Can owning a nice car be bad for business?

[Thin White Duke]

I'm sure that most if not all petrol heads purchase the car they desire and do not care what others will think of it.

However I do read sometimes and hear first hand from people who have decided to avoid buying a certain car due to how it may be perceived.

I knew of a local builder who back in the 90's bought a Porsche. It was second hand, probably the equivalent of spending £20,000 on one today. He was convinced that he lost trade because of it.

Has anyone here encountered the same situation or been put off buying a nice car because you fear that customers may feel they are paying for the upkeep of said vehicle? Or they may feel that you are rolling in it and may not really need the business?

I'm sure of course there is an opposite to this in which some businesses need to prove themselves to certain clients by having nice cars on hand.

[Thin White Duke]

I've always found this car psychology stuff interesting. Like people who park next to another car on an otherwise empty car park.

Regarding the builder with the Porsche, he used it as his everyday car aside from his work van. Probably if he'd garaged it and only used it at weekends he might not have had a problem.

[Thin White Duke]

TheD said:

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 drive a 308 XJ8 and I'm shocked to hear that. They are now at least 11 years old and I'm pretty sure most people (even non petrol heads) would know this and regard them more as a semi classic.

Having said that I do still encounter folks who think my Jag is worth more than their nearly new Mondeo/Vectra etc..

[Thin White Duke]

TLandCruiser said:

some people are jealous and all sorts, you only have to see on the news and almost daily different professions are under attack for being over paid etc etc,

for me I don't care at all and infact I like it when someone has something different, as its great to talk to them about the car...

Is it a case of lower earners expecting the wealthy to condescended to their level rather than what should happen and they aspire to be wealthier?

[Thin White Duke]

Another couple of stories.

My Dad knew a bookie who used to run a betting shop in town and he always drove a new/nearly new Mercedes. He said that it inspired confidence in his patrons who could see that he had the money to pay them out if they won big.

Going back to the days when Rolls Royce and Bentley were one and the same, a factory owner drove a Bentley. He stated that if he drove a Rolls Royce his employees would be demanding pay rises, perks etc... but in the Bentley no one seemed to mind. The only reason behind it perhaps is that a Bentley was/is seen as more of a drivers car.