** article?

[Korean_redneck]

I like to be rich someday... study hard, get a good job.. etc. Thats why I read some of these things.. but some of the things I've read are kind of stupid. What do you guys think of this paragraph...

Buy classics. At first this sounds like an expensive move; classics always cost more. But for certain purchases, spending more may be a better investment in the long run. Take cashmere. It’s ridiculously expensive. And yet I rely on my small hoard of cashmere sweaters because they not only look smashing, but they will last long after that GAP wool-blend sweater falls apart. Same with cars. “I decided to buy a five-year-old BMW this year,” says Sandy deNicolais, former fashion and beauty editor of Women’s Day. “The payments for a brand-new Honda were the same. But in five years, that Honda won’t be worth as much as my BMW. The BMW will last longer, it’s higher quality, it’s got more style.”

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, she kinda slanted the comparison there ..and employed her own nomenclature to it as well.

The payments were probably comparing a lower end econobox Honda. They're reliable ..but mostly appliances. I don't think that they're all that engineered to be anything other then transportation. Sure they may handle and they may give you good road feel ..but it's probably a side effect that wasn't in the designers mind when it was conceieved.

It's higher quality is probably referring to the level of appointments/engineering. Our teutonic cousins like to over complicate stuff for max yield. So I would say that "more sophisticated" would have been a more appropriate term.


It's got more style...that I think no one will argue with. Although there are Hondas with style ..you can't help but be reminded of what the head of Honda of America said when he saw the Element for the first time "When do the clowns come out?"

 

[tom slick]

it always makes better economic sense (cents?) to buy a used car.
as Gary mentioned, I don't think the 5 year old BMW will last longer than a new Honda but I will agree that it has more style.

 

[michaelc80]

With all due respect I don't think I'd take investment information from a "fashion and beauty" editor. In the same amount of time she pays off the cashmere sweater I will have purchased 20 inexpensive dress shirts from the outlet mall and not had to put them on my credit card or take out a loan for them.

I guess I'm just not into looking "smashing".

I will agree that buying "quality" makes sense. But "classic" and "quality" don't go hand in hand. And quality is not always reflected in the price of an item or service.

 

[Matt_S]

This person thinks a BMW is higher quality than a Honda!? Gimme a break! That's all I need to hear.

 

[NJC]

I'm pragmatic so "smashing" and "style" don't matter a rat's fanny to me.

Buy quality, yes.

BTW, that Beamer may have better trade-in value but it will cost a fair heap more to service during her ownership.

 

[Gurkha]

My Accord outlasted every BMW bought during that period by my friends, all of us maintained our cars fairly well with regular maintenance schedules. BMW will always be a classic to some because of its so-called European origin which sadly no Honda can satisfy, does nothing for me though.

 

[Al]

quote:

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This person thinks a BMW is higher quality than a Honda!? Gimme a break! That's all I need to hear.

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Exactly my thoughts.

 

[MarkC]

BMW= outside-in porcupine. ( at least around here)

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

At some point I believe some manufacturers have the earned right to be classics. By not ignoring their older models, being not so harsh on "buy new again" policy, respecting owners equally and so on.

I can't imagine myself taking the '84 Celebrity to the Chevrolet dealer for the periodic service. But I would if that would be a Mercedes. If you buy a BMW, depending on the model, you get 20 years or more official warranty for avaibility of the parts. On a MB dealer you can spot some '68 pagoda roof for sale with official warranty, and if you ask for a comparison between that or a daily thing no blank stares will follow.

That's some corporate culture.

btw, what is a classic is even beyond that. A Citroën DS could have much more "cool factor" but forget about maintaining.