Middle class chap car of choice in your manor
Discussion
A_K said:
If anyone ever wondered whether PHs had a large percentage of weirdo knobs commenting, this thread provides the answer.
What a totally knobbish thread full of codswallop.
The main thing I’ve learned from reading this that most commentators on here remind me hugely of the lonely old widow that used to live opposite my childhood home and peer at everyone on the street from behind her curtains, thinking nobody knew she was doing it. Sad.
Sheesh, it's a bit of fun based on another thread and it is interesting to see how UK car buying trends have changed over the years. I'm not sure that anyone is judging anyone for their cars. What a totally knobbish thread full of codswallop.
The main thing I’ve learned from reading this that most commentators on here remind me hugely of the lonely old widow that used to live opposite my childhood home and peer at everyone on the street from behind her curtains, thinking nobody knew she was doing it. Sad.
Nobody is curtain twitching - most petrolheads can think of what cars are on their street because they walk or drive past them every week.
Village on the outskirts of York, starting price 500k, Volvo world, not just because there’s two on our drive! Then a mix of very ordinary cars really, not much new stuff unless it’s very dull, like a Kia, fair bit of Japanese stuff, the odd older jag and Bentley. Virtually no audis….
pixelmix said:
Sheesh, it's a bit of fun based on another thread and it is interesting to see how UK car buying trends have changed over the years. I'm not sure that anyone is judging anyone for their cars.
Nobody is curtain twitching - most petrolheads can think of what cars are on their street because they walk or drive past them every week.
Fair point and I probably was a bit harsh but I think you know what I mean, its a very judgmental first world ‘problem’ type thread. Nobody is curtain twitching - most petrolheads can think of what cars are on their street because they walk or drive past them every week.
And the related ‘chav’ thread is no better. Surely you can see the holier-than-tho and them-and-us stink inherent in any discussion such as these.
Plus value of house is not a definitive class distinguisher by any means, contrary to what appears to be popular belief amongst posters on this thread. Nor is car.
Of course there will always be the “boy made good” from humble beginnings who’ll want to show the increase in wealth he’s made through his cars etc (note it’s increase in wealth relative to where he started rather than absolute wealth) but there’s at least as many always been wealthy folk who spend a pile on cars. And those that don’t, from all classes.
If there even is a thing such as class now. I’d argued the notion of class is largely outdated for the masses. A better thread title would be “what’s your neighbour’s choice of car”! :-)
Edited by A_K on Thursday 24th June 21:46
Triumph Man said:
spreadsheet monkey said:
trowelhead said:
Those "Modern Times" documentaries were brilliant. I love the bit at around one minute in, where it just shows close ups of the badges of all the cars featured, with no voiceover or background music. The guy with the Primera (around 8:13 in the video) is also great.This video is almost 30 years old now. And this was probably near the end of the era when you could make judgements about someone's status in the corporate world by the car they drove.
I'm glad I missed out on the company car era - it sounds s
t. Imagine just getting a Sierra 1.6 L (or whatever) based on your position in the company. No option to pay a bit more and get something bigger or more sporty, no option to choose a smaller car and take home a bit more cash. Just shut up, take your car, and blend in with everyone else.Imagine the continuing pain and anguish
if his next car was a Rover 75. 
It's an interesting thread, partly because it demonstrates how widely the definition of middle class varies, according to who's defining it.
In simple terms I think the working class define `middle class' by reference to wealth, actual or apparent, whereas the middle class tend to define `middle class' by reference to education and occupation.
So a working class person would describe a plumber who left school at 16 but is now running a successful plumbing company, living in a £500k house, and driving a new Range Rover, as middle class, whereas a middle class person wouldn't.
It's therefore impossible to answer the question `What sort of car would a middle class person drive?' as there's no agreement as to the definition of middle class.
But it's entertaining making the effort, so as a resolutely middle class chap myself I would say the most important aspect of one's car is that it's not ostentatious. The biggest sin of middle class life is showing off, so anything that is even whispering, let alone shoutling `Look at me!' is definitely verboten. It's for this reason that, as has been said, cars like Kias, Qashqais and Volvos are so popular with what might be termed the `genuine' middle class.
Another characteristic of the middle class is not spending a lot of money on what they see as non-important things, and cars generally fit into this category. This is why so many drive old cars - they'd consider spending hundreds of quid a month just to drive a new Audi / BM / Merc as a shocking waste of money that would be far better spent on school fees.
Of course all this assumes that our middle class chap has no particular interest in cars. However, if he does, and buys something that draws attention it's quite OK, as that wasn't his motive for buying it!
All good fun.
In simple terms I think the working class define `middle class' by reference to wealth, actual or apparent, whereas the middle class tend to define `middle class' by reference to education and occupation.
So a working class person would describe a plumber who left school at 16 but is now running a successful plumbing company, living in a £500k house, and driving a new Range Rover, as middle class, whereas a middle class person wouldn't.
It's therefore impossible to answer the question `What sort of car would a middle class person drive?' as there's no agreement as to the definition of middle class.
But it's entertaining making the effort, so as a resolutely middle class chap myself I would say the most important aspect of one's car is that it's not ostentatious. The biggest sin of middle class life is showing off, so anything that is even whispering, let alone shoutling `Look at me!' is definitely verboten. It's for this reason that, as has been said, cars like Kias, Qashqais and Volvos are so popular with what might be termed the `genuine' middle class.
Another characteristic of the middle class is not spending a lot of money on what they see as non-important things, and cars generally fit into this category. This is why so many drive old cars - they'd consider spending hundreds of quid a month just to drive a new Audi / BM / Merc as a shocking waste of money that would be far better spent on school fees.
Of course all this assumes that our middle class chap has no particular interest in cars. However, if he does, and buys something that draws attention it's quite OK, as that wasn't his motive for buying it!
All good fun.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Triumph Man said:
spreadsheet monkey said:
trowelhead said:
Those "Modern Times" documentaries were brilliant. I love the bit at around one minute in, where it just shows close ups of the badges of all the cars featured, with no voiceover or background music. The guy with the Primera (around 8:13 in the video) is also great.This video is almost 30 years old now. And this was probably near the end of the era when you could make judgements about someone's status in the corporate world by the car they drove.
I'm glad I missed out on the company car era - it sounds s
t. Imagine just getting a Sierra 1.6 L (or whatever) based on your position in the company. No option to pay a bit more and get something bigger or more sporty, no option to choose a smaller car and take home a bit more cash. Just shut up, take your car, and blend in with everyone else.Imagine the continuing pain and anguish
if his next car was a Rover 75. 
When the growing middle class began to rival the aristocracy in wealth, and that was no longer sufficient grounds to look down upon them, it was necessary to redefine what made the upper class better - their manners and habits and tastes and way of speaking was used to exclude the upstart out group.
Anyway, those awful chavs with money, eh, aren’t they terribly vulgar, just awful, and not at all proper middle class chaps.
Anyway, those awful chavs with money, eh, aren’t they terribly vulgar, just awful, and not at all proper middle class chaps.
Earthdweller said:
RVB said:
My nearest several neighbours, all of whom own/mortgage their houses worth £500k+:
2015 B-Max.
2014 Mazda 5 MPV.
2009 Kia Picanto.
2004 MG TF, 2015 Tiguan, 2010 Audi TT.
2009 Galaxy, 2003 Corsa, 2010 Corsa, 2019 Corsa.
2013 BMW 116d, 2015 Mini One.
2016 Range Rover (4.4 diesel), 2018 VW Transporter.
.
That is meaningless though really and says nothing about someone’s wealth or disposable income 2015 B-Max.
2014 Mazda 5 MPV.
2009 Kia Picanto.
2004 MG TF, 2015 Tiguan, 2010 Audi TT.
2009 Galaxy, 2003 Corsa, 2010 Corsa, 2019 Corsa.
2013 BMW 116d, 2015 Mini One.
2016 Range Rover (4.4 diesel), 2018 VW Transporter.
.
Edited by RVB on Thursday 24th June 16:40
Pensioners on low incomes sitting in valuable piles of bricks or “professionals” on good incomes mortgaged to the max
Neither may have lots of money to spend on cars or care to
We have distinctly two types of neighbours. Those who bought houses years ago (for less than half what they are now worth).. And those who moved in the last few years paying top dollar.
The give away is usually the type of car on the driveway or the presence of pebble dash or render.
The biggest disparity in my neighborhood is the £650k house we tried to buy when moving to the area but it went to sealed bids and we lost out to a family who bid £95k over the asking price.
The only car they have had since moving in seven years ago is a battered 2004 Golf, it's getting rusty now.
The only car they have had since moving in seven years ago is a battered 2004 Golf, it's getting rusty now.
Edited by jamei303 on Friday 25th June 09:50
Justin Case said:
I have recently bought a Volvo. Does that mean that I am now Middle Class?
Absolutely! As long as it’s a new one.A new Volvo is the very definition of middle class. I don’t even know what middle class means any more but I know it involves Volvos.
Older Volvos are a different story, 245 estates and the like. Everyone in Britain knows at least 2 or 3 eccentric 90 year old billionaires who live in a castle and drive a ratty old Volvo estate. They’re beyond upper class but you wouldn’t know it because they smell of piss.
The remaining few old Volvos are all owned by fictional, down on their luck, maverick tv detectives and are used as dailies apparently. They’re aspirational working class but the system has ground their ambition out of them and now they’re chain smoking alcoholics.
jamei303 said:
The biggest disparity in my neighborhood is the £650k house we tried to buy when moving to the area but it went to sealed bids and we lost out to a family who bit £95k over the asking price.
The only car they have had since moving in seven years ago is a battered 2004 Golf, it's getting rusty now.
Waiting for it to fail its MOT expensively then replace with a new one. Repeat in 15 to 20 years.The only car they have had since moving in seven years ago is a battered 2004 Golf, it's getting rusty now.
shih tzu faced said:
Absolutely! As long as it’s a new one.
A new Volvo is the very definition of middle class. I don’t even know what middle class means any more but I know it involves Volvos.
Older Volvos are a different story, 245 estates and the like. Everyone in Britain knows at least 2 or 3 eccentric 90 year old billionaires who live in a castle and drive a ratty old Volvo estate. They’re beyond upper class but you wouldn’t know it because they smell of piss.
The remaining few old Volvos are all owned by fictional, down on their luck, maverick tv detectives and are used as dailies apparently. They’re aspirational working class but the system has ground their ambition out of them and now they’re chain smoking alcoholics.
A new Volvo is the very definition of middle class. I don’t even know what middle class means any more but I know it involves Volvos.
Older Volvos are a different story, 245 estates and the like. Everyone in Britain knows at least 2 or 3 eccentric 90 year old billionaires who live in a castle and drive a ratty old Volvo estate. They’re beyond upper class but you wouldn’t know it because they smell of piss.
The remaining few old Volvos are all owned by fictional, down on their luck, maverick tv detectives and are used as dailies apparently. They’re aspirational working class but the system has ground their ambition out of them and now they’re chain smoking alcoholics.
There are two Volvo 240s of the same colour, but different owners, that live near me. I had originally thought I'd seen the same once twice.
jamei303 said:
The biggest disparity in my neighborhood is the £650k house we tried to buy when moving to the area but it went to sealed bids and we lost out to a family who bit £95k over the asking price.
The only car they have had since moving in seven years ago is a battered 2004 Golf, it's getting rusty now.
That is mental. And does show the regional differences.The only car they have had since moving in seven years ago is a battered 2004 Golf, it's getting rusty now.
A fairly good mate of mine lives in what I'd imagine is now nearly a £2m house and has a late noughties golf. I dare say that's not that unusual in London.
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