Why are people snobby about cars?

[Meetmeattheapt1]

If you have an interest in cars and genuinely prefer premium, luxury ones that's absolutely fine, but it's when people assume anything else is a piece of crap.

My car cost under 4k, I didn't have the money for anything else and I only wanted a smaller, older car for my first. Also didn't want years of expensive finance payments.

A friend in the group recently passed their test and was looking for a car, someone asked what their budget was and they said, 5k? The friend scoffed "Ha!" you'll get nothing but bangers for that."

Someone didn't know what car I drove and made a loud joke across the table about 'No way i'd drive that car'.

i've also had people surprised that the car is capable of doing long distances? Don't people realise that not everyone can afford something brand new? I know used car prices have gone up, there probably are cars ready to fall apart but under 5k gets you plenty of reliable and durable cars that do what you need them to.

I don't think that's necessarily being snobby. Sounds more like someone who is worried about reliability and repair costs.

Snobby to me is someone who will only drive a BMW/merc, etc and changes cars every couple of years and looks down their nose at someone who doesn't have a similar brand/age car.

I'm at quite an expensive gym and car park is full of Mercs, bmw, audi, teslas. I turn up in my 10yo Fiesta :)

We've been looking for a small second car that will be more of a local run around and genuinely can't find anything under 5k that's in good condition or doesn't have excessively high mileage and I'm not up for the mechanical problems and bills that come from that, I've been there, t shirt worn savings raided for repairs! We're now looking around 8-10k and I can get something under 10 years old with less than 75k on the clock, full service history etc.

And to add, my mechanic nephew said that mass produced modern cars made in the last five years are built down to a price rather than up to a standard. Older is usually better with the caveat that it is a good make with a full service history and no write offs.

The Ecoboost is a particularly egregious example mind you.

If you’re prepared to eschew SUV styling (and that’s a huge “if” in Mumsnet-land) then there are dozens of cars from Hyundai, Toyota, and Mazda which have lasted 100,000 miles over a long period with regular servicing.

The problem is that servicing in the UK is fascinating to me - a lot of people I’ve read online and spoken to, just don’t do it regularly enough or leave it for the next owner . They then expect a “miracle” car that just runs and runs without proper oil or filter changes .

it makes me think this is why PCP and buying new, keeping for 3 years, is probably the best thing for British drivers.

People who wouldn’t have properly looked after their car in the first place, are locked into a setup where the thinking is taken away from them.

I got a 2006 VW Golf 2lt Diesel payed 250 pounds for it,had a new clutch,two tyres and a roof aerial put on it.In total cost me inc new mot test.£1078 I’ve had it 6 years now and it’s never failed an mot.Goes like a little rocket as well.All that glitters is not gold ya know.

Having arbitrary mileage cut offs is meaningless, e.g. less than 70k, cars can have higher mileage and still be well-maintained, and vice-versa

Volvos are apparently really good also. I wanted their estate style car but found them to be too expensive even second or third hand 😞

I have heard Volvos go for ages

Yes, my Volkswagen diesel is still going fine at 190K miles and I love it.

I think it’s because a lot of people are very insecure in themselves and unhappy with their life, so they have to cling onto anything that they think makes them better, I.E.they might have a more expensive car than anybody else. Quite sad really

Really?!
That's quite an assumption.
Maybe they just want a nice car?

(I drive a fiesta btw so I'm not being defensive - just find it an odd thing to say)

Because posting on MN at 7am to claim people who like newer cars are clearly unhappy doesn’t scream insecurity and unhappiness at all…

People don’t get the irony of their statements at all do they? Both sides just sound pathetically jealous and insecure. Why on earth do people care so much?!

I’ve got a 21 year old golf I bought for 3k 6 years ago. It was meant to be a stop gap and I said I’d get something “nicer” when it died. It’s now done over 100k miles and it keeps chugging. Servicing and MOTs are cheap with minor things needing changing.

I could afford a “nicer” car, but now having this one not sure I want one!

I think this car will outlive me 🫢

Strange I paid 2.5k on mine over 2 years ago. Its still going strong. Nothing needed doing except for stuff like tyres and brake pads , oil changes etc. So just regular maintenance. Done almost 60k miles in it in that time.

I previously bought a £250 one from an ex ( thats what they offered him on trade in) That lasted through two MOTs without work and i got rid of ot woth 279000 miles on the clock ( petrol) Never any breakdowns

So where's your FACT?

My last Fiesta cost me £900 and had 250,000 miles on the clock when I sold it ! When we had to leave our home in a hurry when partner turned nasty we transported all our stuff in the same Fiesta. I currently have a 21 year old Honda with 156,000 miles on the clock and somebody waiting to buy it when I get another car . Apparently they are very desirable for young people to do up ! I hate the idea of being tied in to a finance deal .

I don’t want to hijack the thread but I’m looking for a cheap run around whilst I wait up to 6 months for my new company car to be delivered that will also be used for my kids to learn to drive in.

Everyone raving about their amazing cheap cars, can you say make and model please?

I partially agree with you @Keepgettingolder81 but the method they do it is very subtle -

Rather than just saying “I wanted a nicer car”, they can’t do that in Britain for fear of being ostracised by those who don’t like tall poppies

So instead to justify their choice it has to be “I would never buy an old car under £5,000, everything will break” etc. much more subtle

incidentally, i don’t have anything against nice cars, I have a couple that would qualify. I do have a thing against “car as image”, but it’s subtle to identify what this is so it leads to lots of argument (who’s to say I’m not that etc?)

Fortunately there are load of people who have decided what works for them (new or older ) and just crack on.

People like the ones you have met OP are quite useful as clearly tossers and quite helpful as by saying what they think aloud the rest of us can avoid them.

People just like cars and a lot of people can afford to drive expensive cars.
Our car is a 2017, it’s reliable and has no outstanding payments.
If I could afford a new car, I’d have one. I just can’t justify paying car finance when I’m not well off. DH would if he could. My neighbour bought a 45,000 car on finance in 2016 probably cost 60 including interest. It is irreparably, she has lots of parts replaced including an engine. The made money from selling the new engine. Now she has no car.
There is so much more that I could use 50,000 on.

Which is exactly what you’ve invited people here to do.

Why does it matter to you what anyone else thinks about your car?

I don’t think it is insecurity necessarily. It depends on people’s circumstances. I drive an old car now because it does what I need. It takes me to visit family and friends, for walks, days out. If I need to transport my friend’s dog, that’s ok, I’m not precious about the upholstery.

If I had to rely on it to commute, had small children, or were meeting clients in one, I would spend more on something newer.

When I was younger I had an expensive sports car for a while - not to impress people particularly, but because it was an absolute joy to drive. I sold it because it was impractical for day to day use, but sometimes a car can bring a smile to your face. 🙂

Sorry but that simply isn't true. A small car, with a 1 litre engine thats been well looked after will be fine. I had a Nissan reach 250k miles on the clock. Its absolutely individual to each and every car. You need to be cautious and knowledgeable during the buying process and know a garage you trust but Id rather that than £££ every month on a car payment for something im.constantky stressed about getting a mark on.

What is limited use to you? I paid £2.5k for my car 4 years ago. I cover 3 rural counties for work in it, visit my son in his city 3 hours drive away, and do the normal day to day driving.

I get all the use I need!

@Arbourimagemy son paid £2750 for his first car a year ago. Uses it daily and is pleased as punch with it. It’s cost him £70 in new sparks but otherwise has been running brilliantly.
All his mates think it’s great he has one and are grateful for the odd lift and really couldn’t care what brand it is.
OP I do know people that will only drive certain brand of cars but fortunately none of them disparage other peoples’ choices! Though Tesla seems uniformly vilified…

I think it’s the faux ignorance on both sides (as you say) whether it’s acting like an old car is dangerous, or saying a new car is a waste of money.

I don’t understand why it’s got this weird class veil around it, it is not unusual to want something newer, higher spec, most other areas of our lives we’d understand someone wanting the best of something. But in Britain with cars it somehow says something about you as a person and your class? I drive a new car not because I give a shit what people think about me, people can see in plenty of other ways I am clearly financially secure, but when I’m picking a car I do want all the bells and whistles it’s actually bloody useful! I want to like the way my car looks in the same way I want to like my clothes. This does not make me some kind of classless yob as some would have you believe.

Absolute rubbish , i spent 8k on a car and the bloody thing caught fire after 10 months.