lexman52

I have owned these cars for over 12 years. 1995,1998.2001,2003UL. now 2004.
So i have had people and friends say i must have money because i own these cars.
I am not wealthy. barley middle class.
If i had went out and bought a new Civic for 20k nobody would say a thing.
So i go and buy a 10-12 year old car with 100k miles that,s half the price and 10 times the the car the civic is. [Sure most my cars and yours look new because people take very good care of them.]
I guess the next time i sit on a street corner begging for money i better park my car quite a distance from where i am. JUST SAYING

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Interesting post.

Brewmyown

Lexman, that's how a lot of people look at someone driving an expensive car. When you see someone driving a $60,000 Lexus, BMW, etc., they could be in debt up to their eyeballs for all anyone knows. A friend of a friend has admired how I'm able to find really nice used cars (I have 4 cars, for me, my wife and both daughters) and asked me what I would recommend for him in the $20,000 range. Without hesitation I pointed to my car and said to buy one of these with as low of mileage as you can find ad i offered to help him and even go look at cars with him. His remark was that he doesn't feel like he's at that point in life that he's earned owning one. He's about 54. I said what are you talking about! He ended up going to CarMax and buying a $20,000 used Hyundai!!! I'm not knocking Hyundai but it made no sense to me whatsoever.

lexman52

Thats crazy buying that car when he could hsve bought a much better car for less money. To each his own. I hope he enjoys it

Stereorob

happens to me all the time, and I drive a 21 year old Ls400!! they see the L on the back and automatically assume you have money. smh.

Duck05

Being in California our cars tend to last a lot longer than other parts of the country.

That said, our 2001 LS430 I will put up against any luxury car of almost any year (including our latest 2014 LS460) for ride comfort and value.

Difficult to relate to the above poster's friend that said he did not feel like he "deserved" a Lexus and then went and spent $20K on a Hyundai (not trashing Hyundai but I would take our 14 year old LS any day...).

Let's face it; we are spoiled and not everyone thinks the way we do......

lexman52

Happened again my neighbor had guest the other night and ask what kind of job i have.Little does he know i don,t..

doodoo

iTrader: (8)

I have an ls430 with some mods. But it's the complete opposite for me... I look young and I'm 23 BTW but look younger. People think my parents paid for my car along with everything on it . Paid for it myself. Will be in debt soon though, when I finish PT school and have to start paying off my loans . Bought some powerball tickets.... Maybe I'll be lucky tonight.

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

I hear this all the time. Everyone assumes I make crazy amounts of money to have my Lexus' and BMW. It's been like this since I bought my 93 SC300 when I was 19.

I got my 05 LS430 when I was 22 and everyone thought it was my step-dad's car since he's wealthy. They all flipped out when they realized it was my car. People don't realize that $20,000 can get you a nice car that isn't a brand new Civic.

warminwisc

I have the opposite with my 014 Touareg with 12 k miles. Looks like any other SUV to the most folks but the TDI shells out 406 lbs of torque, is a VW badged Cayenne Diesel and drives like it. That is all fine with me why I bought it and it drives like a bat out of heck. When all my buddies get in it they are amazed how smooth, powerful quiet and how well it steers and handles. They want one but MSRP is 62k new(can't buy em for now that is another story well known) Easily mistaken for a Santa Fe or older style Sorrento

warminwisc

When they come off Dieselgate hold, hope I get some cash back to lower my 46,200 sales price you guys aught to drive one for the fun of it. I am sure VW will welocme anyone into their showroom as sales are down to say the least.

FlaPhil

It's all about buying a car right. I drive an '05 Sport model that looks like new. People are stunned to learn it is 10+ years old. They are even more amazed when I tell them it cost me less than a new Ford Fiesta. And still they go buy a new truck for $35k+ with 60 months of high payments. SMH.

I just bought a 2006 Toyota Sienna XLE that also looks like new. It was an estate sale vehicle driven by a late 70s man. $7,800 with 75,000 miles. So for under $25k, I have 2 vehicles that would together cost $100k+ if purchased new.

People just don't think it through.

lexman52

I have a brother in law that loves Jeeps. He has always had nothing but problems with them. ** we all know that they are junk, i dont care who makes them.] He will not listen to anyone and keeps buying them. Amazing

2KHarrier

I'll chime in here as well.... In a circle of friends who for the most part drive inexpensive cars, I tool around in a 15 year old Lexus and they always kid me about being rich, materialistic or just plain snooty. My wife even made a comment when I bought it that people will assume we have money or I'm a snob or something. I have to continually remind her that people we know drive a 2 year old Hyundai Sonata that cost nearly 30K, and as was mentioned earlier, no one bats an eye.

People's preseptions are interesting to say the least.

semar

same here: driving a 27 year old BMW that rides as nice as their near new GM car. Difference = my car is paid for whereas they pay 190 bi-weekly. And then they purchase another new car after 3 years and they never get out of slavery to the carcompanies.