If you have nice clothes, do you need a nice car?

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by TCN

Hmmm, disappointing to see another Greek come up with such provincial statements.

By the way, I live in Michigan, and I guess I sort of indirectly sell insurance . . . shall we have my accountant talk to yours? ;-)

I do believe that people like to see their lawyer, or their doctor, or even their "insurance salesman" be successful, although not too successful.

By the way, "villa" doesn't necessarily connote an expensive house, but that being said, $200K doesn't buy you much in Michigan . . . not much more than it would buy you in suburban New York, although we pay higher property taxes here than you do.


+1. I live in Indiana, not much unlike Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and 200k won't get you a mansion here, any more than anywhere else. Granted, you're not going to be in the ghetto or anything, but my neighborhood is full of $175-350k houses, and while it's nothing to shake a finger at, we're not living decadently in a "villa" either.

 

[TCN]

It's funny, I was recently trying to lure a young lawyer back home from a large NYC law firm, and one of the interesting things he mentioned after doing his due diligence was that while salaries in Michigan were nearly half as much as in New York, the cost of living wasn't as similarly discounted, so he'd take an $80,000 or so hit to income while only saving $40,000 (made up numbers for the sake of comparison).

 

[rezzor]

After reading through this, I've come to the conclusion that thegreek is just a name and not actually someone who has lived in Greece. Having lived in greece, I would say that our attitude about cars is similar to most other European countries. They are small and fuel efficient by necessity. Showing up with a really dirty car may get some looks but showing up in a micro car with a suit on wouldn't even get noticed even at the most fancy hotel.

In greece, if you are driving an S class with a suit on, most people will think you are a driver - owner of course, is in the back seat.

Plus taxis are so cheap there that I never drove my car except for weekend trips.

 

[kwilkinson]

^^^ "The Greek" most likely is some pretentious college kid who is in a fraternity that has had most everything (including that gas-guzzling God-givin SUV) given to him by his Stepford God-given parents

 

[JBZ]

Originally Posted by iammatt

+1.

It is kind of reminiscent of the "what is the tardest" questions over on AAAC.

I'm not sure whether this was a typo or intentional. Either way, I'm laughing.

 

[nmoraitis]

Originally Posted by rezzor

Plus taxis are so cheap there that I never drove my car except for weekend trips.

When I was in Athens visiting family, you had to be careful and watch the taxi drivers as many of them would not turn the meter on and then they would just try and makeup a fare and gouge you. Ah Athenians, they would sell their mothers if they weren't so hairy.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by nmoraitis

Ah Athenians, they would sell their mothers if they weren't so hairy.
gah

 

[rezzor]

Originally Posted by nmoraitis

When I was in Athens visiting family, you had to be careful and watch the taxi drivers as many of them would not turn the meter on and then they would just try and makeup a fare and gouge you. Ah Athenians, they would sell their mothers if they weren't so hairy.
This is true but they can not compare to Italian taxi. I've never had so many drivers attempt to short change me, charge me double the meter and so on. BTW, Athenian women are a-ok with me.

 

[MilanoStyle]

What does SUV have anything to do with GOD anyway???

 

[CTGuy]

Men of my father's age group, born in the 30s, reared in the 50s, ultimately gravitate towards certain types of cars. They are the senior citizens keeping Detroit in business right now. They are of a different time and a different place. Driving a Cadillac ultimately meant something a lot different at that time than it does today.

I know there are plenty of holder overs to this type of thinking though. I constantly see people driving something far bigger and far more expensive than they probably need or can afford. In contrast to the "good ol days" the feul efficiency of your car is an additional element of how expensive it is to own certain types of cars.

A year ago I traded in my Volvo for a VW Rabbit. Honestly, I haven't looked back. I could have afforded a lot "more", but the low payments certainly aren't making me upset each month and on top of that I can't imagine what else I really need.

I still would love to someday have the Ferrari, Porsche, whatever, for weekends, but realistically I will be far wealthier investing the dough in something than living the 30k millionaire lifestyle.

Whenever I see the other young guys in my parking lot driving an S4, I just remind myself I am laughing all the way to the bank. I love cars, but ultimately they are not an asset and they do not prove jack **** about how wealthy you are-- remember that Warren Buffett drove some broken down town car for something like 20 years.

 

[visionology]

I think it is all based on what image you either need or want to portray.

Often I see real estate agents who drive expensive vehicles to tote their clients around in and I think this is often not just because they like the car but because it portrays an image of being successful. Wow, she has a Mercedes, she must be a good agent and sold lots of homes.

Although I am a self professed car nut, I don't need a great car. I work from home and travel very little now. I have a 12 year old Japanese car that still runs fine and having no payments is a great thing. Sure my friends give me hell sometimes, especially because in general I like the finer things in life, but I am also pocketing the cash that I would have spent otherwise on a pointless purchase. I have some friends who have had over 10 cars in 12 years which to me is just crazy.

When the time arises that I need a new car I will probably buy something that I will enjoy but only when that time is necessary.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by MilanoStyle

What does SUV have anything to do with GOD anyway???

How dare you, Sir!!

 

[whnay.]

I like this:

 

[CTGuy]

Originally Posted by whnay.

I like this:

Beautiful automobile.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by whnay.

I like this:

There's an abundance of older SL's in Saratoga during the summer. Based on the dress and demeanor of the average occupant, I sometimes think they're time machines. I see lots of men in Oliver Peoples frames, women in Lilly Pulitzer-esque printed dresses, etc. Pure 80's.