The shriek of a motor, the polish of a chrome or maybe the extreme boldness of a car design- our cars are not just a means of transportation rather it is the continuation of us. And, to many of us, they are literally nothing more than a social media bio on a roll, pouring out all the tea as to who we are (or at least who others believe we are). We have all been guilty of this, of passing judgment at a glance as soon as some particular vehicle passes beside us in a red light. It is a language of the road whose words sometimes are screams of jerk.

A recent survey conducted by American Muscle was inquiring 1,000 drivers how their car matches their personality and the findings were harshly authentic. More than half indicated that their ride is a manifestation of who they are and a high percentage of ten said it is much of a reflection of them. This turns out to be that people are freely branding themselves as Subaru or BMW with their cars, and the rest of us are taking notes. And so, when you were wondering why that car of just so felt such a shiver of irritation along your spine, you have not been the only one.

In the recent past, Redditor u/maxfreem took advantage of this collective consciousness by asking the members of r/AskReddit this burning question; What car on the road do you immediately think is driven by an a-hole? The internet, as usual, provided an online gold rush of raw opinion. The reactions were wildly different, ranging from cars to create the Carolinan squat, to certain models, such as Nissan Altimas battle scarred cars, but the reaction was somewhat the same: our cars say a lot, and sometimes that story is about a car owner that we prefer not to be associated with. We all are buckling up, then we are heading into the machines and maneuvers which make us collectively groan.

The Polarizing Tesla Cybertruck: Design, Controversies, and Why It Is a Target

Okay, it is time to take off the band-aid and begin with the unquestionable King of the jerks cars, as determined by Reddit. The Tesla Cybertruck. The number one winner in the number of votes in the ask Reddy question was this angular and stainless steel monstrosity that received more than 11,000 votes leaving many people with their heads scratched, as well as their heads nodding in agreement. It is a car that elicits considerable emotions, and in many cases, these emotions are not positive. Even without the entire political connotation, as Redditor u/LazuliArtz phrased it, it is simply an ugly car. Who would see that and say the yes, I want a car that looks like it was a PS2 low poly car. Ouch.

Ok, fine, we can just tear off the band-aid and we can go with the unchallenged champion of jerk cars on Reddit. The Tesla Cybertruck. This is an angular stainless-steel monster which got the number one slot of more than 11,000 votes in the question of AskReddit and made many people scratch their heads but many more nod with the question. It is a car that elicits very strong emotions, and in many cases, these are not the most desirable ones. Even disregarding all the political overtones, it is simply a car that is ugly as Redditor u/LazuliArtz put it so beautifully. Whoever gazes at that and says yes I want the car that resembles one that was made in the PS2 low poly times. Ouch.

Cybertruck does not appeal to a lot of people because of its unusual and futuristic design, which may seem off-putting and disruptive. It is innovative to some, and a good number of people consider it ugly, impractical, even almost futuristic like a Fort Knox. It is depicted as a dystopian or monstrous, which signified the highly negative attitude towards its atypical look. Even one of the parents provided a funny example: “We are educating a four year old to avoid saying the word stupid. We were driving the other day, you see, and she spotted a Tesla Cybertuck, and she said, What is that?!! And I said, it was a truck, and she said, it looks really stupid, and I said, yes, yes it does. There are other lessons that are more crucial than others. Even a very young lad among us appears speedy to condemn this rolling anomaly.

However, the appearance is not the only thing that puts the Cybertruck (and its drivers) in a bad place. The political inclinations and the public statements of Elon Musk have played a major role in creating a negative perception of the company of Tesla and this specific car. Anti-Tesla sentiment is on the rise, and in part some of this is his fault, resulting in a few cases of vandalism and harassment of Cybertruck owners. It has also developed into a political polarizing symbol, as some regard it as a lib car and others as a MAGA truck, even further polarizing people and accelerating the negativity. The Cybertruck is a complicated blend of design, controversy, and perception that makes it the best-selling car in the internet top-jerk car category.

Carolina Squat Trucks: The Aesthetic Choice That Endangers Everyone

In the second spot, with almost 8,000 votes, is a proposed alteration that may raise some eyebrows, the so-called “Carolina Squat” Trucks. In case you are not familiar, a case in point is a truck whose front end is raised much higher than the back part, making it easily noticeable, a nose-in the air effect. That is a trend that was evidently strong with Redditor u/polkawillneverdie17, who cries out, “Is this really a thing? I have never visited either North or South Carolina, yet that is so dumb and unsecured. Seems like it is a Southern thing. Another reason to stay away.”

In a very close second place on the jerk car list, almost 8,000 votes, is an alteration which may leave some people with their heads scratched: the Carolina Squat. Unless you already know, think of a truck in which the front part is raised very high compared to the back lot higher such that an upward angle is made which is almost nose in the air. It is a trend that Redditor u/polkawillneverdie17 was obviously passionate about as he has exclaimed, “Is this really a thing? I have never been to North or South Carolina, yet that is so much stupid and unprotected. I guess it is a Southern thing. Another reason to stay away.”

Some of them might adopt this appearance because of the purely aesthetic value of the sight, but as J.D. Power observes, the implications are not so conducive. The highly elevated front portion can be a big serious hindrance to the sight of a driver. Consider it: even trying to notice pedestrians, bicycles, or other vehicles, particularly when you are making turns at an intersection or trying to switch lanes, is a life-threatening guessing game. It is not only a nuisance, it is a serious safety risk to all people on the road.

These changes are also disruptive to the maneuverability of a truck on top of the nightmare of visibility. It is obvious that the more a vehicle is made to be out of control, the more the chances of an accident are used to be high. It is understandable why several states are not merely discussing laws but also passing them, to ban or limit Carolina Squat alterations. In the case of Mississippi, a clear ban is adopted by not allowing one to drive a vehicle with a front bumper that is four inches taller than the rear bumper. Therefore, it can be said that it is either an attempt to be unique, but the Carolina Squat is not so much a cool-looking piece but rather a demonstration of total indifference towards safety, which brings it to the list of jerk at the worst.

Big, Loud, Lifted Trucks

The Existential Perception of Arrogance and Road Rage When the most particular variety of truck-related aggravation is the Carolina Squat, then the more generalized variety of Big, Loud Lifted Trucks is the one that has had consistent use over time in creating immediate jerk reactions. Even u/DigDizzler, who had called himself a truck driver, had to confess, “Big loud stupid trucks. And I ask this being a guy who drives a truck. There appears to be certain things that are universally accepted even in the fraternity of truck owners. Not only when it comes to its size, but also to its volume and the attitude it has them tied to, these vehicles do really grind the nerves.

When the Carolina Squat is a particular form of trunk-based aggravation, then the more general group of “Big loud stupid trucks” is an old favourite when it comes to creating immediate effects of jerk. Even u/DigDizzler, who claims to be a truck driver, acknowledged, Big loud stupid trucks. And I tell you like I am a guy driving a truck. Apparently, there are facts that are so universally accepted even among the fraternity of truck owners. Not only the size but also the volume and the attitude which is perceived to be with these vehicles really rubs a nerve.

It is a prevalent opinion on the Reddit that the drivers of these huge vehicles tend to be the most aggressive on the road, u/Brian_Corey__ did not hold back, saying, “Big lifted trucks have already surpassed BMWs as the jerkiest, tailgatiest drivers on the road, and it is not even close. It is a big statement, given that BMWs have long been the so-called jerk car royalties. The connotation is evident: these trucks are perceived not only as massive machines but rather as those whose drivers take pleasure in their aggressive ways of driving, be it in the form of tail gating others or in the form of a very obnoxious person.

Their reputation is further enhanced by the loud annoying exhausts that are usually related to these trucks. Some may love the rumble, but to most, it is sonic attack, that some can withstand when it is already loud annoying tiresome in relation to a car that is already imposing. This size, sound and aggressive manner of driving in the first place gives a negative impression that could only be taken as negative, hence most people have developed the stereotype of the drivers being inherently inconsiderate. A time-honored example of how the choice of vehicle can be used as an indicator of some attitude, and in the case of big, loud, lifted truck drivers, there is a strong impression of the attitude as being that of jerk.

Rolling Coal: The Purposeful Smoke of a Truck

The next type of attitude towards the stereotypical pollution, from loud to literally smoky, is the so-called rolling coal. It was raised by redditor u/costabius, and other people were eager to clarify what this practice, which is especially disgusting, implies. It is not a truck spewing smoke but it is a car that has been deliberately altered once bought to do so i.e. there is obvious smoke spewing out of the exhaust as they drive by. It is not some accidental malfunction; it is a conscious, and usually performative, action.

Travelling out of loud to literally smoky, we come to another manner of truck-based jerk behavior: rolling coal. It was mentioned by redditor u/costabius and people were not slow to elaborate on what this practice is especially unpleasant. It is not merely a truck on the fume, but rather it is a vehicle that has been either intentionally altered after purchase to do the same, in other words, there is noticeable smoking coming out of the exhaust pipe as they drive. This is not an accidental malfunction it is an intentional, and frequently performative, act.

It is the very futility of rolling coal that drives the jerks, and even the harm it causes to the environment. It is as u/TheMrDetty puts it, dumping unburnt fuel in the air. Meanwhile, they already paid to make their truck appear like an a-hole, so they are still paying to appear like an a-hole. It’s a vicious cycle.” This is the frustration in a nutshell because on the one hand, the act is not eco-friendly and on the other hand it is the driver taking money to appear and act like an a**hole. It is two times the intentional waste and contamination, all apparently because it irritates other people.

Rolling coal is regarded as a unethical disregard of the environmental issues and the comfort of other drivers. It is usually done to deliberately blind other cars and more so smaller cars or to make a statement. This is an act of intentional hostility, iced over by the apparent dirtiness of the action as well as the monetary expense the driver suffers to execute such an act, making rolling coal one of the highest levels of a jerk action. It is a clear indication that the driver is not much concerned about other people or the air they inhale making them an immediate target of the wrath of the internet.

Trucks with Nuts on the Truck

Although rolling coal is a statement with smoke, truck nuts is a statement with a much more anatomical (and can be argued the less appealing) statement on the back of a truck. Redditor u/thedawntreader85 merely referred to them: “Male drivers with those plastic testicles on their trucks. And truly there is nothing more to say. This is an accessory that can be approached as an imitation of a two-male genitalia, which has little to do with usefulness and more to do with a statement which is very particular and, in many ways, perceived as aggressively masculine.

Whereas people roll coal to make a testy with smoke, truck nuts are a testy of the anatomically rather bizarre variety dangling at the back of a truck. Redditor u/thedawntreader85 merely mentioned them: “Guys with those plastic testicles on their trucks. And there is no more to be said, right? This is more of an announcement than it is a functional tool, this object resembling two male genital organs, that is, an object that makes a very narrowly defined, even seem stridently manly statement.

Truck nuts are taken as a symbol of over-compensation or excessive masculinity on display. To most people it appears to be vulgar, tasteless and quite unnecessary. It adds to the stereotype of the macho truck driver who is the tough guy who may also be the troublemaker of other types of jerk behavior such as aggressive driving or purposeful noise pollution. It is a visual shortcut that as far as a lot of people are concerned, immediately identifies the driver as somebody whose priorities may be at best dubious.

Although the purpose of wearing “truck nuts” may be different (fun or true depiction of identity), what society thinks cannot be perceived in a positive way. It is an addon that is actively adding to the image of a vehicle (and the perception of the driver) as obnoxious or inconsiderate. Further down the list of the most popular jerk vehicle mods is the “truck nuts” which immediately send a certain kind of vibe which most road car users would find distasteful and associate with an unappealing driver.

Cars with Certain Jerk Bumper Stickers

Sometimes, the car itself is not the produce of the jerk, but the bumper stickers are what makes it obvious that the driver is a jerk. And, O, does the internet have anything to say about bumper stickers! There were two specific types that were identified in the Reddit thread as red flags. To begin with, a remarkably offensive one as highlighted by u/skipAd420: the infamously vulgar “Any car with that sticker of the Calvin and Hobbes kid p*ssing. cref. This otherwise harmless cartoon character is reused as a brutally crass icon, which instantly indicates some form of humor (or lack thereof) that is perceived by some to be off-putting and childish.

In some cases, it is not the car, but what is plastered all over it that makes the person who drives it a jerk. And dear lord, are there views of the internet about bumper stickers! The two types were notable in the Reddit thread as criminals at first sight. First, the infamously vulgar “Any car with that sticker of the Calvin and Hobbes kid p*ssing. CRED. CRY. This apparently innocent cartoon character is reused into an aggressively crude icon which instantly points to a particular form of humour (or lack thereof) that some people find off-putting and immature.

In addition to the juvenile humor, there is also a great deal of feeling against cars with stickers that are blatantly aggressive, or politically charged. u/Name_retracted and u/Brian_Corey__ pointed to cars or trucks with The Punisher or gun stickers on their bumpers, u/Name_retracted included, Molon Labe and Punisher stickers were an added bonus. Those stickers, which are often related to a certain brand of vigilantism, gun activism or a certain attitude of don’t mess with me, can be perceived as aggressive and intimidating. They warn a driver who may be in need of a fight or whose opinions are in stark contrast with the opinions of a good part of the traffic.

Bumper stickers may be displayed as a very strong, yet silent, means of communication. When these messages are received to be crude, violent, or too confrontational, they lead to the “jerk” stereotype. It has to do with the attitude that implies disrespect of civilized society or wishes to show an imposing image. It could be the modified picture of a beloved cartoon character or a symbol of stern determination but either way, these stickers are instant indicators, letting the other drivers know exactly what sort of person they are dealing with.

Cars of Fake/Obscured License Plates

Lastly, completing our initial set of scores on jerks are cars whose drivers appear to be unwilling to identify themselves, more often than not, due to less-than-clean motives. “No plates. Fake paper plates. Something on their plate,” was the auster and condensed contribution of u/qalpi. This is not some small rule that is overlooked but rather an intentional action, which triggers suspicion immediately and creates an impression of a total ignorance of the rules and safety of the road.

Lack of a license plate, a counterfeit license plate, or a blurred license plate has a severe consequence. It also indicates that the driver is trying to be avoided, maybe to pay no tolls, no parking ticket, or worse, due to careless driving. It renders it impossible to report dangerous driving by other drivers, and to have law enforcement to trace vehicles that are involved in an incident. Such unruly violation of the most fundamental laws is essentially screaming that it does not matter to me about the rules and I do not want to be responsible, which is exactly what a jerk on the road is.

Besides, it generates a mistrusting and frustrating environment. It is quite natural to assume that when the identification of a vehicle is not discernible, it involves a driver who is probably either involved in illegal activities or is just intending to drive recklessly without any worry of consequences. Such an intentional act of anonymity has a direct effect of making other drivers who drive carefully and obey the rules uncomfortable and wronged. It is a silent protest of rebellion that puts the driver squarely in the jerk category, and he or she a threat to the order and security of our common highways.

Okay, we have already gone through the wilderness that is the Cybertrucks and truck nuts, but trust me, the road rage does not end there! The unexpectedly different group of vehicular frustrations, which emerged during our epic deep dive through Reddit in response to a burning question that was posted by u/maxfreem, is the behaviors and certain car types which occur so instinctively that they can be practically accompanied by a jerk detector. You will now prepare to shake your head in the vexed assent, as we are going to lay bare the seven more who will all collectively groan over on the road.

Users of High Beams Constantly

You are sailing along, thinking of your business, and you bang. A flashing attack of the automobile in the rear of you or one that is sweeping on your face. That is, the ones we are referring to are those drivers who apparently have their high beams on at all times, and it is not meant to burn the eyes of all the other highway users. Any person driving at any time with his high beams on is an automatic addition to the jerk list as Redditor u/poophy concisely explains.

You know the feeling. You are going your own business and then, BAM! A lightning attack of light of the car that is directly behind you or of the car that is coming at you. Yes, we mean those drivers, who obviously no longer remember that they have high beams, and that they are there not to blind the eyes of all the other road users, but to serve a certain purpose. Anybody driving with their high beam on is automatically included on the jerk list, and that is what Redditor u/poophy states quite concisely.

It is really something of a sort of inconsideration, is it? High beams are not meant for general conditions, such as in the country road where there is little or no visibility and on those few occasions when they are used, it is a golden rule; dim the beams when handling an approaching or overtaking vehicle. However, there are drivers who appear to set them as their default mode and live in blissful ignorance (or indifference) of the kind of carnage that they cause to oncoming traffic and the drivers that they are tailgating.

In addition to the sheer annoyance, high-beam driving really can be life-threatening. The glare has the potential of making other drivers blind, positing a high risk of accidents since the pedestrians, road signs and even the road itself cannot be seen clearly. It is a total insensitivity to road safety and comfort of other people, thus being a universal pet peeve and an automatic result in the branding of a jerk in the heads of other drivers.

Drivers Revving Unnecessarily

That is, in the visual realm: High beams are an eyesore, and in the auditory, it looks like a full-size noisemaker, which a car is at night: loud, loud with a capital S. We have all been that we have all been driven to their senses by some rude, ear-ringing grunt of a motor that almost deafens us and makes us think that it is a car preparing to launch into outer space, when actually we are witnessing someone flexing his or her engine muscles at a stop-light.

When the visual overload of high beams is too much, then the auditory overload of unnecessarily revving the engine is a close companion, and in most instances, it is enhanced by the silence of the night which makes a mere car a full-fledged nuisance generator. We all had our share: you were about to open your eyes when a loud growl of a car that seems to be on the verge of leaving the planet reached your ears, and you thought that somebody is flexing his or her engine muscles at the red light.

This frustration is exactly what redditor u/starksdawson illustrates when he writes: Not the car, but the person who decides to rev their engine unnecessarily, more so at the middle of the night, has me wishing bad things would happen to them. And can you blame them, it is true, can you? It is not the place and time to enjoy engine power and a residential street at 2 AM is certainly not that place. It is a show for a crowd that was not requested by any means and disturbs peace and quiet with a ruckus of sound.

This act usually shouts, ‘take notice of me!’, or even the wish to frighten, but has no practical use. It is like screaming in a library totally out of context and utterly unfit and disrespectful to the rest of the people present. To the driver, it could be comfortable, but to everyone else, it is the annoying jerk who plays loud music and is inconsiderate of other people’s feelings in the moment, since they are not thinking of the well-being and the calmness of the people around them.

The Notorious Beat-Up Nissan Altima with Bubbling Paint

Not all Altima, of course, but a certain sub-group that has gained quite notorious reputation in the internet. We are talking about ‘Beat up Nissan Altima with faded clear coating and bulging paint. Be careful, as u/NexusVapour recommends. It is no ordinary car, it is almost a wheeled discursive warning sign, telling you to be six feet apart.

Ah, the Nissan Altima. It is not all Altima, by the way, but a particular group which has gained an almost infamous reputation over the internet. We are talking about ‘Beat up Nissan Altima with bubbling paint and peeling clear coat. Be careful, as u/NexusVapour recommends. It is not a car, it is, in fact, a public service announcement on four wheels, reminding you that you need to maintain your distance.

There is no luxury or power stereotype in this Altima, rather, it is an absolute lack of care and, in many ways, a perceived tendency of careless driving. The crumbling paint, the tint that is bubbling and the overall condition of the car usually help in suggesting a driver who is not focusing on the maintenance or maybe he is not so much interested in how his car looks or what life span it has. This external manifestation is usually what makes it, in the minds of other road users, to be an internal expression of apathy to road regulations or safety.

Looking at one of these battle-scarred Altimas on the road, it is not unusual to automatically expect some crazy driving, sudden change of lanes, or even a direct lack of concern with other motorists. It turns into a visual shortcut in regard to a driver, who may be uninsurable, uninsured, or simply too unruly to be predictable. It is the car equivalent of a shifty-eyed person in the film, a direct indication that you can be handling a ‘jerk’ who appreciates chaos more than order.

Luxury Sports cars (BMW M series, RS Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghinis)

Next, we shall discuss the big boys the high performance cars that literally exude an air of affluence, speed, and, in many cases, arrogance. Whenever we happen to see a luxury sports vehicle, we immediately imagine having a particular kind of a driver. It is something of the nature of saying that the sun will rise in the morning and set at night as the context puts it in a playful way; Mostly jerks drive sports cars. The stereotype is a common, but occasionally, not so fair, one.

The UK perspective is provided by redditor u/ThatOneCloneTroope: ‘In the UK: Any M Series BMW or RS Audi. I know it is a funded job, I know it is a young driver, I know that they are going to speed, and I know that there is a possibility that they have likely a false plate with an address to an empty bungalow in Norfolk.’ Ouch! You’ve just tripled the assumptions, young, fast and perhaps doddy. The fact is that, anyone who enjoys things that are costly and showy is almost always seen as a jerk, and some even take it as a source of pride.

Take the BMW M6, for example. It is approximately 120 grand in price, looks fantastic and works well. However, the unanimity, at least, is that each of them, in a word, is driven by a complete jerk as far as you can see on the highway. The same goes for Ferraris. In vehicles such as the 488GTB, with a price tag of approximately 260 grand, or the GTC4Lusso, at 300 grand (a sports car with room in the trunk to buy all the groceries associated with Whole Food, thus making some feel sick), it is assumed that anyone driving either one of them is a relatively affluent person and we all know that rich people are jerks, too.

Then we have the Lamborghini Huracan, which is regarded as the jerk car of the ultimate. Being the lowest-end model of approximately 200 grand price, it evokes the vision of the image of a horrifically out-of-contact middle-aged man who spends time in dance clubs. No matter how marvelous these cars are when it comes to their engineering, they have a lot of social baggage. They are conspicuous consumption and a sense of right to hurry and not be considerate of others and in most cases, the automatic response is that the driver in the car is a jerk.

American Muscle Cars (Challengers, Camaros, Corvettes)

Ditching the chilly European luxury, we move to the muscle cars a segment that has its own grand weave of clichés of the Jerk. These are the cars that bring to mind sounds of loud engines, tires being screeched and at times some form of desperation. It is not necessarily the car itself, but the narrative that people have created about the chauffeur.

We change our gears and wind it up to the American power and reach the muscle cars which also have their own silk road of jerk stereotypes. These are the cars that create the idea of loud engines, tire blows and even a kind of desperation. People tend to project a story onto the driver, it is not always about the car.

Have a look at Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. It is nothing but a case of trying too hard with this car. It is a muscle car to the heart of muscle car lovers, but it is perceived to be an excessive statement. It is as though it was the nerdy guy you used to hang out with in high school, who suddenly shaved his head, went to the gym, got some tattoos, and he wants you to call him Mayhem as his new nickname. The car itself is cool, however, the driver, in this story, may not be.

Then there is Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, an automobile that evokes the image of mullets, bad tattoos, and spring break in a third rate Florida beach town. Camaro drivers are regarded as being completely out of touch, a typical male who is seemingly having a midlife crisis and thinks that his powerful car will make everyone at the red light stop and notice. The ordinary Dodge Challenger, an automobile that is a beast in a drag race, is also identified with a guy who is a jerk and also who is overcompensating.

And not to mention the Chevrolet corvette. The Corvette driver is the same as the Camaro driver with a twist: whilst the Camaros driver believes that he is a cool and laid back driver, the Corvette driver believes that he is a cool and exciting driver. Once again, it can be the middle-aged guy who was recently divorced and then he thinks that by driving a hot car, he can have a good luck with a woman much younger than he is. It could be overworking it, yet longing to be young again or needed to be liked, but these muscle machines tend to have a natural jerk perception.

The Ultra-Expensive Bugatti Chiron

There are cars that do not just imply such wealth, but yank your head right out of the window, and to many, this sort of spending is the signal that makes the driver a jerk. A fine example of such automotive high-risks is the Bugatti Chiron. It is not merely a car it is an assertion that is loudly audible to the extent that it is offensive to some.

Not all cars imply affluence, but some of them shout it at the top of the roof, and in many cases the amount of wastefulness implies at a glance that the car owner is a d-head, almost by definition. A good example of this automotive boldness is the Bugatti Chiron. It is not merely a car, but it is also a statement that is so loud that it is offensive to a few.

The uncooked figure related to this car is simply unbelievable: ‘the Bugatti Chiron is priced at approximately 3 million dollars.’ And based on the combined awareness of the internet, this is the only price tag that will lock the driver in on the category of jerk. The feeling is apparent: There is just no way that you can spend 3 million dollars on a car and not make a jerk out of yourself. It does not matter how nice the car is or how much money a person has; that kind of spending on one car is a point of view to many people.

The point is effective: would not one drop 500 grand and be contented? The luxury of the Chiron, coupled with what is often suggested that the money could be used more productively, all causes immediate prejudice. The rhetorical stinging question, There are starving children in India and all that, suggests the moral outrage that some people experience at such excessive show of finance, and places the driver in the jerk category by default.

The Budget Cool Mazda MX-5 Miata

Last but not least, we will conclude our journey with a car that belongs to the other end of the financial scale as compared to the Bugatti, but still is able to claim its place on the list of the jerks: the Mazda MX-5 Miata. This waggish roadster may appear harmless enough, yet the drivers of these are not always judged by the same considerations as the high-rollers.

And to conclude our journey we have a car that is on the other end of the financial spectrum of the Bugatti, but still contests to find its place on the jerk list: the Mazda MX-5 Miata. This may be an innocent looking roadster but the drivers of this model are mostly judged on totally different grounds as compared to their high-rolling counterparts.

Most of the other cars on this list belong to the ‘jerks who would like to spend a fortune on their cars and look completely cool in the meantime’ but the Mazda MX-5 Miata is usually owned by the so-called jerks who do not have enough money to spend on cars anymore but would still like to look really cool in their cars. It is the would-be cool guy, who wants to achieve the open-top sports car feel without the stratospheric price tag.

This perceived effort to appear cool at a lower cost is nearer to irritating some people almost as much as the other form of super-rich jerk. Why? Since at least the super-rich jerk is at least out in the walk at least their pricier car is in line with their pricier lifestyle. In this cruel dismissal, the Miata driver is viewed as striving towards a lifestyle they simply cannot live and therefore their perceived jerky-ness is based on a position of perceived inauthenticity or a wish to make it with less.

Judgment, Humor, and the Cars That Define Us

The inexplicable Carolina Squat and the eye-streaking Bugatti Chiron, the Miata that everyone thinks of as so simple, yet is so judged, are indeed our vehicles of rolling self-image. Though it may never happen that we will be completely rid of the snap judgments of other drivers, we can find some amusement in deconstructing such stereotypes. Anyway, just as William Shakespeare himself did not, when he was describing your battered Altima, love me or hate me both are to my purpose. You are going to be in my heart all the time, in case you love me… Hate me and I will always be in your thoughts.’ That is why, keep on rolling, keep on judging (or being judged!), and bear in mind: sometime a jerk is a jerk, and that is all, as long as they drive something really cool.