I don’t think people who can afford to buy a new car keeps a really old car. Wealthy people do buy Hondas, mini-vans, Toyotas and other basic reliable cars. |
| My post above. I meant to say i don’t think people keep old cars. |
It’s not about beaters, it’s about buying a decent family car vs buying a $500k Lamborghini. I’ll judge the Lamborghini buyer as a narcissist show off but that’s only my opinion. |
Why are you talking in such extremes? Literally no one is suggesting all HNW people are buying Lamborghinis and Ferraris. |
Not the DP, but I believe that different car choices represent different values. My father explained it to me this way. He said that if someone gifted him a Mercedes he would not accept because having that Mercedes represented valuing a name brand over other attributes. He didn't want to be a Mercedes owner. None of my friends own Mercedes because I wouldn't choose a friend who would value that name brand. If that hurts your feelings, I'm sorry to hear that, but what car you choose does indeed say something about you. |
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Of course there are some poor people in luxury cars and some rich people in Toyotas.
Spending a lot of time speculating about other peoples money is a fool’s errand. |
There are of course exceptions to everything but I don’t know anyone driving a Mercedes for the “brand name” or to show off. They drive them for the features, luxury interior (although I hear people hate the new Mercedes interior tech), performance, etc. Also, your story about your friends’ car choices is weird. Sounds like you have an axe to grind with Mercedes for some reason, lol. |
UMC?! I mean we make 400k and drive a Honda. I’m easily UMC. My whole 1.5m neighborhood is full of Hondas, Toyotas and maybe some Acura’s. I rarely see flashy cars. I grew up wealthier and wasn’t ever impressed by my parents’ cars. My Honda Odyssey is my favorite car I’ve ever had. The roadtrip ability is incredible, as is the carpool ability. Those 3 row SUVs are awful. |
Well, your father is a bit of a dummy. He should accept the gifted Mercedes and then sell it. He could buy a nice Camry and pocket the difference. |
I know there are still people who won’t buy a German car of any brand due to the Nazi history (and likely their family in Europe perished in WWII). |
You're wrong. |
| It’s an example as to how wealthy people don’t like buying the newest this or that, just because. |
| People value different things. The last thing I want is to be driving around in a car broadcasting my money to randos. Maybe that will change as I get older but it makes me uncomfortable in my 30s. If anything I feel like it makes you a target for scammers and weirdos when running errands. Also grew up in CT with the Petit murder that all started with those psychopaths seeing the mom and daughter in the nice Mercedes and fur so that probably conditioned me towards being low key too. |
The old money is in Little Compton and they do drive Volvos and not Benz. |
| Driving a nice car around here is asking to get car jacked. No thank you! No one needs to know I have money. I drive an old japanese car. |