Well, I think we can conclude that the original study is pretty much liberal back-patting. I’m surprised they didn’t report that hybrid owners have bigger genitalia to boot.
OTOH, there is a good question here that has been asked for decades: What does your choice in cars say about you? IMHO, your choice in cars is a reflection of your personality, but it’s an imperfect reflection. There are so many other factors involved in that selection that the usefulness of a car choice is limited.
The obvious factor is (as pointed out in the article) financial situation. A Ferrari might be the perfect reflection of my personality, but you’ll never see that reflection because I can’t afford one. What about cars that double as work vehicles? Real estate agents who have to drive clients around? Restaurant owners? Postal workers? Just about any small business will see the personal car put to business use.
In essence, I think the choice in vehicles is reflective of a person’s situation, with a little of their personality thrown in. It is not a reflection of their personality with a little situation in the mix.
In any case, the hybrid market is still a small fraction of the market. If you’re interested, you can read JD Powers & Assoc. press release on the report, which is quite different than the Euroweenie Lea… er, Environmental Leader.
Oh, and I drive a Prius. Love the car, but I can’t stand the environmentangalists.
