Does Your Car Predict Your Vote?
In "The Big Sort," author Bill Bishop describes how people tend to self-segregate by moving near others who are predisposed to think like them. One of the principles of his theory is that lifestyle determines a person's politics, and a recent survey conducted by Kelley Blue Book seems only to add credence to Bishop's argument.
The survey's most surprising discovery was just how well the actual data hewed to Republican and Democratic stereotypes. By wide margins, domestic-car owners preferred Republican presidential candidate John McCain. The "buy-American" crowd broke down with 61% of GMC owners, 60% of Chevy, 58% of Buick and Dodge, and 57% of Ford saying they would vote for McCain.
The Arizona senator also led in owners of luxury vehicles, including 52% each of BMW, Lexus and Lincoln owners.
Meanwhile Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama dominated among small-import owners like Mini (70%), Subaru (61%), Saab 59% and Honda (50%).
Vehicle segments broke down predictably as well with full-size truck, SUV and luxury-SUV owners all preferring McCain by wide margins, while Obama has the support of wagon and hatchback owners (including luxury wagons). The Illinois senator also did well with the luxury-crossover segment and hybrid owners, where he held a nine point lead over McCain.
It's not hard to see how a car buyer's political priorities manifest themselves in the type of vehicle he or she chooses, but the question we have is this: Has your car predicted your vote? Do you break the mold? Let us know in the comments.
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i break the mold...i'm a proud liberal democrat and supporting Obama and i'm also the proud owner of a 2009 Mustang GT - stick of course
See, 113 has proven a point that's very typical in the W Coast (Blue States) - Obama supports protecting the environments (a.k.a tree huggers ideals), but lots of the Obama Support stickers are on SUV, sport cars, and even Hummer in the W.
The voters' mindsets have changed. We no longer really CARE 'bou what the candidates stand for; we just support whatever party they are in. That's it.
I would guess that Corvair drivers won't be voting for Ralph Nader this year. I would guess that most Subaru drivers will vote for Obama. Hummer drivers will go for McCain. Beyond that I don't think you can speculate too much based on car brands.
So who will i vote for
F150 4x4
volvo v70
Mazda 6 v6 5dr
As always it's less about who you like...
Vote for who you hate the least
This sounds very similar to a project I ran in 2004 (and am currently running again for the 2008 election) called Political Bumpers. A group of spotters from around the country record makes and models of cars as well as the bumper stickers that they display. Then, we draw some rough correlations based on that data. In 2004, many of the results were as expected (large SUV drivers were predominantly right-leaning) but there were some surprises, like Honda owners being 77% left-leaning and wagons, unlike minivans and SUVs, tended to be left-leaning (67%).
Feel free to keep an eye on this year's project and look through 2004's archives:
http://www.politicalbumpers.org/
I brake it, Honda civic hatchback driver voting for McCain.
matt, you didn't break anything. Only half of Honda owners are voting Obama meaning the other half are likely voting McCain or are undecided.
What's the point of this kind of survey again? To start the domestic vs import wars again?
Republican: Nissan Altima and Honda Pilot.
Dems has better get used to spreading their cars around...
Wow, the niche brands are really popular with Obama. I think its more your living environment that makes you choose your car, and then that corrlates to how well each candiate serve your living environment.
So it appears that those who vote for the "party of the working man" (Democrat) prefer cars made in non union U.S. factories or imported from overseas.
Meanwhile those who support the "party of the rich" (Republican) buy cars made in union factories, with mostly American made parts (also often from union factories).
I think I break the mold as well.
I'm also a proud liberal democrat (in Kansas no less) and I'm supporting Obama. I drive a 2006 Pontiac GTO - 6 speed.
Mazda Drivers for Obama!
Many domestic buyers are Repubs because of the patriotism behind it.
Many domestic buyers are Dems because it's American made and, more importantly, union-made
No matter what, no one has an excuse to buy an Asian car...that pisses me off how many AMERICANS drive Asian cars.
The fact that more libs drive foreign makes me especially mad because they do it for the fuel efficiency...when u can get a fuel efficient American car.
I'm a proud leftist and drive a 1995 Buick LeSabre. And if im not mistaken, it's made in the USA, by the UAW. Just how i like it.
Obama x 2 (wife/I) and yes we both drive Subaru's albeit high performance (Legacy GT & WRX). My two sister in laws with Subaru and my mum with a Subaru Forester will vote Obama also.
I've driven a Ford Ranger for 14 years and recently bought a Honda Fit. Besides the fact that both are smaller than the average in their class I can't think that they have a lot in common, but I've been a leftist for almost 40 years and would be no matter what car I drove. Voting for Mr. Obama goes way beyond my road habits to my serious reservation about candidates I think would be content too use war as a routine foriegn policy tool. That describes Mr. McCain doesn't it?
Silverado and an Impala, who else--McCain.
I support America!
Buick Park Avenue Ultra (the one with the tire-shredding supercharger :-) and the appetite for premium gas... and a vote for Obama.
What these comments have shown so far is that people who like to comment on Internet message boards tend to go opposite the general public...
My wife drives a Durango, only because we can't afford to dump it (it's essentially worthless in today's market). I work for a labor union and drive a Dodge Ram diesel about 50,000 miles a year (diesels last longer). I burn domestically produced biodiesel (waste vegetable oil) in it. This household is for Obama, and we haven't owned a foreign car since 1991. Generalizations can get you in trouble.