Whenever UMC or rich say "We're just not car people."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and my midwestern parents often comment on how people in my neighborhood live in $1M+ houses but they mostly see minivans and Priuses in driveways. Where they live - they see fancier cars in the driveways of lower middle class neighborhoods than they do here. They seem to mention it every.single.visit.

Same. My million dollar neighborhood here has mostly Hondas, Toyotas and Jeeps. My parent's 400k neighborhood (which is pricey where they live) has Lamborghinis, Range Rovers, Mercedes, etc.

To be fair, a million dollar neighborhood in DC isn't exactly novel or particularly wealthy.

Sure, but they could afford a car nicer than a 25k Toyota.

Can they? My house is worth 1.2M because of appreciation but I can’t afford much more than a $25k car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well they mean they don't drive super interesting cars, which is true. And?

It generally means they buy lower-key but still new and pricey cars. They avoid tacky flashy cars but still wouldn't be caught dead in anything cheap or used.

Really? We have a 10 yo Honda, and a 2 year old Honda. Both cheap and old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well they mean they don't drive super interesting cars, which is true. And?

It generally means they buy lower-key but still new and pricey cars. They avoid tacky flashy cars but still wouldn't be caught dead in anything cheap or used.

We have lots of money and bought a used car. I'm not a car person and neither is my DH while we have young kids. We got a 2yo Mercedes GLC for a great deal and it works for our family. Why would we deliberately pay more than necessary?

[Headdesk]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh I thought not a car person meant you knew nothing about cars and didn’t care (I’ll spend money on a car, but I’m going for safety and size over flashy speed and the thing that makes the loud noise).

Do you mean not car people don’t have cars?

DP. This is how I use the term. When I say I'm not a car person I mean I am not interested in cars and don't want to spend any time thinking about them. I just want them to do what I need them to do. I don't mean I consciously arrange my life to avoid cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since when is a volvo a status car? Volvo, Honda, Toyota, Ford, Jeep, VW are just....cars.

Do you consider BMWs status cars? Because Volvos cost as much as BMWs these days.

Cost doesn't equal status. A Volvo is a frumpy utilitarian car no matter how much it costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you literally posted two cars that for me are the definition of "not being a car person." Those cars are garbage

DP, but I think that's the point. They're boring SUVs with terrible driving dynamics that the nouveau riche think are inconspicuous, but are very strong signals of their socioeconomic status. Just because they're not Bentleys or bright yellow Lamborghinis doesn't mean that they can claim that they're above conspicuous consumption.

Correct. "Car people" in this context isn't like muscle car or sports cars, it means they're trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile, whether sports cars or gaudy luxury cars. But end of the day they STILL have nice new cars in their driveway, just cars they think are inconspicuous and tasteful.

DP. Right. Not sure what you are implying by "trying to act above dedicating any and all mind share to the automobile." How much time do you want to spend thinking about your dishwasher or vacuum? A car is just another piece of household equipment that I need but don't want to spend time focusing on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since when is a volvo a status car? Volvo, Honda, Toyota, Ford, Jeep, VW are just....cars.

Do you consider BMWs status cars? Because Volvos cost as much as BMWs these days.

Cost doesn't equal status. A Volvo is a frumpy utilitarian car no matter how much it costs.

That was the case 30 years ago when their target demographic was quirky tweed-clad professors in rural New England college towns, but they've pivoted upmarket in a big way for over a decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well they mean they don't drive super interesting cars, which is true. And?

It generally means they buy lower-key but still new and pricey cars. They avoid tacky flashy cars but still wouldn't be caught dead in anything cheap or used.

We have lots of money and bought a used car. I'm not a car person and neither is my DH while we have young kids. We got a 2yo Mercedes GLC for a great deal and it works for our family. Why would we deliberately pay more than necessary?

[Headdesk]

I was addressing PP's point about avoiding used cars. Obviously there are cheaper cars out there than the one we got, but it's the right size and gets good safety ratings and fits three car seats (sort of) so it works for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and my midwestern parents often comment on how people in my neighborhood live in $1M+ houses but they mostly see minivans and Priuses in driveways. Where they live - they see fancier cars in the driveways of lower middle class neighborhoods than they do here. They seem to mention it every.single.visit.

Same. My million dollar neighborhood here has mostly Hondas, Toyotas and Jeeps. My parent's 400k neighborhood (which is pricey where they live) has Lamborghinis, Range Rovers, Mercedes, etc.

In the DC metro area, million dollar homes are owned mostly by reachers - people making upper middle-class income who put it mostly into their homes. You need to look a little higher. We live in a neighborhood where homes cost multiple million dollars, and there are plenty of Lambos, RRs, G Wagens, Bentleys, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh I thought not a car person meant you knew nothing about cars and didn’t care (I’ll spend money on a car, but I’m going for safety and size over flashy speed and the thing that makes the loud noise).

Do you mean not car people don’t have cars?

DP. This is how I use the term. When I say I'm not a car person I mean I am not interested in cars and don't want to spend any time thinking about them. I just want them to do what I need them to do. I don't mean I consciously arrange my life to avoid cars.

whut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not car people and we drive a Toyota.

+1 all the “not car people” I know drive Hondas or Toyotas. Almost regardless of wealth/income.

Driving a Toyota or Honda is a great choice if you aren't a car person. They are both reliable card but the most boring driving experiences ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm really not a car person because I don't know what kind of cars these are.

That’s what I was thinking. We get whatever has good has mileage. My one luxury is leather seats because there is nothing worse than spilled milk or kid puke on car upholstery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well they mean they don't drive super interesting cars, which is true. And?

It generally means they buy lower-key but still new and pricey cars. They avoid tacky flashy cars but still wouldn't be caught dead in anything cheap or used.

Not true- always used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not car people and we drive a Toyota.

+1 all the “not car people” I know drive Hondas or Toyotas. Almost regardless of wealth/income.

I am a car person, and drive a Honda. They make exceptional engines. Partial to Subaru boxer engine too.