re: Do you reflexively think luxury car = rich driver and old car = poor driver?

I think we found the guy who drives the car trying to impress his peers ….lol

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Reading this is surprising, I drive an 8 year old Camry with 61,000 miles . I usually think the opposite when I see someone in a loaded BMW or Mercedes , I actually feel sorry for them as they need validation in their life and are compensating for something they don’t have and fills a void in their life. It’s a little sad honestly. I don’t owe one dime to anyone and have $635,000 in savings and investments and spend the rest traveling . I don’t give a shite what someone drives , it merely serves as a means of transportation to get me from one point to another, that’s it .

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I feel more sorry for the people driving an F250 with a 96 month loan

A BMW or Mercedes sedan can be relatively inexpensive

I drive a BMW but I bought it cash for 9K and plan to get another 100K miles out of it

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Wow, so you look a complete stranger and make the most absurd assumption.

You know nothing about them. Nothing about their finances and judge them based on your own world view.


This is why these threads are hilarious. Its everyone just justifying their own existence through rationalizing how other people live their life.

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People tend to make a lot of assumptions that are just stereotypes

I don't assume much about anyone based on what they drive

I just know I'm cheap when it comes to cars.

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It's a cope meme that is all over personal finance internet. Everyone driving a nice car is drowning in debt and poor and the smart, rich people exclusively drive 10 year old econoboxes and work trucks.


Nevermind the fact that it's completely false. That's not the point.

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Some people just really like cars. It's my only real hobby.

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It's never been about status for me, or trying to flex on anyone. I buy what I like, whether that's a beater 30 year old F150 or a near-new Audi/BMW/Mercedes. If it speaks to me and I can comfortably afford it, I find a way to make it happen.

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It may be the case for you, but you are being completely ignorant if you don't understand for most people that drive nice cars it IS a status symbol.

Tons of young people especially and as said in certain professions like realtors drive cars because of it being a status symbol.

Its really no different then work vehicles. You have a guy drive up in a beat up 15 year old vehicle and another drive up in a new leased work truck with a $5000 wrap and its pretty touch to give them both the same expectations.

No a disproportionate number of luxury auto owners are black. Blacks do not represent a disproportionate amount of rich people.

This fact is true for a lot of luxury brands.

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I usually think the opposite when I see someone in a loaded BMW or Mercedes , I actually feel sorry for them as they need validation in their life and are compensating for something they don’t have and fills a void in their life. It’s a little sad honestly. I don’t owe one dime to anyone and have $635,000 in savings and investments and spend the rest traveling . 

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I don’t give a shite what someone drives , it merely serves as a means of transportation to get me from one point to another, that’s it .

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Clearly you do.

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companies like Mercedes and BMW have been offering much more affordable cars and suvs over the past few years.

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This is certainly true, but repairs are not nearly as cheap. Had an employee with a newer 3 series and the quotes she got were insane, the available repair places are also more limited.

One key factor being missed in here is the tax advantage of purchasing a vehicle enabled by The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Vehicles over 6,000 ibs GWVR qualify for 100% bonus depreciation through December 31, 2022.

It's the main reason I buy high-end luxury brand vehicles (That and "looking the part" for executives and investors); Otherwise, I'd be driving around in a reasonably priced vehicle for work and my beater of a jeep for pleasure. I rationalize it as an easy tax deduction; I'd rather spend the extra money and enjoy a top of the line spec'ed vehicle than throw the money away by writing a check to Uncle Sam.

Only downside is you're tied to the vehicle for the depreciation timeline. If you sell early you owe the difference of the depreciation recapture, but with the CPO warranty's these brands offer, it's not the worst thing in the world to be tied to for that length of time.

Word of caution, over-leveraging through debt should be factored. I always finance and deploy my funds into actual investments, but I'm lucky enough to be able to pay off all of my debts if needed.