Is badge everything?

[minesadecaf]

Just wondering how much people really care about the badge? I live by an area where everyone seems to be behind the wheel of a Range Rover or Porsche (we can't afford them!!) but it does make us weirdly feel sub par which is irrationally ridiculous. Does anyone else feel lured by the badge?

Saabs used to be great as they were regarded as 'classless'.
The (now discontinued) Landrover 90 & 110s are good too, you might be a gardener or the Queen - impossible to tell.
Me? - Merc's for the last 40 years, but never new - plenty of low mileage, second-hand ones and good independent specialists to keep them going. Current one is 11 years old with 118K and still towed the caravan 1500 miles over the last month.

The problem with this country is how much cache people put in things of material value as a signifier of success. It screams insecurity and tells me that the class system is still alive and well.

PCP is the devil's own work in that respect, in the sense that I know support staff in our office who drive 1 series BMWs / A class Mercs etc at £250 a month minimum - probably that's a sixth of their monthly wage after tax! That's insane, but anything to get into the premium marques and have something shiny on the drive etc.

I own (outright) a car that has nothing to do with status for me. I wanted a newish BMW estate because it was perhaps the only car I could find of it's type that was rear-wheel drive, six cylinder big engine, and manual gearbox. That's it - couldn't care less whether people thought I was rich, poor or whatever.

Badge snobbery in this country has got to silly proportions though, along with the "SUV-high-driving-position-is-best" mob who will not be told otherwise that there could perhaps be other choices.

I drive an old Mazda 3 (55 plate). Love that anyone in a posher/newer car gives me a wide berth as they think I'm going to 'infect' their image with old car vibes.
And I own it outright.

@tensixtysix

Loving your work!

I've been driving since 1987 and thinking back, none of my cars ever cost more than 4K
They were:

Ford Fiesta 1300 sport (first car)
VW Polo 1.2
Vauxhall Astra
Saab 900 2.0 (1984 model)
Saab 900 2.0 sport (1987 model)
Toyota Corolla 1.2 (hated that car)
Vauxhall Zafira (2002)
Vauxhall Zafira (2005)...one of the famous 'could catch fire'
and present time Mazda 3 (2005 model)

I loved Saab cars, but they were never the same after Vauxhall brand too over.

Don’t get the brand thing at all currently have a Skoda superb. Could have had a vw or Audi version of the same car but why.

Also was offered 100s of BMW 3 series to lease all cheaper than the Skoda cause they couldn’t give them away.

Get a new car in March and will be what ever the best deal is not arsed about badges.

It does amaze me that the same car with a few tweaks can be sold for 1000s more because of a badge and bigger all else.