Funny how being familiar with something and being exposed to something (else) leads to a different perception:

The german cars with the star usually have gotten a reaction from me like: Snobs!
Or, if it was an older model: scary "sunday-drivers" with hats (prejudice being that they are those drivers that often only drive on sundays, are 70+, wear hats and drive no faster than 60 no matter where).

Enter: the person that I know and like who is driving a MB - ergo all similar models of MB´s are suddenly "friendly" and solicit a smile.

Then I´m working with a guy that always needs to have the latest phone with a letter before it- which arguably looks nice.

Enter: the person who has a definite style-message, uses an older version of said phone and I find myself thinking: "Sheesh, what kind of old phone is HE using?"!
And that from me! The cell-phone I´m using (courtesy of a friend) just barely hasn´t got an external antenna!

I´m schocked at my influencability!