When driving their Lexus around town? I live in a predominately blue collar middle class town with about 30,000 people in it. Most drive F150's chevys, fords or caddies. I have the only Lexus GS in my area of town - so I stand out when doing errands around town - and locals know me by my car.

I have had co-workers comment that Lexus is for rich snobs, or that it is just to show that you have money to burn. I make great $ and can easily afford my car, but sometimes I get the feeling that my having such a car that others look down on me, like I am trying to one-up people. Not sure if it is jealousy or not - as I am sure that is what most responses will be like, but it makes me uncomfortable to be put in that position or view , just not sure why?

Because of this, for the past few months I have been considering trading my car for something nice, but in a different class - and possibly domestic. Although I don't see that many domestic that I like.

This may be just a phase, or I may be reading too much into things - but wondering if I was alone with this type of feeling or not?

 

Will taking such an action just to please people you hardly know (and who ultimately don't matter) make you happy?

Peer pressure is a powerful force - but don't give in to it. If forced to argue the point, point out to them that by the time you add on five years worth of repair bills for a crappy American car, the cost of ownership for your GS will be identical to their Fords and Chevys.

Speak your truth. Live your life. Drive your GS

 

I do feel weird sometimes hearing comments from co-workers. I do social work. I'm a manager but social work hardly pays big bucks. So everyone wonders how I drive a GS, a G35 and I still have my SC300. I hate having to tell people I have business ventures on the side preparing for my exit into the business world but if I don't say something, they become more suspicious. In south florida it is common to suspect someone is a drug dealer or hustler. We had a counselor who dealt drugs on the side many years ago. So it is possible to imagine. I also hate it when upper management make jokes like, "we must be paying you too much if you're driving that."
I make no apologies though. I admit I have expensive tastes. Three of my rings cost 2K, the other 1K. I have 2 bracelets that cost over 1K each. I have expensive watches and shoes. Yes, I have expensive tastes and I feel blessed I have been able to satisfy them.

 

So Then Why Bother Explain Yourself To Them Unless You Feel Uncertain About Yourself.... Don't Worry What Others Think There Just Pissed Off They Don't Have It... Just My 2 Cents...

 

Stealth, the solution is to move to Southern California...no one will even look twice at you b/c you drive a GS

In all seriousness, don't worry about what others think. If you enjoy your GS, that's all that matters. If you don't flaunt the GS in front of your co-workers, I can't see what the problem would be. It's none of their business how you choose to spend your money.

 

you say go domestic ekkkkkk!!!!!!! i got rid of my grand prix after 3 transmissions (no i didnt beat on the car). my repair bills were starting to equal the value of the car. i just picked up my GS350 2 weeks ago and next to buying my house it was the best decision ive ever made. i could care less what people think. the primary reason i bought the car was for reliability. the second was it appealed to all my senses inside and out. if only my girlfriend kicked me out that would make it better, because then id get to sleep in it.

 

Hey, who cares what other's think. It's your car and if you love it, then F them... I hope you're not wearing plaid shirts and cowboy boots just to fit into the F-150 crowd. Those attire don't fit with the Lexus crowd.

I tend to think the BMW and MB are a more pretentious crowd. I think most people look upon Lexus as being there with BMW and MB, but not liking Lexus more because it's a "Jap" car or a "rice burner."

 

Life is to short to worry about what people think. I have had a couple friends close to me who past away recently who were in their 40's. They never got to get some of the things in life they really wanted. I never want in life to regret not doing or getting something I really want. Hell that is why we go to work. I say, as long as you can still provide for your family and move forward financially, get the things you want in life. Different people have different taste. If those others choose a domestic so be it. I have owned domestic cars in the past, and was proud of it at the time. I must say it would be hard to go back to a domestic auto, simply because Im much more educated about cars as opposed to when I first started driving. So keep your head up, don't worry about others, there will always be haters in life!!! Drive on!!!

 

Bah, don't cave in! Wanna join the herd of them? haha
They are jealous from the sound of it, but if you had your reasons to get your GS in the first place, and they still hold true, then why take a big ding to your wallet?

 

as my friend always says.... Dont hate the player, hate the game.

There will always be people who are envious of what others have. Life is all about making choices, do I spend $45K on a car or have it in the bank. Do I work hard and enjoy the fruits of my labor or do I coast along looking for handouts.

I have found that its usually the people with their hands out that are the most envious of others...

 

Who cares what other people think, If you work hard and earn your money, you are just reaping your own reward. Your friends may spend big bucks on a plasma tv or expensive vacations that no one knows about. You just happen to be driving your tv or vacation in public.

 

Tell them, "I AM rich and I DO have money to burn. So, what's your point?"

 

Do YOU....
I started a thread in Car Chat asking about "image" with your ride at the workplace.
People talk regardless.....so DO YOU...

 

none of these jealous fools are paying your bills, bottom line let 'em hate, let 'em think what they want. In the end, the only person that has your back is YOU.

Lets say you did go domestic with maybe a Charger SRT8 , a Caddy, etc....people will STILL have something stupid to say about it. Dont feel bad for one second about your achievements in life or how much you make. You earned it , so its none of their business, plain and simple.

 

Funny that you mention most drive F150's because a friend of mine has an F150 KingRanch and his lease payment is more than my GS300 .. if they only knew