Cars are very similar to clothing. They instill a special feeling when you are in them and give an impression to each and everyone who witnesses it. To many, these cars are the representation of who they are - whether it's fashionable or not.
Driving a big truck or used-up old car could be just like wearing sweat pants and T-shirt, whereas driving a fancy luxury car feels like you should be in a tux or evening gown. Of course, people purchase cars with function in mind, but all like to look good while performing their chores.
Some people start the conscious exercise of understanding how they feel when they drive each Consumer Reports test car. In their psychological experiments, they enter into a different personality, whether it's confidence, a feeling of importance or a bit of shame or embarrassment if I'm driving a gas-guzzling machine.
Now they tried the luxury cars costing above $50,000, plus two ultra-luxury cars that had a pricing at just over $90,000. As they got into these premium vehicles, a feeling of confidence engulfed them. The journey was quite smooth, like you are gliding over the road. The seats cradled them in comfort. Some of them felt very fancy - like a wealthy executive. This car undoubtedly demands attention.
They realized other drivers checking them out, possibly to see who was driving such a costly car. After a while, most of them felt uneasy with their newfound status, halting their mobile method acting. No wonder the S-Class could call them out, since their normal commuting car is a low profile, fairly old car.
When they tested pickup trucks, they had to endure different stares from drivers. While driving these heavy vehicles, other motorists were not concerned about them the same way as when they drove those luxury cars. The curious looks conveyed more confusion or probably amusement.
Perhaps some of them seemed a little out of my element in the pickup. Drivers probably figured out their uneasiness maneuvering the huge truck. Most of them felt like the towering Wizard of Oz looking over his subjects (only to realize in the end they were not so big and powerful after all). Some of them even got a good laugh when they not-so adequately had to get in and out in a skirt.
In a time when there is so much fuzz about fuel efficiency, they were a bit uncomfortable traveling in a vehicle that wastes so much gas (particularly since they clearly were not utilizing it for what it was intended to do - haul stuff).
When you drive your luxury cars, you will feel an irresistible urge to yell
