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.

+1. Buying luxury cars is just as much of a PITA as buying our Honda minivan was. Car dealers suck, always and everywhere. There is no other industry where their business practices would be accepted, and dealer franchise laws are a grave offense against capitalism, the public interest writ large, and American car culture more generally.

I own a luxury car, something in the $80k range, so not like extreme. Here’s what I like about it: the driving is great, it’s fast, handles well, and feels rock solid and stable at all times, minimal vibration; it’s dead quiet; the stereo is the best I have ever owned, revealing details of music I’d never noticed before; the seats are comfortable and the wood trim is lovely.

All that said, to the extent none of those things appeal to you, do not develop the taste for it—it’s a lot of expense for most. There are definitely a lot of people driving around in luxury cars that they don’t actually appreciate for status purposes, as some posters in this thread note, and that strikes me as a crazy waste of money. But at least some of us are in it for the love of the road—it makes me happy every time I drive it. For me, a reasonable expense.

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.

Whatever. What's the point of having lots of money if you can't enjoy things every now and then? You can't take it with you. Down the toilet I throw.

You can do whatever you want with your money. You want the brand, and that's fine, but it's still a waste in terms of quality and "nice-ness."

This is such a dumb argument. My used BMW was cheaper than my sister's kitted-out Honda.

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.

Whatever. What's the point of having lots of money if you can't enjoy things every now and then? You can't take it with you. Down the toilet I throw.

You can do whatever you want with your money. You want the brand, and that's fine, but it's still a waste in terms of quality and "nice-ness."

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.

Whatever. What's the point of having lots of money if you can't enjoy things every now and then? You can't take it with you. Down the toilet I throw.

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol for people who are insecure, and suckers.

The kind of car you drive bears absolutely zero relevance to your net worth, income, or "status."

Not true for everyone that has a Mercedes. I bought one used with 30K miles and paid less than what a brand new Honda or Toyota SUV would have cost. It handles so differently than the other SUVs ( non luxury ones)- I fell in love with it. I am usually not attached to cars etc. I love that it has non leather seats- because I do not like the smell of leather nor the fact that it gets really hot in the summer heat. It is more expensive to maintain. I have had mine for 13 yrs now, and it is 15 yo old car but drives beautifully like the first day we bought it. My children have trashed it so I will need to drive it until it dies. Of course, my next vehicle will be electric or hybrid and most likely non luxury because we will be empty nesters by then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the GLC 300. The little crossover SUV sort of Mercedes. It is my favorite car of any I have owned out of: Pilot, Highlander, Suburban, Tahoe, Pathfinder (close 2nd), Accord, and maybe others. I love the way it drives and it is so pretty inside - white leather with walnut wood accents.



I don't think I would buy the super expensive Mercedes but I could see myself going up a size for my next car. I was just getting sick of the big SUVS and wanted a change.

You’ve owned a lot of cars.

Why so many?

7 cars in 35 years? Not so many.

A new car every seven years?

Wow, did you fail second grade math?

I guess that IS too generous.

A new car in 2000, 2006, 2012, 2018, 2024, 2030, 2036

So every six years.

Yes. And?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the GLC 300. The little crossover SUV sort of Mercedes. It is my favorite car of any I have owned out of: Pilot, Highlander, Suburban, Tahoe, Pathfinder (close 2nd), Accord, and maybe others. I love the way it drives and it is so pretty inside - white leather with walnut wood accents.



I don't think I would buy the super expensive Mercedes but I could see myself going up a size for my next car. I was just getting sick of the big SUVS and wanted a change.

You’ve owned a lot of cars.

Why so many?

7 cars in 35 years? Not so many.

A new car every seven years?

Wow, did you fail second grade math?

I guess that IS too generous.

A new car in 2000, 2006, 2012, 2018, 2024, 2030, 2036

So every six years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the GLC 300. The little crossover SUV sort of Mercedes. It is my favorite car of any I have owned out of: Pilot, Highlander, Suburban, Tahoe, Pathfinder (close 2nd), Accord, and maybe others. I love the way it drives and it is so pretty inside - white leather with walnut wood accents.



I don't think I would buy the super expensive Mercedes but I could see myself going up a size for my next car. I was just getting sick of the big SUVS and wanted a change.

You’ve owned a lot of cars.

Why so many?

7 cars in 35 years? Not so many.

A new car every seven years?

Wow, did you fail second grade math?

It's not the same as it used to be, especially because of all these blob SUVs. They're all boring appliances that do the exact same thing.

I remember as a kid in the 1980s riding in a second generation W126 and being so impressed... it was a tank of a car beautifully crafted and designed, and worth every penny.

I could care less about status - I don’t own designer anything and I’m a woman. I wear consignment clothes and love a great sale. But I have to say, I love a good luxury car. Sorry but some cars are way more fun to drive than others! Cars are my guilty pleasure.

Anonymous wrote:Is there a small car that is also high quality?

Because I don't like driving not-small cars. I've been driving cheap Japanese cars all my life, and yes, the road noise, the seat comfort, the cheap plastic, all bother me. Conversely, maintenance on my Toyota Corolla has been a dream. This car will not die and won't take my money. It's 20 years old and I haven't paid much for maintenance over the years.

But what's high-end in the small car category?

I would never keep a German car out of warranty, but I think the Mercedes GLC is pretty nice and fun to drive. Just lease and get a new one every 3 years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the GLC 300. The little crossover SUV sort of Mercedes. It is my favorite car of any I have owned out of: Pilot, Highlander, Suburban, Tahoe, Pathfinder (close 2nd), Accord, and maybe others. I love the way it drives and it is so pretty inside - white leather with walnut wood accents.



I don't think I would buy the super expensive Mercedes but I could see myself going up a size for my next car. I was just getting sick of the big SUVS and wanted a change.

You’ve owned a lot of cars.

Why so many?

7 cars in 35 years? Not so many.

A new car every seven years?