Does your car show your status?!

[Dibbydoos]

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?

In the UK it's more common for cars to be a "keeping up with the Joneses" type scenario.

Just look at the perceived wealth on the road, then remind yourself how incredibly fucked our economy is. It's a giant polished turd if you think about it.

As a couple we are apparently in the top 10% or 20% earners in the country and only have one 16YO car between us. We will need a second in the near future, but that will also be a used car, more practical and affordable than high end.

I cannot bear car snobs. Drive what you want.
For car snobs, substitute handbag snobs, clothes snobs, holiday snobs, restaurant snobs etc

Yes. It perfectly shows off my status as a person who couldn't give a shit about what car I drive.

I drive a very elderly Audi estate. It's shabby, but reliable, practical, and cheap to run.

Very much like me, really.

DH has a BMW 530. I have a Mini Countryman. Wouldn't swap my Mini for his for anything!

This 👆

Anyone who judges you by the car you drive is shallow.

Ditto!

We had a beetle years ago. It was amazing. Absolutely loved it

Cars arent a status symbol for me. I just like them.
BMW owns and makes Mini anyway so I cant see why theres fuss?

There are two extremes. Thinking your car defines you. And like in this thread, bragging that you could easily afford a new car but you have a bashed up dented old one. The latter isn’t exactly a flex either. It makes you look a bit silly wearing it like a badge of honour.

A car isn't a "thing", a car is a "place".

A place where conversations happen, memories are made, you remember the places you went, the things you saw, the music you listened to on the way there, the bad things too, the sad times along with the sad music. The first dates, and the last, the meandering thoughts you've had at the wheel. Some people even name their cars.

Their value, their significance, is determined by the memories you have of that "place". That's why most people love their first car, they remember the feeling of freedom and independence it gave them. For some people a car can literally change their life, open up job opportunities and relationships that might otherwise not happen.

A car can be a status symbol too, but the people who do this never have "real" money. They just think the car will make look like they do. Really rich people don't have status symbols, they don't need them.

A mini countryman is a flash car imo.

A car might say something about your personality. But it might not.

I have to say that teaching my ds to drive, sometimes we get tailgated by someone irate (when we’re doing the speed limit). The tailgater is most frequently driving an Audi. It’s made me a bit wary of them.

Ha ha! I agree OP.

People who judge your status by your car (or any other possession) get judged by me, and usually I choose the hanging option).

You have to be so simple-minded, vulgar and thick to do that.

I suppose the only valid judgment would be: that person is so insecure about their self-esteem, sexual prowess, etc etc that they need to drive an absurdly expensive car. And a really expensive car is a source of stress - just think how traumatic the first scratch would be.

If I won the Euromillions, I wouldn't change my car but there are other wonderful things I'd do with the money.

Nah. I may remember a few things that happened in a car but unlikely to remember which one.

theres a little new housing estate near me, all privately owned or rented. Houses are terraced, small, crammed together and no front gardens, no pavement and no drives or allocated parking spaces.

The houses sell for quite a bit less than my average 3 bed semi is worth so in my mind they’re kind of starter homes. Most cars parked there are bmw or Audi with the odd 4x4. I know it’s none of my business but I can’t understand paying for such a flash car when your housing is so basic. 🤷🏻‍♀️. I’d be saving like mad to move out.

Both X3s and Mini Clubmans (Clubmen?) are larger than they need to be for the type of car, you aren’t really stepping that far onto the road less travelled.

I drive a fiesta. Could I have a more expensive car? Sure! But why would I? I love my little car, I've had all sorts and always go back to Ford. Parking is a nightmare in local town so smaller car gives better chance of a space. And the fuel economy is excellent. I don't see the point in driving a huge expensive car when it's not needed. If I had a long commute I'd probably have something different but I did a 5 hour drive in it last month and it was absolutely fine. It's all a bit keeping up with the Joneses isn't it!

Onefinemess - a place where you sit for hours in traffic jams belching noxious fumes into the atmosphere

Yes, my '58 VW shows my status, a status that says I couldn't care less what others think, I'm far too mature!

I have a 7 seater so that says everything you need to know about me. Also live in a village where every second person seems to have a Tesla. My next car I want is a old XF. Always wanted a XJS but they seem to have shot up in price recently. I'd never spend mad money on a car even if I was loaded. They depreciate too fast

The sooner we move away from private car ownership the better

I work in an area where many of the local population have multiple expensive German cars with personalised number plates parked outside £70k houses, which is the most ridiculous display of 'status' I have ever seen. Each to their own, but if I had the money for a new Audi, I would put it towards moving to a better area instead

No, my car doesn't reflect my status and I don't give a shit. I think it's quite funny how much tossers who think cars confer status must underestimate me driving around in my small, very basic, 10 year old runaround!

I'm not interested in cars except as a convenient mode of transport. My car is great for exactly what I need it for and mega cheap to run (and easy to park in small spaces!) I also let my 18 year old son drive it as I'm not bothered if it gets the odd ding or scrape. I commute to London by train so I only really need my car for local short trips.

I earn 120k and no one would ever guess from my car. We also have a nice but not huge/flash house because we prefer to be mortgage free. Giving the impression of being modest earners is very useful. We've found if people think we're comfortably off they expect us to pay for everything. Er, no thanks!

Then you need to live a more exciting life.

This!!

Very "let them eat cake".