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?

It may look huge in the UK but it is a car by world standards. OK, what a beautiful 4x4! I think it looks lovely, fast, comfortable and safe.

I think Micras are fuckoff little imps, car snobbery is car snobbery, whether inverse, blatant or jealous.

Agree with all the posters who say driving a BMW is just a completely different experience to driving a Ford. Ours is 10 years old now, done over 100,000 miles (bought in more extravagent times) but it still makes me feel cooler, classier and more clued up than the Mums in their brand new superminis.
Agree it is shite in the snow though. Fortunately we have our ancient Discovery for that. ( Now that really is an example of style over substance).

classier?

lol.

I don't feel the need to feel cooler, classier or more clued up than any other mums though. If DH got a company car, I'd happily drive £50-£60k of car. We have to spend our own money on cars so I'd not happily drive an expensive car that is parked on a London Road or only just off it if DH doesn't need to get out before me (he needs the leccy suspply for his so has to park closest to the house with lots of passers by to key it or nick it.

If we needed a 4x4 we'd get a 4x4. We don't need one to get up Putney Hill or onto the A3, M25 or M1 - or even for the wonderful toll roads across France

Well I am really not very classy at all, and I am very scruffy compared to the designer shod and handbagged Mums in our village. But yeah, my car is quality innit?

pugsand seals I love the way that you slag off German cars as being boring and then announce that your car of choice is......a Lexus!! The old man's favourite! Very funny indeed.

What's not to love about a bmw? Nothing to do with being classy but it's just a great driving experience with all the little luxuries in the car. I was a passenger in the back of a Mercedes S Class the other day, there was a button that you could press for the seat to slide so you could sleep!

I've got a lovely 5 series BMW. It cost £30k, and came as standard with leather, heated seats, cruise, etc.

If I spec an S-MAX to the same level, it costs ... £30k!

And the SMAX has less power and worse fuel economy.

The SMAX will also have much worse residuals.

So the BMW is actually the cheaper choice!

"What's not to love about a bmw?"

A lot of the ones I see have faulty indicators (never come on) and faulty rear foglights (never go off)

They are not directly comparable cars. the The S max is a 7 seater MPV with a cavernous boot. And what you say about residuals is right, thats why I got a 6 month old Smax for £10k off list price. A lot more car for the money that if we'd gone for a Beemer.

countrykittens -
I never said a Lexus would be my car of choice! However I did say that if I had to buy a 'luxury' car I would prefer a Lexus to anything German!!! As it happens I drive my car of choice. At least one of the less expensive cars Mitsubishi make & I much prefer it to anything German or luxury. It does absolutely everything a Merc or Audi does (apart from the defrosting front window) & is more comfortable & lots more FUN. In fact, I remember very well walking out of the Merc garage telling the salesman that I would not be buying one of his cars as they were far too boring. You should have seen his face! Don't knock Japanese cars until you've driven one.

My dream car? I would have 2, an Evo for fun & a Shogun for practicality. But NEVER anything boring German!!!

pugsandseals However I did say that if I had to buy a 'luxury' car I would prefer a Lexus to anything German!!! As it happens I drive my car of choice. At least one of the less expensive cars Mitsubishi make & I much prefer it to anything German or luxury. It does absolutely everything a Merc or Audi does

Thats a bit unfortunate, since Lexus religiously copy Mercedes exterior styling down to the headlights, but a couple of years behind...

I think you'll also find a wonderful Mitsui engine under the bonnet of many a Merc, Daimler or Dodge as well but I don't here the owners of them bragging about where their engine came from!

Part of what makes a car luxury is the fun you can have driving it. None of that in a Merc. Mitsubishi also have industry leading suspension systems, ignition systems, engines & safety systems. The chances are, if you have it on your Merc it was developed by Mitsubishi first. At risk of sounding like a petrolhead, I wouldn't mind betting that things like my world 1st VVT diesel engine will be common place in a few years time. But you wouldn't be interested in practical things like this if you buy a 'luxury' car would you?

Yes Lunatic, my car comes in 4wd. Actually all wheel drive if you want to be technical!

Active Sports Xover - best car I've ever owned! Solid, heavy, fun, keyless entry, Active suspension, Traction control, rain & dark sensors, KERS & best ever engine.
Age 19 I had a Lancer as a hire car for a couple of days which had the 1st ever demisting & electronically adjusting wing mirrors. Isn't innovation just another word for luxury?
A car needn't cost ££££££ to be luxurious! Neither does it need to be built in Germany. The German's make okay cars, but not luxury in my opinion!

Oh & don't be fouled by the stats that say it has 110bhp. It has 150bhp once the turbo kicks in but gets away with saying 110bhp for insurance purposes

pugsandseals am just puzzled why you are such a fan of Lexus when their styling copies Mercedes?

I think its only the UK and the third world where a Mercedes C or E class would be considered a luxury vehicle. Its clearly aimed at being a reliable quality vehicle - the S class is the luxury model in the fleet. The E class is the world's taxi!

And Mercedes aren't all made in Germany. My last one was made in Luxembourg.

To be honest though, I keep my fun and sports feel, not for driving on the public road, but for when I race on my own two feet or my bike. Different matter if you actually compete on the racetrack in your car, of course.

The new Dodge (out next year) will have a Mitsubishi under it's bonnet! As does a number of Peugeots & Citreon's which are not available in the UK. I was just using Lexus as an example of one of the many 'luxury' cars which are better than their German counterparts.
I don't work in the industry, just someone who drives 500 miles per week for work & wants to be safe, comfortable & have a bit of fun. Tried the Merc & hated it! I have my luxury car as far as I am concerned & I laugh at those who pay a lot more for their luxury without even considering what else is on the market. I am very proud of the fact that I test drove everything which fitted my requirements on paper & picked the best available at the time. I would never just keep buying the same brand time after time without doing this as I think it's daft! You would never just keep buying identical houses without seeing what else is on the market. Same should be true of cars.

Oh I'm not assuming people generally buy new. My DF is the worlds worst at always buying the same - another Vauxhall anyone? I do think it's rare that people look at another brand other than the one they're trading in. Those of us that sit wading through What Car? magazine trying to come up with an impartial shortlist are few & far between.