To not understand what you get for your money with a posh car?

[pinkyponk67]

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?

[Loveweekends10]

We have a Madza 6. It's not the cheapest but it is the most reliable car ever. We have spent far less on this car maintenance than any other cheaper car we have had.

[duffybeatmetoit]

Once you have something that is safe and reliable there's no justification for spending more money. Unless of course you think it will make you feel better about yourself.

[WileyRoadRunner]

Once you have something that is safe and reliable there's no justification for spending more money. Unless of course you think it will make you feel better about yourself.

Ummm yeah ok. or it could be because you like it and want it and can afford it.

And as has been said you could apply that theory to clothes, houses etc.

[pinkyponk67]

Quite a few luxury car owners here have mentioned gadgets as a reason to buy, but my current car and previous (2004 plate) Ford both have heated windscreens, automatic windscreen wipers, automatic headlights and vg audio systems. just sayin. current one has bluetooth too. (Not heated seats though as they make me feel like I've wet myself.)

To the poster who said their Ford has a plasticky interior, what model is that?

I do like the sound of a car that knows when to defrost itself however.

[pinkyponk67]

Forgot to mention for the gadgetlovers, the s max has parking sensors front and back, adaptive cruise control and bizarre keyless start button.
Ok I'm boring myself now...

[TheFogsGettingThicker]

Everybody remarking about expensive cars that can't manage a bit of snow - you do realise on the Continent they are fitted with Winter Tyres for the snowy/icy season?

My DH had them fitted to his BMW (company car - but he works for BMW) and it made a big difference...

[tigerdriverII]

When I first started driving 30 a few years ago, most cars driven by ordinary Joes were pretty crap, and the posh cars really stood out. And most cars broke down a lot. Nowadays brand new cars of virtually any sort are reliable and have mod cons. I don't drive a luxury brand, but I do have a decent car - have had Subarus for years (apart from a brief and short lived infidelity with a Focus) as they suit me and where I live. I wouldn't buy a high end car for the sake of it but if I had unlimited funds I might have a nice stable of unsuitable motors.

[Boggler]

I never understood why anyone would pick a BMW over a ford until dh got a BMW 5 series for his company car some years back. It was foisted on him as he always had bad things to say about BMW drivers so he wasn't overly keen. Anyway we we actually blown away by it, it was so comfortable, quiet, easy to drive and it wasn't even loaded up with high tech gadgets. After that we have always bought the best car we can afford for dh as he drives trillions of miles with work, I still have a ford fiesta though which I love too

[SparkyDudess]

My DH has a Lexus hybrid big thingy. I have a 9 year old polo.

I won't spend the money on a 'nice' car because I drive maybe 10 miles a week, sometimes not even that. DH's car is a total pleasure to get into, and feels plush and luxurious and just lovely. My car goes - that's about the best that can be said for it

[MrsShortfuse]

Completely agree OP! Except that even a Ford is too posh for me. I have a cheap Hyundai, it's mega-reliable, it's fast and comfy, it has the maximum safety rating, it has a radio, CD player and aircon, what else do you need?

[CointreauVersial]

Well, tomorrow we can all laugh at all the rear wheel drive Beamers struggling in the snow. Last year I particularly enjoyed the sight of my next door neighbour doing donuts in his BMW, while I sailed past in a stately fashion in my ship-like Hyundai people-carrier.

[bureni]

LOL, all they have top do is put a few concrete blocks in their boot. I have to do the same with my volvo until I bought a set of snow chains from Lidls.

[pamish]

There was a piece on the radio today about cloned car keys, and a new spate of thefts of BMWs etc. as the toe-rags can now buy the cloning gear no questions asked. They interviewed a woman from Kingston whose car had gone from her driveway one morning. It had cost fifty thousand pounds.

I really did not know things had got to that stage.

[tigerdriverII]

My BIL had his car (I think a BMW) nicked from his drive when he left it there warming up on an icy morning. Insurance company not pleased at all - keys in ignition. Thank goodness for country living - any opportunist car thief would be solid by now here!

[pugsandseals]

FWIW, my car does practically everything these top end cars do except the heated windscreen & is very comfortable to drive. You can pick up a 2nd hand one for £13k & I hardly ever see another one on the road making me rather unique! I won't tell you what it is because then you'll all want one & I won't be so unique anymore, but I will say it will get me through the ice & snow whilst waving at the x5's & q7's that are all stuck going nowhere . Oh yes, & it's not German & boring either!!!

[sydlexic]

It is not difficult to drive a BMW with traction control in the snow, unless it is an automatic.

[theodorakisses]

Sometimes on MN it feels as if anyone who has anything nice should be scoffed at. Of course nice cars are more likely to be nicked, who would want to take a people carrier full of spew and crumbs?

[FellatioNels0n]

Actually it's quite hard to nick decent cars these days - the all have immobilisers and alarms and satellite trackers etc. Cheap/old cars are far easier to nick!

[BadLad]

The only cars I have owned were a 1.6 litre Rover and a 1 litre Nissan Micra.

Much as I loved the Micra, I had the time of my life when I was allowed to take my mother's Mustang for a spin. That had a 5 litre engine, and the slightest touch of the accelerator sent it rocketing ahead.

Unfortunately I have poor eyesight, and it really isn't worth my getting a nice / naice / posh car.

[countrykitten]

I currently drive a 10 year old Audi estate. It has a bale of hay in the boot at the moment and regularly transports my filthy spaniels about! It has fantastic build quality, is completely reliable and is a surprisingly good drive. When it dies (and not before) I shall get another one.

[countrykitten]

Does that make me a badge snob?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Someone I know had some sort of thing fitted to his ancient VW Camper van and an app so he could text his van and start it up from his bed. So it was warm and demisted by the time he got in it.

[MrsShortfuse]

Theodora, I might be a proud cheapskate hyundai owner but I also waste spend a fortune on Clarins

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I have a premium brand car - and winter tyres so it is great in this weather!

It is lovely to drive, safe, quick, pretty fuel efficient, nowhere near as expensive to maintain as you might think and holds it's value very well. We have only lost £3k in depreciation since buying it 3.5 years ago - we didn't buy it new.

Handling, feel and comfort are all massively better than on a cheaper car.

If we didn't have the money then of course we would get something cheaper, but if we are able to replace it with something from the same brand then we will.

It is nothing to do with the badge, or compensation for missing my kids (I'm a SAHM) or to feel better about myself or any of the other daft hypothetical reasons listed.

[countrykitten]

Yup - if you can afford nice stuff then what's the problem?