Do you care what the neighbour's think?
Discussion
Most non PH type people don't get cars and what they perceive as expensive or posh is often way off the mark.
I'm I'm out washing the cars most will admire the 14-hundred quid MGF while ignoring the expensive new Land Rover.
There's a huge mix of people in my road from old money to new money, from old folks sitting on a pile of cash and a Micra to couples stretching their budgets on an expensive house school fees and a newish VAG product.
Looking out of my window now I can see an old Avensis, a newish Dacia Duster, an expensive looking new Merc Convertible, a couple of Discovery Sports, an old Clio, a big Lexus Hybrid car an old Audi A8 a new Panda 4x4.
I really don't think many folks care about what car you have.
I'm I'm out washing the cars most will admire the 14-hundred quid MGF while ignoring the expensive new Land Rover.
There's a huge mix of people in my road from old money to new money, from old folks sitting on a pile of cash and a Micra to couples stretching their budgets on an expensive house school fees and a newish VAG product.
Looking out of my window now I can see an old Avensis, a newish Dacia Duster, an expensive looking new Merc Convertible, a couple of Discovery Sports, an old Clio, a big Lexus Hybrid car an old Audi A8 a new Panda 4x4.
I really don't think many folks care about what car you have.
I try to be polite to most of our neighbours , always say hello or good morning as they walk past .
I work on the principle of being polite costs you nothing but and its a big but , I wasn't friends with them before I moved in and I'll not be their friends when either of us moves away.
I work on the principle of being polite costs you nothing but and its a big but , I wasn't friends with them before I moved in and I'll not be their friends when either of us moves away.
The only time a neighbour has commented on my car is when I was in the MX-5.."Is that a mid life crisis car?" Cheeky bugger,if it was I would rather have a 20 year old mistress 
I could not give a toss what people think of my car. Where I am now has nothing spcial, the most interesting car I see on a regular basis is an Austin 7
I could not give a toss what people think of my car. Where I am now has nothing spcial, the most interesting car I see on a regular basis is an Austin 7
Academic research typically shows people become miserable or less happy when a neighbour has better "stuff" than you. The theory of relative happiness. Bigger assets attract mates and status.
If the guy across the road has a perceived better car than you, chances are you will not be too happy about it (despite what you will or will not say).
If the guy across the road has a perceived better car than you, chances are you will not be too happy about it (despite what you will or will not say).
I only worry that exhaust noise might cause upset. Happily as it happens the old guy over the road was a bit of a car nut in his day, carries a slide of himself at the wheel of a DB5 he did up back when they weren't really considered valuable classics in his pocket, he's only ever interested in "what've you bought now?" and I keep fairly sensible hours most of the time.
Otherwise, sod 'em. A £1k BMW attracts more "oh, you're doing well" comments than a £10k shopping car, so what do they know anyway?
Otherwise, sod 'em. A £1k BMW attracts more "oh, you're doing well" comments than a £10k shopping car, so what do they know anyway?
One of mine asked me if I was trying to "compete" with her the other day, as she only has a 16 plate and I have a 66 plate.
I'd forgotten people thought like that until she'd spoken to me, threw me a little bit.
I couldn't really care what people think of what I drive, as long as I like it that's all that matters to me.
I'd forgotten people thought like that until she'd spoken to me, threw me a little bit.
I couldn't really care what people think of what I drive, as long as I like it that's all that matters to me.
mattfuey said:
One of mine asked me if I was trying to "compete" with her the other day, as she only has a 16 plate and I have a 66 plate.
I'd forgotten people thought like that until she'd spoken to me, threw me a little bit.
When you know bugger all, reg and badge are all you've got to form your worthless opinion. I'd forgotten people thought like that until she'd spoken to me, threw me a little bit.
I was working on the RX-7 in my garage one day when my neighbour invited himself in (our garage comes out onto the street at the end of his garden). He started blithering on about how he could never do anything like this ..meaning the work on the car.
"It's not that complicated," I said. "You were a mechanic before you retired, after all. Things haven't changed that much"
"Oh no," he says. "Today is Sunday, the Lord's day. It's a day of rest. You shouldn't be doing any work today"
Our relationship took a slight downwards turn when I pointed out that a) it was my only day off and therefore if I wanted it done, it had to be done today and b) if he took himself the f
k out of my garage he wouldn't be able to see it and therefore oughtn't upset him any more.
Neighbours. Try to be civil, but sometimes the only solution is a well-applied fk off
"It's not that complicated," I said. "You were a mechanic before you retired, after all. Things haven't changed that much"
"Oh no," he says. "Today is Sunday, the Lord's day. It's a day of rest. You shouldn't be doing any work today"
Our relationship took a slight downwards turn when I pointed out that a) it was my only day off and therefore if I wanted it done, it had to be done today and b) if he took himself the f
k out of my garage he wouldn't be able to see it and therefore oughtn't upset him any more.Neighbours. Try to be civil, but sometimes the only solution is a well-applied f
k offBuzypea said:
I currently drive a Vauxhall by choice.....need I say more
Being it's only 3 months old it's probably worth more than most of the machinery down our street, though I'm sure some of the neighbours with their 10 year old VAG products will still look down their noses at me
It's perhaps worth more today, give it a few months and it'll likely be a different story!Being it's only 3 months old it's probably worth more than most of the machinery down our street, though I'm sure some of the neighbours with their 10 year old VAG products will still look down their noses at me
Yipper said:
Academic research typically shows people become miserable or less happy when a neighbour has better "stuff" than you. The theory of relative happiness. Bigger assets attract mates and status.
If the guy across the road has a perceived better car than you, chances are you will not be too happy about it (despite what you will or will not say).
bIf the guy across the road has a perceived better car than you, chances are you will not be too happy about it (despite what you will or will not say).
ks! I genuinely don't give a fk. Maybe I'm a minority, but it's still true.If a neighbour had a £100k whatever, so what. If a neighbour had a well kept and/or modded MX5 or similar, I'd compliment him and strike up a conversation about it and cars in general.
Edited by SlimJim16v on Sunday 26th February 14:00
Yipper said:
Academic research typically shows people become miserable or less happy when a neighbour has better "stuff" than you. The theory of relative happiness. Bigger assets attract mates and status.
If the guy across the road has a perceived better car than you, chances are you will not be too happy about it (despite what you will or will not say).
Please give a source for this academic research because it's the biggest load of bIf the guy across the road has a perceived better car than you, chances are you will not be too happy about it (despite what you will or will not say).
ks I've yet to read on the internet.Alias218 said:
Cars are a relatively cheap purchase. The fact that you are neighbours and therefore have similar houses suggests you have some sort of financial parity with one another.
I thing he just wanted to ingratiate himself a little.
This is probably true for most of the country, however my street in South London is made up of houses that can be further divided into flats. The houses are worth £2m whilst you can pick up a flat for around £500K. This is further complicated by the fact that there is a huge rental market in London so in my street of near identical houses there is a huge variation in demographics.I thing he just wanted to ingratiate himself a little.
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