So, what cars do we all drive?

VTech wrote:

Damn thats nice, I feel like doing out and buying a new watch, I guess its like women and shoes.

What? You buy women?

As regards the XJ, VTech, I would be happy to be able to afford any of 'em.

Couldn't give a toss about watches or cars, or anything of that sort. Anything favoured by premiership footballers is to be avoided, IMHO. I do favour a handmade suit and nice shirts (minus a stupidly fat tie knot) but it's not dealbreaker if I don't have them in my life. Happiest mooching in my jeans and desert wellies

Nice house though, that's important to me. I don't mean big - it could be a small flat, maisonnette, whatever. But I'd rather spend my money on my house. A beautiful picture or sculpture in just the right place would give me more pleasure on a day to day basis than a car or watch.

Got a mate, serves in the SBS. One of the guys serving in their reserve squadron is a surgeon. He's 40 years old. No car, no house (rents a shithole) and has not a penny to his name. The reason for that? He spends six months a year living in Africa operating on kids with club feet, and giving them a new life.And he pays for all their treatment.

I don't think he sees a big watch as a mark of anything, really. But as has been said, it's very much each to their own.

Cars as status symbols, it's really just cars for insecure people isn't it? Desperate to tell the neighbours how successful they are, all that crap. It's at its height with the VAG group, here's a company that have a pecking order based entirely on the perceived value of a badge on the bonnet.

Anyway, if it's all about extending your success/personality/wealth/intelligence outwards with watches, flash cars etc, you'd be be better off just paying some attention to spelling and grammar on a public forum rather than telling everybody about your wealth.

dodgy wrote:

Cars as status symbols, it's really just cars for insecure people isn't it? Desperate to tell the neighbours how successful they are, all that crap. It's at its height with the VAG group, here's a company that have a pecking order based entirely on the perceived value of a badge on the bonnet.

Anyway, if it's all about extending your success/personality/wealth/intelligence outwards with watches, flash cars etc, you'd be be better off just paying some attention to spelling and grammar on a public forum rather than telling everybody about your wealth.

That could be said of everything in life.

Shopping at M&S instead of Aldi
Nice house
Nice clothes
Kids attending after school clubs
Watches
Personal goods
Cars
etc etc etc etc etc

Wanting nice things isnt a willy waving thing, it makes some people happy, same as the doctor talked about above who works in Africa at his own cost.

I would happily spend a fair amount on a nice watch or house or car as that is something I like, others here would spend thousands on bike upgrades that some would call ludicrous.

If you earn it, spend it, the sin is dying with vast sums in the bank having never enjoyed it. Ive been broke, ive had enough to pay the bills and ill probably cycle the both before I dye so whilst ive got it ill have exactly what I want, and when things are tight I will not spend and I would suggest that be the way most people should live, were here once only. Enjoy it.

jasgill wrote:

VTech wrote:

dodgy wrote:

Cars as status symbols, it's really just cars for insecure people isn't it? Desperate to tell the neighbours how successful they are, all that crap. It's at its height with the VAG group, here's a company that have a pecking order based entirely on the perceived value of a badge on the bonnet.

Anyway, if it's all about extending your success/personality/wealth/intelligence outwards with watches, flash cars etc, you'd be be better off just paying some attention to spelling and grammar on a public forum rather than telling everybody about your wealth.

That could be said of everything in life.

Shopping at M&S instead of Aldi
Nice house
Nice clothes
Kids attending after school clubs
Watches
Personal goods
Cars
etc etc etc etc etc

Wanting nice things isnt a willy waving thing, it makes some people happy, same as the doctor talked about above who works in Africa at his own cost.

I would happily spend a fair amount on a nice watch or house or car as that is something I like, others here would spend thousands on bike upgrades that some would call ludicrous.

If you earn it, spend it, the sin is dying with vast sums in the bank having never enjoyed it. Ive been broke, ive had enough to pay the bills and ill probably cycle the both before I dye so whilst ive got it ill have exactly what I want, and when things are tight I will not spend and I would suggest that be the way most people should live, were here once only. Enjoy it.

Agreed, only 1 life, live it how you want and don't give a sh*t about what others think. If you can afford it, buy it and enjoy it! That's my motto.

Totally agree.

neeb wrote:

The difference is between wanting something because you like or admire it in some way (fair enough), wanting something because you want other people to admire it as some reflection of your personality or taste (possibly fair enough, although if it actually reflects badly on your taste be prepared to take the flak), and finally, wanting something purely because it is flash and/or expensive and/or fashionable and you want to show off. The latter will rarely have the desired effect, except amongst other similarly shallow & insecure folk.

Another thing to bear in mind is that while you only have one life and you should make the most of it (including spending money if you have it), consumerism can easily become a trap you fall into that ends up distracting you from doing more valuable things that you'd actually also enjoy far more as well.

You have a good point but im not too sure there are many people who buy to make others happy, I would feel sorry for these people, not upset by them.
I buy things because I like them, more often than not on a whim which I later regret.
I like looking at cars so to have them in a garage to look at is pleasing, others would say its a waste and they are almost certainly right but many people live like this, keeping possessions to themselves for no apparent reason but self gratification, coin and stamp collectors to name but two.

Chris Bass wrote:

Fiat 500

does that make me a girl? In my defence it is pretty cheap!

One of the nicest looking cars on the road.

VTech wrote:

You have a good point but im not too sure there are many people who buy to make others happy, I would feel sorry for these people, not upset by them.

There are definitely plenty of people who buy things because the main thing they like about them is that other people know they are expensive and seen as "high status". They simply like demonstrating to other people that they can afford these things in the first place, because their idea of their own self-worth mainly revolves around their financial status.

P.S. buying things to make others happy is called present-giving, and is not really something to be pitied.. Sorry, couldn't resist..

I have found that in fact owning a quick car is massively cheaper than buying an average car and watching its value depreciate so quickly.
One of my first nice cars was a nearly new 996 Turbo cabriolet, I had it for a year and lost a few hundred quid.
Had a nearly new BMW X5 and in 1 year lost £15,000.00 !

Ive had a few quick cars now and never lost anything like the amount I did on the X5. Its actually far cheaper owning such a car ive found.

big p wrote:

A thing of beauty is sometimes worth the money, and after all, it's whats inside that counts.

Indeed. And that looks not so different to mine!



I love cars but can't think of any rational reason to spend more than about £3k on one unless it really is a minimal depreciation purchase.

Ok. I can accept that people will pay, what to my mind, are extortionate prices for, say, a watch. (But in the back of my mind a voice is screaming,'FFS, it's only a watch! ) They buy them because they think them beautiful, fair enough.
But how many people buy such things BECAUSE they are expensive and exclusive. The guy on here who fell for Ronnie Barker's patter, his watch could be attractive and elegant, but not desired by some because 'It's a Sekonda'
Not saying this applies to anyone here.
You see people wear clothes because they were designed by so and so and are reassuringly expensive. People treading the red carpets around the world wear Dior, Versace, Westwood (FFS) and others, costing thousands and manage to look a bag of sh1t. They would look better if they shopped at Matalan. But no, it can't be an ugly dress because it was made by a NAME.
As I say. people can and should spend their money on what they want. If they see something they like, then go for it, I can full understand that. But I can't understand buying a 'label' for the sake of it. Not only do some people have more money than sense, they seem to have more money than taste.

Oh

Every man should have a nice watch. It says a lot about someone

Worraloadabollox. It says a lot more about the person judging someone by the watch they wear than the watch says about the wearer.

Mechanical watches are actually amazing and beautiful things, but you can get a top quality 40 year old vintage Seiko automatic for a fraction of the cost of a "prestige" watch and get it serviced by a watchmaker (for about the cost of the watch itself). You will then have something that is probably just as accurate as a really expensive modern mechanical watch and far more unique and interesting (Seiko made a great variety of different in-house movements), with the added advantage that no-one will bother stealing it if you are mugged or think you are trying to show off by wearing it. But most people who are "into watches" probably couldn't explain to you the basics of how a mechanical watch works, never mind the particular unique intricacies of the movement in the one they are wearing.

If were talking watches i have two. I bought an omega seamaster 12 years ago and been a great watch to own. Still have it for daily use but have recently bought a u boat watch. Not everyones cup of tea but i like it. Same as a submarine dial if anyone dont get it.

To further the point vetch was trying to make; my favourite watch, which is very elegant, cost me about 60 euros a few years ago. I had a buddy who visited me from Austria who kept telling me to wear trackers and a sweatshirt into town, which I reserve for gardening and lounging. I put my normal clothes on (suit and shirt) because that is what I feel comfortable in. He then proceeded to tell me I only wear suits so everyone thinks "he's rich". I politely laughed at him and told him to find a hotel after other incidents happened that day. Some people just don't realise people wear what they like and feel comfortable in, and just because it is a suit does not mean I am trying to show off to the world.