Mumsnet Talk

One of my friends recently bought a 5 series BMW. Friend is dithering between Audi A6 and a 5 series as well. I dont quite see what the attraction is?

I drive a Ford S Max (2 years old) and it is a great car to drive, seems very luxurious and solidly built, with all mod cons. Man from the independent garage remarked to me what a good car it was (and that was after I had paid for the service!).

Friend 2 is spending a lot more money on her 2nd hand Audi/Beemer than we did on the S Max. (I realise not exactly the same type of car). But I really don't see what you get for your extra money apart from the posh badge with a "prestige" car brand- am I missing something?

You can join a club and make friends.
You can do rallys, car shows, events etc.
It's something to spend your money on and be proud of.

It's a way of letting people know how much money you have borrowed without explicitly telling them.

They are very well-built German cars with a good reputation and consequently a good second-hand value and some people are brand whores and are happy to waste ££ so they can be seen with the right badge.

But I'm with you, OP - my last two cars were a Hyundai and a Kia!

The premium brands are definately more luxurious, often its cosmetic, but I've driven so many different cars, and in the cab you really can tell the difference. It's like clothes-you can get cheap clothes from primark, supermarkets etc that do the job and look fine, but if you pay for designer brands they often just 'feel' nicer. To some its worth paying the extra, others would rather spend their money on something else.

Beyond a certain point it's all just status, but if that's the way people want to display their wealth then good luck to them. I know a couple of people who buy expensive cars and clothes to justify the fact that they work in horrible jobs and never see their children. It has to be worth somehow, and for them being able to buy a BMW makes them feel better.

You could say that about anything; your house, clothes, food, technology...

Well some people are happy shopping for clothes in Primark and others prefer to go to M&S.

Cars are pretty much the same. Sometimes you get a better fit for your requirements with a premium brand. Sometimes you just prefer the look of it. Sometimes you've always wanted it, maybe it was something you promised yourself when you'd 'made it'

You still get from A to B OP, you're right.

We have an 2 x5s. It's a nice size inside for 3dc in boosters and carseats along the back row. Plenty of boot space. Comfortable. It has lots of extras which arent essential but its luxurious. Which is what we paid for. We could afford it, paid in cash so no debts we couldnt repay. And dp and I drive lots to see family and friends, both in the UK and Europe and get a lot in the back.
Plus, the heated seats and self defrosting windscreen are godsends in this weather!!

Not 2 by the way, don't know where that came from!

Brand loyalty? My DB has always driven BMW's, my DF Audis. Neither are particularly status cars, they are pretty common.

I have a luxury car.

I don't feel bitter about not seeing my children. I am a SAHM .

I didn't buy it as a status symbol to show off.

I bought it because I like cars and I wanted it.

If you're happy with your S-Max why would it bother you what car other people buy? Why would you even think about what other people get for their money?

FWIW I once bought a Renault and I can only liken it to a sewing machine.

Why don't you borrow what you see as a luxury car on a 48 hour test drive then you would know what is/ isn't the difference yourself?

Have you driven a BMW 5 series? You may not then need to ask this question.

I upgraded from a Polo to an X5. I can't tell you how much better the car is!

Given that a new BMW costs at least £17,000 I think it's safe to say it's outside the reach of a lot of the population Tailtwister. It might not be a status car, but it's expensive.

Well I prefer driving my little, very cheap, used car to DH's 5 series. As long as I can get from A to B and the car is roadworthy I don't care what I drive. However DH does a lot of miles and says his car is very comfortable and great to drive which makes a difference when you spend what amounts to several months a year behind the wheel.

It does have a few clever gadgets which I quite like though. He can text his car and tell it to start de-icing so that when he goes out the car is warm and no scraping to do! He can also email it destinations he wants to go to so that as soon as he starts the car it is ready to direct him. It also alerts the police when the airbag is activated so if he has rolled down a ravine somewhere the police can start looking for him (bit disconcerting when the police turn up at the door because the garage has forgotten to turn off the signal when they've been working on it though!)

His car is a company car though. He would have to drive a cheaper car if he was buying it himself.

hahaha Wiley that made my laugh. I leant on a friends Clio once and the whole side panel went in!

Pinkyponk you pays your money you make your choices.

Your choices will be different to mine - but so what ??

BMW or Audi posh cars ? really ? really ? I set my sights a bit higher.

I drive my choice of car because they hold their residuals well.

He can text his car and tell it to start de-icing

I want that!

Audis are supposedly v well built and reliable and all that. Not in my experience! Ours was a bit el crappo. Doing much better with a passat now. If it was just up to me we'd have a second hand Nissan micra - I prefer small cars that I can scratch and scrape without worrying.

I drove an X5 for a month whilst my car was in the garage, god it was lovely. I used to look forward to getting in it.
Noticed a massive difference when I got mine back.
I now understand why people have nice cars and if I could afford it, I would buy an X5 .
You are being judgemental and ignorant.

"My DB has always driven BMW's, my DF Audis. Neither are particularly status cars, they are pretty common"

Well, you do see a lot on the road, but they are still considered status cars to most of the populace. You must move in different circles to some of us.

"and self defrosting windscreen are godsends in this weather"

Yes the defrosting windscreen is brilliant. OH and I have them in our more modest Fords.

But look at the list prices for new Fords problem is they lose about £3k when you drive off the forecourt.

DH and I share a Mercedes E class and BMW X5 between us. Both were bought second hand. With both cars, you can literally drive 400 miles and get out the other end feeling as fresh as when you started. The Mercedes in particular is so smooth and silent, you feel like you are gliding rather than travelling in a car. Traffic jams no longer irritate me much - I just switch on my heated, massage seats. I don't forget to switch on my lights if it gets dark - the car does it for me. It has parking sensors so reversing is easy. It has rain sensitive wipers and a better cd player than in my own home. The seats are really comfortable, and the boot big enough to fit two bikes in without needing a roof rack. The boot opens itself, meaning you can lug your shopping in without putting it on the ground first. Best of all, I never get hassled by other drivers when I'm driving these cars - I hired a Ford Focus once and while it was quite a good car, I got hassled from other drivers, not let out at junctions so much, and it was bumpy and not so smooth. Hardly anything ever goes wrong with them, particularly the Mercedes - things just don't seem to break as long as it is serviced regularly. My previous one reached nearly 200,000 miles.

Also OP - my money, I work hard for it and like any little luxury in life, a nice car gives pleasure. btw theres nothing "posh" about it, its simply more functional than cheaper cars because it does the job of being a car better.

I always thought the same as the OP but last year I traded my Ford Focus for a C Class Estate ( we needed a bigger car what with the arrival of DC3) and the difference in everything is amazing, better drive, de ices in no time, loads of space.......it's not a particularly posh car but its posher than what I'm used to driving......and I must add that I am not vain and I don't give a shit what people think when I blow them off with my massive engined Merc

You usually get a better build quality for starters, and a better track record of reliability. Much faster engines, better torque, smoother gearboxes, more elegant styling, better quality interior trim, better suspension, more comfortable.....er, all this is a bit obvious isn't it? Like the difference between a made to measure suit for Savile Row and an off the peg one from BHS.

Of course it all depends on the model and spec you buy, and some cars are renowned for being in nightmare in spite of being expensive, but generally speaking you get what you pay for - like everything else in life.