Driving a better car than your boss
Discussion
I wonder how many of you here drives a better car than your immediate boss and how you feel about it? By better it doesn't just mean more expensive but also one that is generally perceived to be better by majority of people.
Is this ok? Do you feel the pressure of driving a better car compared to your bosses? Opinions please...
Is this ok? Do you feel the pressure of driving a better car compared to your bosses? Opinions please...
T0nup said:
This might tickle some people.
Many years ago I used to work as a security contractor doing gate duties for a well known food company Lincs. A colleague of mine drove a lovely duck egg blue Daimler that was the envy of almost everyone that saw it... Including the food company managing director, who saw fit to tell our company boss to advise my colleague to park his vehicle round the back whenever he was on duty.
Being a mild mannered fellow, my colleague did as he was told. And wore a knowing smirk whenever he came into eye contact with said manageing director, who must have inwardly seathed with envy, until one day, a similar looking car was parked in the management parking spaces just across from the gatehouse. The managing director stormed over to the gatehouse, barged his way in and proceeded to lay into my coleague about parking his car in plain view.
My colleague kept calm while he listened to the rant. Then quietly asked the managing director what his problem with his car was, to which the reply was it made the company cars which he and other members of management drove look cheap and second rate. The director then almost shouted for my colleague to move his vehicle, or he'd ensure he was removed from site.
My colleague took the greatest of pleasure in explaining "Well, I would move it, but that's not my car... That's one of the group directors cars here to see you. He's waiting in reception."
You could have heard a pin drop.
That's an awesome story lol!Many years ago I used to work as a security contractor doing gate duties for a well known food company Lincs. A colleague of mine drove a lovely duck egg blue Daimler that was the envy of almost everyone that saw it... Including the food company managing director, who saw fit to tell our company boss to advise my colleague to park his vehicle round the back whenever he was on duty.
Being a mild mannered fellow, my colleague did as he was told. And wore a knowing smirk whenever he came into eye contact with said manageing director, who must have inwardly seathed with envy, until one day, a similar looking car was parked in the management parking spaces just across from the gatehouse. The managing director stormed over to the gatehouse, barged his way in and proceeded to lay into my coleague about parking his car in plain view.
My colleague kept calm while he listened to the rant. Then quietly asked the managing director what his problem with his car was, to which the reply was it made the company cars which he and other members of management drove look cheap and second rate. The director then almost shouted for my colleague to move his vehicle, or he'd ensure he was removed from site.
My colleague took the greatest of pleasure in explaining "Well, I would move it, but that's not my car... That's one of the group directors cars here to see you. He's waiting in reception."
You could have heard a pin drop.
Personally I don't care much about someone driving cars better than me etc but somehow I feel someone higher up in the chain do... at some point it does affect chances of being promoted etc vs someone who drives something more "socially acceptable"...
GT03ROB said:
I do.
I have a bigger house too, send my kid to a better private school, go on better holidays & have a better looking gf.
But so what? They still give me the same s
t at work as someone with a worse car, smaller house & ugly wife/gf.!
In a way you are right. My boss sends his kids to private school, horse riding lessons, lives in an exclusive gated area, goes skiiing twice a year etc etc. He drives 10 plate A5 (which I would probably rank the 3rd most interesting car after 61 plate E350 and the chairman's Masser...).I have a bigger house too, send my kid to a better private school, go on better holidays & have a better looking gf.
But so what? They still give me the same s
t at work as someone with a worse car, smaller house & ugly wife/gf.!I can't afford most of that but I can (just) justify my current fleet. It's just sometimes people don't see things that way.
8potdave said:
My boss drives a ten year old s3 and me a 14 year old xj8 so about on a par although 2 extremely different cars. I work in sales and no one in my office really sees past the badge and numberplate. If I drove a 12 plate BMW 1 series that would be better than a 54 plate M3. I hate talking cars with anyone there.
Yes I can feel some hate from the senior sales managers as well....STW2010 said:
They could all afford to drive to work in new prestige cars, but simply don't want to. As it happens, because a lot of people aren't interested in cars, they think my 9 year old BMW is mega flash. My RX8 before that drew comments such as 'we pay you too much'. I've never spent more than £6k on a car, and yet there are loads of students around that drive near-new or brand new cars (Fiestas, KAs, Puntos etc) which would all cost more than any of my current or past cars.
It's all about interest in cars and perceptions. I just drive whatever I want
I get that comment too ... Personally compared to what other people are paid for what they do my pay is a bargain :PIt's all about interest in cars and perceptions. I just drive whatever I want
AdvanceRoadcraft said:
When I lived in Hong Kong I was recruited by an Aussie company who offered the conventional 'expat package', but had no idea about how the idea of 'Company Cars' worked. (This was apparently not a conventional executive perk in Oz at the time.) After much resistance, they finally agreed (they really, really wanted me) that if I were to buy a car myself, they would pay all the running costs.
I bought a second-hand Shadow 11; cheap(ish) to buy, low depreciation...but rather costly to insure, fuel and service, I must admit.
It was nearly a year before the Big Boss (Chairman of the Australian company) visited Hong Konng. I went to pick him up at the airport as a courtesy. During the drive to his hotel he mentioned that he had a Shadow too - but a Mark 1.
I was fired a month later; coincidence?
Ouch! What's a Shadow 11? I bought a second-hand Shadow 11; cheap(ish) to buy, low depreciation...but rather costly to insure, fuel and service, I must admit.
It was nearly a year before the Big Boss (Chairman of the Australian company) visited Hong Konng. I went to pick him up at the airport as a courtesy. During the drive to his hotel he mentioned that he had a Shadow too - but a Mark 1.
I was fired a month later; coincidence?
Biker's Nemesis said:
Never watched that movie but now I want to watch it 
It looks like a good, funny version of 50 shades...New POD said:
At the same time I had a staff of 25, and I remember a conversation with a lad of about 28 who had a young kid, with his girlfriend and lived in a stty part of runcorn (runcorn is stty, but the stty parts are worse) in a rented flat, but had bought a second hand A3 S-line on finance, at £270 a month, and was bragging how much better than my car was (obviously!!) except, a few days later I had to inform him that overtime was being cut and he'd probably loose £400 a month in take home, as he was doing so many hours.
Despite him having a really nice car, I tried to make sure if there was overtime, he was first on the list, because his whole life suddenly became very stressful.
£270/month is a good price to pay on finance if the car is around 2-3 years old and it's proper finance not the PCP type deal. tty part of runcorn (runcorn is stty, but the stty parts are worse) in a rented flat, but had bought a second hand A3 S-line on finance, at £270 a month, and was bragging how much better than my car was (obviously!!) except, a few days later I had to inform him that overtime was being cut and he'd probably loose £400 a month in take home, as he was doing so many hours. Despite him having a really nice car, I tried to make sure if there was overtime, he was first on the list, because his whole life suddenly became very stressful.
However, if my pay depends on O/T or commission I'd be very careful in taking out any loans...
A general opinion I seem to take in is that if a sub-ordinate (maybe not the best choice of word...) drives a better car than his boss he must be doing well and don't deserve better pay/career progression.
This to me is a worrying idealogy. I live in a mediocre part of town, small mediocre house, we shop mainly at ASDA, don't go on expensive holidays, kids take lessons at council run places not posh country clubs etc etc so I have some cash left every month. I choose to use that in funding my current fleet. Foolish maybe as I could've save extra dosh long term by running a shed but I'm a petrolhead at heart and don't have any other hobbies/vices so this is something I want to do.
I also work hard and always give my best and it would truly suck for myself if I'm judged over what car I drive at work...
This to me is a worrying idealogy. I live in a mediocre part of town, small mediocre house, we shop mainly at ASDA, don't go on expensive holidays, kids take lessons at council run places not posh country clubs etc etc so I have some cash left every month. I choose to use that in funding my current fleet. Foolish maybe as I could've save extra dosh long term by running a shed but I'm a petrolhead at heart and don't have any other hobbies/vices so this is something I want to do.
I also work hard and always give my best and it would truly suck for myself if I'm judged over what car I drive at work...
Rushmore said:
FINALLY a potential member for the PH Institute of Directors.
Is he powerfully built though?Coolbanana said:
I'm the boss of my own company now (...) my wife earns a fantastic wage as a senior Director in a large international company and I was a Director of a company before I moved to the UK so had a bit invested.
Japveesix said:
It may not be relevant at all but I've barely seen a post of yours on here that doesn't mention the fact that you drive a GTR. If you're also like that in real life ("Morning boss, bit rainy today isn't it but luckily my GTR is good in the wet") then perhaps it would get a bit annoying?
No, in fact I don't even mention about my car at work until people start to ask who it belongs to. On this forum I've mostly mentioned the GTR in GTR-related threads (or threads discussing relevant issues) where I gave my opinion. If that's wrong than I do apologise. From now on I will definitely think twice before including my car's detail into my post.I do hope my boss doesn't judge people the way you seem to do ...
WeirdNeville said:
But that's the point I think, a bit of discretion might be required at times.
People really should know better. A colleague of mine split up with his wife and they sold the house. He used his share of the equity to do what most of us would do: Own a series of desireable £20k motors. A TVR Cerbera, a Viper, a Lotus Carlton, A 996. Looked a bit incongruous in the car park and no doubt people not in the know were thinking 'flash git'.
Another colleague works his arse off and lives off mum and supernoodles but runs new Posches and GT-R's riding the finance/depreciation curve. Fair play to him but I wouldn't do it!
Anyway, think you HAVE to be aware of the perceptions a car can generate. A boss, a contractor, a sales rep turning up in the wrong car can send a very negatve message.
I think I'd have a 5 series Diesel if I wanted to send a message of professional conservatism, and save the fun stuff for the weekend!
True I guess but I just can't afford running a weekend toy... I don't get the GTR because I wanted to show off but rather because it's the best bang for buck car I can buy at the moment. I considering switching to something comfortable and less flashy next year. I don't do high mileage currently so I don't think it would be worthwhile running a diesel so might hunt for something inconspicuous yet still fun.People really should know better. A colleague of mine split up with his wife and they sold the house. He used his share of the equity to do what most of us would do: Own a series of desireable £20k motors. A TVR Cerbera, a Viper, a Lotus Carlton, A 996. Looked a bit incongruous in the car park and no doubt people not in the know were thinking 'flash git'.
Another colleague works his arse off and lives off mum and supernoodles but runs new Posches and GT-R's riding the finance/depreciation curve. Fair play to him but I wouldn't do it!
Anyway, think you HAVE to be aware of the perceptions a car can generate. A boss, a contractor, a sales rep turning up in the wrong car can send a very negatve message.
I think I'd have a 5 series Diesel if I wanted to send a message of professional conservatism, and save the fun stuff for the weekend!
james_gt3rs said:
Just keep the GTR, enjoy it, and sod what anyone thinks... it's what most petrolheads would do if they were lucky enough to have a GTR!
Initially I wasn't too bothered as showing off is definitely not my intentions of buying the car in the first place. However lately I am suspecting that this is might have some impact on my career progression. Granted until December when I have my annual review this is all merely suspicions...It certainly won't be financially viable for me to sell up now after getting new OEM tyres plus a full service on it just last month! Oh well just have to take things as they come
swerni said:
jaedba2604 said:
Bitofbully said:
crazy about cars said:
I have a GTR. Did I tell you I had a GTR. Well, the GTR got here OK this morning. I'm glad I bought the GTR now. Did I mention my GTR? I bought a GTR , you know.
I think we can see your problem here.isn't having a better car than your boss quite an arbitrary situation to evaluate?!
I never realised.
I HAVE A GTR!!!one!!1!
edit: I think we need to add to the powerfully built director meme now to : powerfully built company director with a goatee and definitely owns a GTR
Edited by crazy about cars on Sunday 28th October 18:13
Colonial said:
Well fk me. A petrol head, on a car enthusiast web site is excited about getting a car he wanted for a long time.
How dare he?
k me. A petrol head, on a car enthusiast web site is excited about getting a car he wanted for a long time. How dare he?
I don't rub it in my bosses nose (or even colleagues' noses) that way. Pretty sure no sane person would no matter how big a petrolhead! (or how GTR the car!)
Roger Woods said:
You would have cryed when I worked in Saudi Arabia, I had 18 year lads in my office with new bentley's, one had a new corvette another had a new BMW X6 the day it was released in the Middle East.
You would not believe the wealth some days.........
with the price of fuel in Saudi I wouldn't be surprised... You would not believe the wealth some days.........
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