What's In A Badge...

[Gbneil]

Having just bought a wee streetka, a thought occurred to me...it's a great wee car, nippy and handles superbly. And yet, I will probably be One of the only men who ever find this out as they do seem to be blighted with that 'woman's car' tag...surely a manufactured nomenclature?...ford themselves marketed these cars to women and predicted 90% of buyers would be female. And yet, a frogeye sprite or midget was never considered a woman's car?...same template, small,,cheap, cute..and fun....it is indicative of the times we live in that the sight of any man driving a convertible of less than about 200hp is culturally incongruous.

Now, this got me to thinkng...what's in a badge....How would history remember the copen, streetka, mx5 mk1 and 2 if they had, say, an Alfa badge on the snout....and therefore became 'acceptable' for a petrolhead to own and drive...or even an alpine or matra...or mg badge for that matter...may I make the observation that if the ka had an Alfa badge....everyone would love it...I think it looks stunning, although I appreciate its styling is divisive...superb sharp handling, only thing un italian- it was styled by ghia and built by pininfarina remember- is its engine....neither powerful, economical or sonorous, it is the wee cars Achilles heel....with the puma 1.7 this csr would have been a nigh on perfect small roadster...

Now this being a lexus forum I know I am dealing with bright, like minded individuals who plough their own furrows...but as the title says...what's in a badge...if our beloved ls400 for instance were made, and badged by, mercedes, they would have had even greater kudos, no?

I appreciate this is an open ended and speculative question, but I just wonder how much of what we buy is actually what we want to buy and how much we buy because we are constantly encouraged by overt and subliminal suggestions and stereotyping that's it's THE THING TO HAVE....fits our demographic, s*x, wage packet.?

[Stuno1]

Sadly for so many there is a lot on a badge and buying in to a brand. Companies spend ££££ developing brands to market products at certain folk. I am having a similar discussion with folk on the lotus forum around the well debated Lotus vs Porsche topic. It all comes down to perception and changing that takes a lot of time, money and advertising.

A great example is Porsche as people think it is 'the' car to own to show you have 'made it'. My dad is a perfect example. When he came close to retirement he bought a boxster as he always wanted a Porsche. No other reason and no other cars test driven.

Having said that he and my mum did also own 3 Mazda mx5's. Ultimately if you don't mind being seen in a certain car I guess that's all that matters but don't expect others to change their perceptions because they won't.

Stu

[Bluesman]

Whats in a badge? Robin Reliant.

I have a friend who drives around in a Robin Reliant and despite all the jibes and sometimes even insults he carries on motoring in his 3 wheeled chariot. I have always admired him and others like him who don't run with the pack and have enough character to ignore it all and carry on motoring in his choice of vehicle. Mike

[Gbneil]

...cliches alway have a basis in truth,I guess. I was wondering more about the gender specific attributes that seem to have been assigned certain products. Coupes in general seem to,have become feminised, Hyundai, rx8, puma...lots of bought by and driven by women, yet market used to be predominantly male marketed....Capri, manta, monza etc...

Yet...a 350/370 z is a man's car, for sure....is this why toyobaru have found it so hard to break into this sector...a pretty coupe with 'blokeish' traits, fine handling etc...and, conversely, why are these considered 'blokeish' traits.

Some cars are not gender specific, I have tended to find saab, and volvo, as asexual- a by product of their socialist Scandinavian image..again created as both were ultimately bought by the huge multi national companies..perhaps BECAUSE of this brand image and the loyalty it generated? Driven by either s*x and liked on their merits. This stuff fascinates me as I am writing a philosphy project on marxism and feminism. advertising seems to have created accepted modes of possession, and society has becomes culturally and sexually divisive, and fragemntaiton suits capital?

I would love, for instance, a boxster....any age, any engine...because it appeals to me, looks, hand,ing, engineering ingenuity...I like them more than 911... But...womans/hairdressers/couldn't afford a 911 baggage comes with these cars. I WILL have one because I buy and drive what I like....given the loot, I'd buy a boxster gts, or rs spyder over a 911 anyday...

[steve2006]

Think Street KA think Kylie Minogue, I should be so lucky :)