Political leanings and car choice

[Rob 131 Sport]

Not sure whether this is the right section to post this and thought it might bring about some humorous debate over the Christmas period. This is after all a motoring forum.

For left leaning people I suppose they would choose the opposite to Turbobloke. I always thought that they prefer Volvo’s, Skoda’s (the non sporty versions), and Honda’s.

For more right leaning people I always associate them with Audi’s, BMW’s, Jaguars and Mercedes.

Then there are those that could be either such as VW, Seat or Alfa.

Let the debate begin.

[NerveAgent]

Strange thread.

Though I’ve got a BMW and a Skoda. Would consider myself fairly centrist.

[Earthdweller]

If I'm in the U.K. I tend to be on the left but sit on the right, but if I'm in France I tend to be on the right but sit on the left

[julianm]

2CV -

[bitchstewie]

Mazda - so for those old enough to remember "wker"

[Camoradi]

Volvo and Caterham.

Generally straight down the centre but sometimes I drift to the left or right

[Lefty]

I’m economically right and socially left. A liberal capitalist if you like.

I can therefore drive whatever I want

[Biker 1]

Right of centre, probably typical PH fodder. I own a Volvo! However, it's an old skool Q car-esque gas guzzler with the 5 cylinder lump.

[W124Bob]

julianm said:

2CV -

I'll second that, If I had room it would keep company with a series Landy and a Merc W123!

[wolfracesonic]

Ridiculous to ascribe your vehicle of choice to your politics: I drive a 1943 Kubelwagen.

[2xChevrons]

W124Bob said:

julianm said:

2CV -

I'll second that, If I had room it would keep company with a series Landy and a Merc W123!

As a lefty social democrat, I own a 2CV. I have owned multiple Series Landys. I currently own a Skoda. I would happily own a W123.

So maybe there is something in it.

While these things can't be mapped directly (of course), I do think peoples' values can be expressed in their car choices, which can also align with their politics.

2CVs are an obvious one, because they were deliberately marketed as the 'anti-consumerist car' and 'the car for people who don't like cars'. The point was that if you didn't like the consumerist car-based society, the 2CV was the least-consumerist car (the anithesis of fashion, style, performance and macho) and, functionally, the least amount of car required to do the job of being a car. Plus they were cheap to buy, cheap to run, easy to fix and mechanically durable. So appealed to either genuine hard-up lefty/crunchy/anarchist types who had no money or to bien-pessant Guardian-readers in Islington who wanted to (in the modern sense) virtue signal.

There's also overlap with the reason why 2CVs were so often seen in the car parks of universities and polytechnics - as well as being cheap to buy and run, they (like a lot of other old Citroens) appealed to intellectual and engineering-minded types for their design. Bauhaus on four wheels. Remorseless Rationality. LJK Setright could never be accused of being a lefty but was definitely a man with an intellect and an appreciation of engineering and he loved the 2CV.

[E63eeeeee...]

I'm fairly leftish on most topics, which means on PH I'm essentially a communist. But I have five uber-capitalist German cars. I think some people just buy cars they like and don't worry too much what it says about them.

[Magikarp]

I'm practically a communist, and drive a Dacia. Probably figures.

[spookly]

I'd say politically left, socially liberal, but just try to make the best of this capitalist hellscape so I drive a Range Rover.

[Wilmslowboy]

Middle England, Brexit and now reform :

[Hoofy]

Wilmslowboy said:

Middle England, Brexit and now reform :

I suspect they probably unironically drive a brand new MG EV if they have the funds.

[I am alright Jack]

Earthdweller said:

If I'm in the U.K. I tend to be on the left but sit on the right, but if I'm in France I tend to be on the right but sit on the left

Maniac.

_______________________

I would have thought the left were anti cars so wouldn't own or drive because penguins, or something.

[alangla]

I am alright Jack said:

Maniac.

_______________________

I would have thought the left were anti cars so wouldn't own or drive because penguins, or something.

I thought the vehicle of choice for the committed anti-car activist was an old VW Transporter, usually with emissions around Euro 2 or 3 typically?

In all seriousness though, go to an area around Glasgow with old houses and probably older money and you’ll find a disproportionate number of 20+ year old VW Polos, Golfs and the odd Transporter motorhome.

Similar house prices, but on a newbuild estate it’ll be 2x new, leased, German, white goods in each driveway with the odd Range Rover and (increasingly) Tesla.

[TheJimi]

Honestly

What *is* it with PH and the seeming obsession to attach labels to everyone and everything?

Edited by TheJimi on Tuesday 24th December 17:03

[Cotty]

TheJimi said:

Honestly

What *is* it with PH and the seeming session to attach labels to everyone and everything?

I agree. A person hires two cars on holiday, does his political leaning change when swapping from car to car. No its all BS