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Esperanto 6000 GT

I’m not an anthropologist or psychologist, but I play one in a newsletter. So I’m obviously qualified to make the following hypothesis: the culture, mores, behavior of a society are directly reflected by how and what the people drive. Of course, to discuss this in more detail would require an in-depth knowledge of different societies (especially to avoid stereotyping) and an understanding of the psychological mechanics on how they manifest their attributes to automobiles. Since I lack these necessary requirements, I’m just going to make it up as I go along, thus also saving time and effort by avoiding such trivial pursuits as “research,” ”travel” and “scientific process.”

Avoiding the United States for the moment, let’s take a look at Germany and its cars. Now, some may say that Porsche’s styling is exciting, sporty, or even exotic. However, when you compare it to other sports cars’ styling out there, I think it falls a little short of such portrayals. In general, I would call some Porsche models’ styling as “cute,” in a way only a mother would describe a child with a great personality, or someone who payed a lot of money for their car. (Of course, some models like the 550 Spyder have more “mothers” than other models.) This applies even to my favorite models. Except for Cindy Crawford.

Maybe you can say German cars have “character,” like the BMW Z3 or the new VW Beetle. In any case, I will make the generalization that German cars are “pragmatically” styled by practical Prussians (no, I don’t know if Prussians, or all Germans, are always practical. I just like alliteration. Remember-I’m generating my own facts.) Just take a look at the VW Golf, Opel Vectra, most Mercedes sedans, and so on.

In Italy, I would have to say styling (good or bad) comes first. Korean cars look like they’ve been produced in a country that’s been making cars for the rest of the world for only about a decade or two. I haven’t quite figured out why island countries such as Great Britain, Japan and Australia insist on making cars with steering wheels on the wrong side of the car. You have to wonder if they unroll their toilet paper from the top or the bottom.

What about the United States? In a country with an expansionist “manifest destiny,” what would one expect except BIG? You can bet that the Ford Ka was not invented in the U.S. Typical examples started with the Fifties’ fleet of finned Detroit land ships. Today, we have SUVs and pick-up trucks. In America, bigger still equates to better.

As for driving, I’m going to give the nod to the culturally evolved (in driving) Germans, with their unlimited autobahns, passing only on the left, and generally predictable driving behavior in a highly structured, exacting society. It’s not nirvana, but it’s pretty good. What about the United States with individuality above all else and protected privacy? It means “I can drive in the left lane as slow as I want” and “the government shouldn’t tell me to wear my seat belt or not.” In the Philippines, where people get by in life anyway they can, drive anyway they can. Italians, with their animated language (with voice and hands), really enjoy expressing themselves as they drive. I’ve gotten a lot of their gestures (and horns) while driving there. I think it’s their way of welcoming foreigners to their city. Italians must be friendly that way.

“Tell Me About Your Mother’s Car”

Does any of this mean anything? Maybe-if you take some time for self reflection. I made broad statements over entire societies above (surely to the ire of half the nationalities in the world. Next month, the other half). What about individuals? What kind of car do you drive? How do you drive this car? Are both a reflection of the inner you? Did you buy your car(s) to impress others? Or maybe for a manifestation of some fantasy, such as being the next Jacques Villeneuve (that’s me! but without the hair or the skills). Maybe driving is a plebeian task to you, but being practical, you buy a fast car to expedite the process. Or maybe it’s Freudian, and it was a case of Porsche-envy. Maybe you don’t care about your car, or you bought the car that was most affordable to you. Regardless of the reason for owning your car, it still says something about you.

What kind of driver are you? Do you mind your own business, concentrating on ways to improve your driving skills each time out? Are you attentive to what’s happening around you? Or do you use the veil of anonymity afforded by the sheet metal around you to lash out at others who (merely) annoy you. Are you a patient driver, waiting for that person to vacate the left lane? Or are you aggressive, taking matters into you own hands, sometimes with little regard for the consequences of your actions? Do you let others merge in front of you? What kind of driver/person are you? What kind to you want to be?

My theory still applies: you are what and how you drive.

<< April 1998<<

>> June 1998>>

(The BahnStormer is the official newsletter of the Rally Sport Region (Detroit area) of the Porsche Club of America. You can contact the editor at .)

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May 1998

Esperanto 6000 GT

“Tell Me About Your Mother’s Car”