singley.org > blog archives > Car Cults 08.08.2002

Car Cults

Are new Volkswagen beetle owners issued cute little flowers to put in the dashboard flower vase? Or, did they agree collectively to never have their cars in public without daisies or a sunflower trendily displayed next to the driver?

It's funny the communities that are created among car owners. Jes told me that Jeep Wrangler drivers honk when they see each other. Bus drivers do that, too.

I remember back when I had my red 'vette in high school, I'd wave to people in a car that was the same make but not even necessarily the same year as mine. I felt an instant bond with these folks, as I'm sure they'd gone through the same jerky transmission and faulty break problems as I had.

I suppose the less common your car is, the tighter the car-owner bonds. For example, I don't see people cruising in their Honda Civics get too excited about seeing another one on the road. I guess this is like any community. People seek out those who are similar to themselves, and if there are fewer of you, you tend to stick closer together.

I'm going to encourage this type of community building. So, honk when you see your fellow Saturn or Camry or Fiero owner! A car says something about your personality or at least your taste, so you and your car buddies would probably get along anyway.