Special Reports

What Your Car Says About Your Personality

BOSTON (WBZ) ― You think your car is just transportation? You're wrong! Whether you buy a red convertible or a pickup truck, a big minivan or a Beetle, Dr. Charles Kenny says that car says a lot about a person.

"It's a reflection of who you are," said Kenny.

Kevin Washington drives a BMW Z3.

"The Z3 is a very smooth car, and the owner is a very smooth guy," said Washington.

Dr. Kenny is a consumer psychologist who studies car buyers and those needs -- like power, control, status, independence, stability, intelligence. "The specific type or brand of vehicle that they buy is a way to fulfill an emotional need," said Kenny.

Ilene Griff drives a 2005 Toyota Prius. "I think my car says that I am an intelligent consumer, that I care about the environment, and now that I a part of a cult, which is the Prius generation," said Griff.

Griff is a classic hybrid owner. Kenny says many of them want to seem ethical and smart. "People are emotionally committed to being, or to feeling like, they are rational decision-makers," said Kenny

Monty Owens drives a Range Rover Sport 2006 model. "This car has everything. It's got speed, it's got power. It's sporty, but it's also classy. It's somewhat grown and sexy," laughed Owens.

SUV drivers like Owens seek out that feeling of adventure. "Even if you didn't go off road, you still could do it, and it gave you that capability and that feeling of no boundaries," said Kenny.

Kenny says new small cars like the Vibe, the Scion and the Fit attract the eccentric. "They just don't want to be thought of as run of the mill. There's a need to feel like they're unique and to have other people recognize them as unique," said Kenny.

Sal Scuderi drives a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle with a diesel engine. "It's different, and I'm different!" he said.

Pickup trucks fulfill a need for power and control; convertibles, a sense of freedom; the PT Cruiser, the need to feel refreshed and new. Bernice Popa drives a 2002 PT Cruiser. "It's perky, and I think that fits my personality really well!" said Popa.

What a car means can change over time. Alison Nicks drives a red Volvo S40. "The beige Volvo was so safe before, but now, young people are driving them and enjoying them," said Nicks, who gave a playful kiss to her car.

What Your Car Says About You Based on work by Dr. Charles Kenny:

Mini-van: Need for nurturance and escape.

Two-door sedan for single women: Gender identity

SUV: Need for adventure

Hummer and large SUVs: Need for power and control; the "warrior mentality"

Lexus: Need for status and rejuvenation

Luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Acura, Infiniti and Cadillac: Need for status, telling themselves that they have arrived as well as telling others!

For example:
• Mercedes: Needs for status and power; need for perfection (precision engineering)
• BMW: Need for status and impulse control
• Cadillac: Need for status

Ultra-luxury brands such as Bentley and Rolls Royce: Need for status and uniqueness. (Luxury is never having to say it!)

Convertibles: Need for freedom and independence; need for escape

Sports cars, Corvette: Youthful exuberance, rejuvenation, impulse control. For the Corvette, a need for immortality.

Four-door sedan: Practicality and nurturance

Mustang V-8 (not the V-6): Impulse control

Muscle cars such as the old Camaro and Firebird : Impulse control

Original Volkswagen Beetle: Need for uniqueness and physical security (reliability and low gas mileage)

New Volkswagen Beetle: Need for rejuvenation

Trucks: A combination of power, control and gender identity

Full-size trucks: More about power and control

Compact trucks: More about gender identity

Full-size four-door trucks (men): Power, control and gender identity; nurturance

Full-size four-door trucks (women): Independence and gender identity

Hybrids: Character; doing the right thing; fear of judgment

Compact cars: Need for rationality and character

Honda Fit : Need for rationality; physical security; need for uniqueness

PT Cruiser: Need for rejuvenation; need for uniqueness

Custom vans: Need for uniqueness

VW Bus: Need for community and acceptance

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