Am I missing what's so special about an expensive luxury car? Driving one now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because you are telling the people around you that you have moneys, ergo you be better than them.

Are you slow or something?

That's not at all the impression I get from luxury vehicles.

I have money, and drive a 10 year old sedan.

Driving a luxury car tells me you're irresponsible with money, and like throwing it down the toilet.

Business owners are playing tax games and executives are often using a car allowance to lease new cars. If your employment contract gives you $1,000 month for a car, why wouldn’t you lease the latest and greatest. And some people are just rolling in dough so a couple of six-figure cars for Mr and Mrs doesn’t even move the needle on their finances.

Yes but then they can't claim moral superiority by driving a beater and wearing threadbare clothes while amassing more money. Some people don't believe in joy, they are just trudging through this life until it ends, and they hate that others experience joy.

Not quite. I drive beaters, but I bought a ridiculously expensive collectible instrument for my kid so she could sound better when she plays (and she does, very much so). It makes me unutterably happy, PP, to hear my child fill my house with music. I have spent so much on private lessons, orchestra, camps, instrument maintenance, etc. You will never see any of that. But that's my true happiness. If you just gauge people's joy through what you see of them outside... you're only seeing the tip of the iceberg. I couldn't care less what car I drive.

[Anonymous]

somebody who lives in a 2M dollar house wondering what's special about a 2.5M one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I buy Lexus for reliability
I buy Toyota and Honda did the same reason
Have bought Audis what a mistake and Tesla both reliability horrible ba k to Lexus

Perhaps you can divert some funds into taking esl classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I buy Lexus for reliability
I buy Toyota and Honda did the same reason
Have bought Audis what a mistake and Tesla both reliability horrible ba k to Lexus

A Lexus is just a Toyota wearing fancier clothing -- so why do you opt for the Lexus over the Toyota?

[Anonymous]

Luxury cars are something you, your spouses and even your kids develop a taste for after living in a pretentious competitive area. You begin to realize everyone is driving such and such, while you’re driving something a few rungs below. You want to belong in every sense. You don’t want to ever be perceived to be a rung below. Maybe the most charismatic woman you’ve met drives a _____, so you suddenly want a new _____ too. Same reason your kids want the best iPhone and certain sneakers. All the iPhones look the same to me but kids in wealthier areas know what the newest and best is.

[Anonymous]

I have had luxury and not luxury. From my perspective, anything is fine for driving around town, going to the grocery, school runs, basic day-to-day. However, for longer commutes (1 hour or more) or long highway drives, luxury wins hands down. Except sports cars. Had them too. Don't bother unless you take it to the track or need an ego massage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Volvo is hands down the best car I've driven. So smooth. I'll never not have a Volvo.

We've had a BMW, VW, Honda, Jaguar, Saab, and Mercedes over the last 30 years.

All bought used.

I had one 2 years ago, loved the style, loved the interiors, but the electronic glitches really soured me.

Lol you’re describing my life right now- Volvo in the shop at this moment for electronic glitches!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had luxury and not luxury. From my perspective, anything is fine for driving around town, going to the grocery, school runs, basic day-to-day. However, for longer commutes (1 hour or more) or long highway drives, luxury wins hands down. Except sports cars. Had them too. Don't bother unless you take it to the track or need an ego massage

…or the trails. 99% of off road suv never go off road so those huge tires, suspension, frame, lock diff, etc a huge waste not to mention these vehicles don’t drive as well on the road (99% of the usage). Fools really

[Anonymous]

I don’t really care about cars but next time I buy one, now that I can easily afford it I’ll pay a lot for quiet and smooth.

In my forester I feel like my butt feels every piece of gravel and I’m in a wind tunnel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dealership's service department gave me a new Mercedes GLS 580 SUV loaner with the sticker still attached. This is a $130,000 vehicle. It's fine but I honestly don't get what's the big deal. I don't feel special driving it. I don't detect anyone cares or even notices it on the road or in a parking lot or anything like that. Some people, including our neighbors, seem almost addicted to driving really nice vehicles like this. What am I missing here?

Reminds me of the really, really, hot girl I once dated for a bit. It was awesome the first few weeks, but when the shine wore off, she was no different than the other average girls I'd dated. What began to annoy me was the high maintenance, which led to the breakup.. Same applies to fancy cars.

[Anonymous]

Heated seats and steering wheels, and leather, are so worth it, as is good AWD, because we have a cabin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy Lexus for reliability
I buy Toyota and Honda did the same reason
Have bought Audis what a mistake and Tesla both reliability horrible ba k to Lexus

A Lexus is just a Toyota wearing fancier clothing -- so why do you opt for the Lexus over the Toyota?

The price difference between the equivalent Toyota and Lexus for the car we just bought is insubstantial, so we went for luxury. If the margin were bigger, the Toyota would've been fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luxury cars are something you, your spouses and even your kids develop a taste for after living in a pretentious competitive area. You begin to realize everyone is driving such and such, while you’re driving something a few rungs below. You want to belong in every sense. You don’t want to ever be perceived to be a rung below. Maybe the most charismatic woman you’ve met drives a _____, so you suddenly want a new _____ too. Same reason your kids want the best iPhone and certain sneakers. All the iPhones look the same to me but kids in wealthier areas know what the newest and best is.

I live in a mid-size, non rat race city, and there's no shortage of luxury car brands around. And no shortage of next door neighbors with equally expensive houses driving Subarus and Hondas.

I don't think people care or see status in certain cars the way we did 30 years ago. The gap between the luxury and nice everyday cars isn't as great. People also hold on to their cars for longer periods. Nir are people judgmental. Just get what you like and works for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buying stuff feels good. Buying expensive stuff makes you feel good and successful.

That dopamine hit!

Emm.. sitting for 2 hours at the dealership, being ushered between the salesperson, the finance manager, etc.. is hardly a great experience to deliver dopamine.

Compare that to buying a Rolex. They bring out champagne and chocolates, and a white-gloved attendant "presents" the watch to you in a nice box.

The Rolex purchase after waiting for months (if not years) on a waiting list or having to spend tens of thousands of dollars in other crap just to have the privilege of getting the watch that you want? With most cars, you walk into the dealer and get what what you want - or maybe order a new one and just wait for it to be built, much simpler(and maybe cheaper) than a Rolex purchase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Luxury cars are something you, your spouses and even your kids develop a taste for after living in a pretentious competitive area. You begin to realize everyone is driving such and such, while you’re driving something a few rungs below. You want to belong in every sense. You don’t want to ever be perceived to be a rung below. Maybe the most charismatic woman you’ve met drives a _____, so you suddenly want a new _____ too. Same reason your kids want the best iPhone and certain sneakers. All the iPhones look the same to me but kids in wealthier areas know what the newest and best is.

I live in a mid-size, non rat race city, and there's no shortage of luxury car brands around. And no shortage of next door neighbors with equally expensive houses driving Subarus and Hondas.

I don't think people care or see status in certain cars the way we did 30 years ago. The gap between the luxury and nice everyday cars isn't as great. People also hold on to their cars for longer periods. Nir are people judgmental. Just get what you like and works for you.

PP says "pretentious competitive area" and you respond that you live in a "mid-size non rat race city" (whatever the hell that means). Nobody but the help is driving Subarus and Hondas in ritzy places.