Rich people = same car

[nonickno]

To wonder why all the loaded people at my kids’ school drive the same car - Range Rover/ Land Rover? Surely there are more choices to spend money on?? They are like sheep!

Because they are bloody lovely to drive and you feel very safe. Ridiculously expensive to run though. The air suspension system is a bitch when it starts to fail. If I had all the money in the world I'd buy no other car though. (Might keep a DB9 in the garage for Sundays )

I maintain that many people buy expensive cars for factors other than ostentation. For example we have just bought a 2018 plate ex demonstration vw polo for new driver did. Most people would think it profligate to spend >£14K on a first car for a new driver. Dd actually wanted something beat up and cheaper to fit in with her friends. My motivation is the the 2017 model (and later) VW polo is the highest rated super mini for safety, scoring 96 in adult occupant safety (Euro NCAP safety). No other make of car in this category beats it

I realise that a new polo for a 17 year old is not the same as a Range Rover - obviously! - but the principle re why people may spend more on cars than other people deem 'necessary' holds good. It's not always about being flash (although it will be for some people)

I guess it's down to perception too. I'm not in the least bit impressed when I see someone with an expensive car - I mean I might like the car but wouldn't give a second thought to the person driving it. As such, i wouldn't expect them to be impressed if I had one.

All those who are saying 'you're just jealous' etc, do you not see you are perpetuating the image of these cars being bought by people who want to show off. Do you really think everyone looks at your car and thinks 'ooh I'd love one of those, it's fabulous, I'd buy one if I had the money'?

If someone gave me one I'd sell it & use the money for something else. That's not saying I'd need the money, just I think it's better spent elsewhere. I drive town/country lanes/field tracks etc and have an old 4x4, I like that it doesn't matter if it gets scratched on a hedge. I don't want a car that I'd worry if it got a scuff on the bumper.

I get people like to have nice stuff and that's what they want to spend their money on. But please don't think the rest of us are jealous and covet your big luxury cars.

@LimitIsUp that's exactly why I'll be my DC new cars where they pass their tests. The chances of them being involved in an accident are statistically high and I want to ensure they're as safe as possible

This is true Jelly. The drivers I notice and who impress me are the courteous ones who are good drivers (tends not to be related to the car they drive)

Drama - some folk will no doubt think we are splashing the cash to be flash though 🙄 - meh

I'd also like to hear about hybrid cars too please. We're about to replace our Nissan and are looking at hybrids. Specifically because I feel like being a twat ones that can be stepped in to because my back is not keen on that bending malarkey

We have a hybrid X5 and I'd give it a pass. It often smells of petrol inside the car, BMW insists they can't find anything wrong (many different people have spontaneously combusted commented on it) and they told us after we bought it that it can't be charged with an extension cord!

Posters are saying that old money do not buy a Range Rovers or other flashy cars.
One of the reasons that old money doesn’t buy these cars is because they usually can’t afford it. They are usually asset rich , but cash poor. Therefore, their house may be worth two million pounds, but they would probably find it difficult to raise 20 grand

Agree with unfinishedkitchen’s post yesterday at 6:15pm

Ouch 😂

Posters are saying that old money do not buy a Range Rovers or other flashy cars.
One of the reasons that old money doesn’t buy these cars is because they usually can’t afford it. They are usually asset rich , but cash poor. Therefore, their house may be worth two million pounds, but they would probably find it difficult to raise 20 grand

I'm left with the impression that some people are living in some kind of Evelyn Waugh novel!

It's not just the aristocracy and the Premiere League and nothing else. There's a mercantile class in-between.

Alaskan

Definitely not all rich people are posh!

Which is exactly what an acquaintance who works for a proper luxury car manufacturer says. That and being rich definitely doesn’t guarantee taste.

I have a Landrover and a Smart car

Snap - that's what we have - the two extremes of one huge car and one tiny. The Smart I have is also electric. Dh's LandRover Discovery is fabulous for when we have friends staying and want to go our together, and amazing when it snows and we pick up lots of my colleagues on the way into work so we can all get into school for the day. But I love my electric Smart - perfect daily city car!

Yeah the man I know with 4 RR is definitely not posh!
Funnily enough today I've been in a farm buying wool, they were posh (and lovely) and I nearly took a pic of the dusty ford something outside!
I am almost sure they will have a LR somewhere around.
The man was driving a tractor tho.

Posters are saying that old money do not buy a Range Rovers or other flashy cars.
One of the reasons that old money doesn’t buy these cars is because they usually can’t afford it. They are usually asset rich , but cash poor.

I came on here to say this. They're hardly going to sell estates that have been in their family for generations to free up cash for flashy cars, even if they'd like to. DH attended a very famous public school and worked in the city. The old money types who have gone on to work in finance/started successful businesses are just as prone to flashiness as anyone else. The ones who have entered low paying professions and therefore have little disposable income are the ones who're driving around in old bangers.

The wealthiest people I know (old money, cash and asset rich, no make that cash and asset minted) drive a Toyota Prius!

I have no idea why people buy Range Rovers, they are notoriously shite.

@snowpo people do look at a certain car and think ooh I'd love one of those, it's fabulous, I'd buy one if I had the money'? I know this because when my husband drives an Aston Martin (not ours) he is suddenly the most handsome man ever (he’s no the best looking 😊) you suddenly find everyone wants to be your best friend, cars have a funny effect on people. Not everyone who drives these cars are well off, it might be just borrowed or to do with someone’s job

The wealthiest people I know (old money, cash and asset rich, no make that cash and asset minted) drive a Toyota Prius!

And the several people I know who match this description drive a range of cars. Ferraris and Bentleys on one end of the spectrum and a plug-in Volvo on the other. Their tastes and preferences vary and just like the general population, some are less flashy than others. This assertion that truly wealthy people are all driving around in old bangers that have seen better days just isn't true in my experience.

On MN you’re “rich” if you earn more than 30k

This place is full of inverse snobbery, jealousy and green eyed monsters though

And yes I namechanged lol!

I drive a land rover, but really says nothing about our financial situation. It's a lwb, exmilitary with bench seats in the back. It gives the pearl clutchers at school palpitations when we drag it out once a term to go to parents evening or some such. It's like a slightly incontinent family pet that we can't bear to put out of its misery.

@crispbutty6 I agree and a lot of hypocrisy 😊

I am amused that mn apparently simultaneously assumes we are poor and rich as fuck from that. The other car we do own outright too, but its an average "mumbus" because cars depreciate and that grates. But a's we do pay tax, you know we're not that rich