With That Saucy Swagger, She Must Drive a Porsche

New York Times ^ | June 13, 2006 | BENEDICT CAREY

[Sabramerican]

With That Saucy Swagger, She Must Drive a Porsche

Some people seem a perfect fit for the cars they drive, like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Hummer, Michael Jordan and his Ferrari. Yet most drivers' faces and bearing give away clues that tip off their favored model, a new study has found.

Psychologists at Julius-Maximilians University in Wurzburg, Germany, report in a recent issue of the Journal of Individual Differences that students correctly matched photographs of male and female drivers to pictures of the cars they drove almost 70 percent of the time.

The drivers' age and wealth were the most helpful cues, the researchers reported.

...

In the study, the psychologists took photographs, from the waist up, of 60 men and women at a rest stop who agreed to participate in the study. Their cars, also photographed, included luxury models, modest family sedans and compact cars, from BMWs and Audis to Opels, Fords and Volkswagens.

The students looked at 60 sets of three photos, matching one of a driver to one of two car pictures — either the correct one, or one belonging to another driver.

[RebelBanker]

[SteveMcKing]

Taxi Driver comes to mind... then again, that movie is all I think about.

[ASA Vet]

That's not a drive, that's a short putt.

[Grut]

Technically, a besom.

[Fresh Wind]

[MPJackal]

"students correctly matched photographs of male and female drivers to pictures of the cars they drove almost 70 percent of the time."

"The drivers' age and wealth were the most helpful cues, the researchers reported."

So was the photo of the driver or his tax statement? I call BS. So I take a picture of a well dressed man and set two pictures of cars next to it.

Car A = Lexus Sedan

Car B = Flower painted VW Van

Now match the picture.

I'll bet I could recreate this experiment and with these standards get what ever result you want.

[Grim]

More people who look like their pets

[Jaysun]

I wonder what Helen Thomas drives?

A yellow 1975 Ford LTD. Other than the coat hanger antenna, it's all original.

[sionnsar]

This isn't a "girly car" though I admit it's not the biggest macho vehicle out there. A lot of fun to drive, though, and it's nice to have a stickshift again...

[Old Grumpy]

"I wonder what Helen Thomas drives?"

Probably an old YUGO.

[martin_fierro]

Yet most drivers' faces and bearing give away clues that tip off their favored model, a new study has found.

[Lurking in Kansas]

bookmark

[xsmommy]

PERFECT rendering of you!

[potlatch]

LOL, interesting ping!

[martin_fierro]

It's not a bad ride.

For 1 horsepower.

[retrokitten]

In the study, the psychologists took photographs, from the waist up, of 60 men and women at a rest stop who agreed to participate in the study.

I can't imagine saying yes to someone hanging out at a rest stop asking if they can take my picture.

[martin_fierro]

Yet most drivers' faces and bearing give away clues that tip off their favored model, a new study has found.

[RightWhale]

A four-door Pinto station wagon.

[leda]

i pick which car i drive based the number of passengers
i'm toting around with me...

the mazda mpv for "mommy taxi" days

or

the mustang gt when it's just me and my pick up man ;)

[ExDemSince92]

At various times in my life - In no particular order

• Jeep Cherokee Laredo
• Porsche 928
• Volvo 740 GL
• Volkswagon Bug
• Chevy Monza
• Ford Grenada
• Chevy S-10
• Yugo (For a week)
• 69 Chevy stepside
• 71 Camero
• Dodge Colt
• Ford Escort

If it has wheels, I will drive it. ;)