What happened to genuinely posh cars and their targets?

[320d is all you need]

CheesecakeRunner said:

RMDB9 said:

320d is all you need said:

While there are some people who view cars as "wealth extensions" (I've certainly met a few in my time including an apprentice who worked at a friends company, he had a 2012 Mercedes C Class when he was 18 and thought he was the fking dogs nuts, always would wear a suit jacket to work (office job) when everyone else wore the company Jumper/Coat - knob.

I have seen that type of person. While its easy to make fun of them, these are usually "social climbers" without the negative connotation, the first in the family to have a white-collar job, a "Benz" (often plain and in fine condition, seat covers, steel wheel etc) and "suit and tie" jobs are very important status signifiers for them. An 18 year old like the one you described does not want to appear "wealthy", but "respectable".

Indeed. Calling someone a “knob” for wearing a suit to an office job, and having a nice but average car, says more about the person making the statement, than the subject of the statement.

Not really, you didn't know him or the company. I did. I did a lot of little bits for his company (supplying brackets and what not).

This 18y/o was very arrogant. As I said, it is not a suit and tie job. Even the sales director didn't wear a suit jacket. He thought having a Mercedes (an average 18 year olds car?) made him special.

In the end he was fired because he decided to repeatedly be an arrogant ahole on Emails to senior staff.

Nice guy

[Flumpo]

320d is all you need said:

CheesecakeRunner said:

RMDB9 said:

320d is all you need said:

While there are some people who view cars as "wealth extensions" (I've certainly met a few in my time including an apprentice who worked at a friends company, he had a 2012 Mercedes C Class when he was 18 and thought he was the fking dogs nuts, always would wear a suit jacket to work (office job) when everyone else wore the company Jumper/Coat - knob.

I have seen that type of person. While its easy to make fun of them, these are usually "social climbers" without the negative connotation, the first in the family to have a white-collar job, a "Benz" (often plain and in fine condition, seat covers, steel wheel etc) and "suit and tie" jobs are very important status signifiers for them. An 18 year old like the one you described does not want to appear "wealthy", but "respectable".

Indeed. Calling someone a “knob” for wearing a suit to an office job, and having a nice but average car, says more about the person making the statement, than the subject of the statement.

Not really, you didn't know him or the company. I did. I did a lot of little bits for his company (supplying brackets and what not).

This 18y/o was very arrogant. As I said, it is not a suit and tie job. Even the sales director didn't wear a suit jacket. He thought having a Mercedes (an average 18 year olds car?) made him special.

In the end he was fired because he decided to repeatedly be an arrogant ahole on Emails to senior staff.

Nice guy

What’s he up to now?

He sounds from your far from glowing reference a difficult person. But it does read a bit like one of these pushy self made millionaires blurb from his self promoting autobiography.

‘In my first job I realised I was special and destinied to be an entrepreneur. I was there to make money and do deals, everyone else went to the office and dressed like tramps, when I got a new basic merc aged 18 the unmotivated stagnating others couldn’t hide their jealousy. I knew it was time to go it alone when the senior management wouldn’t listen to my advice from the shop/sales floor on how to improve. I sent them my ideas and when they kept ignoring me I lost it and pointed out they were spunking money up the wall. I was fired and never looked back, now I’m a multimillionaire sleaze ball with 7m insta followers and a super yacht.’

Or is he still selling brackets out of his old merc?

[Harry Flashman]

The Spruce Goose said:

Have we had carries money around in tesco carry bags and drives very old cars, anything in the shed thread, for the old money types?

Someone needs to do an old money bingo card.

Edited by The Spruce Goose on Wednesday 7th April 06:38

"came into the dealership dressed like a tramp, I was the only one who spoke to him, came back in and bought three matching cars with every option for his sons for cash that afternoon“, and other such classics will surely be delivered soon, by the same fools who get a kick of trotting out this tired old garbage to anyone who will listen

[Flumpo]

Harry Flashman said:

The Spruce Goose said:

Have we had carries money around in tesco carry bags and drives very old cars, anything in the shed thread, for the old money types?

Someone needs to do an old money bingo card.

Edited by The Spruce Goose on Wednesday 7th April 06:38

"came into the dealership dressed like a tramp, I was the only one who spoke to him, came back in and wanted to buy three matching cars with every option for his sons for cash that afternoon, I had to tell him unless he wanted pcp he could fook off back to the bus stop. Meanwhile my colleague sold 3 cars to the 22 year olds and got his finace bonus.’ other such classics will surely be delivered soon, by the same fools who get a kick of trotting out this tired old garbage to anyone who will listen

I’ve fixed the above for you.

[MikeT66]

Harry Flashman said:

The Spruce Goose said:

Have we had carries money around in tesco carry bags and drives very old cars, anything in the shed thread, for the old money types?

Someone needs to do an old money bingo card.

Edited by The Spruce Goose on Wednesday 7th April 06:38

"came into the dealership dressed like a tramp, I was the only one who spoke to him, came back in and bought three matching cars with every option for his sons for cash that afternoon“, and other such classics will surely be delivered soon, by the same fools who get a kick of trotting out this tired old garbage to anyone who will listen

With all these stories, sometimes there's a kernel of truth, I think... then get embellished upon. When I ran pubs for a well-known Yorkshire brewery back in the late 1990s the owner, a very rich man with land and pubs across London as well as Yorkshire, drove a battered F-registration Montego and dressed in clothes that looked like he'd not changed them for a few years. His son was a different type, let's just say.

[Flumpo]

MikeT66 said:

Harry Flashman said:

The Spruce Goose said:

Have we had carries money around in tesco carry bags and drives very old cars, anything in the shed thread, for the old money types?

Someone needs to do an old money bingo card.

Edited by The Spruce Goose on Wednesday 7th April 06:38

"came into the dealership dressed like a tramp, I was the only one who spoke to him, came back in and bought three matching cars with every option for his sons for cash that afternoon“, and other such classics will surely be delivered soon, by the same fools who get a kick of trotting out this tired old garbage to anyone who will listen

With all these stories, sometimes there's a kernel of truth, I think... then get embellished upon. When I ran pubs for a well-known Yorkshire brewery back in the late 1990s the owner, a very rich man with land and pubs across London as well as Yorkshire, drove a battered F-registration Montego and dressed in clothes that looked like he'd not changed them for a few years. His son was a different type, let's just say.

I can confirm Humphrey does now use the bus.

[320d is all you need]

Flumpo said:

What’s he up to now?

He sounds from your far from glowing reference a difficult person. But it does read a bit like one of these pushy self made millionaires blurb from his self promoting autobiography.

‘In my first job I realised I was special and destinied to be an entrepreneur. I was there to make money and do deals, everyone else went to the office and dressed like tramps, when I got a new basic merc aged 18 the unmotivated stagnating others couldn’t hide their jealousy. I knew it was time to go it alone when the senior management wouldn’t listen to my advice from the shop/sales floor on how to improve. I sent them my ideas and when they kept ignoring me I lost it and pointed out they were spunking money up the wall. I was fired and never looked back, now I’m a multimillionaire sleaze ball with 7m insta followers and a super yacht.’

Or is he still selling brackets out of his old merc?

Hah. Something like that

I have no idea what he's up to now, he was an entry level junior fresh from college. I suspect he moved sideways to a similar entry level position at another company. I'd hope he "learnt his lesson" so to speak and has furthered his career in this time

[Justin Case]

When you are genuinely posh you don't need Tesco (or even Waitrose) bags to carry your small change in, you hand over managing your finances to an outfit like this:
https://www.coutts.com/
They no doubt have experts who will tell you what posh people should be driving

[Flumpo]

Justin Case said:

When you are genuinely posh you don't need Tesco (or even Waitrose) bags to carry your small change in, you hand over managing your finances to an outfit like this:
https://www.coutts.com/
They no doubt have experts who will tell you what posh people should be driving

Unfortunately I believe those in real posh circles consider coutts to have sold out in the last few decades. They now target z list celebs for mortgages and credit cards based on ‘unusual’ income patterns.

You’re more likely to be in the personal banking telephone queue with rylan or Mark wright than the queen these days.

[KTMsm]

Ambleton said:

Nowadays pretty much all mid-range and above cars are comfy, quiet etc, so why bother spending more.

^^^ This is what has killed my interest in cars

In the 80's / 90's cars were getting better and better but for the last 20 years anything middle range is more than good enough and the fastest car is simply the one with the driver who cares less about his licence

[psi310398]

MikeT66 said:

Harry Flashman said:

The Spruce Goose said:

Have we had carries money around in tesco carry bags and drives very old cars, anything in the shed thread, for the old money types?

Someone needs to do an old money bingo card.

Edited by The Spruce Goose on Wednesday 7th April 06:38

"came into the dealership dressed like a tramp, I was the only one who spoke to him, came back in and bought three matching cars with every option for his sons for cash that afternoon“, and other such classics will surely be delivered soon, by the same fools who get a kick of trotting out this tired old garbage to anyone who will listen

With all these stories, sometimes there's a kernel of truth, I think... then get embellished upon. When I ran pubs for a well-known Yorkshire brewery back in the late 1990s the owner, a very rich man with land and pubs across London as well as Yorkshire, drove a battered F-registration Montego and dressed in clothes that looked like he'd not changed them for a few years. His son was a different type, let's just say.

Garry Weston of Associated British Foods was another case in point. He drove nothing but a battered old Merc estate and was famously frugal despite being one of the richest people in the UK and one of the biggest charitable donors.

[anonymous-user]

And Benny Hill.

Get 100 millionaires in a room, I'm sure a few will wear Tesco jeans, carry money in plastic bags, run an old car, tell anyone that will listen, money talks wealth whiskers, but the rest will just be normal people who benefit from their wealth in material objects as any normal person would.

[LeroyLoser]

The Spruce Goose said:

And Benny Hill.

Get 100 millionaires in a room, I'm sure a few will wear Tesco jeans, carry money in plastic bags, run an old car, tell anyone that will listen, money talks wealth whiskers, but the rest will just be normal people who benefit from their wealth in material objects as any normal person would.

Until they open their mouths, most new money millionaires are vial after 10 minutes ‘polite’ conversation, they become so curious to know how much you have after 10 minutes so they can tell stories about themselves or people they know who are considerably richer.

Not all, we come across some very humble wealthy people who are just nice, & determined to not let money change whats important in a person.

The english are one of the worst we’ve come across for this tbh.

[RMDB9]

LeroyLoser said:

Until they open their mouths, most new money millionaires are vial after 10 minutes ‘polite’ conversation, they become so curious to know how much you have after 10 minutes so they can tell stories about themselves or people they know who are considerably richer.

Not all, we come across some very humble wealthy people who are just nice, & determined to not let money change whats important in a person.

The english are one of the worst we’ve come across for this tbh.

Are they ? I thought you lot are all about mustard grumble, never complain and explain, all that?

[RMDB9]

Flumpo said:

320d is all you need said:

CheesecakeRunner said:

RMDB9 said:

320d is all you need said:

While there are some people who view cars as "wealth extensions" (I've certainly met a few in my time including an apprentice who worked at a friends company, he had a 2012 Mercedes C Class when he was 18 and thought he was the fking dogs nuts, always would wear a suit jacket to work (office job) when everyone else wore the company Jumper/Coat - knob.

I have seen that type of person. While its easy to make fun of them, these are usually "social climbers" without the negative connotation, the first in the family to have a white-collar job, a "Benz" (often plain and in fine condition, seat covers, steel wheel etc) and "suit and tie" jobs are very important status signifiers for them. An 18 year old like the one you described does not want to appear "wealthy", but "respectable".

Indeed. Calling someone a “knob” for wearing a suit to an office job, and having a nice but average car, says more about the person making the statement, than the subject of the statement.

Not really, you didn't know him or the company. I did. I did a lot of little bits for his company (supplying brackets and what not).

This 18y/o was very arrogant. As I said, it is not a suit and tie job. Even the sales director didn't wear a suit jacket. He thought having a Mercedes (an average 18 year olds car?) made him special.

In the end he was fired because he decided to repeatedly be an arrogant ahole on Emails to senior staff.

Nice guy

What’s he up to now?

He sounds from your far from glowing reference a difficult person. But it does read a bit like one of these pushy self made millionaires blurb from his self promoting autobiography.

‘In my first job I realised I was special and destinied to be an entrepreneur. I was there to make money and do deals, everyone else went to the office and dressed like tramps, when I got a new basic merc aged 18 the unmotivated stagnating others couldn’t hide their jealousy. I knew it was time to go it alone when the senior management wouldn’t listen to my advice from the shop/sales floor on how to improve. I sent them my ideas and when they kept ignoring me I lost it and pointed out they were spunking money up the wall. I was fired and never looked back, now I’m a multimillionaire sleaze ball with 7m insta followers and a super yacht.’

Or is he still selling brackets out of his old merc?

C-class at 18 sounds very socially uncalibrated. New money types would give their children a convertible of some sorts, old money type an unassuming Golf.

[Flumpo]

[/quote]

C-class at 18 sounds very socially uncalibrated. New money types would give their children a convertible of some sorts, old money type an unassuming Golf.
[/quote]

Is this unassuming golf a shed, held together with either bailer, bailing, baler or baling twine, new or nearly new?

[RMDB9]

New or nearly new, in a boring spec.

[Jaguar steve]

LeroyLoser said:

The Spruce Goose said:

And Benny Hill.

Get 100 millionaires in a room, I'm sure a few will wear Tesco jeans, carry money in plastic bags, run an old car, tell anyone that will listen, money talks wealth whiskers, but the rest will just be normal people who benefit from their wealth in material objects as any normal person would.

Until they open their mouths, most new money millionaires are vial after 10 minutes ‘polite’ conversation, they become so curious to know how much you have after 10 minutes so they can tell stories about themselves or people they know who are considerably richer.

Not all, we come across some very humble wealthy people who are just nice, & determined to not let money change whats important in a person.

The english are one of the worst we’ve come across for this tbh.

Without a doubt.

Compared to the French and Spanish at least on the whole the English are a nation of materialistic, celebrity and money obsessed vulgarians fixated on Tabloid and royal family tittle tattle who just can't wait to tell everybody all about their new car or watch or promotion or how much their ghastly new build house on some aspirational upmarket development is worth. Naturally they'll be gagging to find out where you live, what car you drive and where you were educated, what you parents did for a living and if you're in employment what position you hold and whom you work for.

In conversation they'll be able to discourse chapter and verse on some semi-literate sports personality's latest tattoo or tell you more than everything you'll ever need to know regarding who some vacuous tart with surgically enhanced tits and ten grands worth of teeth is shagging this week or what's on offer in the latest Primark sale but of course won't have the slightest clue or be able to build a conversation about world affairs or the contributions UK science and engineering has made toward resolving the more serious issues facing humanity.

Pathetic. Rarely finding myself feeling proud of being British nowadays.

[austinsmirk]

My mother is selling the family home. Been clearing a few items of mine left there for decades. Turns out I have a wealth of dealer brochures from the 80’s, mint from cars my father had

Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar.

And oddly Porsche, Ford and golf gti that he never did.

And a few auto traders from the late 80’s.

I can tell you the answer easily.

The gulf between Mercedes, Volvo and Jaguar compared to anything mundane was enormous. Ditto price and specifications. The gap on pricing of a merc v a Granada was huge.

Even leafing through an 80’s Ford brochure s you can see just how cheap and Ill fitting the cars and trim are by comparison.

But the void has narrowed and as I’ve said before, you simply couldn’t buy a bad, poorly specified car now.

Sure your Dacia might not have active
Cat eye detection warning systems with a frothing cappuccino dash dispenser v more superior models but you can bet every single car these days has two wing mirrors that are heated and disc brakes plus a factory fit radio. Remember when you were lucky if they had radio prep which might mean two paper thin door speakers !

Richer or posher or harder working people had better cars simply because the alternative was something from British Leyland that would instantly rot to pieces on ones gravel driveway. And leak old on the chippings. And fail to start.

[Anonymous-poster]

austinsmirk said:

My mother is selling the family home. Been clearing a few items of mine left there for decades. Turns out I have a wealth of dealer brochures from the 80’s, mint from cars my father had

Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar.

And oddly Porsche, Ford and golf gti that he never did.

And a few auto traders from the late 80’s.

I can tell you the answer easily.

The gulf between Mercedes, Volvo and Jaguar compared to anything mundane was enormous. Ditto price and specifications. The gap on pricing of a merc v a Granada was huge.

Even leafing through an 80’s Ford brochure s you can see just how cheap and Ill fitting the cars and trim are by comparison.

But the void has narrowed and as I’ve said before, you simply couldn’t buy a bad, poorly specified car now.

Sure your Dacia might not have active
Cat eye detection warning systems with a frothing cappuccino dash dispenser v more superior models but you can bet every single car these days has two wing mirrors that are heated and disc brakes plus a factory fit radio. Remember when you were lucky if they had radio prep which might mean two paper thin door speakers !

Richer or posher or harder working people had better cars simply because the alternative was something from British Leyland that would instantly rot to pieces on ones gravel driveway. And leak old on the chippings. And fail to start.

Back in the day when a Mercedes was definitely not £299pm written on the doors of a car with a Renault engine!