what I don't get is how a chevy corsica can go offroading ?
There's a place near where I used to live, in an old quarry area that has lots of hills, forests, swamps, etc, where people like to go off-roading. They also like to dump stolen cars there, or just old, junky cars that they're too lazy to call the junkyard to come get. Interestingly, one of the vehicles that was the furthest back in this place, furthest from the entry point, was an old '73 or so Dodge Dart! There were plenty of old beat-up 4WD vehicles that hadn't made it back nearly as far.
Of course, that doesn't prove anything...the Dart might have just been taken back there on a drier day or something, or they just got more brutal with the SUVs. I remember there was a Saturn S-series sedan back there, too. I thought that was amusing, for some reason.
I noticed a reference to the Chevy Corsica and its off-roading prowess and felt the need to comment. It has none. Trust me. One encounter with a decent sized rock and the poor Cors would suffer some sort of serious damage.
By the way, the discussion about high speed SUVs has to be the most inane thing I've read on Edmunds in a while. Lord only knows why the previous forty posts haven't been deleted already.
No my point is that the Cayenne can't do the off roading that other better SUV's like the Jeep can do.
OK...now here you may be correct. A regular jeep may be the best 4 wheel drive vehicle out there. My point is that many SUV drivers like the fact that we can use the dual nature of our vehicles.
Nope the ability to keep up with traffic, handle well and a nice ride makes a vehicle fairly nice to drive in regular traffic, you don't need massive horsepower and blinding speed.
Here I agree. But having blinding speed....even the hint of it....is more fun.....hehehe :shades:
Most of what you showed me I have done in a Chevy Corsica. I have seen people do it in others too. Not that they were ment for doing those this but they were done just the same.
Here I disagree. YOur vehicle, not that there is anything wrong with it...but it simply does not have the approach and departure angles necessary to do the offroading that Cayenne or Touareg is capable of.
ME: ...what is 'safe' to drive at very high speeds ?
Some are better than others, the Cayenne is not one of the better ones.
I never claimed Cayenne is the best one. I just said it holds the top record ....the world record, for fastest SUV. IT was tested at the Australian Outback head to head with 2 other SUVs....and it reached 175 mph with 96 octane and side mirrors folded. The Editors of the mag rated it the fastest production SUV...with comfort to boot.
My pick of top speed comfort would be the Bentley Turbo R...which can go over 180 and be stable. My top speed performance choice would be McLaren SLR, or Saleen7, or maybe even Enzo.
Immaterial since 1.) see my above statement on it and 2.) that wasn't the point of the discussion now was it?
snake...you win . the chevy corsica is the best suv out there.....best drive, best everything.
Yes...status symbols are sometimes much more inferior than any regular vehicle...that may be true.
Ok I am not going back and forth with you on this. Heck I am not going to read what you wrote. I am just oning to end this here and now and not tie up the thread by saying I stand by what I said. You don't like it so be it.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Well, as to the subject /topic. I think we kinda got off on a tangent...even though it (cayenne ) can be considered a status symbol that is being inferior....
Cars are used as status symbol to show others that you have arrived. The attitude is to lord-over others and show them that we are better than you and more successful. Instead of older values like moderation and simplicity, the contemporary values are pomposity and holier-than-thou attitude.
People will not agree with you that they have personality disorders, even though you are right. They will simply go and buy another Jaguar for 70,000 large even when they know that its almost exactly the same thing right down to materials that they can buy for 25K as a ford 500.
Its about imposing your ego over others and deriving secret pleasures from it. And it works
sorry about the filibustering....and I am not running for congress.
You are right about the need for moderation and being humble...but people also have the right to drive something better, with more gadgets, if they want. I really do not see that as some type of mental illness, as that is the reality and norm.
What I hope is that others do not harbor some type of negative attitude towards any vehicle.
I happen to enjoy his non-confrontational writing style. Not everything in life can be said in one sentence. Can you imagine "War and Peach" one page long?
And while we're talking about status to me, I start to see exclusivity over $300K large. Anything under, it seems, is fairly reachable by a lot of folks.
I say if you want to attempt to buy "status" go for it. You can never take status, it is only given.
"And while we're talking about status to me, I start to see exclusivity over $300K large"
Interesting. So the likes of the Bentley Arnage ($220000), the Lamborghini Gallardo ($175000), the Maserati Quatrroporte ($106000) and the Panoz Esperante ($99000) aren't exclusive enough. Admittedly, I wouldn't say no to a Mercedes SLR McLaren if anyone was offering one
I think most people can afford a nice car nowadays....meaning BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti, etc...even if they are used...they still get a certain " cache" and are given a certain degree of status...
If I were still driving my 1974 Datsun B210...with faded army green /dark olive color ( seriously ...that was the color) , most people would think I was a military reject wannabe who is still obsessed with the army...annd would point me to the nearest loony bin...
No Highender you did not offend anyone. Your messages were nice, I just felt they were too voluminous.
I would say "cache" is very important, but so is sanity. Reckless competition to acquire toys can lead to environmental and societal dangers. Thats the only worry.
besides paying more for the same thing, sometimes as much as six or seven times (a rolls is 6 times as expensive as lexus LS) needs some re thinking.
The extra money paid for the same thing, just to satisfy ego is reflective of a decaying societal standard.
The extra money can be used to fund education, healthcare, pay of record borrowing and debts to save the nation.
It is very sad that status is measured in terms capacity to waste money to satisfy base instincts such as arrogance and haughtiness.
The status of high-intelligence, character, moral values, humility, honesty is not in fashion anymore.
Luxury and fine living, a rich opulent life is very important. I would say most luxury cars = or less than 70K offer that these days. Anything over that is just a base satisfaction of ego, reckless pompousness.
Bill gates: Richest person for over a decade, an avid car fan, can own anything on earth, a fleet of 100 rolls, or aston martins, yet drives a 911 and has a lexus SC. Pretty decent self-control.
Warren Buffet: has an old town-car. Thats it!
I. Kamprad: Billionaire founder of IKEA: Drives a used volvo.
None of them drive haughty 100K+ cars They watch their money, donate to good cause and thats the reason why they are still on top and admired.
On the other hand, dirty, uneducated, camel-loving shieks are the ones who drive haughty 200K + cars. Does anyone consider dirty sheiks as role models.
"The extra money can be used to fund education, healthcare, pay of record borrowing and debts to save the nation."
Sorry, but I have to call "rubbish" on that one. As a business owner I employ plenty of people, pay for their families healthcare, education, etc. through the wages and benefits I pay them (in return for their labour) and through the taxes that I pay. I pay high property taxes, exhorbitant medical insurance premiums and a ridiculous level of income tax and corporation tax. There was no multi-trillion dollar deficit until those in power (who I couldn't even vote for if I wanted to) decided to go their various mis-adventures around the globe. I work stupidly long hours to keep my business profitably (hence posting here at 11:15pm at the end of a working day that started at 6:30am). At the end of the day, if I choose to go out and spend $200000 plus on a car (or two) then I've sodding well earnt it and I'm going to enjoy it.
"The extra money can be used to fund education, healthcare, pay of record borrowing and debts to save the nation."
Wrong topic for this stuff and in general I disagree with it. And, the whole post is off because your definition of sanity is different than mine. To me buying a luxury item like a Starbucks coffee is to Larry Ellison as buying a jet. Who is to say I shouldn't be giving the $1.50 to charity (certainly not giving it to the government) instead of the coffee? Who is to say Larry Ellison should have given the $20 million to charity?
If you disagree with this you are certainly within your right to trim down your spending, send "extra" money to the government and certainly do not buy anything in life that would be considered more than plebian at best. Don't buy a tv, cell phone, computer, cd/dvd etc, after all buying this stuff takes away from your ability to help the government with societies ills.
between status symbol and fad or fashion statement. A Mini Cooper is more an example of the fad or fashion statement. The Status symbol that we are talking about is something in excess of need. Need does not have to enter in to a decission if the person feels they have worked hard enough to deserve a easy chair rather than a hard back wooden chair. Both will allow you to sit down but one is a lot more comfortable to sit on.
Very few status symbol cars are inferior to any mainstream vehicles in anyway. At the very least they are more satisfying to drive to the person who has earned the right to drive one.
"Very few status symbol cars are inferior to any mainstream vehicles in anyway."
But this topic is suggesting the vehicles such as the Land Rover as status symbols. You are in fact suggestion the Land Rover is a mainstream car and not a status symbol.
I guess it goes back to the fact every persons definition of what constitutes status is different.
Land rover is a work horse at heart, much like a Jeep. Only the fact that they have a top of the line model that people like Princess Di used to own gives it status. But it isn't in fact inferior to any other vehicle in its class. Unless you are a rock crawler. But if you want to drive one of the world challenge off road events Land Rover is the vehicle of choice, so in that regard it is a status symbol that is superior to most vehicles.
Status is also developed over a very long time. As an example Jag has a lot of Status attached to it. Not as much as it once did but still has status. Rolls and Bentley has Status. Doesn't matter who owns them. Kia doesn't have high end status and has yet to earn it. Doesn't matter how good a VW is or how much it cost it doesn't have the Status of a Porsche and no way is it a challenge to MB or BMW.
That wasn't the origional question I know. What needs to be asked I suppose is what the origional posted had in mind when they used the work inferior?
"... Don't buy a tv, cell phone, computer, cd/dvd etc..."
These items would cost $1000-3000 at most, even if I go for the premium brands like Sony, Bose, Apple, motorola etc. Besides these have become necessary in the information age.
The extra 120-130K one would spend in buying a 200K car compared to a top of the line BMW, such as 7-series (76K), or Lexus LS (60K), or Audi A8L (72K) or Jaguar XJ8L (65K) will not result in any meaningful increase in cabin room, wood, fine leather, gadgets, quality, comfort, richness, etc.
A 200K car may be "0.5 sec" faster at 0-60, but apart from that it is just a sign of arrogance, ego, and pompousness. Arrogance is inferior to Compassion, Ego is inferior to Collective universality and pompousness is definitely inferior to modesty. In this sense, a 200K car is inferior and a egoistic status symbol, a sign of personality defects and lack of confidence.
For the true wealthy, dropping $200k on a car is less eventful than buying a $2,000 big-screen TV is for the average working stiff. Arrogance doesn't enter the picture. The money is of no consequence.
If all things were equal you might be right. But we aren't having a moral discussion we are talking about someone with a lot of discretionary cash. Just look at the Barret Jackson auction and we see many people seem to live in that category. There may indeed be some of us that would spend our money helping others and even those that believe they have to protect the earth but that has nothing to do with what a status symbol is. I have never bought my wife a dress that cost more than $350.00. But some women get such things and wear them once and sell them off to others. What makes two or three yards of one material put together by one person worth $1000.00 and a knock off of the same material only a fraction of that price? Status. How can we define it? We can't because it is different for most everyone. Sam Walton may have been satisfied with a Pickup. Jay Lenno might as well, as long as it was a classic.
To the Hellenists all that mattered was today and to them it was "eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." Society hasn't changed all that much in 2000 years.
and one of the good things about free countries is that if you work hard and make it...you get to enjoy the fruit of your labors...be it to donate to charities, or buy a Ferrari...or just burn it all on one night of dinner....
I think the world record for dinner was $16,800 for a dinner for 6 people. Most of the cost was for the wine. $800 was for food.
So buying a status car is really not bad...a good reward for someone who worked hard.
My two most favorite cars were at opposite ends of the spectrum. My single most favorite cost $49,000 in 2002, while my second favorite cost $7,900 in 1979. I've had lots of cars that fell price wise between these two, however, none of them even approached the level of enjoyment I got from driving my two favorites. ;-)
My favourite was a 1990 Toyota MR2 that cost the equivalent of $8000. It was so beautifully balanced and stuck to the road like glue. Still brings a tear to the eye when I think about it
This was a Mustang which I got as a steal (it was the prior years model) up in Alaska. One of the reasons I found it so much fun was racing around the back roads up there.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
to the bare essence, the creator of this particular forum considered "inferior" to mean simply having a less than stellar reliability record. Some people place a premium on perceived reliability (try saying that 5 times really fast), while others have different priorities, such as comfort, ride, handling, style, fuel economy, cachet/status, etc. "Status symbol" and "reliable" don't always go hand-in-hand.
And no matter how good a car may be in some categories, it's always going to come up inferior for some task at hand. For instance, a Ferrari might be a great status symbol, but how would it be able to deal with my gravel driveway? I also imagine it would get kind of annoying on a long trip. And with those low seats, cramped interior, and console, and lack of a back seat, I imagine you can't have sex in it very easily unless you're a circus dwarf. :shades:
For someone that has $0, $3K is a lot of money. For someone that has $1B net worth, $3K is chump change.
A $70K Rolex doesn't necessarily tell time better than my $10 Timex, but that doesn't make it inferior or have less value. Similarly a car is a car. Yet a lot of us would avoid the Hyundai Accent like the plague and instead go for a lexus, BMW, Honda, etc. Why is that? That is sheer excess when an Accent can do an identical job.
...and reliability don't go hand in hand: I give you 1980s Rolls-Royces!
Heck, as far as getting around - a well-maintained old car is the best option all around! My $1,295 1988 Buick Park Ave does the job very well. I can feed it rotgut gas and leave it parked in just about any neighborhood without worry.
/well....as far as getting around....since most drivers drive by themselves....most should be driving a moped. !!
A moped uses less gas..cost less to operate...gets one from point A to point B....
Taiwan is a country which has lots of mopeds...and there are moped repair shops all around the city. They are parked right around the sidewalks...which are 10 to 20 ft wide....so parking space utilitzation is maximized...
Why buy a status symbol Honda when a moped will do the same job ?
Comments
Every car can be taken off road to one degree or another, some better than others. Just depends on the car and the driver.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
There's a place near where I used to live, in an old quarry area that has lots of hills, forests, swamps, etc, where people like to go off-roading. They also like to dump stolen cars there, or just old, junky cars that they're too lazy to call the junkyard to come get. Interestingly, one of the vehicles that was the furthest back in this place, furthest from the entry point, was an old '73 or so Dodge Dart! There were plenty of old beat-up 4WD vehicles that hadn't made it back nearly as far.
Of course, that doesn't prove anything...the Dart might have just been taken back there on a drier day or something, or they just got more brutal with the SUVs. I remember there was a Saturn S-series sedan back there, too. I thought that was amusing, for some reason.
By the way, the discussion about high speed SUVs has to be the most inane thing I've read on Edmunds in a while. Lord only knows why the previous forty posts haven't been deleted already.
OK...now here you may be correct. A regular jeep may be the best 4 wheel drive vehicle out there.
My point is that many SUV drivers like the fact that we can use the dual nature of our vehicles.
Nope the ability to keep up with traffic, handle well and a nice ride makes a vehicle fairly nice to drive in regular traffic, you don't need massive horsepower and blinding speed.
Here I agree. But having blinding speed....even the hint of it....is more fun.....hehehe :shades:
Most of what you showed me I have done in a Chevy Corsica. I have seen people do it in others too. Not that they were ment for doing those this but they were done just the same.
Here I disagree. YOur vehicle, not that there is anything wrong with it...but it simply does not have the approach and departure angles necessary to do the offroading that Cayenne or Touareg is capable of.
ME: ...what is 'safe' to drive at very high speeds ?
Some are better than others, the Cayenne is not one of the better ones.
I never claimed Cayenne is the best one. I just said it holds the top record ....the world record, for fastest SUV. IT was tested at the Australian Outback head to head with 2 other SUVs....and it reached 175 mph with 96 octane and side mirrors folded. The Editors of the mag rated it the fastest production SUV...with comfort to boot.
My pick of top speed comfort would be the Bentley Turbo R...which can go over 180 and be stable. My top speed performance choice would be McLaren SLR, or Saleen7, or maybe even Enzo.
Immaterial since 1.) see my above statement on it and 2.) that wasn't the point of the discussion now was it?
snake...you win . the chevy corsica is the best suv out there.....best drive, best everything.
Yes...status symbols are sometimes much more inferior than any regular vehicle...that may be true.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Hope you are not offended... :-)
Well, as to the subject /topic. I think we kinda got off on a tangent...even though it (cayenne ) can be considered a status symbol that is being inferior....
feel better, snake ?
OK....you can stand on what you said...that is great...
I like what you said....
YOu stayed on topic ( in a sense) when saying that a status symbol( arguably the cayenne) is more inferior.
Is that not what the topic says.
OK....you are right. Happy ?
well, there you go....the Dodge Dart can do it better !!
I used to drive my girlfriend's dark green Dart. The thing was nice..... SHe learned how to drive in it....and both survived nicely.
People will not agree with you that they have personality disorders, even though you are right. They will simply go and buy another Jaguar for 70,000 large even when they know that its almost exactly the same thing right down to materials that they can buy for 25K as a ford 500.
Its about imposing your ego over others and deriving secret pleasures from it. And it works
Is there anyway you could kindly condense your keen observations
sorry about the filibustering....and I am not running for congress.
You are right about the need for moderation and being humble...but people also have the right to drive something better, with more gadgets, if they want. I really do not see that as some type of mental illness, as that is the reality and norm.
What I hope is that others do not harbor some type of negative attitude towards any vehicle.
well ..there you go...ssee...I did it again....
see ya...
:=)
And while we're talking about status to me, I start to see exclusivity over $300K large. Anything under, it seems, is fairly reachable by a lot of folks.
I say if you want to attempt to buy "status" go for it. You can never take status, it is only given.
Interesting. So the likes of the Bentley Arnage ($220000), the Lamborghini Gallardo ($175000), the Maserati Quatrroporte ($106000) and the Panoz Esperante ($99000) aren't exclusive enough. Admittedly, I wouldn't say no to a Mercedes SLR McLaren if anyone was offering one
and if I offended anyone...I apologize.
I think most people can afford a nice car nowadays....meaning BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti, etc...even if they are used...they still get a certain " cache" and are given a certain degree of status...
If I were still driving my 1974 Datsun B210...with faded army green /dark olive color ( seriously ...that was the color) , most people would think I was a military reject wannabe who is still obsessed with the army...annd would point me to the nearest loony bin...
A Jeep Cherokee SRT8 ? :P
Rocky
Rocky
I would say "cache" is very important, but so is sanity. Reckless competition to acquire toys can lead to environmental and societal dangers. Thats the only worry.
besides paying more for the same thing, sometimes as much as six or seven times (a rolls is 6 times as expensive as lexus LS) needs some re thinking.
The extra money paid for the same thing, just to satisfy ego is reflective of a decaying societal standard.
The extra money can be used to fund education, healthcare, pay of record borrowing and debts to save the nation.
The status of high-intelligence, character, moral values, humility, honesty is not in fashion anymore.
Luxury and fine living, a rich opulent life is very important.
I would say most luxury cars = or less than 70K offer that these days. Anything over that is just a base satisfaction of ego, reckless pompousness.
Warren Buffet: has an old town-car. Thats it!
I. Kamprad: Billionaire founder of IKEA: Drives a used volvo.
None of them drive haughty 100K+ cars They watch their money, donate to good cause and thats the reason why they are still on top and admired.
On the other hand, dirty, uneducated, camel-loving shieks are the ones who drive haughty 200K + cars.
Does anyone consider dirty sheiks as role models.
Sorry, but I have to call "rubbish" on that one. As a business owner I employ plenty of people, pay for their families healthcare, education, etc. through the wages and benefits I pay them (in return for their labour) and through the taxes that I pay. I pay high property taxes, exhorbitant medical insurance premiums and a ridiculous level of income tax and corporation tax. There was no multi-trillion dollar deficit until those in power (who I couldn't even vote for if I wanted to) decided to go their various mis-adventures around the globe. I work stupidly long hours to keep my business profitably (hence posting here at 11:15pm at the end of a working day that started at 6:30am). At the end of the day, if I choose to go out and spend $200000 plus on a car (or two) then I've sodding well earnt it and I'm going to enjoy it.
Wrong topic for this stuff and in general I disagree with it. And, the whole post is off because your definition of sanity is different than mine. To me buying a luxury item like a Starbucks coffee is to Larry Ellison as buying a jet. Who is to say I shouldn't be giving the $1.50 to charity (certainly not giving it to the government) instead of the coffee? Who is to say Larry Ellison should have given the $20 million to charity?
If you disagree with this you are certainly within your right to trim down your spending, send "extra" money to the government and certainly do not buy anything in life that would be considered more than plebian at best. Don't buy a tv, cell phone, computer, cd/dvd etc, after all buying this stuff takes away from your ability to help the government with societies ills.
I'd like a re-statement of the meaning of this whole thread. Why are so many inferior vehicles considered status symbols?
Like the VW Bug, are we meaning? Or the BMW Mini-Cooper?
Or the Yugo? Do clue me in before the Seahawks are accessed another bought-off penalty flag.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Are you saying it's inferior, is worthy of the connotation of status or both?
Very few status symbol cars are inferior to any mainstream vehicles in anyway. At the very least they are more satisfying to drive to the person who has earned the right to drive one.
But this topic is suggesting the vehicles such as the Land Rover as status symbols. You are in fact suggestion the Land Rover is a mainstream car and not a status symbol.
I guess it goes back to the fact every persons definition of what constitutes status is different.
Status is also developed over a very long time. As an example Jag has a lot of Status attached to it. Not as much as it once did but still has status. Rolls and Bentley has Status. Doesn't matter who owns them. Kia doesn't have high end status and has yet to earn it. Doesn't matter how good a VW is or how much it cost it doesn't have the Status of a Porsche and no way is it a challenge to MB or BMW.
That wasn't the origional question I know. What needs to be asked I suppose is what the origional posted had in mind when they used the work inferior?
Sam Walton drives an old pickup truck, how much status do you give an old pickup truck?
"As an example Jag has a lot of Status attached to it"
Jags are mainstream, I don't give them any status.
"Status of a Porsche and no way is it a challenge to MB or BMW."
I give some MB models status, BMWs don't have "status" they have cachet.
Wow thats some trick seeing he died 14 years ago. :P
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I am sorry to have caused you distress.
These items would cost $1000-3000 at most, even if I go for the premium brands like Sony, Bose, Apple, motorola etc. Besides these have become necessary in the information age.
The extra 120-130K one would spend in buying a 200K car compared to a top of the line BMW, such as 7-series (76K), or Lexus LS (60K), or Audi A8L (72K) or Jaguar XJ8L (65K) will not result in any meaningful increase in cabin room, wood, fine leather, gadgets, quality, comfort, richness, etc.
A 200K car may be "0.5 sec" faster at 0-60, but apart from that it is just a sign of arrogance, ego, and pompousness. Arrogance is inferior to Compassion, Ego is inferior to Collective universality and pompousness is definitely inferior to modesty. In this sense, a 200K car is inferior and a egoistic status symbol, a sign of personality defects and lack of confidence.
This is my opinion.
But you may have a point, who knows.
james (to whom money is of great consequence)
$350.00. But some women get such things and wear them once and sell them off to others. What makes two or three yards of one material put together by one person worth $1000.00 and a knock off of the same material only a fraction of that price? Status. How can we define it? We can't because it is different for most everyone. Sam Walton may have been satisfied with a Pickup. Jay Lenno might as well, as long as it was a classic.
To the Hellenists all that mattered was today and to them it was "eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." Society hasn't changed all that much in 2000 years.
and one of the good things about free countries is that if you work hard and make it...you get to enjoy the fruit of your labors...be it to donate to charities, or buy a Ferrari...or just burn it all on one night of dinner....
I think the world record for dinner was $16,800 for a dinner for 6 people. Most of the cost was for the wine. $800 was for food.
So buying a status car is really not bad...a good reward for someone who worked hard.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Best Regards,
Shipo
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
And no matter how good a car may be in some categories, it's always going to come up inferior for some task at hand. For instance, a Ferrari might be a great status symbol, but how would it be able to deal with my gravel driveway? I also imagine it would get kind of annoying on a long trip. And with those low seats, cramped interior, and console, and lack of a back seat, I imagine you can't have sex in it very easily unless you're a circus dwarf. :shades:
For someone that has $0, $3K is a lot of money. For someone that has $1B net worth, $3K is chump change.
A $70K Rolex doesn't necessarily tell time better than my $10 Timex, but that doesn't make it inferior or have less value. Similarly a car is a car. Yet a lot of us would avoid the Hyundai Accent like the plague and instead go for a lexus, BMW, Honda, etc. Why is that? That is sheer excess when an Accent can do an identical job.
Heck, as far as getting around - a well-maintained old car is the best option all around! My $1,295 1988 Buick Park Ave does the job very well. I can feed it rotgut gas and leave it parked in just about any neighborhood without worry.
A moped uses less gas..cost less to operate...gets one from point A to point B....
Taiwan is a country which has lots of mopeds...and there are moped repair shops all around the city. They are parked right around the sidewalks...which are 10 to 20 ft wide....so parking space utilitzation is maximized...
Why buy a status symbol Honda when a moped will do the same job ?
Yeah? Try riding a moped 12 miles in 5 below weather with blowing wind and snow.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D