What To Drive Based on Where You Live

One thing all Chicagoans do--whether we admit it or not--is judge people based on what neighborhood they live in. If you meet someone new who lives in Wicker Park or Bucktown, you automatically assume that they are a hipster. Conversely, if you meet someone from Lincoln Park, you automatically assume that they went to a Big Ten school and were a member of either a fraternity or sorority while they were there.

This applies to what we drive, too. When we learn what car, truck, or SUV a new acquaintance drives, we might be able to accurately guess where he or she lives. It also works the other way around: If you know where someone lives, it's not hard to guess what he or she might drive.

Some examples, using 2009 and 2010 models:

*Lincoln Park: 2010 Lexus RX.

*Lakeview: 2010 Toyota Prius.

*Wicker Park/Bucktown: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

*River North: BMW 3-Series.

*Gold Coast: BMW 5-Series.

*Loop: 2010 Mercedes E-Class.

*Rogers Park: 2009 Toyota Corolla.

*Evanston: Smart ForTwo.

Obviously, we are having some fun with stereotypes here, and truly, people in all neighborhoods drive all types of vehicles. I have seen everything from a Smart ForTwo to a Lamborghini Murcielago prowling this city's streets. But it's fun to play with preconceived notions, right? And let's be honest--there's a reason these stereotypes exist. So until Lincoln Parkers start driving around in Nissan Versa and Lakeview residents start buying 2010 Chevy Camaros en masse, we'll have some fun with them.