Where does this notion come from that wealthy people don't drive nice cars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re fine driving an economy vehicle, do you man. But stop acting like you’re better for it. Loser behavior.

Everyone I know who claimed to be like this went out and bought nice new cars when they got a major promotion or inherited a large sum. It's impossible to live in an UMC area and not want a nice vehicle. Even if the man of the house remains low-key, the wife and kids won't be. When a wife spends hundreds of days in the drop off and pickup line seeing all of the other mums in Land Rovers, Audis, and Rivians, she's going to want one too. Nobody wants to stick out like they're some hick from the other side of the tracks.

My parents live in an enviable nice house in a neighborhood that usually makes the top 20 list of neighborhoods in the country. The country, not NoVa. Dad drives a 1990s era pick up truck. Mom has a decade old Dodge. Then again, mom has a science degree and doesn't care what the neighbors think because she doesn't think they are capable of thinking. She does make an effort to be mildly polite. Some people really have a radical disinterest in fitting in. Then again, that is hard for the fit-in crowd to understand.

My parents are soooo chill and non-pretentious… that they bought or custom built a mansion in a ritzy, “enviable” town (read with no minorities and no peasants). Your parents are smug and classist phonies.

I'll let mom know an emoji wielding stranger online called the daughter of the prague ghetto a classic phonie.

FYI, some people value stuff you don't. And we don't have peasants in this country.

But class obsessed types like to think that. Sorry. Must suck realizing people you hate can afford to buy stuff you envy, but genuinely don't care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re fine driving an economy vehicle, do you man. But stop acting like you’re better for it. Loser behavior.

Everyone I know who claimed to be like this went out and bought nice new cars when they got a major promotion or inherited a large sum. It's impossible to live in an UMC area and not want a nice vehicle. Even if the man of the house remains low-key, the wife and kids won't be. When a wife spends hundreds of days in the drop off and pickup line seeing all of the other mums in Land Rovers, Audis, and Rivians, she's going to want one too. Nobody wants to stick out like they're some hick from the other side of the tracks.

My parents live in an enviable nice house in a neighborhood that usually makes the top 20 list of neighborhoods in the country. The country, not NoVa. Dad drives a 1990s era pick up truck. Mom has a decade old Dodge. Then again, mom has a science degree and doesn't care what the neighbors think because she doesn't think they are capable of thinking. She does make an effort to be mildly polite. Some people really have a radical disinterest in fitting in. Then again, that is hard for the fit-in crowd to understand.

My parents are soooo chill and non-pretentious… that they bought or custom built a mansion in a ritzy, “enviable” town (read with no minorities and no peasants). Your parents are smug and classist phonies.

I'll let mom know an emoji wielding stranger online called the daughter of the prague ghetto a classic phonie.

FYI, some people value stuff you don't. And we don't have peasants in this country.

But class obsessed types like to think that. Sorry. Must suck realizing people you hate can afford to buy stuff you envy, but genuinely don't care [/quote

This really is the irony, isn’t it? Once you can have anything, many times you don’t want it anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The humble millionaire next door seems like nonsense to me; rich people are not driving 25 year old Volvo station wagons. And everyone with a nice new luxury car obviously isn't broke and overextended. I'm currently in a swank town and every car is a new Range Rover, Porsche crossover, Tesla, or Audi-BMW-Mercedes (they all look alike). The worst car I see are new Chevrolet Tahoes, which are like 80 grand. If that humble old money thing ever existed, it certainly doesn't anymore.

I would kill for a 25 year old Volvo station wagon.

Rich folks can afford anything. But the car manufacturers all produce indistinguishable crap today. If you have a decent vehicle now, there is zero reason to buy something new today. And don't even get me started on the people that choose Range Rovers or Jeeps.

You’re so full of crap. Nobody rich is driving an out of warranty piece of junk with gen 1 airbags that probably don’t even work. Rich value safety and their time.

You sound like you don't read much. As of 2026, Warren Buffett drives a 2014 Cadillac XTS. Known for his frugality, the 94-year-old billionaire rarely drives—only about 3,500 miles a year—and prefers to keep his cars for a long time, often viewing them as utility items rather than status symbols.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. I think DMV is very different than anywhere else in the country. There is a very real “millionaire next door” attitude, dating back to waspy ambitions.

Nearly everywhere else in the country, affluent Americans are driving nice cars.

The DMV is house poor. EVERYWHERE ELSE drivable 😂 houses cost a quarter of the cost so people can afford cars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Cap Hill. I bumped into a guy who was visiting from India for work and was looking around the neighborhood on behalf of a friend who planned to move to DC. He asked about housing prices, and I told him - mostly in the $1-$1.5 million range in our area. He looked at me, looked at the cars parked on the street - mostly Hondas and such - and said, "In India, people who pay that much for a house would all have much fancier cars."

So yes, especially in certain neighborhoods, there are people who spend a much lower percentage of income on cars than they could afford.

But in his country they probably don’t have 30 year financing so people with million dollar houses paid and have cash. That’s different from the majority of mortgaged Americans living paycheck to paycheck to cover a $1.5 m dollar house on likely a $250k range income

[Anonymous]

I’ll bite. Richest family I know had a NW of roughly $250m. Husband drives a 90’s beater. Wife has her pick of 3 luxury vehicles. They also have a private jet. So, yes, it’s a thing- but with a pretty large asterisk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6.3 million net worth and 750k HHi early 40s. We buy cars in the 55-75k range. Trade in current cars every 4-5 years or so and add 10k down each time. Finance the rest so we have a small payment. Literally don’t notice this in our budget.

Why not drive a mid higher end / fun to drive car when it barely makes a dent?

Because some people are cheap or just think it’s brag worthy to drive a 20 year old beater. My parents were like this. We had to ride around in unsafe, embarrassing cars. But hey, at least I’ll inherit a lot of money?? I can afford nice cars, and I buy them. Doesn’t affect our budget one way or another.

I don't think these people are even cheap. I think they are cosplaying wasps.

Unless they're 70+ year old baby boomers, which is unlikely, it is just lying poseurs who do not have millions to their names. This thread mirrors all of the threads on vacation homes, so very likely the same chronically online Gen X middle class commentators.

We do not live in a premier neighborhood
We prefer our small and dated sh**shack
We do not have a vacation home
We drive used economy cars
...because we are stacking millions and millions of dollars!

.

We do it to avoid living around a-holes. It’s not hard to understand.

I will never want random people to think I might be rich. That won't change. I live in a nice house but not the biggest in the neighborhood. I drive a nice new car but not luxury. I have a nice lowkey purse and watch without obvious markings of wealth. It doesn't really have anything to do with being snobby about it. I have no issues if others disagree and spend more on larger material items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6.3 million net worth and 750k HHi early 40s. We buy cars in the 55-75k range. Trade in current cars every 4-5 years or so and add 10k down each time. Finance the rest so we have a small payment. Literally don’t notice this in our budget.

Why not drive a mid higher end / fun to drive car when it barely makes a dent?

Because some people are cheap or just think it’s brag worthy to drive a 20 year old beater. My parents were like this. We had to ride around in unsafe, embarrassing cars. But hey, at least I’ll inherit a lot of money?? I can afford nice cars, and I buy them. Doesn’t affect our budget one way or another.

I don't think these people are even cheap. I think they are cosplaying wasps.

Unless they're 70+ year old baby boomers, which is unlikely, it is just lying poseurs who do not have millions to their names. This thread mirrors all of the threads on vacation homes, so very likely the same chronically online Gen X middle class commentators.

We do not live in a premier neighborhood
We prefer our small and dated sh**shack
We do not have a vacation home
We drive used economy cars
...because we are stacking millions and millions of dollars!

.

We do it to avoid living around a-holes. It’s not hard to understand.

I will never want random people to think I might be rich. That won't change. I live in a nice house but not the biggest in the neighborhood. I drive a nice new car but not luxury. I have a nice lowkey purse and watch without obvious markings of wealth. It doesn't really have anything to do with being snobby about it. I have no issues if others disagree and spend more on larger material items.

Same. Everyone has different priorities. I am saving up for my kids to go to whatever college they want to, to donate a substantial sum to charity and to take some spectacular vacations. Cars aren't even in the top 50 of things I value.

Meanwhile, there are people on my street who have 2 luxury cars, but say that due to the cost of private college tuition, they are sending their kids to state schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6.3 million net worth and 750k HHi early 40s. We buy cars in the 55-75k range. Trade in current cars every 4-5 years or so and add 10k down each time. Finance the rest so we have a small payment. Literally don’t notice this in our budget.

Why not drive a mid higher end / fun to drive car when it barely makes a dent?

Because some people are cheap or just think it’s brag worthy to drive a 20 year old beater. My parents were like this. We had to ride around in unsafe, embarrassing cars. But hey, at least I’ll inherit a lot of money?? I can afford nice cars, and I buy them. Doesn’t affect our budget one way or another.

I don't think these people are even cheap. I think they are cosplaying wasps.

Unless they're 70+ year old baby boomers, which is unlikely, it is just lying poseurs who do not have millions to their names. This thread mirrors all of the threads on vacation homes, so very likely the same chronically online Gen X middle class commentators.

We do not live in a premier neighborhood
We prefer our small and dated sh**shack
We do not have a vacation home
We drive used economy cars
...because we are stacking millions and millions of dollars!

.

We do it to avoid living around a-holes. It’s not hard to understand.

I will never want random people to think I might be rich. That won't change. I live in a nice house but not the biggest in the neighborhood. I drive a nice new car but not luxury. I have a nice lowkey purse and watch without obvious markings of wealth. It doesn't really have anything to do with being snobby about it. I have no issues if others disagree and spend more on larger material items.

Same. Everyone has different priorities. I am saving up for my kids to go to whatever college they want to, to donate a substantial sum to charity and to take some spectacular vacations. Cars aren't even in the top 50 of things I value.

Meanwhile, there are people on my street who have 2 luxury cars, but say that due to the cost of private college tuition, they are sending their kids to state schools.

This is what some people in this thread are missing. The universe of people who can send their kids to any college, live in a mansion, buy a luxury car, save for early retirement, donate generously, travel extensively is SMALL. That group widens slightly if you take out luxury cars and houses. For me, it's not about judging others. Good for them if they can do all those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6.3 million net worth and 750k HHi early 40s. We buy cars in the 55-75k range. Trade in current cars every 4-5 years or so and add 10k down each time. Finance the rest so we have a small payment. Literally don’t notice this in our budget.

Why not drive a mid higher end / fun to drive car when it barely makes a dent?

Because some people are cheap or just think it’s brag worthy to drive a 20 year old beater. My parents were like this. We had to ride around in unsafe, embarrassing cars. But hey, at least I’ll inherit a lot of money?? I can afford nice cars, and I buy them. Doesn’t affect our budget one way or another.

I don't think these people are even cheap. I think they are cosplaying wasps.

Unless they're 70+ year old baby boomers, which is unlikely, it is just lying poseurs who do not have millions to their names. This thread mirrors all of the threads on vacation homes, so very likely the same chronically online Gen X middle class commentators.

We do not live in a premier neighborhood
We prefer our small and dated sh**shack
We do not have a vacation home
We drive used economy cars
...because we are stacking millions and millions of dollars!

.

We do it to avoid living around a-holes. It’s not hard to understand.

I will never want random people to think I might be rich. That won't change. I live in a nice house but not the biggest in the neighborhood. I drive a nice new car but not luxury. I have a nice lowkey purse and watch without obvious markings of wealth. It doesn't really have anything to do with being snobby about it. I have no issues if others disagree and spend more on larger material items.

Same. Everyone has different priorities. I am saving up for my kids to go to whatever college they want to, to donate a substantial sum to charity and to take some spectacular vacations. Cars aren't even in the top 50 of things I value.

Meanwhile, there are people on my street who have 2 luxury cars, but say that due to the cost of private college tuition, they are sending their kids to state schools.

This is what some people in this thread are missing. The universe of people who can send their kids to any college, live in a mansion, buy a luxury car, save for early retirement, donate generously, travel extensively is SMALL. That group widens slightly if you take out luxury cars and houses. For me, it's not about judging others. Good for them if they can do all those things.

+1 People should have learned by kindergarten that their preferences aren't universal. I can't believe this thread is still going on...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re fine driving an economy vehicle, do you man. But stop acting like you’re better for it. Loser behavior.

Everyone I know who claimed to be like this went out and bought nice new cars when they got a major promotion or inherited a large sum. It's impossible to live in an UMC area and not want a nice vehicle. Even if the man of the house remains low-key, the wife and kids won't be. When a wife spends hundreds of days in the drop off and pickup line seeing all of the other mums in Land Rovers, Audis, and Rivians, she's going to want one too. Nobody wants to stick out like they're some hick from the other side of the tracks.

My parents live in an enviable nice house in a neighborhood that usually makes the top 20 list of neighborhoods in the country. The country, not NoVa. Dad drives a 1990s era pick up truck. Mom has a decade old Dodge. Then again, mom has a science degree and doesn't care what the neighbors think because she doesn't think they are capable of thinking. She does make an effort to be mildly polite. Some people really have a radical disinterest in fitting in. Then again, that is hard for the fit-in crowd to understand.

My parents are soooo chill and non-pretentious… that they bought or custom built a mansion in a ritzy, “enviable” town (read with no minorities and no peasants). Your parents are smug and classist phonies.

I'll let mom know an emoji wielding stranger online called the daughter of the prague ghetto a classic phonie.

FYI, some people value stuff you don't. And we don't have peasants in this country.

But class obsessed types like to think that. Sorry. Must suck realizing people you hate can afford to buy stuff you envy, but genuinely don't care

This context does really illustrate the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The humble millionaire next door seems like nonsense to me; rich people are not driving 25 year old Volvo station wagons. And everyone with a nice new luxury car obviously isn't broke and overextended. I'm currently in a swank town and every car is a new Range Rover, Porsche crossover, Tesla, or Audi-BMW-Mercedes (they all look alike). The worst car I see are new Chevrolet Tahoes, which are like 80 grand. If that humble old money thing ever existed, it certainly doesn't anymore.

I would kill for a 25 year old Volvo station wagon.

Rich folks can afford anything. But the car manufacturers all produce indistinguishable crap today. If you have a decent vehicle now, there is zero reason to buy something new today. And don't even get me started on the people that choose Range Rovers or Jeeps.

You’re so full of crap. Nobody rich is driving an out of warranty piece of junk with gen 1 airbags that probably don’t even work. Rich value safety and their time.

You sound like you don't read much. As of 2026, Warren Buffett drives a 2014 Cadillac XTS. Known for his frugality, the 94-year-old billionaire rarely drives—only about 3,500 miles a year—and prefers to keep his cars for a long time, often viewing them as utility items rather than status symbols.

Love this. I’ll add it to the list of reasons I drive a 2014 vehicle (despite $5M NW)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The humble millionaire next door seems like nonsense to me; rich people are not driving 25 year old Volvo station wagons. And everyone with a nice new luxury car obviously isn't broke and overextended. I'm currently in a swank town and every car is a new Range Rover, Porsche crossover, Tesla, or Audi-BMW-Mercedes (they all look alike). The worst car I see are new Chevrolet Tahoes, which are like 80 grand. If that humble old money thing ever existed, it certainly doesn't anymore.

I would kill for a 25 year old Volvo station wagon.

Rich folks can afford anything. But the car manufacturers all produce indistinguishable crap today. If you have a decent vehicle now, there is zero reason to buy something new today. And don't even get me started on the people that choose Range Rovers or Jeeps.

You’re so full of crap. Nobody rich is driving an out of warranty piece of junk with gen 1 airbags that probably don’t even work. Rich value safety and their time.

You sound like you don't read much. As of 2026, Warren Buffett drives a 2014 Cadillac XTS. Known for his frugality, the 94-year-old billionaire rarely drives—only about 3,500 miles a year—and prefers to keep his cars for a long time, often viewing them as utility items rather than status symbols.

Love this. I’ll add it to the list of reasons I drive a 2014 vehicle (despite $5M NW)

Why does he need to drive? He just takes the PJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The humble millionaire next door seems like nonsense to me; rich people are not driving 25 year old Volvo station wagons. And everyone with a nice new luxury car obviously isn't broke and overextended. I'm currently in a swank town and every car is a new Range Rover, Porsche crossover, Tesla, or Audi-BMW-Mercedes (they all look alike). The worst car I see are new Chevrolet Tahoes, which are like 80 grand. If that humble old money thing ever existed, it certainly doesn't anymore.

Warren Buffett is well known for his frugality. He drives a 2014 Cadillac XTS.

I have a NW over $17M and drive a 2019 KIA Sorento and 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. I just don’t care about my image and frankly don’t want people to know I have money by driving flashy cars. It gets me from point A to point B. But that’s me. Some people are all about their image and buying nice cars whether they can afford it or not. I don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of realtors in the DMV as well and those professionals needs a pricey car to impress their clients.

Doesn’t impress me. In fact, it’s a weeder for me. They are overpaid.