HappyMan - yes, kind of...
It is largely down to peer presure at the end of the day, unfortunately.
In the last batch of car changes (we all tend to change at
roughly the same time) we had people who chose base spec Audi A6s over more fully spec'd A4s.
Not becuase they needed the extra room, but becuase the A4 is 'seen' as a middle management car, whereas the A6 is 'seen' as an upper management car
I personally bowed out of that 'race' many years ago.
My first car (which I didn't have a choice over) was an A3.
Then I went to an A4 - which 'fitted' my 'status' at the time
Then I went a bit off the beaten track and got the TT.
This marked me out as being different from the heard (who were getting into Jags / A4 cabrios)
Then came the Civ
This took me
well outside the heard mentality (of A6s and BM 5 series), and firmly into the "wacky, but what do you expect from someone with an IT background!" camp
But ultimately, the way that marques are 'seen' in work fall into:
BMW 3 series / Audi A4 - wannabe lower management with no imagination
BMW 5 series / Audi A6 - if base spec then serious wannabe pretentions, or if top spec more money than sense! (ie upper management
)
BMW 1 series / Audi A3 - someone who just wants a badge
Any 4x4 - usual reaction to 4x4 (what on earth do you want that for!?)
Porche 4x4 - you paid how much?!
Kia 4x4 - you must be the Kia Account Manager then? Can't think of any other reason why you would get one...
Skoda - Brave!
Ford - no imagination
Honda / Toyota - okay, what extra gadgets can you show me?
Hyundai - similar, but not many people have these, dunno why
Seat - cheap VW, so better make sure you get the cooking version!
VW - overated, no imagination, so be prepared for some stick!
Kia - make a sign
now which reads "But it's good - really!"
Alfa - be ready for comments about buying a trailer to put all the bits in that fall off it...
For interest, this time round we have already got:
1 person who has gone for a Lexus is220
1 looking at going for another Saab (he is the ex 4 time Jag owner)
3 CRVs already, plus another possible