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?

If I had the money, I would simply buy the car I feel comfortable driving, and which suits my needs (eg, ferrying DCs). I guess the key must be to test drive several cars if you're looking.

Hahaha...What Wiley and GirlOutnumbered said! I have never driven anything other than German cars(vw golf & bmw's). I know they're solid and well built cars and i am confident in them. I've driven an escalade for many years, which was big, comfortable and easy to drive. I like solid cars and would rather buy that than take a risk driving my children in something less than solid.

Actually, I'd quite like a peugeot 208 (1.2 ltr, 3 cylinder to be specific). I've test driven it and it suits me for what I need. Sadly, I need to build my savings up a little before I can get my hands on one.

I have an Escalade with every extra. I love the comfort and safety. If I lived in the UK I wouldn't be able to afford it. I also have a GMC Sierra for work and an ancient Hummer for walking the dogs. So shoot me.

I must confess to thinking that the Escalade is one of the most vulgar things I have ever seen. Zero points for classiness/taste. Having lovely things if you can afford them is wonderful and I am all for it...but try and have a modicum of taste along with it!

But I am guessing that you are in the States....?

Re BMWs in the snow - the poster who said "ALL you have to do is put concrete blocks in the boot"

You have got to be kidding right???
You buy a "luxury car" and part of your luxury experience is lugging concrete blocks into the boot so that it is drive able on snow!

Why not just buy a car that isn't rear wheel drive!

Same goes for putting winter tyres on!

There is a big difference and no it's not the status thing at all. Why are some people so hung up on people who have 'posher' cars and the only reason they can come up with is that they have them for the status?! No it isn't. They drive better, feel better and yes they look great. I drive a certain 'upmarket' brand and I love it, it is so so much better than the 'cheaper' cars I used to be able to afford.

I've had a five series and it was excellent. BMWs are very very reliable and comfortable.

I'm currently driving a Range Rover and it is fabulous ; like sitting at home in your favourite arm chair while driving along. The seat is heated. The steering wheel is heated. The seat remembers you and how you like it placed. Each piece of kit is well engineered and utterly reliable. I could go on. Worth the money, IMVHO.

DH generally drives a sportier car. He changes them regularly. He loves the design, the technology, the fun...

Neither of us give a fuck about status. And we most certainly do not take out loans to buy them (whoever put forward that bit of nonsense).

Pinkyponk, I do not see my car as a luxury car just a car, I sometimes put 4-5 concrete blocks in the lower boot which cannot be seen so it bothers me little. I need a rear wheel drive car as I do a lot of heavy towing so a front wheel drive car is no use to me at all. I do use winter tyres and also snow chains if needed.

I have an older Audi it just feels so nice to drive. Have had a brand new Audi and it was fab and turned heads.

Dh had an older BMW 5series drove it all over UK and Europe so reliable and comfortable.

My parents are very well off- they love Fords. Have driven my cars but like what they have (Kuga and Focus.)

I don't really care about cars - hell I have a Citroen C4 . DH cares even less - he has a GWizz .

We are not cool but we don't care .

a Gwizz is a cool car, my mum loves her little lecky wagon.

Thing is I wouldn't put £50k in a tin box with a padlock on it outside my house; contented that when I opened it in twelve months time there would only be £35k in there. I couldn't do it with money; so why would I let a car do it for me.

Quirky Citroen - lasts 10 years - costs about 1k a year bought at 9 months old. Repair costs are low and it does what I need it to do.

Let DH play with his GWizz and his Photovoltaic panels but so wish he would have a midlife crisis and get something fab for me to play with .

Married Brother has a birthday today, go nick his car, he'll be too busy to notice!

Humph - expect those bears might be there dawn .

No idea. But it's horses for courses, I suppose, if I had 30.000 to play with, I would spend it on designers lamps, chairs and similar

Fair point, Married, it's a nice car though!

You know the bears then

Pinky - why does the same go for putting winter tyres on? It is a safety measure and should be compulsory here as on the Continent because they provide superior performance and breaking once the temperature reaches 7 degrees or below.

Dh got a new job last summer and along with it a new 3 series BMW. Now we have never ever had the money to waste on expensive cars but my goodness it's a revelation. Full leather seats, gorgeous to drive (smooth and fast) and just luxurious really. Had it not have been given to him we would never have purchased this sort of car but it is just lovely to have it!

On the down side the BMW has been shit in the snow today with the rear wheel drive, dh had to be towed by a lovely Plummer in his van who stopped to help!