To think my neighbour is a snob, and a very strange one at that?

[Bluemonkeyspots]

My car is in the garage today for a service so told dd this morning she would have to walk home, not a problem she does this most days anyway. Sat earlier and I see my neighbour driving into our street and dd is in the car so I go to the door to check everything is ok and this is the conversation that followed

Me- "hi, everything ok"

Neighbour- "yes fine, dd just wanted a lift home in a BMW today "

Me- "sorry?"

Neighbour- "yes, since you were not there at pick up dd thought it would be nice to get a lift in a BMW"

Me- "dd, did you want a lift in a BMW?"

Dd- "what's a BMW"

Neighbour- "aahhhh come on now dd, it must have been nice sitting in a BMW?"

Dd- (looking totally confused) "yes, thanks for the lift home"

Me- "thanks for that"

Then she smiled and walked off.

Was lovely that she offered dd a lift as it was starting to spit rain but was this really such a treat.

To put it into context a bit my car is average but only six month old, the BMW in question is very old (nothing wrong with that my last car was old) but I feel I'm missing something by neighbours attitude.

[LesserSpottedFuckwit]

I had a Saab a few years ago. We did call it the Saab (probably wanky) but oh it was a lovely car after long years of driving horrendous shitboxes. Everything worked and there were no holes in the floor. Lovely comfortable seats too. I miss that car. I don't have one at all any more.

[2kidsintow]

I teach in an affluent area and overheard a child telling a TA that they were going shopping 'in the audi'. TA asked, tongue in cheek 'shopping at aldi?' Child was very at the thought of shopping in aldi.

[MusicalEndorphins]

This is exactly what I got from the OP's situation.
GhoulWithADragonTattoo Wed 11-Sep-13 09:57:13

I actually think this is a joke. The neighbour knows that her car is actually old and scruffy but that normally BMW is regarded as a prestige brand. So she jokes that your DD wanted a go in a BMW (even though actually not anything special in this case). I think it's quite amusing. It would be a snobby thing to say if the BMW was pristine smile

[PigletJohn]

Japanese brands are generally more reliable and better built than others, the reverse is true of french brands.

Diesels are generally more economical on fuel if you mostly do long journeys. If you do mostly short jourheys some diesels need more frequent maintenance.

[marriedinwhiteisback]

My DS drives GWiz. The DC refuse to get in it but it avoides the congestion charge and where at his work they used to fit in (not DH) four big estates they can squeeze in 7 City cars :)

[marriedinwhiteisback]

We bought our ds a 55 plate polo for just over 2k at christmas. I like driving it. I have driven citroens for 12 years now without any problems - totally reliable although they feel "tired" once they reach about 8 but on a vfm ratio I think they're great. The petrol/diesel issue is mileage dependent. Diesels are more expensive but cheaper on fuel. Ultimately if you are buying second hand it depends on the deal you can get. Check out "honest John" on the telegraph website for advice.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Can I hijack to ask all you car types some advice please? We have just got enough cash together to buy a cheap swcond hand car after years with none....a friend advised me not to buy anything french....is je racist or sensible? Another friend said you MUST get desil...why?

[urtwistingmymelonman]

lol jesus.
my friends mum had a brown and orange lada she used to drive us to school in.
needless to say I was always conveniently bending down to tie my laces when we arrived at the gate!

[GhostsInSnow]

Hahaha brilliant.

The Mog had no carpets as it leaked, to alleviate said leak I drilled a hole in the footwells in the back. This worked marvellously until one day DD dropped a full bag of 'millions' in the footwell which then trailed a la Hansel and Gretel all the way home through the hole.
Also, if you hit the hump onto the car park at the right angle/speed it was possible to get both kids bounced into the roof (sprung rear seats).

Had to crank start it one day as well on the school car park. Anyone would have thought from the looks on their faces I was chopping up small puppies.

I sold it at profit, had 3 years of extreme fun and a great time embarrassing the kids who must have a selective memory because they talk about it fondly now.

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

I fear I was perhaps the worst parent in the world because when my 2 were in primary a few years ago I drove a Morris Minor which absolutely mortified the pair of them.

When I was in secondary school my mum drove a white Lada AND it had a big hole in the floor which we could see the road through AND once she left it in the garage too long and the steering wheel went mouldy.

Amazingly, someone actually paid money for it when she eventually sold it.

[YoureBeingADick]

you can get astra vans

[TheSkiingGardener]

My brother couldn't care less what car he has. I quite like cars and take time choosing.


However, he's the one with the Porsche, Mercedes and Range Rover and my car is a 10 year old one that used to be DH's.

It's not fair, he can buy expensive cars and chooses silly ones!

[AllSWornOut]

May I just point out that the vehicle identified in the theoretical kidnap scenario is an Astra, so if someone described it as a "black van" the kidnappee would be buggered.

And Renault's need servicing every 6 months because they're shite

[urtwistingmymelonman]

friend and I have two bed flats which we call our apartments but its tounge in cheek.
I also call my 206 the Bentley.

[GhostsInSnow]

I fear I was perhaps the worst parent in the world because when my 2 were in primary a few years ago I drove a Morris Minor which absolutely mortified the pair of them.

They did get off lightly really, at the time I was offered a classic hearse which I loved to bits but DH talked me out of it as they went to a Catholic School and the car park was shared with the church.

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

Love this. I love the "what's a BMW?"

We have a BMW. We also have my 10 year old seat Ibiza with debts in it. We usually manage with "your car or my car?"

My poor DD slums it in my car 95% of the time. I feel I'm doing her a great disservice now and must henceforth start asking her if she would like to go in "the beefa or the beemer" and being 15.5 months old of course she will say "why the beemer of course mummy"

[GhostsInSnow]

I drive a battered old Clio and a 1982 TR7. DH has a Ford Focus. Because he has one car his is 'the car'. Because I have 2 and I often need to make clear which I mean I am guilty of saying 'the 7' or 'the Clio'. This isn't to be pretentious in any way. Both are rather ancient cars, but if I just say 'the car' to friends and family they will always ask "which one?".

[PeerMon]

Someone I work with always refers to her car as 'my Mercedes'.

For example, on the phone to the garage, she says 'I need to book my Mercedes in for a new tyre' rather than just 'my car'

[TrinityRhino]

I'm a car person though
always have been

used to help dad fix al our cars
learnt how engines worked before I learnt to drive
etc

[TrinityRhino]

I love my beema
but not because its 'a bmw'

I dont care what anyone else thinks of my car
I love it because I love the way it looks (old old style, mew ones are too rounded), sounds, feels

I've always wanted one and I love love love it and it is called ' the beema'

[YoureBeingADick]

lisa I can sign you up to my intensive 1 week course if you like

lady fair enough, it wasn't what I meant but If that is the way it comes across then I understand your comments.

[LisaMedicus]

I am nearly fifty and I wouldn't recognise a BMW. Actually I wouldn't recognise a Ford Focus and that's the car that DH drives.

Are there classes I could take?

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Sorry, Stephen, yes, I misread it!

What I was trying to say about your 'black Vauxhall' comment was that your two examples, of the two ways you seemed to be suggesting people would respond to the question, were both extreme. I don't think a lot of people would have NOTHING to say about the physical characteristics of a van, but you seemed to be suggesting that, unless someone could identify make and model, they would simply reply 'no' to the question, which I really don't think would be the case.

[DeWe]

Our neighbours offered ds a ride round in their new sportscar. He was very excited (age 6). They'd just had it delivered and came out to find him prowling round it admiring it from all angles, so they offered him a ride with the roof down. He doesn't know about car makes particularly (if it was planes it would be a different matter!) so wouldn't be impressed by saying it's a BMW, but was just loving the car.
If the neighbours had said to me he wanted a drive in their BMW I wouldn't think of it as snobby, just that he was loving their new car.

I can only identify cars (other than Beetle and Mini) if I can read the name on the back.

[StephenFrySaidSo]

"–I think most people would be somewhere in the middle and identify the colour and size and maybe the plate or some of it, if not the make/model."

and like I said, that's good. the more information the better.

"Things like that happen SO rarely."
'but do happen all the time'.
Not sure of your point, Stephen.

you have misquoted my comment. I didn't say "but do happen all the time" I said "but do happen all the same.

which was my point- rarely isn't never.