What do all these people driving new Range Rovers do for a living?

[Anonymous]

There are so many Range Rovers and Mercedes Benz GLSes. How do so many people afford 85k trucks? Car allowances from work? What do they do for work? We have a HHI of 300k in medicine and can't come close to affording those kind of cars.

[Anonymous]

Probably leased.

Big law. For some people, it's almost a job requirement to keep up with the Joneses.

[Anonymous]

Some of them are really terrible drivers, too. I have seen so much ridiculously stupid driving behavior lately from people with super-expensive cars that I can't honestly figure out how people so dumb have the money for those cars. (I tell myself that the wife is driving the car paid for by the smarter husband's money, but that can't always be the case.)

There are some crazy-rich people around here. And some of them probably don't have kids or big mortgages, and can therefore spend on expensive cars.

[Anonymous]

Have a small business on the side, lease and deduct.

[Anonymous]

Why would you want to?

FWIW, I could easily afford a Range Rover (DH is biglaw equity partner). I drive a Sienna, which is a far more practical choice. I prefer to invest my money rather than engage in ostentatious consumption. A car is a depreciating asset.

[Anonymous]

There are thousands of people in the DMV that get a $1000 monthly car allowance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of people in the DMV that get a $1000 monthly car allowance.

This. My buddy is a doc for big pharma and they pay for his Tesla on top of his ridiculous salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of people in the DMV that get a $1000 monthly car allowance.

Seriously? This isn't the 1950's.

Don't call DC the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Range rovers are more than $100k now. The GLS 550 is pretty close to that too.

I'm in Arlington, and the people I know who drive them are Capitals, own (huge companies), capitals wives, finance and commercial real estate guys and their SAHWs.

What's wrong with driving a nice car? Who cares if it's leased PP? You sound jealous. They are probably still $1500 a month, and to someone is bringing home $50,000 a month, that's nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Range rovers are more than $100k now. The GLS 550 is pretty close to that too.

I'm in Arlington, and the people I know who drive them are Capitals, own (huge companies), capitals wives, finance and commercial real estate guys and their SAHWs.

What's wrong with driving a nice car? Who cares if it's leased PP? You sound jealous. They are probably still $1500 a month, and to someone is bringing home $50,000 a month, that's nothing.

I don't care if it's leased. The people I know who drive expensive cars lease them because they like to switch cars every few years. Not sure how you got jealousy from that, but whatever. Do you.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone driving these cars is making millions per year. Some people work hard and feel good driving something nice. If you're in a car for 60-120 minutes a day, it feels really really good to drive some nice. And once you drive something nice it's impossible to turn back. You're hooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of them are really terrible drivers, too. I have seen so much ridiculously stupid driving behavior lately from people with super-expensive cars that I can't honestly figure out how people so dumb have the money for those cars. (I tell myself that the wife is driving the car paid for by the smarter husband's money, but that can't always be the case.)

There are some crazy-rich people around here. And some of them probably don't have kids or big mortgages, and can therefore spend on expensive cars.

It is actually the large black SUVs (the AMC/Yukon/Denali/Suburban/Tahoe type monoliths - always black - LOL) that signify "I need driving lessons - look out!". Every single time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of them are really terrible drivers, too. I have seen so much ridiculously stupid driving behavior lately from people with super-expensive cars that I can't honestly figure out how people so dumb have the money for those cars. (I tell myself that the wife is driving the car paid for by the smarter husband's money, but that can't always be the case.)

There are some crazy-rich people around here. And some of them probably don't have kids or big mortgages, and can therefore spend on expensive cars.

Wow. No sexism there. Maybe the little woman is earning payola, and not at home spitting out kids?

[Anonymous]

Driving a nice car feels good. Highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

My DH works in Finance and I work part-time, mainly because my kids are in school and I don't want the commute of my original job. Our HHI is about $350k. We have a pretty hefty mortgage which we are double paying right now, but no other bills other than household bills. We both work and like nice things. We have driven brand new Hondas and 10 year old luxury cars and to us there is a big difference in the quality and feel, even if other people think it is not worth it to them. Just like my co-worker says there is a big difference in a ChicfilA sandwich and one from Wendy's (FOR EXAMPLE), there are people who know the difference in cars and houses and value that enough to pay more (especially if it's is "nothing" to their pockets.)

Just to give some insight... if you have $2Million in investments, $100k average balance in the bank and bring home $30k gross every month, it's nothing to buy a $80k car cash (and it's probably not even that much if you sell the dealer your current luxury car for $25k). We buy everything cash, by the way. The money is just adds up otherwise. And... we do donate $50k+ every year to the school athletic boosters, university alumni, our church, and endowments every year. We don't have any allowances for cars or wardrobe or housing. It's all us.

I want a Range Rover Sport (because I think it's such a sexy car) but I don't have one. (My DH has issues with the brand from "way" back, even tho he would buy it if I insisted.) We do own a luxury car that we have had "forever" and it is fine. And it's nice to have something to dream about. I like that I can literally drool over this car when I see one (and I see a lot), but I don't need it or "really" want it (sort of).