If your car’s an extension of your personality, have you ever wondered what your set of wheels says about you?
It’s a common belief that what a person drives says a lot about him or her. And it just might be true.
Just think about the last time you were shopping for a new set of wheels. What else did you take into account besides the car’s price point and how smooth the ride was?
Did you also take into consideration the car’s aesthetics? How sleek its interiors were and maybe its fuel efficiency? Then did you take a minute to picture how it would look sitting on your driveway? Or how you would look cruising it in?
If you answered yes to all, you can see that there’s so much more than meets the eye when it comes to purchasing a car. And it doesn’t begin and end with you walking into a showroom and pointing at the first vehicle you see.
Picking a car is as personal as picking a new home, your clothes – or even your spouse. It’s all about figuring out what suits you and your needs best. With that in mind, we break down the most common types of cars on our roads today and what they might signal about the people driving them.
If you’re driving an MPV, you’re most likely living in a landed property, since you’ll need a generous parking lot. You’re also someone who takes your role as a parent very seriously.
#1 Multipurpose vehicle
The classic “mum-mobile”, a multipurpose vehicle (or MPV) is perfect for those who spend a lot of time in their cars. This functional set of wheels is best suited for a big family – with lots of kids – who probably also have their grandparents living with them. MPVs are spacious, so nobody has to fight for space. Plus, it comes with built-in entertainment, such as LCD screens and DVD players, which maximises pleasure during long car rides with fidgety little ones. If you’re driving an MPV, you’re most likely living in a landed property, since you’ll need a generous parking lot. You’re also someone who takes your role as a parent very seriously. Because let’s face, you didn’t choose an MPV for its aesthetics, but mostly for how functional it is to chauffeur the brood around. Since investing in one of these bad boys, you might have also become the type of family who enjoys road trips. (Photo: Prestige Motorsport)
2 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
For those who still need a spacious ride, but aren’t quite ready to maneuver the gigantic MPV on Singapore’s narrow roads (how does one even park those things?), then an SUV might be more up your alley. By the way, don’t be too quick to pass these petrol-guzzling “big car” drivers off as environmentally irresponsible. Many SUVs today come with fuel efficiency features. The SUV is big enough to comfortably transport a family and maybe even the dogs (in the boot). When on the road, the car’s elevated seating allows you to see over everybody else and take control of the roads – something you enjoy a great deal. But you are by no means a road bully. You’re just someone who enjoys the finer things in life, and in this case it involves a sweet SUV ride. (Photo: Volkswagen Group Singapore)
#3 Sedan
There’s nothing flashy about the sedan, and the same can be said about its driver. Regular in style and function, these cars work magnificently for your daily commute, but otherwise don’t have much else to offer. Not like you mind anyways, you’re someone who’s not interested in all the bells and whistles. Nor do you want to be seen dropping the kids at school in an embarrassingly flashy car. Practicality is your middle name and you value everything the reliable sedan has to offer, which includes safety and a reasonable price point. (Photo: Nissan Singapore)
#4 Small Cars
It might have been your starter car when you first got married and it was just the two of you. But, you’ve kept your small car even after having kids, because you love how reliable and no-nonsense your small car is, and how it suits your logical and sensible personality to a tee. Although you enjoy zipping around the island in your tiny torque, you may feel like you’re living amongst giants when you stop next to an MPV or SUV. But it doesn’t bother you one bit. Your trusty set of wheels gets you from point A to B and you save on petrol and monthly payments. Now that you’ve started a family, you’re happy to keep your car as long as it can fit a car seat or two. A money-saving mode of transport is more important now than ever, anyways. (Photo: Suzuki Cars UK)
You’ve kept your small car even after having kids, because you love how reliable and no-nonsense your small car is, and how it suits your logical and sensible personality to a tee.
#5 Luxury Cars
Not everyone who drives a flashy, super-expensive car is compensating for something. Some are just striving for individualism and excellence, and their luxury ride is an extension of that. If you’re behind the wheel of a Lexus, BMW or Audi, you’re signaling status. But at the same time your ride is also a constant reminder of the diligence and commitment you’ve put in at work that has allowed you to enjoy such perks. You’re a highly-educated, high-income earner who wants your kids to know that hard work pays off. Nor should they feel guilty about enjoying their success – as long as they don’t flaunt it in other people’s faces, of course! (Photo: Autoweek)
#6 Hybrid Cars
If you’ve chosen the hybrid car, it means you’re environmentally proactive and want to do your bid to address global warming. By driving one, you’re also setting a good example to your kids and raising environmentally-conscious children in the process. Since a hybrid car typically uses less fuel, it gives off lower carbon emissions. So, its biggest selling point – besides doing its part to save the planet – is that you spend less on petrol. And that is a big draw for financially-conscious families. (Photo: www.toyota.com.sg)
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