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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Volvo/Audi = “I’m pretending I’m ‘low-key’ and don’t care what others think but I know everyone knows these are expensive cars and I’d never be caught dead in a Kia or Buick”

While the current generation is a little long in the tooth, the Jeep Grand Cherokee also seems to attract this sort of buyer. Yeah, it’s sort of a low-key All American SUV, but the loaded trims are still upwards of $50,000 to $60,000.

[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.

Million dollar homes are $100,000 homes in this economy. In Takoma Park and Silver Spring, most folks are focused on paying a mortgage in a very expensive real estate market. If they could, they would be living in $400k homes.

[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.

Completely disagree. We are UMC with a $2m home but drive a 15 year old Lexus (bought used 8 years ago) and a 10 year old Honda (also bought used). Both our cars are very well rated by consumer reports for reliability, which is something we DO value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

I think you’re reading too much into it. It can be hard to understand if you’re a person who believes that the car they drive “projects an image” but some of us just don’t think that way. We’re just trying to get something reliable and reasonable. I honestly have never thought about what someone would think about me because of my car except that it has goldfish crackers between the seats.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor just bought a brand name luxury car (50K). He explained that the car was below invoice and a hybrid. He also said that he is not a car person. I when I read this thread.

[Anonymous]

I think that statement is perfectly in line with a person buying a Volvo. That's not a status car, but it is generally a good, reliable car that is way more comfortable than your standard Ford SUV or whatever.

I also interpret that statement to mean that they have a car to get around, but they don't have multiple cars necessarily. They don't collect cars or have several high end sports cars sitting around. The UC people I know who are "car people" are REALLY into expensive cars. Not Volvos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

As a "not a car person" with a Subaru and a Mercedes, I can tell you it has nothing to do with image and everything to do with car seats and ease of parking. Also, we spent a long time researching dishwashers. I want to do enough research on the front end to get what I need, but that's it - I'm not emotionally invested in these purchases and they have nothing to do with my self identity. A car for me is exactly like a dishwasher in this regard. For that matter, my DH spent like 2 hours recently researching irons because he is particular about his shirts. Do you consider our choice of iron to be about image too?

This is a meaningless statement that does not disprove that your Subaru and Mercedes were not about buying in to a brand identity or projecting an image.
Literally every car manufacturer offers a car that easily accommodates car seats.
Literally every car manufacturer offers a car that is easy to park.

The only one focused on "brand identity" and image based on car choice is you. This is our second Subaru; the first one (a WRX) ran great from 2005-2018 when we had our second child. We had a good experience so we went with another one (but one that would accommodate 2-3 car seats). We bought the Mercedes used because there are a million late model Mercedes available locally and people we talked to seem to like them, and they get good safety ratings. You seem to feel that people should spend MORE time thinking about these issues to avoid a certain image. These cars work for us, were affordable, and were easy to obtain. Why keep researching once you've identified something that works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Volvo/Audi = “I’m pretending I’m ‘low-key’ and don’t care what others think but I know everyone knows these are expensive cars and I’d never be caught dead in a Kia or Buick”

While the current generation is a little long in the tooth, the Jeep Grand Cherokee also seems to attract this sort of buyer. Yeah, it’s sort of a low-key All American SUV, but the loaded trims are still upwards of $50,000 to $60,000.

Grand Cherokees tend to attract MAGAs.

Maybe they wanted Wranglers, but decided they wanted a real car.

[Anonymous]

I am not a car person. I don’t know anything about the specs. I drive a on X5. So fairly expensive. I picked it because I liked the color a lot and I really liked that the trunk had a little door thing at the bottom so my groceries don’t fall out when I open the big trunk door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

Bingo. And the tweet about about Volvo is hilarious.

Meh. People who "aren't car people" don't really GAF and just pick whatever is easy. Some non-car people also just get whatever is cheapest and/or most practical. They don't put a lot of thought or emotion into it.

[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.

Let me guess, Florida?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DP. Wow, this sailed right over your heads. The point is that these people described in the OP claims not to be car people, but have obviously made careful choices in their selection for cars. They didn't just go pick a car like they would a dish washer. They selected cars to maintain a carefully cultivated image. They are aloof about cars, but they do care very much about the image that a car gives them.

As a "not a car person" with a Subaru and a Mercedes, I can tell you it has nothing to do with image and everything to do with car seats and ease of parking. Also, we spent a long time researching dishwashers. I want to do enough research on the front end to get what I need, but that's it - I'm not emotionally invested in these purchases and they have nothing to do with my self identity. A car for me is exactly like a dishwasher in this regard. For that matter, my DH spent like 2 hours recently researching irons because he is particular about his shirts. Do you consider our choice of iron to be about image too?

This is a meaningless statement that does not disprove that your Subaru and Mercedes were not about buying in to a brand identity or projecting an image.
Literally every car manufacturer offers a car that easily accommodates car seats.
Literally every car manufacturer offers a car that is easy to park.

The only one focused on "brand identity" and image based on car choice is you. This is our second Subaru; the first one (a WRX) ran great from 2005-2018 when we had our second child. We had a good experience so we went with another one (but one that would accommodate 2-3 car seats). We bought the Mercedes used because there are a million late model Mercedes available locally and people we talked to seem to like them, and they get good safety ratings. You seem to feel that people should spend MORE time thinking about these issues to avoid a certain image. These cars work for us, were affordable, and were easy to obtain. Why keep researching once you've identified something that works?

The DC Urban Mom doth protest too much, methinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a car person. I don’t know anything about the specs. I drive a on X5. So fairly expensive. I picked it because I liked the color a lot and I really liked that the trunk had a little door thing at the bottom so my groceries don’t fall out when I open the big trunk door.

Same. I bought a beautiful Mercedes SUV in a gorgeous color ten years ago and I still love it. Very comfortable seats throughout, fit and finish impeccable, holds five people plus a trunk full of groceries, powerful enough to zoom up steep hills, and even ultra low emission.

[Anonymous]

A “car person” is into cars aka car enthusiast.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure people really cross-shop Wranglers and GCs unless the plan is to use one as a daily and the other for play.