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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

But it's a depreciating asset that many can easily afford.

I paid cash for a brand new Benz. And I did so because I wanted the peace of mind of knowing that the car would last just about forever with little to no problems. And that's exactly what I got. A darned good quality car.

Is this your first car? Because you sound like you know absolutely nothing about them. Benz's are not known to last forever, or anywhere near it. If you want reliability then there are much better brands out there. Don't lie to yourself about the reason you paid cash for that benz. High-end does not equate to reliable when it comes to cars, Cars 101.

This is correct, though rather harshly put. I am happy that buying a Mercedes worked out for that PP. I was not so lucky. I traded on my Mercedes when it need its third new transmission. It had only 50,000 miles on it at the time. Worst car I have ever owned.

I Toyota corolla will easily outlast a Benz. Same for a Sube, or even a Honda Civic. When I see people driving high end cars, and particularly European brands, it is mostly about the look and image, status. No different than one paying $2000 for a handbag or $10K for a Rolex watch. You can easily purchase a brand new car for $25K that will be just as, if not more reliable than the high end cars and last longer. Keep in mind, when you spend on the higher end items, it usually means, it costs more to take care of them. People can say all the BS about "feeling good" driving a car, but I bet you there is not much of a difference in the feel, power in a Accord V6 ($30K new car) vs. a 5 series BMW ($60K vehicle). They just need to keep telling themselves than to justify paying 2X the price to get a high end label.

Are we really comparing a Subaru or Honda Civic to a Mercedes?


Your average Mercedes buyer, the PP not withstanding, isn't concerned about reliability. I am guessing that very few are weighing the pros and cons of a MB over a Subaru

And to the point above, drive a BMW five series and then a Honda Accord and tell me that there is no difference in feel or power - that is just silly.

I disagree. Put a Hyundai engine in a Mercedes and see how many people buy it.

And yeah, there's a difference in power. But people will tell themselves anything to feel good about their own lack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

But it's a depreciating asset that many can easily afford.

I paid cash for a brand new Benz. And I did so because I wanted the peace of mind of knowing that the car would last just about forever with little to no problems. And that's exactly what I got. A darned good quality car.

Is this your first car? Because you sound like you know absolutely nothing about them. Benz's are not known to last forever, or anywhere near it. If you want reliability then there are much better brands out there. Don't lie to yourself about the reason you paid cash for that benz. High-end does not equate to reliable when it comes to cars, Cars 101.

This is correct, though rather harshly put. I am happy that buying a Mercedes worked out for that PP. I was not so lucky. I traded on my Mercedes when it need its third new transmission. It had only 50,000 miles on it at the time. Worst car I have ever owned.

I Toyota corolla will easily outlast a Benz. Same for a Sube, or even a Honda Civic. When I see people driving high end cars, and particularly European brands, it is mostly about the look and image, status. No different than one paying $2000 for a handbag or $10K for a Rolex watch. You can easily purchase a brand new car for $25K that will be just as, if not more reliable than the high end cars and last longer. Keep in mind, when you spend on the higher end items, it usually means, it costs more to take care of them. People can say all the BS about "feeling good" driving a car, but I bet you there is not much of a difference in the feel, power in a Accord V6 ($30K new car) vs. a 5 series BMW ($60K vehicle). They just need to keep telling themselves than to justify paying 2X the price to get a high end label.

No one has to try to justify anything to themselves. If they can afford it, they buy it. Point blank.

It's those who can't afford it who make up all the reasons why having something outside of their reach is such a bad idea.

I'm the poster who gladly and proudly paid cash for a Benz. Nothing better than driving a luxury car without having to worry about monthly payments for it. I also owned a Toyota which was a very, very good car. BUT it wasn't as trouble free for as long or look as good as my Benz so many years later.

Will never regret the choice.

If us luxury car owners like it and aren't taking money from your pockets for a high end label, why should you care??????

Agree 100% (I'm the poster above who doesn't have a car, but if I did would buy a Honda/Toyota). But, why should anyone care whether someone else drives a luxury car? I could not care less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We own some pretty nice cars. It's a choice and doing so gives us pleasure and puts a little kick into what might otherwise be routine monotony. They're fast, stylish and the interior is sumptuous. Sound system also superb. Depreciation is equal to what others pay in leases because we always strategically time purchases and trade ins. I like the interior craftsmanship, handling, power and amenities of luxury cars. When I grab an airport rental, I'm surprised by the lack of quality and handling.

Honda accords are bentleys compared to crap we have had from airports. Chevy cruz, mustang, focus. Only ones I can remember off hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DC refers to the tristate area, not just DC. That wasn't obvious to you? No-one is calling "DC the DMV". NP

NP. No it doesn't, it refers to the District of Columbia. Hence the DMV. But more importantly whether or not you like it people use it. Get over it.

No idea what you mean....it has always referred to DC, Maryland and Virigina, hence the DMV....Not the entire states, but the parts close in to DC. Feel free to google it if you disagree, but it is not and has never been specific to DC itself. It's also called the "Washington Metropolitan Area"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

But it's a depreciating asset that many can easily afford.

I paid cash for a brand new Benz. And I did so because I wanted the peace of mind of knowing that the car would last just about forever with little to no problems. And that's exactly what I got. A darned good quality car.

Is this your first car? Because you sound like you know absolutely nothing about them. Benz's are not known to last forever, or anywhere near it. If you want reliability then there are much better brands out there. Don't lie to yourself about the reason you paid cash for that benz. High-end does not equate to reliable when it comes to cars, Cars 101.

12 years later I have not had one problem with the car. The battery finally died at year 11. (I was told the battery had a shelf-life of 5 years.) The best thing is that it is still very new looking. People are shocked to find out its age. You know how you can see an aged luxury car a mile away? Not mine.

No need to lie about the reason I paid cash for my Benz. Clearly, it's because I could and had any choice of cars. This one's worked out for me. Don't regret it at all. Plan to continue to drive it till the wheels fall off. Exactly the reason I purchased it.

That's great, I wasn't arguing with your experience. But your good experience does nothing to change the reputation of Mercedes and other European carmakers in terms of reliability. They are notoriously unreliable after a certain age, and expensive to maintain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

But it's a depreciating asset that many can easily afford.

I paid cash for a brand new Benz. And I did so because I wanted the peace of mind of knowing that the car would last just about forever with little to no problems. And that's exactly what I got. A darned good quality car.

Is this your first car? Because you sound like you know absolutely nothing about them. Benz's are not known to last forever, or anywhere near it. If you want reliability then there are much better brands out there. Don't lie to yourself about the reason you paid cash for that benz. High-end does not equate to reliable when it comes to cars, Cars 101.

This is correct, though rather harshly put. I am happy that buying a Mercedes worked out for that PP. I was not so lucky. I traded on my Mercedes when it need its third new transmission. It had only 50,000 miles on it at the time. Worst car I have ever owned.

You've gotta be kidding me! You're also the only person I know who's had such bad luck with a Benz. Of course, I'm comparing you-an anonymous poster--to people I know in real life.

3 TRANSMISSIONS with only 50 k miles?????? How old was this thing? Where did you buy it? Sorry you had such horrible luck, but I've been having a great time~

Did you not get the preventative Services A & B? If you didn't keep up with the maintenance, that would make sense. The key is to do so that it doesn't get to the point of needing repairs-not waiting on it to need repairs.

Again, sorry about your bad experience. That's awful!

It was a 2002 C320 Sport Wagon. I bought it brand new and did all recommended maintenance. It was just a lemon, and I am mildly perturbed that you think that somehow its myriad problems were my fault . MB stopped making them after a few years because they were so terrible. It wasn't even the third transmission that killed me. It was the short in the electrical system that drained the battery in less than a day. That repair would have cost $4000. I told my husband that I was done, that it made no sense to put any more money into that car. Bought a Lexus and still very happy with it 8 years later. Now THAT's a reliable car - hasn't been in the shop once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Don't know, don't care.

[Anonymous]

It drives me insane, too, OP. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't want to look so ostentatious. The sad reality is that, in my opinion, hardly any of these people can actually afford these cars, so they are paying $750 or so month (crazy) to lease them because they feel they deserve/need such a car. I always question the decision making skills of people like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What about his soul

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It drives me insane, too, OP. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't want to look so ostentatious. The sad reality is that, in my opinion, hardly any of these people can actually afford these cars, so they are paying $750 or so month (crazy) to lease them because they feel they deserve/need such a car. I always question the decision making skills of people like this.

You can tell yourself that. There may be people stretching their budget to pay for a low level BMW. People who drive a 100k+ Range Rover can afford it. A lease on a real range rover is more like $1400 per month, not 750.

[Anonymous]

Expense report, people. The IRS gives the employee a slight tax break, the employer gets to deduct. After a certain point, in most industries, it's just part of the comp package. Same with cell phone bills, club memberships, life insurance, etc

I just got my S series back from dropping it off for its 40k service. It took them a week, because of all of the work that's had to be done. It's now on its 3rd set of brakes, but it had a new suspension system put in at 20k and a lot of work gets done every time it goes.

Again, all employer costs, not mine - and the car goes back when the lease is up after the winter, I'm not getting another Benz again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Expense report, people. The IRS gives the employee a slight tax break, the employer gets to deduct. After a certain point, in most industries, it's just part of the comp package. Same with cell phone bills, club memberships, life insurance, etc

I just got my S series back from dropping it off for its 40k service. It took them a week, because of all of the work that's had to be done. It's now on its 3rd set of brakes, but it had a new suspension system put in at 20k and a lot of work gets done every time it goes.

Again, all employer costs, not mine - and the car goes back when the lease is up after the winter, I'm not getting another Benz again.

Try an Audi next time. I had horrible luck with my Mercedes. It wasn't the money I spent maintaining it that bothered me as much as the time. I have a higher end Japanese car now and I absolutely hate it- it feels cheaply made- even though I haven't had any maintenance issues. I'm going back to Audi, which is what I had before the MB. They've been voted the most reliable car recently and they're a lot nicer than any American/Japanese car you can find.

[Anonymous]

Thx PP, I will take a look. The Lexus Sedan doesn't do anything for me at all

A week, I'm always without my car for a week at least, it gets old you're completely right.

[Anonymous]

This thread is making me curious about Range Rovers. I've stayed away from MB SUV for over 10 years-knew a family who had to get out an ancient land cruiser in snow because the MB performed so badly.


A RR test drive -skip beltway-but on windy, hilly curves. Any sway? I hate sway. Those RR are fashion statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Expense report, people. The IRS gives the employee a slight tax break, the employer gets to deduct. After a certain point, in most industries, it's just part of the comp package. Same with cell phone bills, club memberships, life insurance, etc

I just got my S series back from dropping it off for its 40k service. It took them a week, because of all of the work that's had to be done. It's now on its 3rd set of brakes, but it had a new suspension system put in at 20k and a lot of work gets done every time it goes.

Again, all employer costs, not mine - and the car goes back when the lease is up after the winter, I'm not getting another Benz again.

I love to contrast this thread to all the Feds getting psyched about a 2.8% raise. Not sure what it says but interesting...