[MkaSs]

Hello Everyone,

This will be my first post, so please feel free to tell me what's what. I will try to do my best not to offend anyone.

The reason for this post is my overall dissatisfaction with the way the public(at least it seams to me) views BMW drivers/owners. If you see the commercials(Audi in particular), look up BMW memes, or ask anyone what they feel or think, it is pretty much the same thing. BMW drivers are D..... B..'s, A..Holes, Jerks, and D...'s. We don't use our blinkers, follow to close, or just act like we own the road. I for one feel that I am an upstanding driver. I get upset at people, not just BMW drivers, when they don't use blinkers, merge nicely, or just don't pay attention. I get upset at myself if I don't use my blinker. I try to be as courteous as possible. I let people merge, I drive slow in parking lots and residential areas. I we wait while someone pulls out or backs into a parking spot. Overall I think people as a whole need to be more aware and pleasant towards each other. Driving is no different. My wife owns a Subaru WRX and it is very nice to see EVERY OTHER person in a Subaru waving. I would like to see the same friendliness between BMW drivers. I'm always waving to other BMW drivers and rarely do I get a wave back. I would also like to see or hear a change in the way the world perceives us. I'd like to ask everyone to please be mindful of others on the road. Don't speed up to block someone from entering the highway. Use your blinkers, they are free to use(from a BMW meme), and use the golden rule. Treat others they way you would like to be treated, it's simple, it's basic but it would change everything if everyone practiced it. So please tell me you'll show everyone that BMW drivers aren't the tools they think we are!

[Em135eye]

The bad image put me off the brand for years but I'm glad I went for one (then another).
Sadly it's an aspirational brand and can be leased very cheaply so often bought by social climbing idiots.

I did Advanced Driving and a Police course in an effort to be as good as possible; I do get shocked looks when I drive with extra courtesy!

[AIRPOWER]

If you want people to wave back when you wave buy a Corvette.

[Delta0311]

I'm in NJ, no matter what you drive here you can be expected to be treated with up most douchebaggery. So my conscience does not feel shit when I return the favor.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

I'm in NJ, no matter what you drive here you can be expected to be treated with up most douchebaggery. So my conscience does not feel shit when I return the favor.

This, but replace NJ with Utah.

[MightyMouseTech]

It is just a car, not a lifestyle.

[wdb]

No worries. Clarkson says all the DB's buy Audis now. BMW is in the clear.

[bimmerboyE92]

I try to be an up standing driving as well. But at the end of the day, who cares what they think of "us"?

Drive what you like, like what you drive.

[C5driver]

Originally Posted by AIRPOWER

If you want people to wave back when you wave buy a Corvette.

Exactly. Add Harley to the Vette.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by wdb

No worries. Clarkson says all the DB's buy Audis now. BMW is in the clear.

His DB gear is epic.

[saleen556]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

It is just a car, not a lifestyle.

I feel this way as well. There are idiots in all different makes of cars. I see them no matter what I'm driving. BMW is a nice car. However it's ONLY a car.

[Law]

[NickyC]

My car has blinkers?

[mrkoven]

i only buy bmw because i love how they drive and look

i couldnt care less what the perception is or what others on the road think

[M3SSY]

Originally Posted by NickyC

My car has blinkers?

Yep, and they aren't actually vestigial!

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by saleen556

I feel this way as well. There are idiots in all different makes of cars. I see them no matter what I'm driving. BMW is a nice car. However it's ONLY a car.

This. Every single make of vehicle -- hell: every single model from every single make of vehicle -- has a stereotype attached to its regarding the people who tend to drive (or ride) that make. Some are good, some are horrible; some are valuable, some are worthless; some are based on demonstrable sociological fact, some are based on absolute bigotry or racism.

The stereotype of BMW drivers is nowhere near as bad as many, many others. Just drive the car the way you want. If the perceived stereotype bothers you, behave in a different way. After all, stereotypes are partially developed from fact, and the only way to lose one is to nullify the facts that caused that one to develop in the first place.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

The stereotype of BMW drivers is nowhere near as bad as many, many others.

Oh, I'm not so sure.
I'm not saying it's deserved, after all most generalizations are wrong. But you have to admit "BMW owner/driver" stereotype out there is pretty bad.

Originally Posted by Viffermike

If the perceived stereotype bothers you, behave in a different way. After all, stereotypes are partially developed from fact, and the only way to lose one is to nullify the facts that caused that one to develop in the first place.

Agree 100%

[cenix]

It's not about what you drive. It's about the individual behind the wheel, they tend to perceive themselves as better drivers than they actually are and are oblivious to this fact. They're usually the people who are quick to blame others, are judgmental, and the ones who honk and flip you off first. Let's face it, there's just a lot of idiots on the road.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Oh, I'm not so sure.

I'm not saying it's deserved, after all most generalizations are wrong. But you have to admit "BMW owner/driver" stereotype out there is pretty bad.

I don't think so. And I live in a city (Dallas) where the BMW driver is all but ubiquitous, and where stereotypes define it almost absolutely to those who are unfamiliar with it. Are many of them ridiculous? Yes. Are many of them not based on fact, at least partially? Nope.

And I wouldn't go so far as to say most generalizations are wrong. I'd say most generalizations have many exceptions. All I'm saying to the OP is to be an exception. Eventually, when exceptions supersede a generalization, a stereotype begins to disappear.

[mojobmw_e90]

I drive a somewhat higher hp car than 95% of the public. So I tend to use my advantages as often as I can.gettjng on the expressway I don't need to speed up because my car is on coil overs with away bar and sticky tires so I take the corners quick and they think I'm about to loose control, so they slow down. So I can see why they would hate us.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

....I take the corners quick and they think I'm about to loose control, so they slow down. So I can see why they would hate us.

This, plus perceived wealth that goes along the ownership of these, if you ad a bit of envy into the mix, it's easy to understand the stereotype.

My joke was always "I was just as big a.....e long before I owned one, I just feel more at ease being one now"

As others have mentioned, each brand has their own stereotypes.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

I drive a somewhat higher hp car than 95% of the public. So I tend to use my advantages as often as I can.gettjng on the expressway I don't need to speed up because my car is on coil overs with away bar and sticky tires so I take the corners quick and they think I'm about to loose control, so they slow down. So I can see why they would hate us.

What you just described isn't the stereotype that is normally affixed to BMW drivers. What you just described is a stereotype affixed to drivers of certain types of performance cars, of which BMW makes a few. Huge, huge difference.

See, if you'd said that without any sort of make or model context, I'd have assumed you were driving something along the lines of a WRX STi, or a Z28. Plainly, I'm wrong -- but I say that to back up my point.

Stereotypes are complex things. It's dangerous to simplify them for someone else's sake.