The Car: An Human Perspective

The Soccer Mom to Her Soccer Mom Friends About Her New Escalade Hybrid:

"It's because I care about the planet."

(Image Credits: General Motors)

Buying a car is an entirely irrational exercise. Anyone who goes into it saying that he has "carefully weighed the pros and cons" and has done (my personal favorite) a "cost benefit analysis" on all the potential models in his price bracket is either a German actuary or, more likely, a liar. As humans, we carefully craft an image for ourselves; be it in clothes, in homes, and in what we do for a living. Nowhere is this brought most glaringly and obviously into light than in the case
of car buying.

Many of you are probably wondering why there are so many SUVs trundling along the highways and byways of the USA. Don't worry, there are plenty of them trundling along the roads in Europe, as well. The explanation for the SUV is found entirely in the squidgy bit behind the wheel. See if you can follow this thought process:

Need: 'I need something that can carry my family and our luggage.'
Want: 'I want something that I would draw on the margin of my 3rd grade homework.'

Need: 'It should be relatively safe.'
Want: 'It should be capable of subduing a small third-world, pre-colonial country single-handedly.'

Need: 'It should be comfortable.'
Want: 'It should have six TV screens so that my kids are quiet.'

Need: 'It should be economical.'
Want: 'It should have more horsepower than the assembled Rohirrim on the Pelennor Fields.'

...and so on.

People's car buying habits are perhaps the most vivid representation of their values. Never are one's wants so clearly juxtaposed against one's needs when personal transportation is on the menu. There is a grand unwillingness to compromise in America these days. This isn't a political blog, so I won't go there (granted, you can't expect the government to give you stuff if you don't give the government money for it first). It is not possible to have a vehicle that gets 60 miles per gallon, can seat 12 like oil sheiks, and can go 0-60 in less than four seconds. It's not pessimism saying that, it's realism.
I have no problem with people driving what they want to drive; I just wish that they would be honest about it. You didn't buy that Land Rover because you thought it was safe; you bought it because you wanted it. You bought it because you wanted to know that, if given the opportunity, you could bushwhack across the Congo on your way back from Tyson's. If you wanted something safe you could have bought a Volvo wagon, but that's Swedish and boring, It's that simple. Don't try and tell me that you bought that Porsche because it's an investment. Sure, they have great resale value, but there's more value in the enjoyment that you'll have while you own it than what you'll get back for it when you sell it. If you wanted resale, you would have bought a Honda.
As long as people are imperfect--and I can't pretend to know how long that will be--they will always be dishonest. I think that we can all do well to try and be more honest with ourselves and with one another if we start with car buying. So if you'll excuse me I've got to take a look at the cost benefit analysis for that Ferrari I've always wanted. I think the credit crunch might make financing a bit more difficult.