do you think that if someone drives an old car....that they are not well off?

[bubblepop]

c'mon now. be really honest.

well I'd like to turn it around and say we have 2 old cars that cost nothing to fix because FIL is a mechanic and keeps them on the road for us, no expensive electrics to pay for etc. we don't pay for servicing or MOT's or most of the time spare parts!

I never think people with old cars are poor, I'm more likely to think that they don't feel the need to keep up with the joneses.

Actually I see new cars on the road and feel sorry for the people driving them because I don't think many people these days get new cars without some form of credit.

I can think of much better ways to spend that kind of money.

Just my 2p

Hmmm, seems like a sort of inverse snobbery going on here... I love cars and I love driving, so does dh. So I don't mind paying out every month for my 07 Honda Civic Type R (even though Clarkson panned it, what does he know), it's worth every penny when I get behind the wheel, or even just to look at it. And yes it's on a bit of credit, but we can easily afford it. People spend money on all sorts of things that others think are pointless.

Our last car was getting too expensive to maintain (S reg Ford Puma), and with another little one on the way a coupe probably wasn't going to be too practical.

And no I don't look at other people in old cars and think they must be poor, if that is such a terrible thing to be. Likewise neither do I make the assumptions some people on here seem to regarding people with new cars being up to the eyeballs in debt. Or trying to prove something to everyone else

When I see a man in brand new expensive car I think small willy

When I see a man in tiny old car I think possibly massive willy

I never think that cars are just cars to me, they get me from a - b. Actually I think I have a bit of reverse dnobbery about it. I bought a 2nd car when I got a new job 17 months ago - £500 for a 15 year olf 205. I LOVE IT!! It has cost me about £100 in repairs and MOT this year We also have a people carrier that I still think of as new - y reg and about 7 years old (we bought it when it was a year old) Both cars have over 120,000 miles on then and are still going strong. I now get a car allowence or company acr if I want it!! Can't be bothered, taking the money and having a new bathroom!!!

Some people think it's vulgar to spend money on flashy new cars.

I thought this was about whether we thought people who had plenty of dosh didn't drive older cars, or if we saw someone in an older car we would automatically assume they didn't have a lot of money - which I think the resounding answer is 'no'.
Where did the snobbery come in???? I must have missed it.

BTW - the civic type R is an excellent car, however much money you have/don't have/hope to have/did have but spent it on a car etc etc.....

You said to be really honest, so I will admit to inverse snobbery and say that I expect to be more likely to like someone if they drive an older or less flashy car. Just implies they might have similar priorities to me in a way that someone in a flashy/massive/new/4x4 car generally is less likely to. All circumstances are different, though - plenty of people I love have flash cars (though more cycle/have bangers).

I would never judge someone by their car!!!! That's quite shocking. All my pals have v different automobiles - some even drive vauxhalls!! fgs, but I wouldn't hold it against them

It's an impression rather than a judgement - does that make sense?

LOL at the OP's 120 000 miles on the clock. DH bought his last car when it had 120 000 on the clock, and kept it running for another 100 000.

We have old cars because DH likes to tinker with them.

course it does, SM. First impressions count.....
not keen on big bricks myself, truth be known, but better not go down that route........

I have a car I could afford to buy outright and can afford to run (just )

Nothing else about it matters to be.

TBH I haven't wasted a minute on what anyone else thinks.

I would like a more reliable one though

swap it for a toyota, honda or ford.
It's not a TVR is it? Bugger! They're a nightmare

I love cars, me. My next one's going to be an s2000 or aston martin.

I don't care what anyone else drives or how much it's worth, just as long as they drive carefully

It's surely the big car firms' marketing bollocks that's caused this feeling that we're dreadful people if we don't buy a new car every two years).

We could afford shiny new cars but as it is we're not falling for the idea that you have to run out and replace your car every couple of years....so I'd say if you drive an old car you're either a. rebelling against consumerism, or b. you like the car you have and don't want to change it for a newer model or c. you are indeed poor.

I do concur with the idea that once a car becomes a money pit and a pain as things are going wrong too much it might be time to change it though.

i dont think it matters how much money you have TBH,
it depends on what matters to you and your life,
i LOVE my car,and cars in general, i spend more time in my car than i do in my house,and i there are some cars i wouldn't even consider driving,i am very much a car snob in that i like people to notice my car and i like it to look nice,but i dont feel sorry for people in older cars(theres pleanty older cars i would love to own)and i dont think they are poor,i just think they would rather spend their money on something else as a car doesnt matter that much to them,or maybe it has sentimental value to them,theres obviously a reason they choose to drive it as most of you said theres so many companies like yes credit etc and everyone nowadays can get a new car if they wanted,