Auto expression

What does your vehicle say about you?

by Marie Milner — April 22, 2015

Kim Collens, a Realtor in the Columbia Valley, likes her Chevy Avalanche pickup truck for its reliability and convenient size. — Photo courtesy Kim Collens

To some degree, a vehicle reflects something about its owner. Kootenay Business spoke with a few local vehicle owners to find out why they chose the specific vehicle they drive.

Kim Collens, Realtor, Columbia Valley

I drive a 2013 Chevy Avalanche pickup truck. I chose it because of its flexibility—it has lots of room inside, it has four doors and a covered box for signs and whatnot. I drive it because it’s reliable, dependable and gets me everywhere I need to go.

I feel like my vehicle represents me to my clients. It conveys that I’m successful, professional and committed to the business. It’s a hardworking truck, too.

Norma Blissett, high school teacher, Cranbrook

All of the choices we make reflect something about us. I drive a Toyota Prius—a 2007 or maybe 2008, I’m not sure which. I am concerned about the environment and I like to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. The Prius is a hybrid that uses a lot less gas than a regular car, and it charges itself while I drive it. Say I’m going over the Salmo-Creston pass, I’m using gas to go up, but every time I go downhill and every time I brake, it charges the battery.

The car is large enough that I can carry my bicycle inside if I want to and it’s powerful enough that I can still drive fast on the highway. I teach a course in sustainable resources management, so I’m walking the walk, or trying to.

Clara Reinhardt, mayor of Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

Clara Reinhardt, mayor, Radium Hot Springs

I drive a 2012 VW Jetta diesel. I love that I can go over 1,000 kilometres on a tank of fuel. It’s easy to park and it’s a little bit sporty because it’s a five-speed with a sunroof. It has a Sirius satellite radio, so it never cuts out—I love that. One reason why we picked the Jetta in the first place was that I fit in it. I’m six feet tall, and a lot of smaller cars just don’t have enough headroom or legroom for me. In the Jetta, I can even sit comfortably in the back seat.