[randywebb]

Note the question in the posted article: "Is there anything socially unacceptible in loving to drive?"

The answer is "of course" -- and that is part of the general public's perception. Even tho Porsche AG has gone to great lengths to reduce pollution (my Boxster S had an EPA pollution index of only 0.31) and has always been the economical, small-engined giant-slayer of a sports car.

I suspect that the major factor is the money issue - or percieved money issue.

A third important one though is how we drive and what people see. We all like to dart around a bit in traffic, no? That is not percieved well.

I'd like to see a comparison of perceptions of Porsche drivers/owners with Fcars, and Corvettes. That might get at factor #4, which is:
- it's a GERMAN car - and not one made by those cute, pink-cheeked Bavarians in their ledehosen either. It has a teutonic feel (and image) that you don't get in an Fcar or Corvette. I don't know if the general public realizes that consciously or sub-consciously, but I'm sure they relate to not as just a powerful sports car, and an expensive one (most think the new ones cost Fcar levels of $$ too), but as a German car.