Only a few people know I'm getting a bmw shortly, even though it's been almost a year in planning. To be honest, I'm a little uncertain how it will play out but knowing how my friends react isn't as untested any more. I've been driving a Toyota Matrix (Corolla hatch back) for 11 years. It was what I could pay cash for (Something I wanted to do to get ahead in life), even though I bought it via a loan, and primarily fit my needs rather than want, as wants were being able to haul a few things and it was new. I've enjoyed being left alone on the roads but driving a 130hp non looker car will do that.
Since I was 15 I worked all summers and week nights, missing out on fun moments with friends at times, and in IT rather than telemarketing or fast food jobs like my friends. When I was 26 I designed and had a 6000sqft home built (actually during the peak of home costs), fully automated, theater and all -- it was my dream home I had been saving for. When I moved in I threw a party for 6 of my friends who were willing to drive out. After that night 3 of my friends never spoke to me again. I heard from the others that they felt I didn't deserved the home. A husband and wife had been really struggling as the husband had just finished getting his MBA, though his school and their cars were paid for by his father, and he had just started a low paying job in the finance market. The other has some depression issues and I wonder if the shock that I had always been frugal but suddenly had something nice made him feel like I hadn't been fair to him.
I've learned that having things others want and can't have causes extra problems with some types of people, even if you were good friends. I've since heard the proverb "Jealousy knows no loyalty" and it's a sad truth.
I hope I don't get cut off or not allowed to merge because of my car brand alone, but if I were to deserve it for some reason then so be it. I hope my car is never vandalized. I've worked hard and I'd be really disheartened if someone keyed my car or dented it, especially it if they did it because of absurd reason like I decided to park it safely away from other cars. I didn't buy a bmw for the name either. I looked for 3 years for an awd car that handled like a smaller peppy yet nimble car but was safer in build quality and had power that I sacrificed for previously. The X1 happened to fit what I wanted as it's the only crossover/hatch with power and good handling on the market.
If I see someone driving by in a 3 series, B7, Porsche, or Veyron I'll enjoy seeing it and I have respect, not jealously, that they were to be able to afford it. If they're driving aggressively I'll move over and let them have their fun, besides they're in a car designed for it.
Because of where I live, many people aren't open to (and often look down and segregate from) others having different views on life than them and this even includes vehicle choice. I personally know many minvan and suv drivers who think there should be no performance cars on the road because they're not an ideal expense for a family and dangerous. X3's and X5's are fine but a M, Z series or coupe aren't..