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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does your car show your status?!

244 replies

Dibbydoos · 06/08/2023 23:10

I was a BMW X3 for 7 years - a prowling beast of a thing, fast like heckers! I loved that car! But it's now retired and I didn't want another big SUV, so I bought from the same stable, a Mini Countryman and everyone is giving me stick! I keep getting with your money you could afford better etc etc.

It's jarring.

I blinking love this Mini. It drives like my BMW even the general controls - cruise, nav, wipers are the same.

Why are people so fixated on spending more money than you need?

Am I being unreasonable to not waste money on a flash car?

OP posts:
WhereshallIwander · 06/08/2023 23:37

I have a BMW x 1 but only because it was h's and mine broke down so he gave it to me.
I'd quite like a Lexus next.

My dad didn't appreciate cars and I think he was the only consultant in the hospital who drove an old, rusty banger and really didn't care! 😳

PeggyPoggle · 06/08/2023 23:38

@BarelyLiterate absolutely. Reminds me of the well-used saying, 'you get what you pay for'.

Jubaju · 06/08/2023 23:39

X3 is just a normal car, it’s not exactly a status symbol😂
A countryman isn’t exactly cheap at over 30k, hardly an old banger.

Deathbyfluffy · 06/08/2023 23:41

NancyJoan · 06/08/2023 23:34

I love my knackered old car. Goes like a dream, and no one will ever bother to nick it. At my kids’ school, there are some very swish cars. I have a hatred of 4x4s, esp in the city, but for a lot of people they are a clear marker of status.

Those people are twats - the Range Rover club around here are invariably stuck up housewives flaunting their husbands cash.
Incredibly crass

BarelyLiterate · 06/08/2023 23:41

OP, the reason why your Mini drives like a BMW and has controls just like a BMW is because it is a BMW.
BMW have owned the Mini brand since the 90s. They own Rolls Royce motors, too.

Tunnocks34 · 06/08/2023 23:41

So funny you post this as I’ve just had a disagreement with my husband, as he wants to get an Audi A6 for our next car and I want a Kia. My reasoning is I don’t really care for brands, Kia’s have a great warranty and are cheap to run. He won’t say it himself but his reasoning is ‘it’s an Audi’

MasterBeth · 06/08/2023 23:43

I can't imagine how much money I would need to have before I would consider buying an expensive car. We're doing just fine but would always rather spend money on the house, holidays etc. My second hand Skoda cost £14k and I think that's expensive. Can't imagine ever wanting to pay 40/50k on a car, let alone any more.

PeggyPoggle · 06/08/2023 23:43

Deathbyfluffy · 06/08/2023 23:41

Those people are twats - the Range Rover club around here are invariably stuck up housewives flaunting their husbands cash.
Incredibly crass

Show quote history

Hilarious how you are acting exactly like the people the OP is talking about.

Maybe they like Range Rovers? You are basically judging people for the cars they drive.
Are you jealous?

SabrinaThwaite · 06/08/2023 23:48

I was a BMW X3 for 7 years - a prowling beast of a thing, fast like heckers!

Ummm.

I think that tells us all we need to know.

At £28k plus for a new Mini Countryman, that’s a shit load of money.

We spent a third of that on an older car that was a lot more fun.

Sodullincomparison · 06/08/2023 23:51

People judge all the time on cars. I get comments weekly.

a previous colleague said I drove old rubbish cars to play with people’s heads.
but really it’s because I’m not great at driving and I also like to be a little speedy so it’s a much better bet for me to have something which struggles after 70. 😂

my husband and all our neighbours have fancy cars. The probably think I’m lowering the tone.

AngeloMysterioso · 06/08/2023 23:52

I have a 2008 fiesta that became mine when my Mum died. She was a terrible driver and it shows… dinged up to crap, scratches everywhere, big old dent in the rear passenger side door… but I don’t care. It’s a good car, it’s really got low mileage for its age, gets me from a to b. I only learned to drive last year and apart from my instructors car it’s the only one I’ve ever driven so admittedly I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I think it’s great.

I have noticed a difference in the way other drivers are around me compared with when we’re in DH’s car… drivers of BMW/Mercedes/Tesla/Audis or any kind of 4x4 reaaaaally can’t stand being behind a Fiesta for any length of time can they?! Or are they just aggressive pricks in general?

WhereshallIwander · 06/08/2023 23:53

😂😂 True that!

Sodullincomparison · 06/08/2023 23:54

@AngeloMysterioso its so true. They want to be stuck behind a higher class of car 😂

random overtaking happens all the time.

SabrinaThwaite · 06/08/2023 23:57

Or are they just aggressive pricks in general?

Yes. And don’t expect them to ever use the indicators - they rely on every other road use to have ESP.

WhereshallIwander · 07/08/2023 00:00

Sodullincomparison · 06/08/2023 23:54

@AngeloMysterioso its so true. They want to be stuck behind a higher class of car 😂

random overtaking happens all the time.

I really don't care who's in front or behind. I didn't choose to have a BMW, it was given when mine broke down. I also use my indicators!

When it was in for repair recently, I had a hire car which was a Lexus. I absolutely loved that and that would be my next choice.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/08/2023 00:00

BarelyLiterate · 06/08/2023 23:41

OP, the reason why your Mini drives like a BMW and has controls just like a BMW is because it is a BMW.
BMW have owned the Mini brand since the 90s. They own Rolls Royce motors, too.

Yeah, I think she knows that. It's her point isn't it - idiots thinking she should spend more money for the BMW label?

We know a couple of seriously wealthy people... you wouldn't know it from their cars. They drive the cars that suit them and don't need 'status symbols'.

tt9 · 07/08/2023 00:03

I've been driving around in the same vw polo since 2012 despite being told many times its no longer acceptable for me to drive it as I should be driving something 'better' or suitable for my age. I just don't see it. it suits my driving style (lunatic) and I blend in with the birmingham gangster scene. win win

BarelyLiterate · 07/08/2023 00:07

Oops… Yes, I have now spotted that OP is well aware that her Mini is a BMW and didn’t need my explanation. Apologies.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/08/2023 00:11

BarelyLiterate · 07/08/2023 00:07

Oops… Yes, I have now spotted that OP is well aware that her Mini is a BMW and didn’t need my explanation. Apologies.

Well with a name like yours...Grin

Rainbowshit · 07/08/2023 00:13

We did the flash car thing once. I absolutely hated it.

so much more comfortable with our shabby Volvo.

heartbunny · 07/08/2023 00:14

I drive a Mini and I get nothing but compliments and smiles from friends and colleagues. Minis are incredible cars!
Before anyone jumps in to tell me I've spent a fortune- it wasn't brand new when I bought it because, as so many have already stated, they are seriously not cheap cars to buy brand new.
Sounds more like a humble brag from OP to be honest. Weird post.

Original poster
Dibbydoos · 07/08/2023 00:15

Thanks for all the comments everyone! It's refreshing to know that cars aren't your status symbol! 😁

The guy who delivered my mini was surprised I'd gone from an X3 to a Mini. I said that I wasnt paying >£60k for a car. He said you should have got an X1 then. WTF.

My DS is not happy - it's a (younger) woman's car. He keeps asking me to get a used X3, euro VI with 70k miles since I know they'll go for more than 200k miles now! But I don't need another car.

My DD told her best mate, he said your mum can afford a better car why's she bought a Mini? My DD said cos that's what she wanted obviously.

My sister and her partner and friends are all asking the same. My sister even said with your money you could afford any car, why did you buy a Mini? Like a Mini is the pits 😔

OP posts:
MissDollyMix · 07/08/2023 00:16

DH and I have a good income but I love my shabby old Ford . It’s massive and fits everything in comfortably. It’s nice to drive. I won’t cry if I scratch it on a fence post. I love cars and have driven a range of high-end ones, I could afford something flashy but there’s something really nice (to me) about driving something not flashy and slightly anonymous! Maybe that’s just a sign of me being boring and middle-aged!

Almostwelsh · 07/08/2023 00:17

Volvos are expensive. Old volvos hold their value well. And old volvo estate just screams "old money".

People who really don't care about cars drive a middle aged Ford or similar.

ConsuelaHammock · 07/08/2023 00:19

A Mini countryman isn’t a cheap car . How much it cost and how much you earn would be a better indicator.I think a lot of people drive expensive cars but couldn’t afford to buy them outright.