Dentists Really Do Drive Sports Cars
Post your comments about dentists driving sports cars to our blog
It turns out that the stereotype of dentists driving sports cars isn't just a
silly fiction. In our survey, 60% of dentist respondents admitted they have
owned a sports car. Even more remarkably, fully one in four dentists in this
survey has owned a Porsche.
Read the dentists' comments for further insight.
Specialists in this survey were nearly twice as likely as general dentists to report owning or having owned a Porsche.
Half of the specialists with sports cars have Porsches, as opposed to only one in three general dentists with a sports car.
Not surprisingly, female dentists were less likely than their male colleagues to report owning a sports car. The gender difference was less than you might expect when it comes to sports cars in general, but not Porsches.
Male dentists were three times as likely to have a Porsche.
For more insight, check out these comments!!
The stereotype of dentists driving sports cars
- "I wish it were true!" (California dentist)
- "F*** that!" (California oral surgeon)
- "I don't drive mine to the office. I keep it at home in the garage. I can't afford the gas." (California orthodontist)
- "In this town, Porsche drivers are a dime a dozen. It's the Bentley drivers you look out for." (Nevada dentist)
Sports cars are great
- "I get 28 MPG. I don't 'joy ride.' It is a fun and economical vehicle for commuting and short trips. It is much better than a Hummer!" (Minnesota dentist)
- "I have one and I deserve it! I don't give a damn what other people think." (California dentist)
- "I have owned two Ferraris and two Porsches and think that they are fun. Make no generalized statements." (Connecticut dentist)
- "I race a Formula One car called a Formula Enterprise in the club racing of the Sports Car Club of America. I find it is a great outlet and love the sport!" (Louisiana oral surgeon)
- "Everyone looks cool in a sports car." (California dentist)
To each his own
- "Why would a dentist be any different from anyone else, like a dental consultant or a contractor? People like and buy what they want." (Tennessee dentist)
- "Who cares?? Let them drive what they want. We work hard. We deserve to drive what we want to drive." (Hawaii dentist)
Enjoy your wealth
- "We should enjoy our wealth." (General dentist)
- "We are successful and hard working. We deserve whatever we are willing to pay for." (California dentist)
- "I have often told my kids, 'If you see a really cool car, look close: it's a rich old person because it takes a long time and a lot of hard work to drive one of those!' Most of the time it's true -- grey haired grannies and grandpas! More power to realizing hard fought dreams." (Florida dentist)
Your car says something about you
- "How about the stereotype of the patients who drive cars that leak oil in the parking lot? Patients whose cars leak also do not take care of their teeth. Dentists who take care of things also do a good job of taking care of their patients' mouths." (Ohio periodontist)
- "If I were in a foreign city and my child needed dental care, I would go to the dentist with the Porsche parked in his lot. To me it means that he is good at what he does." (New Hampshire dentist)
- "It is a status for success and hard work. We should be proud of the difficult work we do. We should be proud to drive nice automobiles and live in nice neighborhoods with nice homes." (General dentist)
The psychology of dentists and sports cars
- "Most dentists come from middle-class backgrounds and have worked hard for success. A sports car is a well-deserved reward, and better than some alternatives." (Arizona dentist)
- "Perhaps they deferred early gratification and are now rewarding themselves." (California orthodontist)
- "We are a personality type who spends a great deal of effort in a very detailed and demanding work. If a sports car gives us some relief in our drive home, good for us!" (Kansas dentist)
- "I think they like their toys and like to show off, but I am happy for them and wish them well." (Pennsylvania dentist)
Sports cars just aren't practical
- "Nice cars, poor investments." (Connecticut pediatric dentist)
- "No problem with it. I just can't fit three kids in one." (Canada dentist)
- "I would like to see their retirement plans as well as know if they pay for their Porsches on credit." (Arizona dentist)
- "I like my truck." (North Carolina dentist)
Distaste for those who drive sports cars
- "Yuck." (California pediatric dentist)
- "They're making up for their small packages." (Oregon dentist)
- "Old men trying to recapture their youth." (New York pediatric dentist)
- "I think they should have another one. That way they will have two." (California dentist)
- "I don't think much of those who purchase big-ticket items like sports cars in an effort to impress others or improve their status perception by others." (General dentist)
Bad for the public image of dentists in general
- "In small town America, it doesn't look to good. I have had patients say I am smart to drive a pickup. For my type of practice, that fits my patients. I have dreamed of having a Mustang, Corvette, or Porsche. Maybe someday." (Minnesota dentist)
- "I have a 10-year-old 911 that I don't drive to the office. our exterminator at the office drives a 15-year-old Mercedes in mint condition and everyone thinks it's my 'new Mercedes' which they of course 'paid for,' or else they want a raise." (Wisconsin dentist)
- "Sports cars are a terrible value for the money. I would rather invest the savings and retire earlier! Dentists seen in their expensive sports cars give confirmation to patients perceptions that dental fees are too high." (Virginia dentist)
About the stereotype
- "I have a red Ferrari F430. I am not familiar with the stereotype you refer to, though maybe I am the stereotype but just don't know it!" (Nevada dentist)
- "I think the stereotype is correct." (Colorado endodontist)
- "Fine with me. I think it's flattering." (California dentist)
- "I did not know that every time I see a sports car, it is driven by a dentist!" (Massachusetts pediatric dentist)
- "No basis for this - undoubtedly most dentists do not own sports cars." (Illinois dentist)
Other dentist stereotypes
- "The only stereotype I am aware of is that going to the dentist hurts and all the Marathon Man jokes associated with painful dental visits." (Washington dentist)
- "It's the same as the stereotype of all dentists being filthy rich (or sadistic)." (California dentist)
- "Dentists all have mustaches too!" (Pennsylvania dentist)
- "The only stereotypes I've ever seen of dentists involve us being very nerdy or dorky." (General dentist)
Note: Survey sample included 286 respondents.
