Lexus: the car of the pretty wealthy.

[leftyladyfrommo]

I house sit for people so I am in and out of garages a lot. I see the cars in those 3 car garages.

If you are fairly wealthy you have to have a Lexus. A step up from that are BMWs and Mercedes. And the elete drive big Mercedes and Jaguars.

So this customer asked me if I could drive them to the airport this morning early. I drove the old run around car. It is a Lexus SUV. . They also have a big Lexus sedan. And the BMW convertible. And a classic GTO. The kids drive BMWs and jeeps.

I was so nervous. I drive a little Yaris with 192,000 on it. I made it out of the garage OK. Got them to the airport in one piece. And - get this - I managed to get the Lexus SUV back into the garage without knocking off the mirrors.

I have to admit that the car was a nice ride. And I'm hoping I didn't leave the lights on.

[NightWatcher]

1. Lexus= Toyota + $15,000 and woodgrain finish

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. A mechanic told me once that Lexus have a Toyota engine.

I don't know anything about that stuff. But all the lights and stuff were in the same place as my little car. So at least I didn't have to search for the right nobs.

[hack89]

19. Lexus is Toyota

They rebadge their luxury cars for sale in America and Europe. In Japan Lexus cars are sold as Toyotas. Same for Acura/Honda and Infiniti/Nissan.

[TheDebbieDee]

33. And Infinity is the Nissan Luxury line of autos...

[WinkyDink]

52. And I had a Datsun 240Z before Datsun became Nissan.

[PasadenaTrudy]

54. My sis had one

I loved driving that car!

[WinkyDink]

75. Yes, it was fun! Sadly, the floor literally rotted out from under my driver's seat. Driving one

rainy day, I wondered why the heck my FOOT was wet!

Fords and Toyotas since.

[Spider Jerusalem]

140. That was a common thing for cars in the '70's anyway.

My mother had a '72 Ford Maverick; my grandparents ended up with it when she got married and moved away, they still had it around 1980, and the floor was in a pretty sad state by then (with holes rusted through...and this was in Georgia, where they don't have to salt the roads in winter).

[MineralMan]

65. A friend of mine from college, way back in the early 1960s,

had a 1954 Datsun. Looked just like an Austin A40, because it was just like an Austin A40. She had bought it from a guy who had brought it back from Japan when he came home from a military tour there. First Datsun I ever saw.

What happened to it, I don't know, because I moved away and by the time I saw her again, she had sold it. Cute little car.

Looked a lot like this:

[DFW]

67. I used to drive a Datsun, too!

Cost me maybe $4000 new? Many MANY moons ago..........

[WinkyDink]

73. Mine was 1972; learned to drive on it!

[DFW]

78. Mine was 1975, so not far off.

It was my first stick shift, but since they got much better mileage than automatics in those days, I went for it. I'm told that these days, there's hardly any mileage difference between stick shifts and automatics, but now, I'm used to them. Every time I come back to the States and borrow or rent a car, I keep looking for a clutch pedal that isn't there.

[REP]

103. I have a Nissan Z - it's nicer than the same year/trim level Infiniti G35 inside

While I do heart my car's enormous engine, I really love how comfortable it is for me to drive and how well laid-out the interior is. It's the first car I've had that I don't hurt myself reaching for climate controls, etc (I have pretty awful arthritis - something for which the heated seats are a blessing). I hope to drive this car until I'm 90 or so - I really like everything about it.

We do have an Infiniti SUV, too - another pretty car, inside and out - I guess we really like Nissans.

[Hissyspit]

102. But they are good cars.

[REP]

104. Agree

I have a Nissan 350Z and my husband has an Infiniti FX35. Knock wood, they've both been problem-free in the 7 and 8 years we've had them and I hope to be still driving mine when I'm 90.

[sir pball]

112. At least Nissan markets their supercar as a Nissan..

The Nissan GT-R is widely considered to be one of the best supercars ever made, and by far the best bargain at $98K considering it's fighting cars that can easily top $250K. It's unabashedly NISSAN, even though the technical perfection would make Infiniti, or Ferrari for that matter, blush.

Toyota, on the other hand, has an admittedly amazing, mindblowing even, supercar in the form of the Lexus LFA. It literally does everything better than every other car out there; it demolishes Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, you name it. But (on top of costing THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS), as Richard Hammond of Top Gear so eloquently said when he tested it..

"At the end of the day, yup, I'm in the Lexus...ugh...oh God, you're never going to get away from that. Will the owner of the £340,000 LEXUS please move it? 'Oh yeah, that's me, sorry.' It just doesn't...it's a Lexus. It just..is.."

[CatholicEdHead]

34. Exactly, that is the same as Caddilac/Chevy

Now Caddy/Chevy is not what it used to be but it is the same with those badges. Mercedes, BMW, Range Rover, Jaguar, Porsche, and Maserati are the next level.

In the Twin Cities and Milwaukee you see many Porsche Cyanne SUVs which are the normal high end soccer mom vehicle in the outer ring suburbs.

Once you get outstate, beyond the 2nd/3rd ring suburbs, you get the normal Chevy/GM/Chrysler cars and trucks.

[Ed Suspicious]

79. I had a Chevy Cavalier and my wife had a Toyota Corolla in the mid 1990s. They had identical toyota

engines.

[Rocket_Scientist65]

109. Not to be a stickler......

but the Cavalier never shared an engine with Toyota. Chevey even exported the '95 -'00 Cavalier to Japan and was sold as the Toyota Cavalier complete with GM engines...the 2.4L standard 4 banger and the 2.3L quad 4. It was the GEO/Chevy Prizm that shared its' arctitecture with Toyota.

[Atman]

131. Yeah, he might be thinking Nova.

I had one. Bought it without even a test drive. I just walked into the dealership and said "I want that blue one." I had just read a glowing review in Consumer Reports saying it was the best small car on the road, a Toyota Carolla for $3,000 less. I immediately bought a CD player for it...when I took the factory radio out, every part under the dash was stamped with the Toyota logo. Once time I needed some minor emergency repairs, but no Chevy part number was available...had to buy a Toyota part for twice as much. Still, that car was the best, most reliable car I've ever owned...until now. We have two Hyundai's, a Sante Fe and an Elantra. Excellent vehicles at a great price.

[Ed Suspicious]

159. You're right. It was a Nova. Memory fail. Thanks for the correction.

[Ed Suspicious]

160. Memory failed me. It was a white chevy nova and a blue toyota corolla with a hatchback. Thanks for

the correction.

[Liberal_in_LA]

158. the prizm had the toyota engine also

[Art_from_Ark]

167. Lexus cars are sold as Lexus in Japan

http://lexus.jp/shop/dealerinfo.do?dealerCode=23152

[hack89]

172. Then they have changed

Last edited Tue Jan 28, 2014, 09:12 AM - Edit history (1)

When I lived there that was not the case - of course that was 15 years ago.

[Art_from_Ark]

175. Yes they have changed

I pass by two different Japanese Lexus dealerships 6 times during the course of a week.

[abelenkpe]

43. A mechanic friend of mine

who used to work for a toyota dealership for about 15 years said the same. He now works for a VW Audi dealership, top mechanic, has done so for years. I usually ask his advice when looking for a new car. He says Lexus is essentially the same car as the toyotas and Audis are the same as VW. If you want a label that gives you the appearance of prestige buy the more expensive car. I never tell this to my friends who drive Audis or Lexus' because no one needs to hear that but I really don't think my friend is lying about this. He never buys the more expensive models for himself or his wife even though he could afford to do so. Bottom line is buy what you enjoy driving, cause you're gonna be in that car a lot. Same goes for a good pair of shoes. You want to spend 100 for a pair of sneakers vs a 25 dollar pair of converse. Go ahead. I prefer converse tho

[PasadenaTrudy]

51. European shoes

are so worth the price! Danskos rock I wonder if VW has worked out the bugs in their electrical systems yet....

[abelenkpe]

91. REally? I gotta check Danskos out then

Thanks for the tip!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

115. Italian shoes rock.

Especially if you have narrow feet, like I do.
Nothing like a comfy pair of Ferragamos.

[pipoman]

141. i ordered a pair of 'Alpro'

As of December they were not available in the US. It took a month to get them from Germany. The only skid resistant birkenstock available. Worth the price and the wait.

[wilt the stilt]

132. The S4's are different

I own 2 vw's (Passat and Beete)and an older (1994) S4. The 1992- 1994 S4 and the 1995 and 1996 S6's were totally different cars. Ask your mechanic buddy about those 2 cars. They were the first car with coils on every cylinder. They came with a phone and The list price was $50,000 in 1994. It has a 227 hp 2.2 20 valve turbo engine with 4 wheel drive. I recently had to get a hose from 2bennett.com and they are audi enthusiasts. This is their favorite audi ever.

Even Roberto Alomar owned one which I saw on ebay a year ago for $18,000. You can chip it to 400 hp.It is also a full size car with great leg room in the back. In 1997 the s4's got small(interior). you can pick one up but make sure it is in excellent shape.

Go check them out it was a revolutionary car. My mechanic has the best one in Atlanta and mine is the second best one. If anyone needs a great VW audi mechanic in Atlanta, email me and I will give you his name and shop. He is known even by the dealerships as the best mechanic in Atlanta for Audi's. He get's one of the dealer's overflow work.

[abelenkpe]

134. Good to know!

I'll ask him. He's a huge car enthusiast. Pretty sure he's mostly talking about newer cars. I busted up my old car recently and every time I look for a new one he's the first person I ask for recommendations. This last time around I was mostly concerned with safety and reliability.

[wilt the stilt]

135. they weigh

4,000 lbs. All steel. The trunk weighs about 50 lbs. as my mechanic says bulletproof and he owns a 2012 audi.

[ladjf]

31. We own a Lexus and a camry. The Lexus has the camry beat by more than the woodgrain finish. nt

[hack89]

37. Your Lexus is made by Toyota

Ever think why there are no luxury Toyotas?

[ladjf]

44. I was addressing the comment that implied the only difference between a Lexus and a Toyota was

$15,000 and woodgrain finish.

No, I never wondered why there were no luxury Toyota's because I knew that Lexus's were the luxury Toyota.

[WinkyDink]

53. I have a Camry. What would be 2 major differences?

[mainer]

77. The seats. My hubby can't get comfortable in a Camry.

He says Lexus seats are better, better support and more adjustable. Important if you have a bad back.

[WinkyDink]

93. OK, thanks. My husband has a disc problem; can't get comfortable.

[Nay]

182. I have an 18-yr-old Lexus. We have also owned a Camry. The Lexus seats are

incredibly comfortable, since they are padded correctly in the right places. Camry seats, although they are good, are nothing like Lexus seats.

My Lexus is also much quieter inside than any other car I have ever owned. I value that.

After 18 years, the Lexus has held up incredibly well. I will drive it until it blows up, and will cry when I have to buy another car.

[mainer]

187. I know a guy with 300,000 miles on his Lexus

as long as it's maintained, these cars go and go and go.

In the long run, they're probably worth the extra bucks. And you can drive them without a sore back.

[Nay]

188. Mine had 190,000 miles and is still a baby. Lexuses and Toyotas go 300,000

miles easily.

[hack89]

58. Sorry - next time I will read more closely. Nt

[Mosby]

60. The Avalon

http://www.toyota.com/avalon/#!/Welcome

[ronnie624]

68. My boss's Avalon hybrid is very luxurious.

It puts my Impala LTZ to shame.

[Art_from_Ark]

168. There are luxury Toyotas

This Crown Royal, for example, sells for up to $50,000 in Japan

[hack89]

173. Not sold in America. Nt

[Art_from_Ark]

177. The American market equivalent is the Toyota Avalon

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2014/toyota/avalon/

[PCIntern]

129. Weirdly we also own a Lexus and a Camry

Many differences...I drive the Camry - when it rains, it sounds like a tin roof being hit by hail right over your head. You feel the same?



PC

On edit: my Camry in 2007 cost 33000...V6 and loaded.

[wandy]

83. You got that right. n/t

[Mr Dixon]

148. AGREED

You nailed it

[Glassunion]

163. Actually a Lexus = Toyota + $5,000 and woodgrain finish - folding rear seats.

if you get the same options in the Toyota.

However you'll end up with a better warranty and longer roadside assistance and more airbags in the Lexus.

[Warpy]

3. My Kia turns its own lights off

Perhaps the Lexus also has that feature.

The old money New Yorkers and New Englanders I knew a long time ago drove Toyotas. Their kids in college had Porsches but were usually over them by the time they settled down.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I don't think I've seen any Porsches.

But the people I work for are mainly older so they go more for the luxury.

I was so nervous about driving that car. Every car they own is worth more than my little house.

[Warpy]

13. Understood

I once got a very fancy car with heated this and powered that as a loaner because my own car wasn't ready. All I saw was a collection of crap, all of which was conspiring to break down and cost a fortune to fix. And yes, I was nervous as hell driving that heap home and then back to the shop the next day.

I'll take basic transportation, thanks, just standard drive and I'll lock my own damn door and if the seat's cold when I get in, my butt will warm it up within 5 minutes. The little Kia is even good on road trips, as comfortable as it needs to be.

[indie9197]

105. I'm with you Warpy.

I want something I can sell for the same price I bought it. I don't mind doing maintenance- minor or major.

[leftyladyfrommo]

145. I had a real fancy Jeep loner once.

It took me forever just to get out of the lot. I couldn't find anything. Couldn't find the lights.

Drove it home and it just sucked gas. And it was like driving the Queen Mary. I would never have a car like that.

[MineralMan]

16. Mine, too. And mine is one of the cheapest new cars

you can buy. I think all new cars do that these days.

[stevenleser]

4. Low to mid level Lexus and BMW's are in the affordable price range of upper middle class folks.

There are four Lexus cars that start in the 30K's. http://www.lexus.com/models/allVehicles/index.html

There are five BMW's that start in the 30K's. http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/allbmws/allbmwsnew.aspx

If you live outside of the expensive cities and your household income is in the range of 70-150K/yr you can afford one of these cars, but you certainly are not wealthy.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. Well, that seems pretty wealthy to me.

But I just keep getting closer and closer to the poverty level.

[PasadenaTrudy]

9. Here in L.A., that is not wealthy

Housing is incredibly high here. In my 'hood, you can't get a dump for under $500K.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. My parents lived in LA in the early 70's.

I remember that even a little house was about 5 times more expensve than the houses in Spokane where I grew up.

[PasadenaTrudy]

15. Yep

It is even more insane now. I could never ever buy a place here. I live in the apt. bldg my dad bought in 1963

[stevenleser]

14. Wealthy to me means top 1% of wealth in the US, which means assets in excess of around $16 million.

http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

and income at around one million per year. Even the top 20% are earning more than what I quoted.

Around Half of the 60-80 percentile in the US could afford one of those lower model Lexus' or BMW's.

[PasadenaTrudy]

17. If I really stretched it

I could get a low end Lexus on my annual $45K..I don't pay rent or a mortgage, don't have kids...but, I'm happy with my Mazda 3. I'd love to get another Miata someday, I had a '91 when they first came out.

[stevenleser]

22. Yup, I can see that. You need post-housing disposable income in the 30-40K+ range to do it.

But it would be a stretch at the lower end.

[PasadenaTrudy]

27. It would have to be a used Lexus, too.....n/t

[Nay]

184. We bought a 3-yr-old Lexus 15 years ago for $23,000, thinking that a used

luxury car with stratospheric ratings for reliability, comfort, and safety would be a better buy than a new, non-luxury car. We were right, in our case. It is still my daily driver and I'll cry when it finally dies.

[alarimer]

69. I really like the Mazda 3

I'm on my second (2010). I don't like it as well as the first (2006), but mainly because it's an automatic. I hate automatics and I hate that you can hardly ever get a manual in anything in the US. That sucks.

If I ever get an MX-5, I'm going to insist on a manual, a real one, and not one of those flappy-paddle things either.

I took my Mazda 3 to the dealer to get the alignment done and it needed the transmission fluid changed (something that you do not have to do with a manual). It cost me $170! Of course this was at the dealership, but I don't trust the local yokels with my car.

[PasadenaTrudy]

81. You could get

the Mazdaspeed 3, if you want a fun stick. Turbo though...

[flvegan]

118. Got one, and love it!

[PasadenaTrudy]

123. Wow, cool!

I've never driven a turbo. How does it handle?

[flvegan]

124. Very nicely.

It's no Porsche 911, but for a hatchback it's very nice in the few sweeping curves and S turns we have around these parts.

[PasadenaTrudy]

125. Lucky

you have a few fun twisties to drive. I sold my last miata, a '97, a couple years ago. There's just too much traffic everywhere in SoCal now. I don't enjoy driving anymore, it used to be one of my loves. Maybe some day I'll move to a less populated area and get back into it.

[mainer]

72. A Nissan Leaf costs $29,000

Does that make it a luxury car? Because I know a lot of thrifty green folks who think the Leaf is worth it.

http://green.autoblog.com/2014/01/08/2014-nissan-leaf-increase-28980/

[jmowreader]

136. It does...

because you need to own a second car for trips over 40 miles one-way. Unless you live in SoCal, you can't count on there being a charging station where you need to go.

Like it or not, the best electric car on the market is the Chevy Volt, because you don't need to own both a "city car" and a "country car."

[jeff47]

151. Really not that hard to deal with.

For example, my commute is about 10 miles. I could easily drive a Leaf every day, while our Prius was available for my wife's errands or longer-range trips.

[jmowreader]

153. My commute is zero miles; I live three blocks from work

If I want to go to any town in the area but one (that I never go to anyway) a Leaf wouldn't do. For around town it's fine.

You've proven my allegation tho; the Leaf would be your city car, your Prius the country car.

[jeff47]

154. And my point is such a city car/country car situation

isn't a bad thing for most households, since most households are 2+ cars (mass transit would be better, but that's not gonna happen any time soon).

Why would it make sense for such households to have two country cars?

[jmowreader]

156. Why would it make sense to spend thirty bills on a city car?

There are Neighborhood Electric Vehicles available for folks who want dedicated city cars. You can buy them for around $12,000.

Leafs cost $28,800. Human nature suggests if you're going to buy a car you can't leave town in and spend $28,800 for the privilege, the car you buy to drive past the Leaf's range isn't going to be a $2500 Craigslist Special. It'll be at least as nice and at least as expensive...which means this is a car for the well-off.

If you live in the city you've got a worse problem: unless you live in the expensive part of town or the suburbs you've only got one parking spot.

So let's see...people who live in remote areas need to carry a generator to use this car. And apartment dwellers can't park both a Leaf and something that'll take them on a moderate trip. OTOH hybrid and Volt drivers aren't so constrained.

My worldview comes from growing up in a place where there was always the threat of having to drive 120 miles round trip to get to the doctor.

[jeff47]

157. So your answer is "It doesn't work for people in different situations than you're talking about". nt

[jmowreader]

164. Let's see here

To be able to own a Leaf, you must:

1) be able to spend $30,000-plus on a car
2) live in a place where there are sufficient charging stations to support the car in your area
3) have the means to purchase a second car for times when the Leaf can't make it to your destination without being charged, or can't make it round-trip if you're going to a place there aren't any chargers
and
4) have somewhere to park this second car

OR

1) be able to spend $30,000 plus on a car
and
2) never go out of town in a car

There are people who fit into those categories...maybe 10 percent of the population? For the great mass of people, a hybrid or a Volt are much better solutions. If you replace "Leaf" with "NEV" you're up to about 20 percent of the population.

[mainer]

186. The Leaf has really simple mechanics.

I don't own a Leaf, but it seems like a nice little car, and without a hybrid engine to deal with, there's far less that can go wrong. A relative owns one, and he affectionately calls it "the frog" because it resembles one.

[DFW]

76. What a price difference between the USA and here!

Of course, here, there's a 19% VAT on top of the price you don't have to pay in the USA. But BMW would sell a whole lot more cars here in Germany at those prices. I looked for my model on there, but I guess it isn't sold in the USA (530), and I've never even heard of a 400 series. But it ran me in Euros what the price for comparable models was in dollars in the States, and the Euro is 37% higher than the dollar. I drive a basic stick shift with none of the fancy extras, not even a navigator. I would have preferred something a little more budget friendly, but after my wife was nearly crushed to death in her car (twice!) by careless truck drivers here (only survived because our cars are solidly built), I decided I needed her more than I did the money.

[stevenleser]

84. I saw that. Prices for cars in Europe, even European cars are much higher than here.

I'm guessing because labor is more expensive there and the cars are being assembled here?

[DFW]

89. Partially, but you don't have Value Added Tax there

Or, Government Heroin, as it should be called. Governments here just keep making it higher and higher, never have enough, and after a while increase the dose just to keep the "high" they had before, finding they gag and choke if anyone suggests lowering the dosage, er, I mean, rate.

I'm pretty sure the prices quotes in the States are exclusive of local sales taxes, but in most states, this means somewhere between 5% and 10%, and each State can figure out how much it wants/needs to charge. In most of Europe, it means somewhere between 19% and 24%, and it's always decided by the central government, independent of regional considerations. Labor costs are, of course, higher, too, but efficiency is good here (at least in Germany). Nokia closed down their factory in Bochum (near us), put 4000 workers out of work, and moved their manufacturing plant to Romania due to the cheap labor there (long live the European Union!). What they forgot to take into account was the quality of that cheap labor. At least a THIRD of the phones their Romanian plant made didn't work, and they closed it down, too, soon after it opened. But they didn't come back to Germany. They just moved on to China (kiitos/Xie Xie Ni).

Cars made in the States cost less, of course, but the Germans still slap heavy import taxes on them if they are shipped here, so German car buyers don't get any breaks in the price. If they did, BMW might move its whole manufacturing operations to the States. It would start a worker rebellion, of course, but Europeans have never been known for long-term political planning, though Adenauer and De Gaulle came close with the original idea of the EU ("hey, what if we made it so we would never fight another war?&quot . They had the right idea, but their successors botched it, of course. Schmidt and Giscard came close to replicating the close cooperation of Adenauer and De Gaulle (and look what happened to them--within a year of each other, both were tossed out of power).

[Art_from_Ark]

169. What about used cars in Europe?

If I ever get in the market for another car here in Japan, I will in all likelihood get a used car because used cars from dealers all come with guarantees and they are almost all in great running condition. A typical used "kei" car (sub-compact with a 660cc or smaller engine, 5 or 6 years old, probably less than 40,000 kilometers) is around $2000-2500 (including taxes, inspection and limited liability insurance), and maintenance and annual taxes are much lower than standard-size cars.

[PeoViejo]

179. A used Lexus can be had for a reasonable amount

A lot of folks that drive high-end vehicles don't keep them until they rot like I do.

A Lexus with under 100K miles is just getting broken-in.

[Nay]

185. Yep. That's what we did -- buy used and keep forever. My Lexus is 18. nt

[PeoViejo]

189. According to Used Car Dealers, the Lexus brand isn't the status symbol it was

When the Prius and other Hybrids came out, they became the new status symbol for the Petit Bourgeoisie, and they traded-in their Lexus for the latest symbol of being wid' it. The result was a surge in the number of used Lexus' on the lots, and a corresponding decrease in prices.

[Nay]

190. That certainly may be true now, but there was nothing like a Prius around when

we bought the Lexus, so people weren't trading in their Lexuses then for Priuses.

We buy cars to keep for a looooong time; a great deal of the environmental costs of cars are caused by people buying new cars every few years. In every case, it is more environmentally friendly to keep a used well-maintained car for many years (even if it doesn't have great gas mileage, which the Lexus doesn't) than to keep buying newer cars with better gas mileage.

As Mr Nay and I say to each other: "$20,000 [cost of a new or used hybrid] buys a LOT of gas for the Lexus!"

[PeoViejo]

191. Good point.

There's more than just gas mileage. It takes a lot of energy to produce a new vehicle. Energy is energy, regardless of the source. Your net energy consumption is probably a lot lower than someone who buys a new vehicle every few years.

[PasadenaTrudy]

7. Lots of people just lease these cars...

I have a friend who is police Lt. and he always leases a BMW. He said there is no way he would own one and deal with the repairs. He's not married and has no kids, so he can play with his $$ a bit Here in SoCal it seems like every other person is driving an Audi or a Range Rover these days. I bet most of them are on lease.

Yeah, Lexi are nice, but I would get a new Mazda 6 if I was looking for lux.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. I see a lot of Range Rovers around.

Aren't they really square and come in some pretty bright colors?

Kind of pointless to drive one in California. Even here people only need them in bad weather two or three times a winter.

[PasadenaTrudy]

12. Those may be Hummers you are seeing

Bright yellow? Rovers are sedate - - black, white, silver, British racing green...

[leftyladyfrommo]

146. Not Hummers. I know what those look like.

These are bright yellow and blue, maybe bright green. Does Toyota have an SUV like that. They sit up pretty high and usually have racks on the top.

[PasadenaTrudy]

149. Yes

Toyota has the FJ Cruiser. Must be it

[leftyladyfrommo]

150. That's it.

I went and looked at it. I see those all of the time around here.

[PasadenaTrudy]

18. Rovers

are a silly status symbol here in SoCal. Favored by rich soccer moms. So many SUVs here with only one person, the driver, in them. People say they can see better and over traffic in them. I like lower sportier cars to zip around in, myself.

[abelenkpe]

94. Lucas parts

Need I say more?

I prefer lower cars, too.

[Adrahil]

8. I've considered a BMW, but....

.... Tbh, think a top-end Honda Accord is actually a nicer car. I'm due for a new car and think I'm going to get the new Accord hybrid.

[BKH70041]

20. I drive a Bentley Mulsanne

And I'm the only one who gets to get behind the wheel.

[sir pball]

47. Why on earth would an owner of a Mulsanne sink to the level of the front seat?

It's like a Maybach or a Phantom; as Simon Cowell put it on an old episode of Top Gear, "...not a car to drive, but a car to be driven in."

Me, I'd rather have a Continental GT and drive it myself. Very, very fast.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

59. cos .... just a guess ...

dude is rich but, not 1% rich and No Class in any account ...

[sir pball]

61. The base price of a Bentley Mulsanne is two hundred ninety-eight thousand dollars.

Before tax, title, registration, and any options (of which I suspect there are a lot).

If you can drop well over a third of a million dollars on a car, you can afford a driver for it. Not to mention you're way beyond the 1%. Then again, I'm pretty sure the parent was being facetious.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

62. if by facetious you mean Liar. I will agree. On the internet all men are

single, rich, tall and good-looking.

[sir pball]

63. Well technically, yes, he's lying.

I use facetious because I think he's cracking a joke, not trying to deceive. There's being single rich and handsome and then there's just being silly. This is clearly the latter.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

64. yeah and his sigline is hilarious, too.

also his profile ... is a big haha. if he were true 1% why isn't he on his own estate ...

[kcr]

99. Reading the hidden post, I'd say lying.

It's really embarrassing.

[Ikonoklast]

137. Yeah, I'm with you on that one.

It just outed itself, big time.


I wonder if it drives a rusted-out Ford or Chevy pick-up truck?

[stevenleser]

82. Payments would be on the order of $10,000 a month on a 5 year loan, or $120K/yr

Meaning you need a disposable income per year after housing costs of around $300,000 to even consider it. More realistically, those with a disposable income after housing of less than $2 million per year would not get that car.

$20-40K a year for a driver would be a no brainer. I have no idea what a driver costs, I'm guessing.

[stevenleser]

88. LOL, OK, Wasn't 100% sure your earlier post was satire, now I get it. nt

[sir pball]

107. Shenanigans on the hidden post.

Posting sibling instead of reply for obvious reasons, and just having some fun..

If you enjoyed driving, you'd have bought that Continental GT. On the train home, I'll post a great video of what it can do later.

Or you'd really put your money where your mouth is and buy a Ferrari F12berlinetta.

[renate]

171. if your sig line is true, thank you

I'm not a car person so I personally don't understand paying that kind of $$ to get from Point A to Point B, but if you enjoy it, I'm glad for you. I'm honestly not being sarcastic, by the way. If you've worked hard, play hard. I mean, I hope you enjoy it A LOT considering how many mouths that could feed, but who am I to judge? I don't give away as much money as I could, either, and again, I'm not being sarcastic, truly, because my own feet are 100% clay. This just makes me think about how much more our family could do with a few sacrifices... but I'm also happy for you that you're enjoying the fruits of your labor.

[Major Nikon]

21. Just because you are fairly wealthy doesn't mean you have to have a Lexus

The parking lot where I work is full of Lexi. Most of the people make about the same or less than I do. To me a car is a means to get you from point A to point B. It's always a liability that you have to pay to maintain, perhaps pay interest on, and will in almost all cases depreciate significantly. I spend one hour in my car per day. The idea of spending a lot of money on a car to me is just silly. The only way I'd buy a Lexus or any other "luxury" car is if I were well beyond fairly wealthy and had so much money that any expense of a vehicle was nothing more than a fraction of a percent of my yearly income. Most of the people I see who drive a Lexus are leveraged up to their eyeballs. I can afford to drive one, but I never will. I drive a Chevy and a relatively cheap one at that (Chevy Cruze). It starts every day, and the radio, heater, and A/C all work well. That's all I care about.

[PasadenaTrudy]

26. I have to have

a car with comfortable seats and just the right seating position. I have fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. I cannot get comfortable in a Toyota or a Honda for some reason, even with after market seat supports. I'm so glad Mazda works for me, because they are pretty reasonably priced for me.

[Major Nikon]

30. For a few people, certain accessories or design elements are a requirement

So I can see in some instances where you need a certain vehicle and price isn't the primary consideration. I work with a guy that's really big and he drives Cadillacs because it's one of the few vehicles he can get in and out of with little trouble. He always buys one on the used market at the point at which most of the depreciation has already taken effect. His maintenance and fuel costs are higher, but for him the extra expense is worth it. I just think for most who buy luxury vehicles, they are worried about what image they project and I have personally never put much value in that.

[PasadenaTrudy]

35. Same here

I couldn't care less what anyone thinks. I'd love to have an old Bug again, those seats are so comfy for me. But, having a 40 yr old car is a pain in the ass.

[mainer]

74. Ditto for my hubby. His bad back requires a Lexus

He's tried out many, many cars and there are only two cars that don't give him a backache: Volvo and Lexus. But Volvo reliability is crap.

[PasadenaTrudy]

97. I love Volvo seats!

But I sure wouldn't buy one. Too bad you can't buy the seats and put them in any old car, lol

[glowing]

28. I'm very similar. I hate driving.. Point A to Point B is all I care about, and that it will do so

without wondering if it will start when I have to run around, go to work... I honestly cannot wait until my kid is old enough to drive me around places.. LOL. Now my husband is a car person. He loves cars. He likes some style and driving extras and nifty gizmo's. I'll admit his Infinity is really nice with the backup camera, the mapping system, plug in phone device, and especially last night in the cold, the heated seats. So, each to his own. We all should have a few pleasures in life here or there. I won't knock someone down because they enjoy a car or a boat or a large expensive garden or like snow skiing...

[Major Nikon]

32. I certainly spend money on some frivolous things

So I'm not really knocking others on what they spend their money on because I could really care less. I'm personally just more pragmatic when it comes to cars, but my commute is just not that long. Some people spend a lot of time in their vehicle so they may have different priorities.

[lumberjack_jeff]

41. When it comes to cars, if I can't pay cash, I can't afford it.

My favorite car is a rescue. 91 Subaru Loyale I saved from the crusher for $200. It needed a new CV joint. Nothing is better in the snow and ice.

I'm a good mechanic, but like everyone, I want a good, reliable ride. I've learned to avoid car or truck shopping with my wife, because I inevitably come home with a nice one instead of just a good one.

I use a truck for truck stuff, and my old one (94 Chevy) had 270,000 miles on it so we'd been looking for a replacement while the old one still had some (minimal) economic value. I aim for a "new" 10 year old truck every 10 years. The truck we bought is nice. Ridiculously nice, but the first scratch will be one I put on it, and that's a big disadvantage.

[Major Nikon]

49. I'm not a good mechanic anymore

At one time, I was. My dad learned from my older brother than it's not a good idea to fix your kid's car. It's far better for them to fix it, with assistance if necessary and his idea of assistance was mostly in the form of technical advice. At 16, since I could only afford to buy cars that needed repair from time to time I either learned how to work on them or I walked and when you live out in the middle of nowhere walking is a big inconvenience. I've done everything from replacing oil to overhauling an engine and everything in between. Today I'm happy to let someone else do most of the maintenance on my vehicles, but I do maintain them to a pretty high standard. The last used vehicle I bought wound up being a big liability so now I only buy them new but I keep them until the expense and time of maintenance becomes a hassle however many miles or years that entails.

[sir pball]

111. The trip can be the means for me.

I know you aren't knocking drivers and I'm not trying to argue, but I genuinely love to drive and if I ever hit Powerball the future Mrs. and I both agree, a couple of nice residences would be great but we would seriously drop millions on cars. An F12, a Continental, a Mercedes-McLaren, cars are one of those things the sky would be the limit for me if it were possible.

Which is not to say you gotta be rich to do it well. In my younger days I had about $15k budgeted for a new car, I was single so I didn't need anything spacious or practical. I ended up buying a low-mileage 1995 Nissan 240SX with a questionable title but no physical issues (had it closely inspected by an incredibly skilled mechanic friend - the best answer he had for the salvage was a theft) for six grand and spending the other nine thousand on parts. Intake, exhaust, header, camshafts, ECU, all manner of suspension bits, racing clutch, limited-slip diff, wide tires, the works - and outside of a motorcycle nothing rubbed me the right way as much as that car. Like a Cycle World writer said about his custom-rebuilt street legal 2-stroke GP bike: "When the power hits, it feeds my addiction like nothing else on Earth."

Funny thing...I had no AC or radio for almost fifty thousand miles, close to two years, and I never missed them. Then again I also love my manual-focus, manual-wind, aperture-priority only, spot-meter only Nikkormat more than my D5100 even though I use the latter more.

[Major Nikon]

113. That's why I was careful to say that's just my thoughts on cars

My idea on a car is pretty much utilitarian. I consider what I need one for and then buy something that fufils that mission with emphasis on minimizing my time, hassle, and overall cost of ownership. That's not to say I have issues against dropping some serious cash on transportation. The biggest problem I have with cars is that when you are going 55 mph down the freeway and you pull back on the steering wheel, nothing interesting happens.

[sir pball]

114. Oh, I wasn't trying to argue at all.

Just saying that some of us do see more in vehicles and are willing to spend the money and time on them.

But, with one exception, never Lexuses

[Major Nikon]

116. I understand completely

I just have a different take on the same basic idea.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. 90 percent of Houston drives a Lexus, regardless of their income level.

It's typically white, and it usually has a high school football team sticker on the back glass. I think of it as the new "mom-mobile."

[B Calm]

40. Probably 75% lease one instead of buying. Then wonder why

later in life they can't afford to retire all because of the lifestyle they lived.

[flvegan]

24. That's what some would like you to think.

Funny thing about "badge" with cars. Take the 3-series BMW (not the 335, which is pretty good) or the C class Benz. Not much more than a Corolla that will cost a fortune to fix in a couple years. And the latest C class is starting under 30k, which means a used one next year will probably bring 15k. Did I mention the rampant depreciation?

Granted, the bigger BMW/Benz cars (especially the M and AMG/Black editions) are quite expensive and some are quite good.

And Lexus, except the LFA and the F models are superb Toyotas. Boring and beige, but comfy.

[PasadenaTrudy]

45. I'm a car nut

thanks to my dad, may he RIP. When I was little he had the coolest Corvette Stingray, a '63 I think. He bought a Porsche 914 in '73, an orange one, fun little car. I'm in love with the new Maseratis, I think they are gorgeous and I love the sound of their engines. I hope to sit in one someday

[sweetapogee]

138. a small point

The Mercedes Benz CLA-class has a "base" under 30K ($29,999.00). By the time you actually take it off the lot it's about $32,000.00 up to 36 K.

But the CLA is not the C-Class. The C-Class runs about $46,000.00 plus once it is all said and done. In any event, you are not getting a CLA or C class one year old for 15K unless you steal it from someones driveway. I know what I speak about, my ride is a 2011 C-300/4-matic. This is my second C class and 15 minutes after taking delivery of my first I became a Benz fan for life. My car cost 46K and is worth every cent. It developed a whine in the transmission. MB replaced it no questions and did it in 1 day.

There have been many times in my life when all I could afford was a beater. I have a 2007 Ford P/U 4WD and a 2013 Ford Escape (for my better half) and a Buick for my daughter. Nothing compares to the C class, it is just a pleasure to drive. And with 4-matic it goes great in the snow. You just have to be prepared to cough up some coin at the gas pump (uses premium) and even a do-it-yourself oil change costs $100.00 I like Fords but Ford could learn something about satisfying the customer by simply visiting a MB dealership. And the cars run like solid gold. When your drive to work is 100 miles/day, you appreciate having a car that always starts and give a great ride.

[flvegan]

142. I'm going to be really nice here for a change.

I'm simply going to say, I'm glad you enjoy your car.

[sweetapogee]

143. that is

very graceous of you flvegan. Thank you for the kind words. With your permission, might I have a nice day tomorrow also?

[Glassunion]

162. I used to drive 3 different models of Corolla. They cannot compare to a base 3 series.

[GeorgeGist]

25. What, no Maybachs?

[dipsydoodle]

120. And no mention of

the VW Bugatti Veyron wnich cost 5.5 billion to make and were then sold for c. a million each....about 6 of them.

[Tikki]

29. We have lots and lots of Toyotas around here…Lexus, yes…but Prius even more.

The mister and I have even started being able to "year date" the Prius we see on the highways.

Saw a 'year one' Prius the other day…it looks different, you know.


Tikki
ps our son drives a Lexus, it is a hybrid..

[PasadenaTrudy]

38. I still see

a few of those old Prius around, and a few of the first Honda hybrids too.

[Tikki]

46. Interesting fact..wiki says the original Prius was designed by a California design team for Toyota!!

The front end design still looks a bit like today's Prius.

I believe the 1st Honda hybrids(1999) were, also, called Insight.


Tikki

[PasadenaTrudy]

48. Yes, the Insight

I couldn't think of the name, lol. Cool looking cars.

[abelenkpe]

90. There are so many Prius' in LA it's like they are every other car on the road

Loved my last one. It was all smooched up in a bad accident recently. Folded up all around us and we all walked away from an offset front end collision with no injuries at all. I'm sure the car seats the kids were in helped too. Very safe car and great gas mileage! Just wish they came in brighter more fun colors. Of course I could say that about all cars these days.

[SheilaT]

36. For many years now cars have been the main

(and in some cases only) portable symbol of wealth and status that everyone can have. Which means, if can't afford any kind of car, you really are poor as dirt or worse.

I'm likewise one of those who doesn't fully get it. I drive a ten year old Honda Civic which I've had for six years and it suits me just fine. Whenever I daydream about being fabulously wealthy, I never dream about owning a different, more expensive car, but instead dream about owning multiple homes in various cities, or doing truly serious travelling, such as spending six months some where.

What I honestly don't get it the perceived need to drive a huge hulking SUV if you have a couple of kids. Those things don't hold any more cargo than my Honda, are quite a bit less gas-efficient, and have to give up parking spaces I can claim.

On the other hand, what kinds of cars occupy a neighborhood can be a very useful marker for relative affluence, and every once in a while I'll pay attention to that.

The other thing that is actually at issue, but not mentioned so far, is that a lot of people are car poor. That is, they saddle themselves with a large car payment and are often underwater in terms of what they owe, just so they can drive a brand new space hogging gas guzzler, and then complain that they can't make ends meet. Just the other day I heard another sad story of someone's daughter whose car was totalled in an accident (no one hurt which is always good) and owes several thousand dollars more than the insurance will pay for.

[Glassunion]

165. There is a flip side to that.

I do agree that quite a lot of folks buy a car more for the status, than for what the car offers. Then there is the group of folks who look at a car as simply a way of traveling from point A to B. They do not care much about performance, handling, or appearance. It is a simple means to an end.

But then there are those folks who really enjoy driving. I'm one of those folks. Be it in a car or on a motorcycle, I enjoy being on the road. We enjoy the technology behind our vehicles on everything from the engine to the breaks. From a well tuned and intelligent suspension to the ratio of the gears in the transmission. We know about how body roll, chassis stiffness, camber, and toe angle effects cornering. I could go on and on, however I don't wish to put you to sleep.

See, your dream about owning multiple homes in various cities and doing some serious traveling is really cool. Personally I'd be doing the same amount of traveling, but it would be to drive one some of the world's greatest roads in a perfectly tuned automobile. My wife and I live by modest means, but not where our cars are concerned. And when we travel, I always rent a good car. We usually spend more on the car than lodging. But that is what we love to do.

Don't get me started on track day...

[SheilaT]

166. Yeah, we all make specific choices about how we spend our money.

I'm still very much an economy car person, but I will splurge on the lodging. On a vacation last year, that was something of a present to myself over a particular disappointment, I booked a suite at the Hilton in Sedona, AZ for five days. I was very glad I did it.

[taught_me_patience]

39. Lexus is a great car

There is a very high amount of reliability for a luxury car. BMW and Mercedes owners usually give up on the repair bills and dump their cars for pennies on the dollar.

[mainer]

70. Agree. It has the only seats my husband can comfortably sit in.

He's test-driven just about every car in existence, just trying to find one that adjusts in ways that his back doesn't kill him after a long drive. He found even the luxury brands uncomfortable. Lexus doesn't give him a backache.

And wow, great Toyota reliability.

[Agschmid]

42. Audi all the way... Surprised they aren't mentioned.

[PasadenaTrudy]

50. I mentioned

seeing tons of them on the road. Usually right on my ass on the fwy

[Agschmid]

55. Hmm...

Sorry about tailgating!

[Nye Bevan]

56. My Toyota gives me everything I need.

As long as I have 4 wheel drive, a backup camera, heated seats, navigation, and Bluetooth, I am happy. Even if I had a lot more money I would not pay all that extra money for the prestige brand name.

[librechik]

57. Our pretty wealthy Aunt left us a 2001 Lexus when she passed.

It was always kept in the garage. It had less than 50,000 miles on it.

Now it's my go-granny car. Heated seats, baby.

I would never have gone out and bought one, but thanks again, Aunt Marg!

[alarimer]

66. Not necessarily

You can get them used.

My parents own two Mercedes (one is 7 years old now), but he bought both of them used. They were dealer demos, as I recall. And they are by no means rich, or even wealthy. Comfortable, I'd say.

Mercedes are expensive to repair, though, and probably why they don't hold their value very well and so you can get them fairly cheap. Granted, my parent's cars are not top-of-the-line. But they are nice and have a lot of equipment that is optional in many other vehicles.

But I'd kind of agree with the general hierarchy.

To me, Lexuses (Lexii?) are boring. I'm much rather have a BMW or Merc.

But my heart is set on a Mazda MX-5. You can buy 2 or 3 of those for the cost of a BMW. And they are way more fun.

[Ilsa]

71. We buy GM and Ford.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but we know the net profit is US and it keeps more dollars here in American jobs. We aren't into expensive status symbols, but we like comfort.

[KatyMan]

152. Yep, the best thing about our 2010 Mustang is

the sticker on the side rear window that says "union made in Dearborn MI" (I think that's the city

[DFW]

80. Japanese and American cars are expensive here

Not that German cars aren't, but a Lexus (even a Camry) or a Pontiac makes little sense to buy here. But since we live in Germany, repairing and getting parts for domestically made cars is far more practical for us.

When my wife's last car was destroyed when a Semi driver forgot to look if there was someone next to him before turning, she first decided she wanted to get less "fancy" than her BMW station wagon. We checked out the whole VW line, Audis, Passats, but they were so rickety (compared to the BMW, anyway) that we decided on another BMW station wagon, albeit a 3 series this time (the kids are now out of the house). Truck drivers here are no more concerned with driving safely than they were before she crawled out of the remains of her old car, and she would have been killed instantly if she had been in a Passat last time.

Our neighbors have a small Mercedes SUV, but we see no reason for one. It drives great, but has little space and doesn't get anywhere near the mileage (kilometerage?) that our smaller cars do.

By the way, some BMWs now sold in the USA are made right there (South Carolina, to be precise), which is how they can beat prices the same cars go for here in Germany.

[mnhtnbb]

98. Me, too,

I drive a BMW station wagon. It was made in Germany.

My last three cars (including this one) have been BMW's and I bought each one when it
was two years old with low miles. Never paid more than a lot of folks
pay for great big American made gas guzzling SUV's.

BTW, the BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC makes the X models. https://www.bmwusfactory.com/manufacturing/factory-products/plant-spartanburg-vehicle-models/ And because it is in SC--a 'right to work' state, employees cannot be compelled to join a union.

[Marr]

85. Mercedes is the official sponsor of the Prick.

I swear, biggest assholes on the road.

[abelenkpe]

92. This clip is for you then...

http://slightlyviral.com/what-this-driver-did-to-an-elderly-woman/


Elderly woman vs. Impatient Mercedes driver

[PasadenaTrudy]

96. In my area

the BMW drivers are. And Audi next...sorry to say.

[Art_from_Ark]

170. And in my area,

the Cadillac drivers are the worst. Followed by drivers of exotic sports cars.

[Boom Sound 416]

87. You know it's a Toyota with gold emblems

And nothing more, right?

[betterdemsonly]

95. I have a mercedes 240d

It was made in 1979. I run it on wvo waste vegetable oil, that I get from the a friend of mine that manages a fast food establishment. Do you think I am rich? All cars become used cars at some point so brand prejudice is silly.

[OKNancy]

100. LOL - Fun thread. I inherited a 2002 Cadillac D/T in Red

with less than 50,000 miles on it. It looks new and shiny. When my step-father died, my Mom asked if I wanted it. I had just given my old van to Habitat for Humanity, so I said OK. My husband flipped. He called it my pimpmobile. But that damn thing is great for tootling along to the grocery, which is all I use it for.
I get stopped all the time in the parking lot of the grocery. Always by older men... " that's a damn fine car you got there"

So, the other day my husband said he better drive it around the neighborhood because I don't drive it much.
He came home and had to admit it was a nice ride.

I laugh every time I get in the thing.

[PasadenaTrudy]

101. It's fun having a car thread!

Auto forums are very male fanboy centered. Women aren't taken seriously on them. I know more about cars than most guys I know

[bhikkhu]

106. I drive an Acura myself

and it is a nice ride, though it has 235k on the odometer and one quarter-panel is a bit smushed. I got it for $1,000, and its been well worth the expense.

I'm not sure whether the quality control was better or the specs were tighter on these upscale cars, but aside from regular maintenance, its pretty much the same as it rolled off the assembly line, and it runs great, doesn't lose a drop of oil, and gets the mileage its supposed to.

[LeftyMom]

108. They're the official car of boring people.

If you'd spend that much on a gussied up Toyota you suffer from a terminal lack of imagination.

[Barack_America]

110. Most commonly associated with assholes, IMO.

The official brand of the, "I'm not exactly wealthy, but I'm sure as hell better than you" sect.

[CFLDem]

119. Amen

I think Lexus tend to look tackier as they age, too.

For middle class wealthy I'd go BMW, and for truly wealthy you gotta go Bentley Continental or Ferrari.

[mainer]

122. And pick-up trucks are the official vehicle of rednecks?

Generalize much?

Since our family owns a Lexus (for hubby's bad back), a pick-up truck for hauling hay and manure, and a Subaru hatchback, I guess that makes us redneck boring democrats.

[adirondacker]

117. A summer home I worked performing landscaping had a carriage house Full of the top of line

vehicles (a dozen in all). Jag, Porsche, Alpha Romeo, Mercedes, BMW, and the car of choice for Sunday driving was the Rolls. This was his Summer vacation home, where he and his family flew in from NYC in his private helicopter to escape on the weekends. The place was vacant in the winter months.

[dipsydoodle]

121. In the Uk

they're just an equivalent of comparable Audis, Bmws and Mercs.Toyota range is completey separate.

[brewens]

126. Ever seen a Lexus hauler? It's all covered, unlike a normal car hauler trailer. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

127. I wonder if they lost their jobs would they have to sell their Lexus?

[LWolf]

128. I was in line at the gas station yesterday behind a jaguar.

Not brand new, but not old, either. No dust. The driver got out to supervise the attendant pumping the gas, since there is no self-serve in my state.

We buy gas there because it starts out one of the lowest pg prices in town and then we get extra discounts with our membership card to the store it's attached to. I wondered why somebody driving a jag was at the discount gas pump instead of buying the stuff not cut by ethanol somewhere else.

[leftyladyfrommo]

147. I think Jaquars are beautiful.

Do I want one? No.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

130. According to the Repugs, all you have to do is go become an illegal alien,

go on welfare, and send your butler to buy one for you.

[dawg]

133. I've never really wanted one of the luxury-brand cars.

I guess I think I'd feel like people were thinking I was trying to show-off, and I wouldn't like that.

To be honest, when I see a really expensive car (top-of-the-line Mercedes for example), I kind of look down on the person driving it a little. Are they really that status conscious that they need to spend "house" sized money on a car?

[sweetapogee]

139. I don't know about all

but this Mercedes Benz owner:
1. Doesn't care what others think about me because of my car.
2. Knows that when the Benz is left home and the Ford P/U is on the road, even while driving a Ford this person still has a MB.
3. Drives a MB because this driver likes them and it's still a free country.
4. Has a 100 mile/day commute and needs a comfortable/reliable car.

A Mercedes Benz, properly maintained will last a long time and many miles. Also in a crash, they are very safe. I know first hand. If the cost of ownership is calculated per mile driven, high mileage drivers are better off spending more for quality. A KIA may cost much less but you are not generally getting half a million miles out of one.

[bluestate10]

144. Most cars have timed lights, unless you accidentally set them to keep the lights on (you can

do that by accidentally kicking the setting knob with your knee). Lexus vehicles are so common in my state that I no longer consider them to be upscale.

[ileus]

174. My BIL talks about how their Infinity isn't as nice as his company Mercedes

His wife bought a 2 door BMW then decided with two kids a 2 door wasn't the best thing so they upgraded to the 4dr Infinity. (both conventional cars) They have a Tahoe for their family SUV.

[liberal N proud]

176. There are two levels of BMW and Mercedes

Two levels for two levels of income.

Wealthier wannabe and Wealthier.

I live on the edge of a neighborhood with million dollar homes on golf courses. On a summer day, I can sit on my front step and 4 out of 5 cars that go past are BMW or Mercedes. These people think Lexus is middle class.

[Brigid]

178. Here's my vehicle:

[img][/img]

Pretty snazzy, eh?

[leftyladyfrommo]

181. Way cool.

I wish I could just get rid of the car and take the bus. We don't have good bus service here in KC. It's pretty good downtown and out to some areas in the southern part of the city.

You just can't get anywhere here on the bus. Many of them only run once an hour and only to certain areas.

[Romulox]

180. I drive a Kia (Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, etc.) Why O why won't you support *MY* union?????????

[brooklynite]

183. My wife and I are extremely wealthy...and we drive a Volkswagen hatchback.

Currently 10 years old.

Are we not living up to our stereotype?