Fancy cars and the people that buy them.

[Pew]

Life is a lot less stressful when I stopped worrying about what other people buy .

Edit: Chances are the person who owns that car on your rack can buy out your workplace and fire everyone without a second thought.

It's a good idea that without people like that, some of us wouldn't have jobs. My part time job is IT support for very high end trial lawyers, ivy League lawyers who all have multiple degrees and fancy everything. Without them, my second job probably wouldnt exist.

 

[Boomer]

My first real job paid $12,000/year and I dro e a Rolls Canardli... rolls down one hill and canardli get up the next one.

 

[ecotourist]

Most of us on "Bob" are gear heads. We tend not to admire vehicles that are unreliable or cost a lot to maintain. My impression is that Rolls and Bentleys are not especially reliable, cost a lot to maintain and might be hard to get parts for.

So while a Rolls or Bentley might last a lifetime (they seem to for the British Royals anyway) the cost must be terrific. Or maybe it isn't if you consider the savings from not buying a new car (or especially a new truck) every 5 years or so.

The most expensive way to drive a vehicle is probably to buy a new car (or a new truck) every couple of years. And if you lease or buy them on monthly payments there are bonus points.

 

[AZjeff]

Im working at a shop that specializes in euro cars, jags etc

Chris, is your shop where people go because they own an older Euro car (maybe shouldn't) and can't afford to go to the dealer? I ask because every pic you've posted the engine bay is dirty it seems.

 

[RedSpider]

In my experience, you cant judge the person by the car they drive. I'm friends with three very, very wealthy people (I, on the other hand, am not).

One drives his brand new Aston everywhere (to replace the two year old one he used to have) and loves to show off his latest and greatest. He's not boisterous or a braggart in the least, but he's certainly not shy about it either.

The other, my financial guy, a millionaire since his 20's, drives a clapped out 2001 Corolla with mismatched paint on the doors and lives in a cookie cutter house in the old neighborhood. When the Tesla Model S first came out, he went out and paid cash for one, and it sat in his garage forever. I asked him about it, he said he bought it because he cant show up at a meeting with a client in a trashed Corolla, it wouldnt fit the image, so he takes the Tesla to appointments to impress the client. I said why dont you get rid of the Corolla and drive the Model S, you have the money.... he just shrugged his shoulders and said "The Tesla impresses the client, it doesnt really impress me".

The third won $25M (capital M, as in millions) in the lottery, and drives an '85 Camaro, a slightly better example than the one he had in high school. When it snows, he drives his very average Jeep.

 

[wings&wheels]

Nothing wrong with working hard and smart and responsibly enjoying the results. That being said, buying flash solely or primarily to impress others isn't my philosophy, but also none of my business.

 

[Mechanician]

Status symbols are everywhere.
Why buy sunglasses that cost hundreds of dollars, or a Rolex watch?
Same thing on a different level.
When VW came out with the Phaeton, I called a flop coming, and was right.
Having that badge in you driveway doesn't show status.

 

[Astro14]

Had a Rolls on my rack yesterday. Do the people that buy fancy cars think they are superior beings compared to the rest of us?

Or do they enjoy waiting on parts etc?

In my world I see zero reason to buy/ own something like this when a jeep,Toyota etc does what I need without the fear of it breaking down and parts might be weeks or more away.

And I don't think lesser of someone because they drive a beater.

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Ironic, really, that you ask this question.

You frequently look down on fancy cars and the people who buy them.

You have started many threads looking down on them.

So, what is it about you that you look down on other people?

Why do you think you’re better than them?

 

[OVERKILL]

Ironic, really, that you ask this question.

You frequently look down on fancy cars and the people who buy them.

You have started many threads looking down on them.

So, what is it about you that you look down on other people?

Why do you think you’re better than them?

Indeed, you've articulated my thoughts here as well. This seems to be a personal hang-up by the OP, about the buying habits (and their apparently inexplicability) of the people who own many of the vehicles he's working on.

If you can't understand what makes a Bentley or Rolls nicer than a Corolla, then I'm not sure you should be working on them...

 

[TheOilWizard]

Never met a poor farmer.

Well, maybe on their tax forms they are

My anecdotal and general experience, they may be high net worth due to land and farming equipment, but ulta-high expenses with unstable and unpredictable cashflow. Not a life of luxury by any means. Of course there are exceptions to this.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I try not to generalize, but certainly cars can be status symbols. Back in the late 80's and through the 90's the Silicon Valley parking lots were chock full of drop dead gorgeous German cars. Man I lusted after the 3 Series and especially the Porsches. Boxsters and 911s baby!
I could only surmise all those people made a lot more money than me as I drove a strippie a Toyletta PU and used Hondas.
Let's just say I was wrong. Many of those people have had to leave because they can't afford living here now. Please excuse me if I use the words stupid, foolish, etc. Can't they count?

Personal finance for the win. Payoff your house and then get the fancy ride.

 

[4WD]

Sometimes it’s “mailbox money” … here is a tiny Texas town known for BBQ and oil wells …

 

[SwampSurvivor]

If someone has the means to buy a fancy car and it makes them feel good, why not?

Just because they don't do anything for me doesn't mean no one should have them.

With that said, some of the most truly wealthy people I know have always driven 10-15 year old everyday traffic type of vehicles.

 

[Dave P.]

This thread reminds me of a joke I heard a long time ago;
"What's the difference between a Porsche and a porcupine? With a porcupine, the pr*ck is on the outside!"
Anytime my wife sees an old guy driving a Vette or some fancy sports car, she questions if he's having a mid-life crisis. My thinking is maybe he has always wanted that expensive car but couldn't afford it when he was younger. As far as folks driving expensive cars, I never judge a book by its cover.

 

[KGMtech]

My grandfather was fortunate to live in a prestige area of Vancouver, but he always remembered what a former boss had told him: "don't drive a car that makes someone want to follow you home"

 

[02SE]

Ironic, really, that you ask this question.

You frequently look down on fancy cars and the people who buy them.

You have started many threads looking down on them.

So, what is it about you that you look down on other people?

Why do you think you’re better than them?

Essentially the same thing I was going to ask.

@Chris142 , despite your obvious disdain for these types of vehicles, and the people who drive them (as stated in numerous threads), maybe you should stop and consider the fact that you have your job, because of cars like this, and their owners...

Bottom line: Get off your high horse, and do a good job for your customers.

 

[f355spider]

I know a lot of people who grew up poor, and want to show that they've made it. Most of those people are living beyond their means, but displaying their improved socio-economic status is their first priority.
I also know a lot of people who grew up poor, have actually done very well for themselves, and can't fathom wasting any of their hard earned resources on conspicuous consumption.

Case in point... My friend's father grew up on a farm in rural Indiana, got a PhD in engineering, and went on to be a Vice President at a fortune 500 company. He always dreamed of having a BMW, but instead the family had VW Rabbit and an Oldsmobile. He told me he just couldn't, in good conscience, show up at family's house back in Indiana in something fancy.

Of course, you have your folks who have been well-heeled all their lives, and may not have considered that it's possible to own something less than a Rolls...

Lots of psychology in there, I'm sure.

Met similar people in the Ferrari Club. One was a very successful guy at Microsoft, but grew up of modest means in Eastern WA State in a very small farming community. He drove one of his Ferraris back each summer to help his neighbors with the late summer harvest. He'd take a week or two off to drive a combine in the fields. He'd post pictures on his Facebook of taking his friends for rides in his Ferrari.

Met another guy that owned a sizeable construction company. Owned some Ferraris, but his daily driver was an early 80s Toyota pick up truck. I'd even run into him driving that beater on the freeway and honk at him. He loved that truck and said he would never part with it. I think it was his first "work truck" when he was starting out...so sentimental value.

I have owned a few Ferraris over the years, but I am not rich. I have a modest house, but simply chose to get a nice car. Have never overextended myself and have always deferred purchases over the years, until I could pay cash...well except for my house...lol. Been debt free the past 15 years, which is very liberating.

 

[f355spider]

My grandfather was fortunate to live in a prestige area of Vancouver, but he always remembered what a former boss had told him: "don't drive a car that makes someone want to follow you home"

Vancouver is filled with those cars now...probably the only city in the Pacific NW where you regularly seen Bentley's, Rolls Royce, Lambo and Ferraris all over they city, every day. There are a lot of them sold in Seattle...but you rarely see them out.

 

[Egg_Head]

@Chris142 I'm just waiting to hear what the Rolls was in your shop for ...

 

[KGMtech]

Vancouver is filled with those cars now...probably the only city in the Pacific NW where you regularly seen Bentley's, Rolls Royce, Lambo and Ferraris all over they city, every day. There are a lot of them sold in Seattle...but you rarely see them out.

Yes this is very true, I moved away when I was 23 in 1985 and each time the place leaves me thinking about conspicuous consumption.

FWIW my grandfather was given the advice in the early 1960's, a time when Buick was prestige.