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Why are so many inferior vehicles considered status symbols?
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Not if you have a well. We had to get all our copper plumbing replaced because of the pin-hole leaks that the well water was causing. Even with a water conditioner, the well water took its' toll over the years.
Bob
I understand that Bill gates drives an old Chevy..and the kennedies get by with old domestic beaters!
A few months ago I had to have a good chunk of my kitchen sink drain pipe replaced. I have no idea what it was made out of. The house had running water installed in 1950, and the kitchen had been remodeled a few times since then, so much of the drain pipe was a hodge-podge of different parts. The plumber who fixed it put plastic piping in, and where the plastic joined in with the older metal part, he just connected it with rubber hose and what looked like radiator hose clamps! It should last for years, and the next time it needs to be replaced, it'll be a dirt-simple job. Sometimes plastic does have its place.
Back to cars. What is the ratio of Phantoms to Maybachs? I've seen a few Phantoms on the streets but the only Maybachs I've seen are at shows. Maybe they're more common in other parts of the country.
kennedie may be well advised to drive a Mercedes(Maybach) for the next time he is driving with a young woman on a bridge.
autoweek.com said earlier this year that Maybach sales were less than projected. The Maybach does make a profit unlike the vulgar Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Thanks!
http://www.pbase.com/brightness04/image/53833398/large
If you view the image in "original" size, you can make out that it is a very recent model E320 4Matic (license plate blurred out to fend off privacy hawks). The shutter release happend to catch the hazard lights blinking too. If not for the fact that I had already passed the spot 25min earlier, I would not have known the car was a Mercedes before I had time to get my camera ready as the service vehicle was immediately behind it, and the traffic was going at 60+ mph
For what it's worth, in the couple weeks since you suggested that I take some pictures, I was on vacation down the Carribean for over a week. I don't commute for my work, so yesterday morning's trip was only the third driving excursion that I have underer-taken besides the two midnight runs to and from the airport.
Around here I typically see old, recently purchased (the plates start with S or T, which means that they were registered in the past 6 months or so) domestic automobiles sitting by the road.
I saw Mercury Mystique once, it was there for days and was finally towed by the police I believe for a non-moving violation. (it was sitting next to the railroad tracks, hmmm...)
I also saw Jeep Cherokee on the freeway, just parked on the side.
First, the car is running (you can see the water vapor from the two exhausts).
Second, it appears to my eye that the left rear tire is down (as seen when viewed in 'original' size).
Possibly we have nothing more sinister than a flat tire?
I still have yet to see a broken down MB or a broken down anything over the past several weeks. Maybe people here are simply better at vehicle maintenance.
It's still a nice idea to subscribe to though, keep it up.
Or maybe she faked a breakdown in the hopes that a hunky tow truck driver would show up and sweep her off her feet. Little does she know that this particular hunky tow truck driver's name is Bertha! :surprise:
Maybe when one sells their Harley they sell it for more than they paid for it?
"Do people actually have so much money they're willing to blow it on senseless purchases?"
Yes. Except that senseless to you is not senseless to them or me.
So now in 2006, what are the inferior status vehicles du jour?
I hear the new Hummer H3s are actually fairly decent off-road, so I guess they're not as bad as previously (though I still can't imagine who's buying these things with a straight face...)
Someone has to define inferior in the context that the forum was started. It is pretty much like one poster said earlier if everyone had the same standard for a vehicle we might all be driving Camrys, Accords or Buicks.
As far as Harley goes, it is the feel of machinery. You get the same feeling as one might get standing next to a Steam locomotive. It has a pulse when you ride it. It has absolutely nothing to do with practically. They may be too successful today as has been said. But if you don't understand why people buy Harleys rather than a [non-permissible content removed] bike look at what the [non-permissible content removed] bikes are trying to do with their street cruisers. They are trying to look and sound like a Harley. Many of us would love to have a old classic car. Most of us realize that they would be pretty expensive to drive as a commuter. But if someone can make a classic car with modern parts it would be like having your cake and eating it too. That is just a bit like having a Harley.
If someone doesn't see the point it can't be explained.
does a $100,000 car make more sense than a $80,000 Hummer ?
Who is to say ?
Here is another kicker...who would spend $120,000 plus on a suburban ? Well, turns out there is a market out there for these type of vehicles. And these people are not after style or status per se....( come on, a suburban ??)
I bought a used Stillen Suburban from the original owner who paid $120,000 for it. It was worth the money to them...and definitely worth the money to us.
I have a friend who drives a BMW 760i as a daily driver, and a MB GL 500 daily also. For weekends or special occasions, they drive either the Maybach ( top of line one, with the dual TV screens and recliner ) or the McLaren SLR. The Ferrari Mondial 1993 stays mostly in the garage. To them, they think they more superior vehicles.
Why do people buy certain vehicles, and other people buy supposedly inferior vehicles ?
I asked that question, and most rich people have nothing against Accords, or Camrys, but it is just not what they want. The image is important for many people, people like certain company executives, real estate agents, etc...all need cars that project the image of " I am successful" . The better amenities also are important. Many also say stronger built, more protective car body. Better feeling when driving...etc...
Sounds arrogant ? Sounds rich ? but it is the stark truth.
To some people , the accords/camry's are the inferior vehicles. People tend to move up in their car choice when they can afford to.
that is just the other side's point of view.
let the duel begin.....
Saying people get MORE for their Harleys than what they paid for them is stretch. Besides, buying a motorcycle, or any vehicle for that matter isn't an investment strategy most finacial planners would recommend.
boaz47
Are you sure you're not talking about Oscar De LaHoya and Marvin Hagler?
I'm not debating investment strategy, I'm referring to the current success of Harley. Those things do not depreciate. Whether you believe it or not, you can research it yourself and then post back.
For example, my mother lives in a small/medium size town about 100 miles from any real city, and there, that Stillen Suburban would have more clout than a Maybach or SLR. I suspect that would also hold true in suburban areas where urban cowboys tend to live - conservative areas with large lots etc. But in an upscale urban area or upscale suburb...it might just be a curiousity.
"Inferior" vehicles might also be status symbols because some people see cars as more than a transportation appliance. If that's what it was all about, nobody would desire more than a Civic or a Camcord or even their domestic counterparts. The old adage "you are what you drive" is as alive now as much as ever.
If I had a SLR AND a Maybach AND a big weird 7er AND a G wagen AND a Ferrari...I would also want some kind of awesome security system. That kind of stuff must make people suspicious. The ostentatious line has been crossed.
Harley is proof that image is everything. Here on the eastside, everytime I see one it just screams "Middle aged accountant who drives a beige Camry on weekdays"...but that's just me.
I personally know of several $600K to $1M homes in this area - and, this area is where a $250K home is very nice - where the homeowners practically have no furniture. They're so heavily levered just to buy the house and the Lexus or M-B, they have nothing left over for the essentials. Sad, as one's character and wealth should not be judged by where one lives or which automobile one drives, as it may be a totally inaccurate determination.
So what? Who cares? People are people. It makes the world go round. Some people like and buy a car that others wouldn't dream of buying. To each his own. You definitely can't read a book by its cover. The guy in the high end Mercedes could be covered in debt with minimal net worth while the guy in the 6 year old CamCord could buy the other guy over and over. Good ole America. The home of the free. And you're free to charge it up and stick it to the man if things don't work out and you file BK....
BK aint so easy anymore.
Nobody will argue with your latter statement.
It can work both ways. For a professional whose work involves earning a client's trust - financial advisor, lawyer, real estate broker etc. - driving a too expensive vehicle might be viewed suspiciously, as if he or she might be skimming from clients in order to afford such a luxury vehicle. Clients also might think that the vehicle's high cost is being recovered through the professional's fees, making them higher than they should be.
Both cars are performance-oriented, 6 cylinder, AWD vehicles.
The BMW seats 4 with a cramped rear seat.
The VW seats 4 with a cramped rear seat.
The BMW has 4 doors and a trunk.
The VW has 2 doors and a hatch.
The VW has more usable space for moving large objects (fold flat seats + hatchback).
The VW has more power, better handling and a nicer interior.
But pick 10 people and ask 'em which car is nicer/cooler/whatever and I guarantee the majority will pick the BMW. I guess a big part of it is price since that's the only factor in which the BMW is 'superior'. That and the fact that "hatchback" seems to be a dirty word in America; like the horrific "station wagon".
Best Regards,
Shipo
When I hear the word inferior, VW comes to mind first .. then Saab and Kia ...
surfing the naughty sitesdoing some research online when from the other room I heard a woman on tv mention the Chevy Equinox and Lexus RX330 in the same sentence. I went in the other room to see this woman who really needs to do something with her hair actually COMPARING the two! Both of them have V-6 engines and "sophisticated styling" (her words, not mine...and I actually DO prefer the style of the Equinox to the RX330) but making the argument that the Equinox MSRP's for $15,000 less!So I guess that says it right there. You're a fool if you buy the RX330. An Equinox in every driveway! :P
Now what they SHOULD do is compare it to the Toyota Highlander or maybe the Honda Pilot. Only thing is, those both offer a nominal 3rd row seat, which the Equinox does not.
" ..the hand buys what the eye see's ...."
just like any product on the planet ....
Terry.
But wait, I like VW....had a souped up scirocco.
was looking at R32 on ebay last week....and I would choose either one...depending on my needs. The BMW for formal occasions, and the R32 for personal fun / commuting.
Well, one thing I think VW has to improve , is the quality of their cars....
BMW has got one of the best sports sedan in the world..indeed, they invented the segment, IMHO. The VW may also ride rougher, and drive feel is also not as nice as the Bimmer.
I would pick the R32, though.
THAT is frankly offensive. Who in the world are you to accuse someone of not "developing their character and substance" just because they have a desire to drive a vehicle with a marque that might get a little more respect on the road than just a toyota.
To use my wife as a prime example, she came from humble beginnings and has worked hard to contribute to our being in a financially secure place. She went car shopping after getting her first "real" job out of college. She had graduated from a good school with a degree in marketing and with her determination found a high paying job because of it, all on her own and she decided she wanted to reward herself. She DID want something that said she was successful out on the road, you know why? Because she WAS and she continues to be! What is wrong with that???? Character was there from the beginning, substance grows with life experience every day for her.
That is just an example of the "emotional" side of this topic. Cars are emotional purchases for a large number of people. Be it the hood ornament or the gas peddle that gets the reaction, its emotion just the same.
The more logic based argument (and there can be one) I think can be found in a number of topics. The "higher end" makes usually come with better service, a more inviting buying experience (not always, I know,) and atleast around here, sales people that offer you a little more respect (or atleast pretend to).
Those type of things are what drives the buyer, I think.
The funny thing is, the "status symbol" part is fed more by those who don't own the marques, than by those who do.
It's the kid at the gas station that reacts to your car, or the old "friend" from high school that you run into at the mall that comments on it. The people who are impressed have made them what they are with the recognition. The people who are buying them are just collecting on it
Just my take, after being on my soapbox in the beginning.
Sorry for the long post!
there are those who loathe to admit it..but they themselves would upgrade if they could...majority anyways. Perhaps there is some hint of jealousy ? A note of self-righteous indignation that someone got what he or she could not ? Deep seated resentment that someone got something ? I am just theorizing also....though I do admit that there are those who buy a really hot car for the ego of it..(not even the image, the two are slightly different) .
It is funny, but my friends never make a big deal out of the SLR or Diablo or Maybach....it is the others who woo and ahhh....and then deep down talk down about the owners. A car is a car. No big deal. I agree....it is the person that matters most.
I do not know, but maybe the same ones who demean other people's choice of car, may also be the same ones who speak bad about the kid in the neighborhood with the new bike when he or she was little. Now, they passed that point, and would buy that same bike for thier own kids. Then in the same breath...criticize other people's choices.... That is kinda funny....
Kia vehicles are now even more of a bargain because not only do they come with the Long-Haul Warranty but they also have the influence of big brother Hyundai and their shared architecture going for them. Those that choose to live with their head plopped soundly in the sand can do so as they wish, but they will be living ever-so-igorantly.
Like it or lump it but Kia is here to stay, building factories in America and building quality vehicles that last.
When I think inferior I think GM and VW, BTW. If you're looking for inferior you'll find what you're looking for with them.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
you are correct. To each his own. I am sure there is a big group of people , probably 75% of the world population, who would think people are showing off and buying a Honda or Toyota for image.....since these people can only afford to use public transportation.
hey...that's a nice twist...eh ? NOw where I grew up, if one had a car, then one was considered wealthy. Even showoff, since public transportation and taxi's are on every corner.
I think in many 3rd world countries, people buy Hondas and toyotas to show off also. HECk, when my dad imported a Ford Granada to Colombia, it was the only one there, ( there were lots of mercedes benz there already in 1979) and all the local officials wanted a ride in it... a FORD !!
On another note...you are right that many people live hand to mouth even though they make 5 figure incomes. They do not have the means to maintain this type of level of spending, but still do. This type of behaviour, in my humble opinion, is detrimental to the long term finances of said person, and is not good for him, regardless of type of vehicle.
On the other hand, I also see people who buy expensive cars because they worked hard and have the means to pay for it. They always wanted a solid car...or one where the amenities were nice.
It can work both ways. For a professional whose work involves earning a client's trust - financial advisor, lawyer, real estate broker etc. - driving a too expensive vehicle might be viewed suspiciously, as if he or she might be skimming from clients in order to afford such a luxury vehicle. Clients also might think that the vehicle's high cost is being recovered through the professional's fees, making them higher than they should be.
You are right also. But most people who do business with these professionals prefer that their attorney, doctor, real estate broker , etc..be in at least a vehicle that projects a more professional image,,,and no disrespect to Honda or Toyota or Ford, but these kinds of vehicles may not/ does not project the kind of image associated with a knowledgeable , successful professional in their respective field.
I have a friend who was a stay at home dad for over 12 years...and drove a nice Accord. He got his real estate agents license last March....and we used him to buy and sell our house. Of course, we did not mind what car he was driving...but after speaking with his colleagues, he just bought a Lexus GS300 , to project the 'professional' image. Par for the course. They also get to write it off.
I just bought a Honda on March 16....so I can say this.
YOU: There's a fool born every minute, especially if that fool's ego is enormous. Ego is what drives all of the upper-end marketing.
Some people do have rather diff egos . Some people express that ego in innocuously neutral ways like buying something they like. Other people's ego's is expressed by putting down others. They are still egos clashes. If the person did not have an ego to be hurt, he/she would not feel so offended about other people's purchase, IMHO.
Remember, this is the "Me Generation," and these people care only about the image they project, rather than developing their character and substance.
This is a rather broad statement. IT is definitely not true. Why ? Because I know for a fact that the person who owns the SLR Mclaren,Maybach, etc....came over to the hospital in the middle of the night after driving for 1.5 hours..against her mom's wishes, to visit my son , who was sick. How about the friend who bought the ASton MArtin ? He just went to China and adopted a baby girl ! FOr your info, he was in the same adoption group as Meg Ryan !!! ( you guys probably heard of her recent adoption ) On top of that , his wife insisted on giving some money to a crying lady with a crying child in tow..who was kneeling in front of city hall in Chongqing, petitioning to the Mayor.
Are these acts by people who are foolish ? who are self centered ? I don't think so. I am rather proud of them !!
Additionally, I would suggest a fair majority of those who buy expensive, but in reality inferior, vehicles, know very little about cars - only the image they project.
So are you saying you know alot about knitting and textiles, just because you bought a nice shirt ? :confuse: ARe you a computer expert, or chef, or architect, or specialist of everything you buy ? People buy what they like....depending on previous experiences, research, and value. I know that there are some newly rich who do not know what to do with their money...but I also know that the vast majority of rich people did not get to where they are by accident. They tend to be knowledgeable, insightful, and like value and research what they purchase.
I personally know of several $600K to $1M homes in this area - and, this area is where a $250K home is very nice - where the homeowners practically have no furniture. They're so heavily levered just to buy the house and the Lexus or M-B, they have nothing left over for the essentials.
You are describing a social phenomenon , that of our current consumerism society, one where the average credit card debt is over $13,000 . This happens to people who buy Mercedes and Honda and Toyota and Ford..etc(all types of cars) . Many people over extend themselves....not just the ones who buy status vehicles.
Sad, as one's character and wealth should not be judged by where one lives or which automobile one drives, as it may be a totally inaccurate determination.
I think most people know this. Not many people say 'good people drive certain vehicles ', or people with integrity live in a certain area. There are good people in slums and country clubs. Good people in Rolls and Bad people in Hondas........ Most People just admire other peoples cars, and the people who buy them enjoy the vehicles that they are in....