are we just automotive magpies?
Discussion
I was on another forum discussing my probable next car and someone came up with the perfectly 'reasonable' question of...
"what's wrong with the current car? Is it so bad you need to spend around xxx $ to replace it? "
now obviously there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current car. It's fully paid for, needs no work, looks brilliant (IMO) etc etc It just got me to thinking that I'm not the only person like this so what drives us to replace something (damn near) perfect with something that's not measurably better (different colour, even more unusable power)?
"what's wrong with the current car? Is it so bad you need to spend around xxx $ to replace it? "
now obviously there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current car. It's fully paid for, needs no work, looks brilliant (IMO) etc etc It just got me to thinking that I'm not the only person like this so what drives us to replace something (damn near) perfect with something that's not measurably better (different colour, even more unusable power)?
DodgyGeezer said:
I was on another forum discussing my probable next car and someone came up with the perfectly 'reasonable' question of...
"what's wrong with the current car? Is it so bad you need to spend around xxx $ to replace it? "
now obviously there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current car. It's fully paid for, needs no work, looks brilliant (IMO) etc etc It just got me to thinking that I'm not the only person like this so what drives us to replace something (damn near) perfect with something that's not measurably better (different colour, even more unusable power)?
The human condition of dissatisfaction combined with the comparative ease of changing a car (compared to a house/career/spouse)"what's wrong with the current car? Is it so bad you need to spend around xxx $ to replace it? "
now obviously there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current car. It's fully paid for, needs no work, looks brilliant (IMO) etc etc It just got me to thinking that I'm not the only person like this so what drives us to replace something (damn near) perfect with something that's not measurably better (different colour, even more unusable power)?
For most people, its either because they're keeping up with next door, don't want to have to MOT a car or think a car with over 40k/60k/100k will be so unreliable that its only good to be scrapped.
I don't subscribe to any of these thoughts, which is why I still have my near 180k miles BMW 330d. It was, and still is, a great car.
I don't subscribe to any of these thoughts, which is why I still have my near 180k miles BMW 330d. It was, and still is, a great car.
I've moved house 8 times. New places, new views, new experiences.
I change cars for the same reasons. BMW, Aston, Audi, Porsche, Caterham etc
Some want to drive a BMW 330 for 180k miles. Nothing wrong with that. I prefer change. It's just a personal thing.
Call me a magpie. The term probably fits.
I change cars for the same reasons. BMW, Aston, Audi, Porsche, Caterham etc
Some want to drive a BMW 330 for 180k miles. Nothing wrong with that. I prefer change. It's just a personal thing.
Call me a magpie. The term probably fits.
I love the road tax argument for a new car. And with these people it's road tax, not VED.
"£165 for road tax! I'm going to get one that costs £35". Conveniently forgetting the £15k mumflies for the new(er) car. And rather than take out a cheap loan with their bank, they'll go for a dealer loan at 19.7%.
"£165 for road tax! I'm going to get one that costs £35". Conveniently forgetting the £15k mumflies for the new(er) car. And rather than take out a cheap loan with their bank, they'll go for a dealer loan at 19.7%.
DanielSan said:
Too many different cars to try and not enough time and/or funds to try them all. So experience as many as you possibly can.n
Yep. If you're interested in cars, then it's just what you do.I am daily trying to convince myself to sell the Porsche so I can try something else. It's just too good in so many ways, though. I'm tempted with selling the TT shed but I've put a lot of money into it because it's also good in many other ways (like if I fancy a midnight run and don't want to p
s off the neighbours). Sadly, I don't have space for third car and I'm always thinking about having a change.
We should really clarify whether we're talking daily drivers or fun cars.
I really don't get those who change one generic suv blob for a newer generic suv blob. But plenty of people round here are rocking 25 plate cars/blobs, so must be a popular practice.
Fun cars however... life is short, lots of interesting cars to try. If you buy cars near the bottom of their depreciation curve, you can have a couple of years of enjoyment for minimal cost.
I really don't get those who change one generic suv blob for a newer generic suv blob. But plenty of people round here are rocking 25 plate cars/blobs, so must be a popular practice.
Fun cars however... life is short, lots of interesting cars to try. If you buy cars near the bottom of their depreciation curve, you can have a couple of years of enjoyment for minimal cost.
ShortBeardy said:
Rampant consumerism, boredom, effective marketing, a skewed perspective of self worth or merely the desire to `better oneself' and often and in no small part, a lack of self control when it comes to long term fiscal responsibility. But Magpie is not a bad description.
Good answer and one I agree with.ChocolateFrog said:
Money is abundant for say half a million people in this country, more than they'd ever need a lifetime or two.
In that situation if you like cars you might as well indulge yourself.
The vast majority don't chop and change on a whim.
The few seriously rich folk I know don’t chop and change regularly. In that situation if you like cars you might as well indulge yourself.
The vast majority don't chop and change on a whim.
Lester H said:
The few seriously rich folk I know don t chop and change regularly.
I'm not seriously rich but the older and more disposable income I have the less inclination I have to change cars Conversely a friend of mine is on her 14th Kia Sportage, picked up on 1st Sept and in a few months it'll be traded for another one
Mental
Edited by Earthdweller on Saturday 27th December 20:07
brillomaster said:
We should really clarify whether we're talking daily drivers or fun cars.
I really don't get those who change one generic suv blob for a newer generic suv blob. But plenty of people round here are rocking 25 plate cars/blobs, so must be a popular practice.
Because they quickly get bored of the current ugly fat wallowing lump on their drive and think that if they replace it, they might enjoy the new one. They're right of course for the first 3 months, then the search begins again.I really don't get those who change one generic suv blob for a newer generic suv blob. But plenty of people round here are rocking 25 plate cars/blobs, so must be a popular practice.
Re your second point, I've started taking the same approach for my "daily driver" - there certainly are fun cars at the bottom of their depreciation curve and that's why I feel life's too short to be driving an ugly fat wallowing lump everyday.
Couldn't care less about changing cars all the time. Couldn't care less about having the newest/latest tech. Couldn't care less about keeping up with the neighbours.
All I see, each time you change cars, is a load of cost. Either sell your car privately which massive hassle and takes ages, or take a bath on the part ex value with a dealer who's also charging the high side for the car you're buying.
I ran an E36 3 Series from new to 25 years old and would still be running it now if an increasingly challenging battle with rust hadn't made it uneconomical to maintain. Then I bought a 20 year old E87 120d that's been known to me for over 15 years, so cheap 'cause it's old but safe 'cause I know how it's been treated. Will run that until my dream F32 440i comes up for sale. Will maintain that meticulously and hopefully have it until the day that age or legislation forces me to give up.
All I see, each time you change cars, is a load of cost. Either sell your car privately which massive hassle and takes ages, or take a bath on the part ex value with a dealer who's also charging the high side for the car you're buying.
I ran an E36 3 Series from new to 25 years old and would still be running it now if an increasingly challenging battle with rust hadn't made it uneconomical to maintain. Then I bought a 20 year old E87 120d that's been known to me for over 15 years, so cheap 'cause it's old but safe 'cause I know how it's been treated. Will run that until my dream F32 440i comes up for sale. Will maintain that meticulously and hopefully have it until the day that age or legislation forces me to give up.
Lester H said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Money is abundant for say half a million people in this country, more than they'd ever need a lifetime or two.
In that situation if you like cars you might as well indulge yourself.
The vast majority don't chop and change on a whim.
The few seriously rich folk I know don t chop and change regularly. In that situation if you like cars you might as well indulge yourself.
The vast majority don't chop and change on a whim.
A lot of money talk in here, do you say the same about every hobby? Why play golf and have to buy clubs, pay corse fee etc when you can sit at home for free?
Cars are a hobby for me with the bonus of being able to use them to get around. I spend money on them for the experience, fun, aim of track days or road trips or modifying because that’s what I find fun and interesting.
Buying one car at 17 and keeping it forever because it’s cheaper sounds incredibly boring to me.
Cars are a hobby for me with the bonus of being able to use them to get around. I spend money on them for the experience, fun, aim of track days or road trips or modifying because that’s what I find fun and interesting.
Buying one car at 17 and keeping it forever because it’s cheaper sounds incredibly boring to me.
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