Stereotype #2

     Now I'll be honest, none of us that contribute to this blog could be classified as a "Scene Kid,"(the previous stereotype covered) but don't take us for a bunch of kids sitting around a computer screen making fun of other people's styles; we can criticize ourselves just the same, and that is exactly what we are going to do this week.  Now this stereotype is one that both Martha and I represent on a pretty regular basis, so lets get going.
     This stereotype requires you to switch your thinking just a bit, because it doesn't encumbrance a complete lifestyle such as "Scene Kids" do.  This stereotype can appear in a person of any age, but often is seen in the younger generation.  Now what is this mysterious stereotype we're speaking of?  Well, all it requires is a person driving a late-model muscle car and a generous right foot.  The stereotype we will be speaking of this week is: "People who drive late-model muscle cars drive, lets say......., aggressively."  
     First we need to establish our creditability on this subject, the best way we can do that is by what we drive.  Martha drives a newer Mustang, one of those slick retro-style ones they released starting in 2005; which round off the top side of our classification of "late-model" muscle cars.  My car is more on the bottom side, being a 3rd Generation Camaro, debatably the boxiest design out of all the Camaro's, but still an awesome looking car if I may say so myself.  

    




(This is the body style of Martha's car that I was speaking of, isn't that an aggressive looking car?)








Now what classifies as a late-model muscle car? Well here are some of the major models I would count:



 3rd & 4th Generation Chevy Camaro's & Pontiac Firebird's- Now you may be wondering what I mean by "3rd & 4th Generation," well the Camaro (& Firebird) have gone through 5 major re-designs through its lifespan, which designated by the time periods (generations) they were released: 1st Gen (1967-1969); 2nd Gen (1970-1981); 3rd Gen (1982-1992); 4th Gen (1993-2002); 5th Gen (2010-present).  I say 3rd and 4th generation because the 1st and 2nd generation are largely considered an investment cars, cars that are worth the effort to be collected and are mostly garage babies.  The 5th generation is too new, and expensive, to be left with an irresponsible kid behind the wheel.  The 3rd and 4th gen are new enough where they haven't established a high collectible value and are fairly readily available. (3rd & 4th Generation Camaro's shown)














3rd & 4th
(this would be James type of car)


Generation Mustang's- Mustang's also have pretty distinct generations and designs, though their time periods don't match exactly with the Camaro's, notably their isn't a gap where no Mustang's were produced like the Camaro had (2003-2009 no Camaro's were produced by Chevy): 1st Gen (1964-1973), also the best of the generations; 2nd Gen (1974-1978); 3rd Gen (1979-1993); 4th Gen (1994-2004); 5th Gen (2005-present).  The 3rd and 4th Generation Mustangs were chosen for the same reasons as the Camaro, their relatively low collect-ability and easy availability. (3rd & 4th Generation Mustang's shown below)














Other late-model cars that could be considered, though they aren't as common, would be Corvette's, Monte Carlo's, Grand National's, El Camino's, Impala's, Chevy 454SS's and Ford Lightning's.

(Buick Grand National, Chevy 454SS, Ford Lightning & Pontiac Firebird shown)

     Now I might have been a little thorough in my car breakdown, but what can I say, cars are my passion; but besides the cars, what is this stereotype?  Now just because you own one of the cars mentioned, or any others that fit into the category, doesn't mean you are roped in with this stereotype; though driving one on a daily basis often helps you fall into it.  People who fit this stereotype have, as they say, a "heavy foot" or a "lead foot," meaning they like to press on the gas, and hard!  Honestly, how can you not, when so much power is released with a little twitch of the foot, it's easy to start craving for more, to push the car to see what it can do.  Characteristic of this stereotype are people who drive "aggressively", for lack of other "PG" terms, so they tend to speed a little bit, jump as soon as a traffic light turns green, or take a corner just a little bit too sharp, but that doesn't mean they're a bad driver.  Often, since their car is moving at a faster pace, they process at a faster pace as well, leading to, a lot of times, a better driver.  They learn to process and react faster so hopefully when possible trouble comes their way, they can quickly avoid it and save an accident. Also with that faster pace, it keeps traffic moving along, I don't know about some of you, but it becomes really irritating when you get stuck behind a person going slower than the speed limit, disrupting the flow.

     Don't get the wrong idea though, we aren't promoting driving recklessly, there are plenty examples of tragic accidents from people driving stupidly, but sometimes it's not all that bad.  You would get where your going faster, and less stressfully, if everyone drove with the flow of traffic, and think of all the accidents that would be saved if people had better reaction times; I'm not saying people should speed to become a better driver, they could learn in a safe environment or a closed course, just something to make people more instinctive drivers.  Also it's really relieving sometimes to just put your foot to the floor, hear the roar of the engine as it pulls you head back against the seat and sail down an open stretch, which can be done effectively without going over the speed limit; again safe driving is the key.  People of this stereotype just try to push the boundaries sometimes and go beyond what the law permits due to their adrenaline-junky nature.  Don't get me wrong, there are many cases where this ends badly, but there are least just as many that don't, and if you are smart about it, know you car's, as well as your own, limits, you can have a little fun while driving.