Have you been influenced by your environment?

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake) 03/25/2014 at 09:31 • Filed to: CAR THOUGHTS

0

21

I've had this thought the last few days, and since my computer is being slow I figure now's as good a time as any to open the discussion: Does your environment influence your taste in cars?

Let me elaborate a bit by giving my own example. I grew up in Houston, a large city with a widely varied automotive environment. I don't think Houston in particular shaped my taste in cars, it only made me realize that AC is god's greatest gift to mankind.

I left Houston and came to Kansas, and I've been here for the last 7 years (feeling old now...). In that time I picked up a hobby that made hot hatches very attractive to me, and now I own one.

Of course, we all look forward to future cars. We all have cars we want to buy someday, and that list may change, but the theme typically stays the same. Some people like classics and want a 50's Caddy. Some people like offroading and lust after Jeep Wranglers. Many others like sports cars and lust after Porsches and BMWs.

I used to lust after sports cars. I've dreamed of owning a small convertible like a Boxster. It's no secret that I want an R8 someday. But over the last few years I've noticed myself changing attitudes, and now there's two cars on my list that were never there before: Corvettes and small trucks.

Before coming to Kansas, I never liked the Corvette. I never thought it was a very attractive car, and I had no interest in one. Zero. Same thing goes for trucks: I never wanted one and I thought they were ugly and silly.

But now I live in the heart of America. Trucks are everywhere, they're far and away the most common thing on the road, or at least it feels that way. There's also a general patriotism here that I didn't quite notice in Houston or during college: people genuinely love America in this town, and you certainly see a good proportion of American cars, especially if you go to any car shows

Being surrounded by so much 'Murica has made me want to be a part of it, and made me appreciated it far more than ever before. Heck, I even own a car that was built in the US!

In the past I would have ignored an S10 driving by, and I would have passed off the Corvette as a future car option. Now my head turns when I see a nice old S10, I'm considering buying one instead of a cheap sports car in the next year or so, and I'm strongly considering a second hand Corvette down the line.

So I got a bit long winded, but hopefully if you stuck with me you understand my point. So I ask of you: have you been molded by your environment and noticed a change in your taste of cars?

crowmolly > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 09:39

0

Biggest thing that my environment (NJ/PA area) has influenced is my selection of vehicle. Since we get snow and ice I can't go for a higher horsepower RWD car like I'd love to have as a daily driver. I'd love to DD a secondhand vette or something but it would be too much of a hassle. I've done the 400hp car on 3 season tires in the snow thing and it got old fast.

As far as the "demographics" of the car scene, it's pretty diverse here. I think the only thing I am kind of pushed away from is the luxury sedan stuff. And diesel pickups. There's a lot of guys with mall crawlers around here and that's not my scene.

Nibbles > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 09:40

0

I grew up in bumblefuck, NM. The place was lousy with F-bodies, Fox bodies and old trucks. I have an "old" truck and still lust after those damned anemic '80s "sports" cars. Living in Denver has changed me a bit, as I'm looking to an AWD Charger for my DD - still retains that "badass muscle car" image, but is drivable in shit weather. Thank god I don't live in Boulder :)

Jayhawk Jake > Nibbles 03/25/2014 at 09:49

0

You mean you don't want an Outback?

Leadbull > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 09:55

0

It's pretty interesting to see how geography influences the type of cars people build. For example, compare Japan and 'Murica.

I'm sure it influences people on a personal level, too.

EL_ULY > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 09:58

0

It's definitely possible sir. We got a trillion trucks still in Houston, but they are either diesel work trucks or lowered Silverados on giant flea market chrome wheels and 6000K xenon head and fog lamps. A/C is god though, i'm glad you haven't forgot that lol. Any time you head out into the mid west especially or just out of the dang city that you really experience America. That feeling hits you in an obvious way. It's awesome.

But more to your point, I know people that drive around in these towns wishing they drove an Audi RS7 just to "show these hicks about true engineering and technology in a vehicle" THEEENN!! go driving around a hippie/hipster modern "hybrid infested" side of town and wish the were in a loud muscle cars blasting metal music. In that idiotic way, it does further push your theory.

as a side note, I don't hang around that kind of doucher people anymore :]

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:00

0

Big time. It's no secret at all I love trucks. Around here everyone drives trucks or SUVs, and except for the occasional brave soul sports cars only venture out for a few months. Although I still do love cars, especially muscle cars of the 60s and 70s, body on frame with a bed is where it's at for me.

Jayhawk Jake > Leadbull 03/25/2014 at 10:00

0

Oh it absolutely affects people on a personal level, but that's an entirely different door I don't care to open here.

I just think it's interesting how much my views have changed in the last few years. If you had offered me a 92 S10 4 years ago I would have laughed and said 'why the hell would I want that?!'. Now? GIMME GIMME GIMME

Jayhawk Jake > EL_ULY 03/25/2014 at 10:04

0

I guess to me a lot of the trucks in Houston have a different vibe than here. Something I always hated about Houston was the wannabe country attitude of people: they are so proud of being in Texas they force what they perceive that lifestyle to be on themselves. So they buy trucks because it's Texas and you gotta have a truck in Texas.

Here most truck owners I've seen just like trucks. It's not about how they are perceived it's just what they like, or in many cases it's what they need.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:04

0

Eh, Atlanta is a lot like Houston in the sense that you get a little bit of everything, so long as it has good A/C.

But since I moved out into the woods north of Atlanta, I bought an F-150, and actually haul things with it. So far, I've resisted the Camo-ALL-THE-THINGS that normally infests North Georgia.

Although it got me to want a convertible.

spanfucker retire bitch > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:05

0

Son of a bitch, this was meant to be a reply to OP, not you. Disregard.

Nibbles > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:05

0

Dear gof no. I'd take a B4 Legacy sedan though that I would quickly turn into a Blitzen clone

spanfucker retire bitch > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:07

0

After several years of driving and enjoying FWD Japanese hatchbacks, I've actually been considering looking at CUVs and SUVs as my next car.

Western New York winters will do that to you.

midengineer > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:31

0

Are we really that much more patriotic than Houston of the great state of Texas? I guess in a way I've been affected by living here, growing up I never lusted after a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes. My love for Toyota spawned from my dad's little Toyota pickup he had for a considerable amount of my childhood and was only spurred by cars like the old Celica, MR2, and Supra. I would think that the time I grew up during has affected my taste more than the place; although this could be due to the fact that I've always lived here, haha.

Leadbull > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:33

0

When I said "personal level," I was addressing your original question. Probably should've worded that differently, but I hadn't had any coffee yet.

But yes, mmmm, small pickups...

EL_ULY > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 10:35

0

true but not entirely. Houston is going like crazy. Giant warehouses (petroleum industry) , huge communities, and various businesses that come with it going up in all directions. These trucks are out there working to build this mofo, BUUUTTT, then at the same time you got the mr. manager type that lives out in Katy that "because Texas" drives a giant Dodge 4x4 diesel to his office. The more common excuse is "I have a property out towards blah blah blah" ... not usually not true :]

I know where you are coming from though. It is more of a true feeling that honestly can be found anywhere that is not "the city"

Jayhawk Jake > EL_ULY 03/25/2014 at 11:03

0

I grew up in Bellaire. Other than trucks that were literally work trucks (as in owned by companies/private business owners) it was all posers.

Flat Six > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 11:06

0

When I was younger, I was much more contrarian, so when I lived in Northern California I didn't want anything except a small Japanese truck. It was practical and seemed to be the opposite of what everyone else had. Then I moved to Texas and because I was surrounded by trucks and SUV's, got a Miata and later a station wagon.

Now I'm older; although I still like unique things, I appreciate quality and performance more than not fitting in. The Texas sun means I look for cars in lighter colors with windows/sunroofs that offer sun protection, and a frosty AC!

Jayhawk Jake > midengineer 03/25/2014 at 11:09

0

You wouldn't have had the experience of a total change in environment. For me it's noticing the difference in two places.

And yes, we are more patriotic than Houston. Houston and Texas are patriotic about Texas more than America, here it's just 'murica.

crown victor victoria > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 12:10

0

I think environment definitely influences you. I don't see it as something that would change interests I already have, but it certainly can create new ones. I still like the things I like but I am a lot more interested in other things now, too.

I know this because I moved from Southern CA to New Orleans about 6 months ago. CA has just about any kind of car culture you could want, from lowriders to exotics to impeccably assembled JDM to bondo and glasspack'd F-bodies and everything in between. NO? Well, there are a lot of cars here, but I haven't noticed any obvious "scenes" in my daily comings and goings. It's a market that is hard on cars, and a lot of what I see is relatively newish, probably partly because of the high number of replacement vehicles that rolled into driveways post-Katrina. I was forced to purchase a second car not long ago, and that search was a nightmare. Everything on CL was a disaster and the lots had very little in the way of compelling used inventory. I settled on the devil I knew in a '13 Golf that has been good so far, but I must be one of 20 people in the metro area driving one. In CA these things are all over the place. It's a weird thing to get used to.

Anyway, as a result of moving here, I have found my interest in 4x4s rekindled. There were plenty of those in CA, too, but all the winding mountain roads lead me to prioritize sportier fare. Out here, you're lucky to find 1' of elevation change or a simple curve in a given 25-mile radius, but there's a lot of room to roam off the road, or tow a boat or hunt or fish or whatever. I still daydream of 911s or E30s or all the other things I would love to drive, but out here there's not as many worthwhile public roadways on which to enjoy them. Plus car insurance sucks here and people are horrible drivers (interrelated!) so I'd be paranoid all the time.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 13:14

0

It definitely does. I live in Northern VA and drive a '91 Miata with no A/C. I used to live in Jacksonville, FL. There's no way I could have owned this car there. Between the sun, heat, and humidity, it would be hell.

The Compromiser > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 16:30

0

I find you tend to see geographical similarities in vehicles, but not based on a particular culture. You do tend to see more local product company vehicles where vehicles are made (IE Detroit) but I don't know that its even 60% in that category. if 30% drive Ford/Chrysler/GM Product, and 10% are into Higher end (Landys and jags, etc) and the remainder is divided up between European and Japanese cars, it is the largest group, but not a majority. You will however always see more of the local brands because there are more of them than one single type of vehicle.

I live in SW Ontario (Canuckistan) and We have Honda, Doge, Ford And GM here. I've owned a Chevy Pickup Truck, a Mazda Wagon, and a Doge Full size. Not one was because everyone else had one just like it. Based on a quick poll of my memory, you would think we farm and pull stumps in the swamp all day here, due to the number of Bro Trucks. I live in a nice middle class area and on my short street there are 3 full sized trucks (4X4/Diesel 4 door). none of the owners are tradesmen who use them for work, farmers or likely to take them off of pavement intentionally.