How much does a single guy's car really matter?

[Jrboulder]

I'm asking this here in the land of wise, mature, intelligent car people. I already know the answer I'd get from the BMW forums...

How much does a single guy's car really matter? In dating, in networking (god I hate that word), and everything else?

Or put another way, if you were a 24 y/o single dude what would you drive?

You hear jokes like "If it weren't for women, guys would drive the cheapest car they could find"

Of course there are a number of factors, some of which may be more important than others: Car age, reliability, brand, model, cleanliness, location

Personally, I think the car you drive changes the way everyone perceives and interacts with you a little bit and some people a lot, the later being people you probably don't want to be around anyway. After a month with my BMW that could be passed off as recently bought new, I kind of just want to be in a cheap car.

[Baz]

Is this a trick question?



Single..........and loving it!

[DanielDudley]

Yeah, perception.

[carambola]

Bro, man up and buy a pick up.

Work on yourself and not your possessions.

Save that money for better things.

A girl that will date you for your car is pretty much a hooker.

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by carambola

Bro, man up and buy a pick up.

Work on yourself and not your possessions.

Save that money for better things.

A girl that will date you for your car is pretty much a hooker.

Yeah, I want to buy like a 2000 Tacoma

[Jims5543]

Back when I worked for a company on Merritt Island right near Kennedy Space Center we had a client that was in his late 20's that was worth Millions from developing real estate. Lets put it this way he retired before he was 35 and never has to worry about money for the rest of his life, and he lives a very nice life.

He drove an old Chevy pickup truck, there was nothing remarkable about the truck it was old and looked like it had spent most of its life on construction sites.

One day he came in driving a brand new truck, I joked with him about moving up in the world. It was funny to me what he said and did next. He told me he hated that new truck and he was heading back to the dealership to cancel the sale and get his old truck back, and he did.

He told me that old truck reminded him where he came from. Granted he also had a brand new Mercedes at home in the garage, I only knew that because he would send his girlfriend into the office to pick up plans from us with it. I never saw him in anything but that pickup.


I used to be hung up on what I was driving years ago, I honestly do not care anymore. I recently purchased an E21 and to be honest I love driving that old car around more than any new car I have owned or any flashy car that turns heads.

[Borders Reivers]

Outward indication of Discretionary Income. Status symbol. Women use things like that as signs of mate potential. Don't buy a vehicle that appeals to guys unless that is the way you swing. Women see Mercedes (maybe BMW). Everything is just "a car". Don't even think about pickup trucks unless you are lesbian. Lesbians have a thing for F-150's.

ETA: Anecdotal story... I have a retro Thunderbird. SOME women have a thing for Thunderbirds - guys do not. (Russian gf is one of those women.) Women driving Escalades smile and talk to me at red lights. I do not know why this is. My car is neither expensive or fast. Women say it is "sexy", whatever that means. My DD is a twenty-five year old K1500 Suburban. Owned since it was new. It's me.

[Baz]

Everything you do in life you should do because it's what you want to do.

To thine own self....be true.

[masraum]

It depends upon lots of things. You, how you are/act otherwise, the person that you're dealing with. Some folks would see you driving a Porsche and think you were a prick, some would think you had a little pecker, some would think you were rich, some would think you had good taste in cars, and others might not give a schit.

For some folks, your car might make a huge difference in how they see you. Your age (and the age of the person making the judgement) would probably also come into play. If someone is heavily, negatively swayed by what I'm driving, fuch 'em. Do you act like a douche? Do you appear to be showing off or arrogant about the car you're driving? That's going to make a difference how people perceive you.

For some folks having a nice car would be a good thing, but for some folks, that would be a Camry or Accord and for some folks that might be something expensive.

I think "YOU" are a much, MUCH more important part of the equation than your car.

Check out the thread about having "game" when you were younger. THere were the 2 unattractive guys that had game and were always knee deep in women despite not being all that attractive. Other guys could be tall and good looking and "not get laid in a women's prison with a fist-full of pardons."

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

Everything you do in life you should do because it's what you want to do.

To thine own self....be true.

Ding, ding, ding, we've got a winner.

I had a 911, I didn't give a damn what anyone else thought about it. I just loved it. After that I had 2 miatas, and really couldn't give a schit less what anyone else thought. I enjoyed driving them. Now I've got a Boxster because it was the best car that I found for the money, and I don't care what anyone else says or thinks about it. I test drove 911s, Caymans and Boxsters. I bought the best one of the bunch that I found. I love the Cayman, but I found a better Boxster for the money that I was spending, so I bought that one. If you think I'm a hair dresser, whatever.

[Jims5543]

Relevant video.

https://youtu.be/SV9Uu2T0q0E

[Tervuren]

I don't consider people who react differently because of a car to be automatically bad, a car reflects a major part of your decision making.

I know the few times there is ever a woman I am interested in, I do want to know what they drive, how they take care of it, etc. People spend a lot of time with cars, especially if they drive to work. If they drive something new that looks trashed, I'm movin' on along.

I also don't like a car that is obviously outside the cost of what I think would be practical to spend at a life stage/earnings.

If you are concerned about money followers, get a cheap back up car for first dates and social events. Use your BMW for work and trips that aren't to social places.

I also have to say if a woman didn't like my car, I would consider that a problem. If you think you have a problem with attention because girls see your car, imagine how an attractive looking young lady feels with guys she thinks just are after her because of how she looks.

Overall, it gives you more chances, just figure out who to no. What are their goals/wants/desires?

One thing that happens to the owner of a nice car, their attitude and confidence changes. There was an unofficial study on this posted on Pelican some time ago.

It is my goal to live a life with low baseline expenses, and a pad of savings. I prefer to make a home movie than sit and watch netflix or equivalent. I like to carefully consider things for days/weeks/months before buying. It is real easy for me to figure out who to say no to.

Some women just want a guy so they can post selfies with them on social media, pictures of out to dinner, etc... Those are pretty obvious too.

Know your relationship goals, figure out what you want/need, and try to work out what you need to be in order to appeal. It may be a truck, it may be a BMW, it may be a VW camper van...etc.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Borders Reivers

Outward indication of Discretionary Income. Status symbol. Women use things like that as signs of mate potential. Don't buy a vehicle that appeals to guys unless that is the way you swing. Women see Mercedes (maybe BMW). Everything is just "a car". Don't even think about pickup trucks unless you are lesbian. Lesbians have a thing for F-150's.

ETA: Anecdotal story... I have a retro Thunderbird. SOME women have a thing for Thunderbirds - guys do not. (Russian gf is one of those women.) Women driving Escalades smile and talk to me at red lights. I do not know why this is. My car is neither expensive or fast. Women say it is "sexy", whatever that means.

The thing about this car; is it is different and set apart without implying a member of the rat race.
It has both an implied sense of power and a manifest sensation of tranquility.
It carries an aura that you love nice things, yet are are confident and comfortable enough with who you are to not need something au courant.

[Borders Reivers]

Tervuren, I am humbled. Thank you.

[Tobra]

Matter to whom?

People who base their opinion on what car you drive, or what sort of watch you wear are inconsequential, in my experience.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Baz

Everything you do in life you should do because it's what you want to do.

To thine own self....be true.

Partially true.

Whatever you drive; clean the damn thing before the first date even if you don’t want to. Inside out.

First impressions. You don’t want to come off as a slob.

[RANDY P]

Woman does NOT actually care one bit about your car.

What matters, is her friends are impressed, even better if they're jealous. That's the truth.

rjp

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Matter to whom?

People who base their opinion on what car you drive, or what sort of watch you wear are inconsequential, in my experience.

It's much more important HOW you treat what you have, not what you have. Clean, organized and inexpensive beats the pants out of beat up and expensive. If you're conspicuously neat everyone takes you seriously, more so than a slob with expensive items.

rjp

[Borders Reivers]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Woman does NOT actually care one bit about your car.
What matters, is her friends are impressed, even better if they're jealous. That's the truth.
rjp

Randy, that is VERY TRUE. Women only tell their friends about the car a guy drives if it makes their friends jealous. Mercedes always makes their women friends jealous and women will make a point to mention that. White Mercedes especially.

[GH85Carrera]

I bought a Porsche when I was 19 only because I wanted a great sports car I could afford. It had zero to do with girls or any other reason. I wanted an affordable sports car. I drove it for over 20 years as my daily driver and only car. I still miss it.