Please allow me to rephrase my point: I think "coolness" is a large factor when most people buy cars. The reason I drive a Mustang isn't because it's just another car. It's fun and I think it looks nice. There are more effecient cars that do exactly what mine does: get me from point "A" to point "B". Still, I enjoy driving it so that's why I was willing to spend the extra cash.

Certainly when there are financial considerations, such as being in college, of course you get what you can afford. Right now, however I'm out of college and making enough money to spend a little on stuff I like. And what I like isn't always necessarily simply the utility of a vehicle. So if my wife wants an SUV I'v got no problem with that, even if its for the "coolness" factor. The fact we'll need more room eventually means her next vehicle probably won't be a Ford Escape but something a little bigger.