My point is that some people just don't give a sh!t what others think when they purchase something and in no way it becomes part of their buying decision.
I'd argue that every single thing we buy that is anything beyond the minimum required to get the task done is some form of self-expression...basically, we're trying to impress ourselves. Which is worse than trying to impress others...and the entire reason that marketing works. Thank Christ.
Human nature...embrace it and profit from it.
I put these quotes together as I think many people are agreeing and not noticing!
Every car purchasing decision beyond the bare necessities of transportation has to be some form or self expression. If I put two options in front of you, and you chose one, there had to be a reason for it, right?
For some - like CanuckS2K - they may take a purely pragmatic approach of which car they like more. Badge or no. This is expressing a value, but it isn't being a badge whore per se.
Confession: I am kind of a badge whore.
There are some brands I really like, and some I dislike. I like the fact that my Civic is built in Canada, has a strong reputation for quality, is fun(ish) to drive 'cus its a Honda Civic and that is the way they are, right? Marketing. With some facts. Some.
And I think I'm in the majority. Just look at the sales charts - it isn't a list of vehicles based on merit.