or architecture.

You feel strongly that foreign-made cars are higher quality, and you’re more likely than other people to have a fish for

a pet.

You care about current fashions, and you like going to trendy bars and restaurants. You exercise more than most people,

and you dread the thought of going bald more than any other driver surveyed.

You’re into Miley Cyrus.

LEXUS

Compared to other drivers, you think of yourself as analytical and sensible. You live in a city, work in banking or

finance, and you’re older than 65.

You enjoy eating sushi, attending sporting events, and golfing. You couldn’t live without a GPS in your car, and you

think public transportation is gross.

You think it’s important to look young and feel attractive.

You’re a big fan of Starbucks and Costco, you tend to watch premium channels, and you think Beyoncé rules. (She does.)

VOLKSWAGEN

You think of yourself as imaginative, and you feel strongly that electric cars are the way of the future. You’re happy

to catch a bus or train if that’s an option, and you care about the environment.

You’re a Gen X’er, and you work in a creative or design-focused profession. You like reading, visiting art galleries,

and devouring enchiladas.

You shop for organic food and you can’t imagine a day without music. You like Frontline on PBS, though you hardly ever

watch TV.

CADILLAC

You think of yourself as socially skilled and courteous. You work in quality assurance, safety, or consulting.

You love sports, and you play golf. You gamble more than you should, and you occasionally feel lonely.

You admit you never leave the house without looking in a mirror. You drink Michelob Ultra and shop at Perry Ellis, and

you think George Clooney is the coolest. (He is.)

Originally published on Menshealth.com