Can owning a nice car be bad for business?
Discussion
It can go one of two ways I think. Some can give the negative reaction as already described or potential customers can see it as a sign that you're successful and doing something right.
The line of work you're in may help also. I run a car care business and since I bought my GT3 (inheritance from the death of my mum contributed towards this more than earnings from the business to be honest) the level of Porsche enquiries (and in particular the GT models) has increased significantly. A fellow GT3 owner in the same line of work said the same happened to him.
The line of work you're in may help also. I run a car care business and since I bought my GT3 (inheritance from the death of my mum contributed towards this more than earnings from the business to be honest) the level of Porsche enquiries (and in particular the GT models) has increased significantly. A fellow GT3 owner in the same line of work said the same happened to him.
If the customer/client is a petrolhead then it makes for a great conversational piece and bonding.
I think most people nowadays are quite perceptive of what is affordable and what people spend their money on. If they're prepared to spend a lot on their cars the chances are they make sacrifices in other areas.
I think most people nowadays are quite perceptive of what is affordable and what people spend their money on. If they're prepared to spend a lot on their cars the chances are they make sacrifices in other areas.
It depends what you do though, if I go anyway I'm going to a big organisation with a big car park and it's just another car amongst many. If it's someone coming to my house to quote something it might be different, but in a lot of circumstances nobody knows anyway. If you are worried about people,coming to your own office then don't park it outside the front door.
I've run new Porsches as company cars in several different lines of business and am not aware that I ever lost any business because of it. In fact one or two customers in the last have said they used me in part because I was able to afford to run nice cars.
I'd also extend the point about nice cars to the perception of employees and acquaintances. In my experience, if you've always run nice cars people accept it. But don't give the appearance of getting on in life because other people don't like to see that. Crabs in a bucket and all that.
My opinion is quite the opposite to most of the comments posted on here, i think that if someone shows up in a high end motor for business then this is a good sign that they are probably doing a good job of whatever service or business they are providing which gives me confidence as i only ever pay for the service or goods that i think are worth the money. I make my own mind up as to wether the fees they are charging are suitable, usually after a lot of research and my decisions are not based on their choice of vehicle.
Me personally i'll use my car to go to any occasion and have on very many occasions been on the receiving end of a negative reception because of my choice of vehicle as people do unfortunately pre-judge others on the cars they drive. A week or so ago i was waiting to pull out of a junction and a man drove past with his Mrs in the car and for no apparent reason decided to call me a w
ker complete with hand gestures and a unhappy look on his face. Whilst yes sometimes i admit i can be a bit of a wker especially after plenty of booze but on this occasion i was well away from home so there is an extremely strong possibility that this person would never have seen me before or experienced my wkerness directly therefore i concluded it must have been my choice of vehicle that provoked him for some reason.
Me personally i'll use my car to go to any occasion and have on very many occasions been on the receiving end of a negative reception because of my choice of vehicle as people do unfortunately pre-judge others on the cars they drive. A week or so ago i was waiting to pull out of a junction and a man drove past with his Mrs in the car and for no apparent reason decided to call me a w
ker complete with hand gestures and a unhappy look on his face. Whilst yes sometimes i admit i can be a bit of a wker especially after plenty of booze but on this occasion i was well away from home so there is an extremely strong possibility that this person would never have seen me before or experienced my wkerness directly therefore i concluded it must have been my choice of vehicle that provoked him for some reason.rouge59 said:
fk 'em.
My missus got one or two snide comments from customers when we got our 8 year old Boxster, but when she politely pointed out it cost less than their new Fiesta they soon shut up and we've never had a problem since.
That's the good thing with smart phones, anyone starts being a cock, you can whip up autotrader and show them the value!k 'em.My missus got one or two snide comments from customers when we got our 8 year old Boxster, but when she politely pointed out it cost less than their new Fiesta they soon shut up and we've never had a problem since.
Jasandjules said:
Of course. When a chap turns up to quote in a brand new SL55 AMG you have to question how much are they charging.... And often you'll find they are in the more expensive quote bracket too.....
Well, for some lines of business I suppose it may not be a hindrance at all. But I always note these things too, for exactly the same reason. Who wants to think that they're paying for the overheads as much as they are for the work that's being done? Same goes when I visit fancy city centre offices! Strikes me as a pretty obvious thing to think, but I don't claim to speak for everybody.M4cruiser said:
Someone we know near here works in the "renewable energy" business ...
so .. he's making everyone else save the planet.
To be credible he really should have a sub-100 Co2 car, but both he and his wife have gas guzzlers.!
Business being the operative word. Some of these renewable types would exploit their mother for a quid. so .. he's making everyone else save the planet.
To be credible he really should have a sub-100 Co2 car, but both he and his wife have gas guzzlers.!
A nice car when others do without can only inspire jealousy which cant be good. It depends on the business though. Anyone in financial services, football etc would do far better driving a Ferrari than a Toyota. At least then you are one of the guys 'on the team'. More likely to be promoted than not. Most other businesses definitely a liability than an asset.
Edited by gvij on Wednesday 15th January 21:41
I have a friend runs his own company, and reuns around in an XKR as it amuses him enough but doesn't look too flash to his customers.
It really is a perception thing.
I work with/for people who think I must be paid far too much because of the Gransport, yet when you point out that's a nice new L200 Barbarian or Navarra Outlaw they've got there at 20what grand as well as the Freelander or Evoque their wife drives they don't get it.
It really is a perception thing.
I work with/for people who think I must be paid far too much because of the Gransport, yet when you point out that's a nice new L200 Barbarian or Navarra Outlaw they've got there at 20what grand as well as the Freelander or Evoque their wife drives they don't get it.
I stopped using my old XJR 308. It is worth hardly anything but the comments were unbelievable. I was always having to say it was old but I loved it, but they couldn't see that. They just saw it as a big flashy motor. Even friends with cars that are dull but cost £20,000 think it's flash and I'm showing off my cash. I can't get my head around their thinking at all. I now just use my van or the Terrano and never hear a peep
I was recently elected as a Councillor and have been toying with what would be an appropriate car to drive after selling my 1 series. My predecessor, a wealthy chap, used to run around in an old Renault 5 for council work and kept a new Audi TT in the garage for special occasions. I remember picking him up to go canvassing before the election in a brand new 5 series courtesy car whilst mine was in for a warranty repair - he politely suggested that if I wanted to gain votes rather than lose them we should take the Renault 5!
I have just bought my mum a micra automatic so now have her old 2007 Panda, and think it might just be the perfect runaround (and find something nice for high days and holidays).
I have just bought my mum a micra automatic so now have her old 2007 Panda, and think it might just be the perfect runaround (and find something nice for high days and holidays).
I never take the Porsche or Alpina when I go to see customers and only a very select few (those that have similar cars) know I've actually got them
Even when I've bought a new work van I've had comments from customers like 'we must be paying you too much...'
Well, I bought a brand new van last year and put an 03 plate on it that I had on retention.
That'll show them...
Even when I've bought a new work van I've had comments from customers like 'we must be paying you too much...'
Well, I bought a brand new van last year and put an 03 plate on it that I had on retention.
That'll show them...
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