On BMW

So are people who buy BMWs already predisposed to driving like idiots?

Or is anyone who gets behind the wheel of a BMW predisposed to acquire idiotic tendencies, regardless of their driving history?

Or am I merely predisposed to encounter that vanishingly small population of truly moronic BMW drivers?

Comments

[Meredith]

Funny you mention that. I don't think my mother drives recklessly, but I notice that she definitely drives a lot faster and less carefully since she got one (and she used to be the most careful driver I knew). I find myself holding onto something much more often when she makes turns.

But no, not all BMW drivers are "moronic." My brother had one before he moved to Manhattan and he was an excellent driver.

When I lived in South Florida (where a lot of people had money and drove expensive cars, while I had a Subaru!) I noticed that people were really reckless. I often wondered if they thought that their money somehow insulated them from problems and tragedy. Money made their lives easier in so many other ways that maybe they started taking their good fortune for granted. I don't know, but man, there were some bad drivers in Florida. It's much more pleasant driving in Vermont (other than the snow and ice!).

[Thomas]

This problem is universal. I have encountered it everywhere I have lived. The thing is that large (usually dark/black) BMWs and Mercedes cars comes with an "you are now above the law" clause in the drivers manual which influences these drivers who before where careful considerate drivers to reckless and downright dangerous driving.

It may also have something with the fact that these cars insulates you from the environment to a greater degree than other cars. More research is forthcoming...

[Ab]

Or are people who don't buy BMWs predisposed to judge BMW drivers more harshly than other drivers? Or perhaps predisposed to notice BMWs on the road more because they are such beautiful and elegant driving machines?

I'll admit: a couple months after my husband bought a BMW I got my first and only speeding ticket while driving it. I had no idea how fast I was going. It was probably a good thing I got a ticket, because I became much more careful. Even now, several years after trading down for a Honda, I keep a much closer eye on my speedometer.

But hey, I was on the way to an ILS vendor's user group meeting, and you can't be late for that!

[BMW]

Hey, I drive a BMW and I don't think i'm a bad driver. I have never had a ticket or any sort of trouble and never get into road rage. I don't wanna wreck my baby :P