Image - how important is it to you!

[AKACrimson]

Following on from Philliph's post about buying an Audi TT - it got me thinking about just how important "image" is when buying a car.

As sad as it might be I think it is fairly important to me, there's quite a few cars I like but would never buy.

So.. ...would you ever not buy a car because of it's image? If so which car? Or does it not matter in the slighest to you (be honest though)

To start us off;

The Renault Clio Sport - it gets great reviews, EVO love's it and I would jump at the chance to thrash one around a track, but would I ever want to own one? No.... I don't like the image, they look like something a boy racer would get out of and when I see older men driving them it just seems wrong somehow Maybe I just have this perception that older men should be driving bigger cars. As a first car though and if I had the money when I was in my teens I would have bought one, just not now.

[Rawwr]

I'd be more inclined to sneer at someone who bought a car for the perceived image than someone who bought one because it's a fun drive.

[kambites]

"Image" in the sense of the image of me that a car projects to others doesn't bother me much, I certainly can't think of any cars that I'd refuse to buy or drive on that basis or that I'd buy predominantly on that basis. However if I'm honest, I probably can't say that I don't take it into account at all when considering what car to buy.

"Looks" play a bigger part in my buying decisions but again, a relatively small one.


I don't even know what "image" my cars have, really.

[mwcr85]

Mother bought a lime green Fiat cinq, I used to hate going to school in it then din't want it as a first car. 10 years on I drive it quite often. (still get some funny looks though)

[Monkeylegend]

On a scale of 0-100, let me see, 0

I spent 5 years driving a maroon Morris Marina 1.3 while my TR6 was being rebuilt and I loved it. Never washed it, never serviced it,didn't care what anybody thought. I was like a pig in st.

Edited by Monkeylegend on Monday 30th January 11:23

[PumpkinSteve]

Don't care at all. I buy the car for me, not to satisfy some random nosey 's idea of what I should be driving.

[petrolsniffer]

Monkeylegend said:

On a scale of 0-100, let me see, 0

+1

Which is why i've owned 3 french hatchbacks

[badlands1]

Well I like nice cars and they all have a image, but I really don't give a crap what people thing of my cars.
I buy for ME. (or what wor lass tells me am buying lol)

[Monkeylegend]

And I have even driven a Skoda Estelle and an Austin Princess.

[LocoCoco]

It's gotta have a good image in my head, I want to look at my car and think "That's cool". Everybody else can sod off if they don't like it.

[AKACrimson]

Just me then lol

What about a bright pink car then? Say you found a car you really liked but you could only have it pink, would it bother you? Or would you just be happy with how it drove and not care what other people might be thinking?

[Conor D]

I drive an MX5, so I've had to get used to the image that comes with that..

Saying that, I've been making slight modifications throughout my ownership to take some of the image away..

[kambites]

AKACrimson said:

What about a bright pink car then? Say you found a car you really liked but you could only have it pink, would it bother you? Or would you just be happy with how it drove and not care what other people might be thinking?

I'd happily drive a bright pink car. I wouldn't drive a grey/silver one though, because I don't like it.

The wife wants yellow wheels and stripes on her Octavia and I'll still happily drive it like that.

[Ranger 6]

AKACrimson said:

So.. ...would you ever not buy a car because of it's image? If so which car? Or does it not matter in the slightest to you (be honest though)

I've got a BMW X3, it's my second and I love it - if you look round at the 'image' problem these cars have....

I did think about it, but after 6 years of owning one it really does exactly what I want so I'm not that bothered

[LouD86]

I dont think its that important. To me, comfy seats, and good AC are all that worry me!! Oh, and it has to have a fun element, otherwise its not worth owning!!

I think every car ive owned has a fun element to, whether it being offroad, or on lanes, they've all had something - although no fashion image to them!

[AKACrimson]

To be honest I regularly drive a car with flowers stencilled all over the sides and panda paws over the bonnet. Doesn't bother me THAT much lol

[Garlick]

God no. If I like it, I'll drive it.

[Steve_W]

The car I probably drive the most is my commuter snotter - 1995 Rover 218 Diesel.

I don't think I'm "too" image conscious!

[DoubleSix]

AKACrimson said:

Just me then lol

What about a bright pink car then? Say you found a car you really liked but you could only have it pink, would it bother you? Or would you just be happy with how it drove and not care what other people might be thinking?

No not just you. Just Pistonheads.

No-one on Pistonheads gives a damn what their car looks like 'cause it's all about 'track handling', 'camber settings' and 'a dab of oppo'. I mean who gives a st about the visual side of your chosen vehicle at all.....

[falkster]

Years ago I would have only wanted to get or my dad to get a car that was 'cool' but as I have got older I care less to the extent that I could actually care less what anyone thinks - that goes for every aspect of my life and not just cars. You want something, the fits thing I think is can I afford it.