I have for some time been trying to figure out why certain styles appeal
more to certain demographics than to others. Just as an example --
white guys of lower economic income seem to like jacked-up pickup trucks
with big wheels while the Mexicans around here like low-rider trucks
with little wheels and fiberglass body kits. Both groups like loud
mufflers. When I drive my old Eldo convertible, I get little attention
from anyone but (mostly older) black guys who go crazy over it (some
have even made u-turns to come look at it when I have been pumping
gas). Two young black guys driving a FedEx truck went totally ga-ga
over it back before Christmas, and thought I was very cool.
Don't bring out the "R" word here, it is a known fact among marketers
that certain things appeal to certain demographic elements ("targeted marketing") and
they spend money accordingly. But I have always wondered why this is. (Sub)cultural I guess, for
lack of a better term, but that still does not explain "why?" That Benz (to this white
guy) is just plain nasty, but I can see it appealing to some (for reasons I would like to
understand). The color, the wheels, the image, whatever.
--R
