2011 BMW 528i: Image Problem?
August 17, 2011
A friend of a friend bought an Audi A4 a couple of weeks ago and we were talking about the reasons behind his purchase. At some point in the discussion, the BMW brand was mentioned -- I asked if he'd considered a 3 Series as a possible candidate.
This guy's response was emphatic: He said he'd never buy a BMW, because BMW drivers are known to be "insert profane insult here" and he didn't want people making those assumptions about him. I tried to gently suggest that maybe he was generalizing just a tad but he wasn't having any of it; no BMWs for him, not ever.
I was aware of the negative stereotypes that some people have regarding BMW drivers, but this was the first time I'd come across someone who takes those stereotypes so seriously, they'd steer clear of buying one of the brand's models.
Me, I'd buy whichever car I like best, regardless of what other people think. But I guess I can understand where this guy's coming from. Luxury cars are mostly about image, after all, and if a brand's image doesn't sit well with you, that's certainly one reason to go looking in another direction.
What do you think? Would you avoid buying a BMW for the reasons that this guy mentioned?
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
