Aggressive, Arrogant, Assholes in Supercars

Do you drive a supercar? Like a Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Maserati (or Corvette, Porsche or BMW) and, do you behave like an asshole behind the wheel? Of course you don’t. But guess what, people think we’re assholes, and I say “we” because I drive one of the brands listed above. Many think of us as rude and entitled at best and “jerks” or “assholes” at worst.  Are they right?

This common perception, spurred by viral posts and meme compilations of bad automotive behavior, such as poor parking, reckless lane changes and aggressive driving, points to a smug flaunting of status symbols. It’s not limited to one brand; drivers of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes suffer along with Ferrari, and Lamborghini targets.

And they’re not wrong. Scientific research has found a correlation between expensive car ownership and inconsiderate behavior.

• A 2020 University of Nevada study found drivers of more valuable cars are less likely to stop for pedestrians, with each $1,000 increment in car value reducing the likelihood by roughly 3%. The researchers “guessed” that luxury car owners may feel “superior” to other road users, resulting in less empathy for others on the road. Many individuals are highly tuned to brand loyalty, wearing branded clothing and other merchandise. Cars can be a extension of that.
• Research done in Finland found that men who drove flashy cars scored higher on negative personality traits such as being argumentative, stubborn, disagreeable, and lacking in empathy. Men, huh? Why am I not surprised? Studies at the University of Helsinki concluded that drivers with self-centered and arrogant traits also tend to own prestigious brands and are more likely to violate traffic laws.

But owners of luxury cars are a diverse group. The ones I know are conscientious, respectable, and ambitious people, buying luxury cars not to seek status or attention, but for the pure joy of driving something with this level of performance. Yes, I’ve witnessed some high-end car drivers fitting the “asshole” image, but most do not.  I’ve seen bad and stupid drivers in all sorts of cars.

A favorite pastime of mine is messing with people’s assumptions, expectations and prejudices. During car week here in mid-January, I was heading to an informal car show just off Scottsdale Road at the Shops at Gainey Ranch. About a dozen car lengths in front of me, I saw a blue Prius trying to merge onto Scottsdale Road without the benefit of a light. Pickup trucks, Teslas, station wagons and a host of cars were tucked close together, making getting in nearly impossible. As I approached in my yellow McLaren, I slowed, stopped and waved him into a spot in front of me. He shot me a quick wave as he pulled into traffic, and I thought no more about it, until about an hour later.

While admiring all the different cars, I noticed a man with two young boys standing near my car. Approaching my car and the trio admiring it, I asked if they had questions. The man said, “Sure, we do, but first, were you the guy that let us onto Scottsdale Road a while back?” I asked, “In a blue Prius?” He broke out in a wide grin. “Yes, that was me. I just wanted to say, I love taking my boys to see these cars, but we’re always afraid to talk to any of the owners. But when you let us in like that, I realized maybe I was wrong. So, we’ve been talking to some of you guys with the awesome cars. One owner even let the boys sit in his.” Well, I couldn’t be outdone, and soon his two grade-schoolers were crawling into the McLaren, making racing noises and wiggling the steering wheel. I was thrilled.

Long-term supercar owners know the limited appeal of blowing away other cars at a stoplight with exhaust notes audible a block away. It’s so much classier to pull away with traffic, maybe a few feet ahead, but not blasting away as if you were at a drag strip. Be the car that waves someone onto the street in front of you or into a parking space, or stops to let pedestrians cross. You’ll have a great time, I promise, and you’ll make it so much better for the rest of us.

END

Steve Larsen is the author of “My Heart Has Been In It From The Start,” and he leans against the front of his yellow McLaren on the cover.