So are you saying that only gay men drive Miatas because that's the stereotype?
Wow, you really just don't get it do you? It seems like everything in your world is Black or White. True or False. Yes or No. In reality it is rarely that easy. If congress has to pass things 100% we would never move! Hense the 'majority rules' theory. Most men/women can tell you the Miata is a 'gay' car, and I do not mean that in a negative way at all. I remember a couple weeks ago watching a primetime sitcom the actors were joking about someone being gay and they said 'go get into your Miata and go to the salon' as an 'insult', leading back to the stereotype.
When I said it was "clearly not the case", I referred to "everyone", meaning an absolute. And yes, it is clearly not the case that everyone who drives a pick-up truck is "country folk" and everyone who drives a Mercedes is a "yuppie". LOL, my brother happens to own & drive a Chevy Silverado and a Mercedes S-class. I guess he must be one of those new yuppie country boys!
Again, your 'Black & White' world. Like I said there are exceptions to the rules, however, I have a feeling he is 'well to do' with an S class and a new pick-up, supporting my theory more so. Look at Jay Leno, I am sure he has a lot of old pick ups, but since he collects them it does not make him a 'country folk', just wealthy.
I completely disagree with your idea that it is easy to pick out someone's personality by the vehicle they drive.
Ok, the majority of people, (there is that pesky word you don't seem to like because it is not 100%) who drive hybrids or electric cars are very environmental. Sure, you are going to find a good amount of people who drive them to save $$ because of the MPG's but they are also as 'statement' of what you stand for. That has been said across numerous mediums, not just from me. Chances are you will find more environmetal people driving a small hybrid than a F-350, if you can not see that I'm sorry.
Certain cars/trucks/suv are marketed directly at specific demographics becuase they are targeting people of certain age groups and personalities. Have you seen the media for the new 4R, they are trying to target a younger more outdoor consumer.
I few years ago I remember the commercial for the 'Matrix', sporting an AC outlet that they had musician using, and lots of trunk space for their gear. Funny thing is that shortly after I was seeing a lot of band people driving around with them, hmmm, makes you think.
Sure, someone driving down the road in a std camery you can not pin a personality on (because they dont have one, haha just kidding), however, when you get into more specialized cars/trucks/suv yes, you sure can, not 100% though, sorry.
My next door neighbor's 25-year-old son drives a new '09 Range Rover. It stickered at nearly $90K. He didn't buy it, he leased it. Still, it's a very expensive lease payment. And guess what? He lives in his father's basement and doesn't even have a full time job. If you saw him driving down the road, you would have probably thought he had a lot of money. See, that's the problem with your theory--it is completely flawed. The same idea can be illustrated by my personal physician. He's loaded, but he drives a Nissan Maxima that's about 10 years old. If you saw him driving down the road, I'm sure you would never guess that he's a medical doctor who makes more money than most people.
Ok, well, not to be rude but someone living in a basement with no job yet driving a $90k car is what is wrong with America today. Do not even get me started with that. Looks like he is trying to fit into the stereotype of having a lot of money, but actually not having it.
Yes, and yet again sir, your 'Black/White' rule, there are exceptions. Yes, your Dr. friend drives a 10yr old maxima, but I have over a dozen clients as doctor and not one drives a car more than 3 years old and every one is well over $60k. You have to look at the bigger picture. How many rock stars are driving their Jetta's to dinner?
Adament opinion? I'll say this again---I haven't bashed the 5th or said the 4th gen was better than the 5th. I only said that I don't like the styling of the 5th gen. I guess you just can't get that through your head, so lets leave it at that. I don't think anyone on this forum is as sensitive as you if someone says they don't like the looks of your vehicle. Seriously...get over it already.
Personally I do not care if someone likes whatever I drive, only that I do. You are the one that has issues they need to get over. You are taking everything just a little too personal here, relax, it is just the internet, lol

I am the one who has been laughing and making jokes throughout my responces, showing that I am just having fun here.
Like I said, new models always outsell old models. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that. It's an apples and oranges comparison. Either way, 4Runner sales are sure to decline as the years pass because there are fewer and fewer people interested in a midsize body-on-frame SUV with a live rear axle. Face it, the 4Runner glory days are over and there's no going back unless Toyota decides to start making unibody 4Runners with independent rear suspensions. I wouldn't want one of those, but it would appeal to more people than our 4Runners. So don't focus too much on sales numbers because the 5th gen will not break any sales records, that's for sure!
I have seen 'new' models do worse than the previous models certain years because the company made really bad design changes. Think about your statement please for me, why do new models do better? If the product is not better it should not do better. People would be happier to keep their existing one and not 'update'. Do you think they do better because we are all sheep and need to have the latest and greatest? I think people 'update' for a better product, for the majority (wow, will that word ever go away?). Who knows how the 5th will do in the end, time will tell. It might not break sales records, but you would have to compare it with all 2010 sales of SUVs and others to see how it really made out. It is way too early in the game, I will not even call it.
Lets just take a deep breath here, relax and smile

The 4th is an amazing SUV just as the 5th happens to be. Sure everyone has their own thoughts one why each is better than the other, but I am sure we all agree they are better than an chevy or ford (kidding, maybe

) Be happy you have a car, a home to park it at, and a job to pay for it. A lot of people are not that lucky these days.