Driving a better car than your boss
Discussion
Sump said:
WeirdNeville said:
In all seriousness though 'Bosses' must have to be careful about stuff like that. I've seen mates across all industries seriously riled when they've not had a pay rise in years, grafted for the business, and then the boss swans up in a brand new Prestige car - and then tells them all that times are tight.
I'd certainly be less inclined to work hard for someone who rubbed his employees faces in it like that.
Yes but times are tight, overheads need to be met...part of the overheads is the boss' lifestyle I'd certainly be less inclined to work hard for someone who rubbed his employees faces in it like that.
I started to look for a new job the same day
That happened to a friend of mine, no money for pay rises but the Sales Director suddenly had a new X5 (I think), and also demanded that he have the full nav system package at a cost of 3k or so (third hand tale so haven't got all the details).
The same firm also had an office manager who would demand to see empty bic pens before opening the stationery cupboard.
On a lighter note, a friend of mine in Germany had his old Roller banned from camp by the CO. I think he was jealous as he just had a Cavalier and a driver, and Noggin would cruise past in his big old RR.
The same firm also had an office manager who would demand to see empty bic pens before opening the stationery cupboard.
On a lighter note, a friend of mine in Germany had his old Roller banned from camp by the CO. I think he was jealous as he just had a Cavalier and a driver, and Noggin would cruise past in his big old RR.
In 2008 my boss had a Discovery 3 and I bought a new Alfa Romeo 159 (in red) - a year later I was made redundant.
Then in 2012 I had a 10 registered Mondeo Titanium and my new boss arrived with a 55 reg Focus - 2 weeks later I was made redundant.
I am currently looking for a 1982 Polo. lol
Then in 2012 I had a 10 registered Mondeo Titanium and my new boss arrived with a 55 reg Focus - 2 weeks later I was made redundant.
I am currently looking for a 1982 Polo. lol
My immediate boss drives a Daihatsu Copen, and the guy above him drives an old MK2 Scirocco... it's never been a problem. They drive the cars they drive because they like them, and don't care about showing off and wasting money on stupid status symbols to one-up colleagues in the office.
richb77 said:
Many moons ago my boss bought a Cavalier SRi (1991).
About the same time I had just put a deposit down on a 1992 Cavalier GSI (lower miles too).
He went absolutely mental when I turned up in it, screaming at me, Slagging me off.
He was taken aside by the MD and told to calm down. I received a verbal warning.
I was gobsmacked as I never opened my mouth during the entire ordeal.
I quit soon after.
what was the verbal warning for?!About the same time I had just put a deposit down on a 1992 Cavalier GSI (lower miles too).
He went absolutely mental when I turned up in it, screaming at me, Slagging me off.
He was taken aside by the MD and told to calm down. I received a verbal warning.
I was gobsmacked as I never opened my mouth during the entire ordeal.
I quit soon after.
Drove a better car than my last 3 immediate bosses. 2 of them had 1 series from the CC scheme whilst I had a 330 and a Z4.
The other had an old A4 Avant at the same time I had my Z4.
However, head of office has a Noble (and is a member on here!) as well as a couple of other decent motors beyond my reach.
New boss as of next Monday who drives an ML so his is better!
The other had an old A4 Avant at the same time I had my Z4.
However, head of office has a Noble (and is a member on here!) as well as a couple of other decent motors beyond my reach.
New boss as of next Monday who drives an ML so his is better!
My bosses have a fiat 500 and a mini one where as my work colleague and I have a nissan 350z and an st mondeo I also have a motorbike but we both choose to spend our dosh on cars/bikes where as our bosses have some very nice houses go shooting lots of holidays so its all swings and roundabouts as to our spending preferences
djt100 said:
Sump said:
WeirdNeville said:
In all seriousness though 'Bosses' must have to be careful about stuff like that. I've seen mates across all industries seriously riled when they've not had a pay rise in years, grafted for the business, and then the boss swans up in a brand new Prestige car - and then tells them all that times are tight.
I'd certainly be less inclined to work hard for someone who rubbed his employees faces in it like that.
Yes but times are tight, overheads need to be met...part of the overheads is the boss' lifestyle I'd certainly be less inclined to work hard for someone who rubbed his employees faces in it like that.
I started to look for a new job the same day
king aholes.CJP80 said:
Surely no one on Pistonheads has a boss as we're all Directors, aren't we?
Everyone has a boss - and a Chairman has shareholders (and a wife!)Unfortunately for those who say it doesn't matter - you've clearly never heard of "small man syndrome". It depends on the boss.
In my experience, it has tended to be clients who have more of a problem than bosses. When I was working for accountancy firms, I noticed that partners in law firms happily turned up in Bentleys and Ferraris, but partners in accountancy firms usually have more "discreet" metal - often several years old and never "status symbol" cars. It seems that no-one minds lawyers showing off mega-earnings and driving flash cars, but they expect their accountants to be sensible and prudent and grey. An Audi is best. In grey.
When I was a trainee Chartered Accountant, I was once advised to try to park my Jag out of sight when visiting clients, and one client did go off on a half-joking rant about how their auditors were overcharging because this young kid (I was early twenties) had a nicer car than him (something newish and unmemorable) - over here we don't have number plates which identify the year, so any "prestige" car in good condition can appear expensive to most people. A colleague once had a 456, and comments were certainly made by some of the partners about having trainees richer than them.
As a result, I have usually had "better" (i.e. more poweful and interesting, if much older and cheaper) cars than my bosses. It has never harmed my career prospects, but I don't doubt that it could with the wrong person, and it can give a general subconscious impression that "he's doing OK and won't starve if he doesn't get a payrise".
I don't drive to work any more, and I don't work in the same office as my boss, but when I swapped the XJ for the CL this year I was careful to point out to my boss when it was mentioned that it was 15 years old and only cost £3.5k. I don't think he would ever care what I drove, but I still wouldn't want to risk needlessly affecting my pay prospects!
I'm a self employed decorator/fixer of things and currently have a very shiny Jag XJR (1996) which costs relatively little but looks a lot more, especially to non petrolheads. I tend not to use it when I go to look at jobs or pick up payment etc, don't want to make people think i'm charging too much!
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