Quote:
Originally Posted by
radicaldog 
I think this analogy breaks down a little too soon for your liking: a suit is much less conspicuous (and expensive, in absolute terms) than a car.
Yes, a suit
is less conspicuous and expensive, but I'd argue that the average person can more readily understand an expensive, conspicuous car than an expensive, conspicuous suit. Moreover, the issue isn't really about what others will think. For a car enthusiast with wads of cash, it probably doesn't matter what others will think of his taste or character when he buys a car like ones in this thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
radicaldog Good point. But some people will find that sort of fiat velocitas, pereat mundus mentality quite appealing.
Of course. I do, too, to a certain degree. The Veyron is, if nothing else, impressive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
radicaldog I just don't get this is. It's a bit like saying that a Corvette is impressive because of its packaging of a relatively inexpensive car and a very powerful (if unrefined) engine: the whole is at most the same of its parts. What I mean that neither power nor luxury are difficult to achieve, and their conjunction isn't achieved in any particularly interesting way in any of those cars.
Cars, being products of design, are arguably
completely about packaging. Yes, the Corvette is impressive, and the packaging of its elements into a working whole at a relatively low price is the reason why. Also, I happen to think the Corvette engines are actually very, very refined. I disagree that power and luxury are difficult to achieve. They take a lot of engineering and research, and are core elements of what people love in many of the most coveted automobiles. Perhaps they are not combined in a particularly "interesting" way here (although, I'm not sure what a more interesting way would entail), but their combination in such quantity itself is impressive. Where else will you see something so luxurious or powerful? Many of the most treasured classic cars achieved their place in history specifically because they were exceptionally luxurious and powerful for their time.
