'shunning' nice cars
Discussion
I know at least two people who get very tetchy about cars of a superior quality and I have to say I find it pretty odd.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that is what they will allow.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that is what they will allow.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
Edited by ingenieur on Monday 24th October 09:20
I’ve met plenty of people who wouldn’t have a BMW of any sort, for any money due to the perceived attitude of the drivers. I’ve had 9 of them so I’ve head this quite a bit.
I also know people that wouldn’t have anything they perceive of as flash, not related to actual value. As they seem to believe that it makes them appear to think that they’re better than other people.
I’ve had people comment on a flash car that I was driving at the time only for he to explain that my 12 year old BMW was worth less than half of their new Vauxhall.
I’m the same week a woman at work pretty much called it a worthless heap because it was older than her corsa.
Essentially plenty of people know nothing about cars and have unjustified prejudices.
I also know people that wouldn’t have anything they perceive of as flash, not related to actual value. As they seem to believe that it makes them appear to think that they’re better than other people.
I’ve had people comment on a flash car that I was driving at the time only for he to explain that my 12 year old BMW was worth less than half of their new Vauxhall.
I’m the same week a woman at work pretty much called it a worthless heap because it was older than her corsa.
Essentially plenty of people know nothing about cars and have unjustified prejudices.
Gosh, cars of a 'superior' quality?
On what basis do you define quality? If you want to use numbers and engineering speak, then Toyota is about the best quality out there, and few European brands are even close (Though Ford used to be).
So I rather fancy OP, you have the wrong end of the stick. Why would you want to drive a lesser quality car for inflated cost. It makes no sense.
But of course you are not talking about technical quality, you are making value judgements on your perception of the car. It's just your value perception is different from others. And each to their own, everyone values different things.
On what basis do you define quality? If you want to use numbers and engineering speak, then Toyota is about the best quality out there, and few European brands are even close (Though Ford used to be).
So I rather fancy OP, you have the wrong end of the stick. Why would you want to drive a lesser quality car for inflated cost. It makes no sense.
But of course you are not talking about technical quality, you are making value judgements on your perception of the car. It's just your value perception is different from others. And each to their own, everyone values different things.
Some people prefer a car that isn't needy and won't keep them awake at night and one they don't have to worry about or much care if they scuff or mark it by lobbing a load of crap in the back or some Twunt smacks their door into it in a supermarket car park.
Others might be prefer a more mundane mainstream car because that allows more discretionary spending on other things they enjoy.
That's nothing to do with inverted snobbery or shunning nicer cars, it's simply a real world practical approach because it's far easier to do all of that with a cheaper or maybe older car or more mundane workhorse than it is with something that takes more commitment and expense to own that many would consider more of an enthusiasts' choice.
Others might be prefer a more mundane mainstream car because that allows more discretionary spending on other things they enjoy.
That's nothing to do with inverted snobbery or shunning nicer cars, it's simply a real world practical approach because it's far easier to do all of that with a cheaper or maybe older car or more mundane workhorse than it is with something that takes more commitment and expense to own that many would consider more of an enthusiasts' choice.
ingenieur said:
I know at least two people who get very tetchy about cars of a superior quality and I have to say I find it pretty odd.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
It's not because German cars are 'better' in any way its because the likes of BMW have taken over the moniker of a joke car as Skoda was a few decades ago with comedians always mocking them..They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
ingenieur said:
I know at least two people who get very tetchy about cars of a superior quality and I have to say I find it pretty odd.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
Maybe they don't like what you like because it's you that likes it?They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
And buying a car from a tent isn't necessarily a symbol of quality.
ingenieur said:
I know at least two people who get very tetchy about cars of a superior quality and I have to say I find it pretty odd.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
All it says to me is that they aren't car enthusiasts!They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
Superior quality..... How are you defining that? Whilst BMW can be very innovative, they often leave a lot to be desired in the build quality side of things.
Ironic you mention Toyota, without a doubt one of the highest quality manufacturers out there in terms of build quality.
I think the Germans are very good at making a car FEEL high quality, and they're often very good at making a car drive well and feel special, they USED to build them well too, but less so now.
Ironic you mention Toyota, without a doubt one of the highest quality manufacturers out there in terms of build quality.
I think the Germans are very good at making a car FEEL high quality, and they're often very good at making a car drive well and feel special, they USED to build them well too, but less so now.
ingenieur said:
I know at least two people who get very tetchy about cars of a superior quality and I have to say I find it pretty odd.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
I’ve encountered a lot of anti German car attitudes from people over the years. More often than not they extol the virtues of their trusty Ford; a Ford made in Germany. It’s just a combination of xenophobia, inverse snobbery, and ignorance.They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
ingenieur said:
I know at least two people who get very tetchy about cars of a superior quality and I have to say I find it pretty odd.
They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
I suspect that they don’t get that tetchy about Jaguars or Alfas. The fact is that the image of the three ‘quality’ German brands has been trashed in the UK (and maybe elsewhere?).They're prickly in particular about German cars (which as far as I'm concerned are generally better) and will joke about you buying a BMW or something. They would rather go to an early grave than own something high-end. Japanese or some kind of basic Ford or something like that.
Their disgust is proportional to the quality / size / level of luxury / performance of the car. Convertibles are definitely out.
Weirdly it's not even about price. They would buy a new crap car and be very happy with that even if it cost them a lot more than an older car from a quality marquee.
I think it's partly about not wanting to be seen as 'flash' but I think there's more to it.
It is odd, I must admit driving my current one and only bmw, other driver definitely took more issue which has since pretty much disappeared in me getting the Vantage.
The issue over quality is stated above perceived quality. I think bmw are in general for many of the public driven by w*nkers. Unfortunately, and sorry for those that own them, my overall feeling is that there is some truth for example most bmw 1 series driven aggressively in L3 or L4 of a motorway is going to be some dog slow petrol or diesel, same is true of some other brands. Rarely in honesty do I see the higher end stuff driven in a t
tish fashion, quickly yes, but a bellend no.
The issue over quality is stated above perceived quality. I think bmw are in general for many of the public driven by w*nkers. Unfortunately, and sorry for those that own them, my overall feeling is that there is some truth for example most bmw 1 series driven aggressively in L3 or L4 of a motorway is going to be some dog slow petrol or diesel, same is true of some other brands. Rarely in honesty do I see the higher end stuff driven in a t
tish fashion, quickly yes, but a bellend no.dalzo said:
Some people like the quirks of a “inferior car” but it seems a predominantly British thing to bring down anything that could be considered flash.
I think it is! A couple of weeks ago I met up with another BMW Z4 owner to grab some breakfast before we went to a local car meet and there was another Z4 parked, so we asked a guy who was waiting for his order if it was his.
He said he couldn't afford a BMW and anyone who had one only deserved a push-bike. Then he got in his 20 plate Renault Kadjar (or something similar) that would have cost more than either of our Z4s.
That weren't really German as they were made in Spartanburg, SC!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff