[11Past9]

So many people buy cars based on what OTHERS think. The BMW crowd is big in this. Buying a "mature car" a car that a client won't think less of you for driving, a more "professional" car...

A car that allows you to be taken more seriously?

A car that is more professional?

Does what you drive mean you a better salesman? A better Doctor? Does it mean you can do your job better than the guy who chose to drive a Subaru WRX/STi over a 5 Series BMW?

Does driving what others approve of over what you like mean you are the best man for the job or does it mean you are less of a man for buying something to please someone you don't even care about that probably doesn't know SHIT about cars anyways... he/she isn't driving it, YOU are.

I think that all it shows it a lack of confidence and puts a red flag on ones insecurity. A strong, confident and secure individual is the man I want to confide in, not someone who buys or does not buy what THEY like with THEIR own money because of what SOMEONE ELSE THINKS...

I'd rather have a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, bing wing and all over a G35x Luxury sedan... Does that mean I am less mature? Does that mean I am worse at my job then the other guy? Does that mean I am less educated in my field? NO! It means I like a faster, tighter handling fun car over something more mundane, luxuries appointed and quiet. That's ALL IT MEANS!

[Sniz]

having a bad day?

[11Past9]

Originally Posted by Sniz

having a bad day?

No I'm just sick of people asking what car to buy and then some snob comes in and tells them to buy a more mature car because clients may this or that...

Ignoring what the person asks of the car they want to buy, and suggesting something something according to what a corporate slave SHOULD buy...

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by 11Past9

No I'm just sick of people asking what car to buy and then some snob comes in and tells them to buy a more mature car because clients may this or that...

Ignoring what the person asks of the car they want to buy, and suggesting something something according to what a corporate slave SHOULD buy...

no I understand completely man....

I'm a sales manager for a real estate brokerage and often get strange looks from clients when I pull up in my '99 turbo'd M3 but they quickly get over it when they start talking with me and realize I know what i'm talking about.

some even love the car.

[EmPower]

Originally Posted by Sniz

no I understand completely man....

I'm a sales manager for a real estate brokerage and often get strange looks from clients when I pull up in my '99 turbo'd M3 but they quickly get over it when they start talking with me and realize I know what i'm talking about.

some even love the car.

The way the world works. Hav'nt you ever peeked into a coveted automobile you see on the road and see who is driving it, out of curiosity and secretly admired that individual? Law of the land, the superior shall survive. Superior in terms of size, alacrity, talent or wealth.

[jeremyc74]

You can say what you want, but if I'm hiring a salesmen and he's going to have clients in his vehicle, I'm not having him driving a modded STI. It's not that I think less of him for it, it's that the clients might, and that's going to cost me money for no good reason. It's simply not worth it.

Obviously this depends on the business you're in and the type of clients you're dealing with, but when it comes to large sums of money people want to deal with someone who's dependable and solid, and certain cars say that more than others. If you're not willing to accept that, I'd look for work that doesn't require customers to be in your car.

[Spec 1]

/\ What he said.

OP, I'm assuming you're not in the professional world. My father had to sell his super clean E30 because clients wouldn't take him serious in it. He'd go to pick someone up and the rich white lady would say "Oh, you're driving that. Why don't we take my Lexus?"

Way the world works.

[11Past9]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

but when it comes to large sums of money people want to deal with someone who's dependable and solid, and certain cars say that more than others.

Is this were ignorance is bliss comes into play?

Is ignorance on par with dependable and solid?

Would you rather deal with someone who SEEMS to know what they are doing and what they are talking about because they have a suit on and drive a BMW?

Or...

Someone who actually DOES know what they are talking about and drives a modded STi?

I can assure you, the majority of people in this world would rather deal with someone OTHER than Joe Pesci in lethal weapon...

Have you ever hired someone that drove something like a modded STi to even assess their performance or are you just under the ASSumption?

A humble, knowledgable and honest person says 100000000x more than what someone drives.

[flyinb501]

Originally Posted by 11Past9

I'd rather have a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, bing wing and all over a G35x Luxury sedan... Does that mean I am less mature? Does that mean I am worse at my job then the other guy? Does that mean I am less educated in my field? NO! It means I like a faster, tighter handling fun car over something more mundane, luxuries appointed and quiet. That's ALL IT MEANS!

No, but it does mean you will get laid less... Haha jk, I do agree with some of your points.

[bimmer_w]

lol... you should have seen me when i had my e60 as my daily driver car. i get weird looks from older adults driving luxury cars. they would pull up next to me wearing suits all dress to impress and me wearing a shirt on my way to work. i have leased two bmw's. my first was an 03 330i zhp and my second bmw was a 06 530i in alpine white. even at work haters talks crap about me for driving these cars because i only work in the lab as a qc microbiologist and i'm not even upper management. but hey, i didn't buy the car because of what other people think that this cars are status symbols. i drove these cars for the reason that i like the classy interiors of the cars and the handling. i do know that they lack in hp for their price. but comparing with the other cars they hold their grounds even the lack of hp. they probably have the smallest engine size and would keep up with bigger displacements that has more hp's.

[ChrisV]

You think it's just about the car? What about suit and tie dress codes? Does a little bit of colored cloth tied around your neck make you smarter or better at your job? I say no, but that doesn't stop it from being required so often in business.

Might as well complain about being required to shower and shave before being taken seriously, too.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by flyinb501

No, but it does mean you will get laid less... Haha jk, I do agree with some of your points.

Many girls love Evo's. It might not be professional but it sure is very exciting.

[11Past9]

I think dress code is different. I see your point but the dress code is made because you are going to be functioning in whatever businesses establishment and not your own, you don't OWN the business or building you are doing business in but you DO own your car...

People adapt to this stupid crap even when they don't drive clients around. That is why it's so fucked up. Client or no client people still buy and suggest according to being SEEN in it pulling in to work.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by ChrisV

You think it's just about the car? What about suit and tie dress codes? Does a little bit of colored cloth tied around your neck make you smarter or better at your job? I say no, but that doesn't stop it from being required so often in business.

Might as well complain about being required to shower and shave before being taken seriously, too.

I was just going to say the same thing. Presentation is important whether you agree with it or not...

[KingOfJericho]

"Hi, my name is Michael and I'll be managing your retirement portfolio..."

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by 11Past9

Is this were ignorance is bliss comes into play?

Is ignorance on par with dependable and solid?

Would you rather deal with someone who SEEMS to know what they are doing and what they are talking about because they have a suit on and drive a BMW?

.

The bottom line is, in many cases you don't get enough information about a person to accurately judge them, and you've got to go with what's available to you.

I don't currently have to worry about it, because I'm not hiring people at all in my current position. In my previous job I worked in the yacht industry, and had to hire people who were going to go out and get intimate with extremely expensive (think $30 million+) yachts. I'm not going to lie to you at all. If you showed up for the interview in an STi with a fartcan exhaust on it, it's a strike against you and you're going to have to work your way back up to level ground. It doesn't mean I'm not going to consider you, but you're not helping your case any.

You could be totally technically proficient, but that doesn't mean you're good fit for the job when part of it depends on the impression you're going to give my clients.

[DrDomer]

Unfortunately... My own wife is guilty of this. Apparently, returning my 335i coupe and looking for a Mini "doesn't look professional enough" to attend Black Tie events and the like.

Guess what... Don't give a shit. I'm lucky I've attained a place in life where I don't have to care what people think about my car. Now my appearance can't be dreads and a beard though.

[11Past9]

This thread is about CARS not personal appearence...

Now what do you say if you are THIS guy:



but you drive THIS:



Instead of THIS guy:



Don't stray from CARS in this discussion. Maybe you're doing it because you can't really justify the CARS portion of this discussion and decide to confide in the obvious PERSONAL appearence sector of things.

No one has touched upon people who buy cars or suggest cars as more "MATURE" to people who aren't even IN sales. Certain people convinced to buy this or that even if their job doesn't even REQUIRE person to person interaction!

[11Past9]

Ok...

you all are just looking at the business aspect of people who's job requires you to DRIVE clients around or be IN YOUR CAR with them. Which is WHAT percentage of jobs in the "professional" world?

What about people in the suit wearing "professional" world who buy these cars for the approval of people who won't ever even SEE you in it... yet people STILL go with the "mature" car vs. the one why may deep down inside find themselves actually liking the most.

[RambleJ]

Originally Posted by GatorBlue371

Same reason people wont hire you with dreads and a beard. You are a reflection of the company you work for.


nothing against you as a person, but you should know this.

Exactly! Its the way the corporate world works! I mean take me for instance.. I have tattoos all over my arms and if my employers/clients where to know this they would look at me in a different light. Since I have began in this industry I have worn long sleeves to conceal my tattoos, not cause im ashamed of them but to get ahead in this corporate enviroment and it has worked, I am now manager of a sales team for a large health insurance company. If i had worn short sleeves and rebeled against this corporate enviroment to stand out as the individual that I am, I am positive that I would not be where I am today..
As lame as it is, it's the way the world works.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by 11Past9

Ok...

you all are just looking at the business aspect of people who's job requires you to DRIVE clients around or be IN YOUR CAR with them. Which is WHAT percentage of jobs in the "professional" world?

What about people in the suit wearing "professional" world who buy these cars for the approval of people who won't ever even SEE you in it... yet people STILL go with the "mature" car vs. the one why may deep down inside find themselves actually liking the most.

Look, you don't have to play the game. You're free to do whatever you want, but the reality is if you plan on advancing through a professional career path, you are going to HAVE to accept that appearance matters, including what you drive, and you're going to be judged by it to a degree.

We've got engineers here that never see clients face to face, but that doesn't mean they come into the office in flip-flops every day. It's part of working in a professional environment, and it's not going to change just because you don't like it.

If you're not willing to accept that, you should probably seek a different path.

I'd love to grow a big nappy beard and some dreads, but in most cases the money just isn't good, and if I'm going to spend 10-12 hours of my day doing something, I want to make as much cabbage during that time as possible.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by RambleJ

Exactly! Its the way the corporate world works! I mean take me for instance.. I have tattoos all over my arms and if my employers/clients where to know this they would look at me in a different light. Since I have began in this industry I have worn long sleeves to conceal my tattoos, not cause im ashamed of them but to get ahead in this corporate enviroment and it has worked, I am now manager of a sales team for a large health insurance company. If i had worn short sleeves and rebeled against this corporate enviroment to stand out as the individual that I am, I am positive that I would not be where I am today..
As lame as it is, it's the way the world works.

Exactly. I just call it "playing the game". You don't have to have the same values as the people you work for/with, but if you openly oppose them it's just going to make life hard on you for no good reason.