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More importantly, the local geographic version is even more different.
A 3'series could pass for luxury in rural Alabama. But a S550 will barely make it into luxury in Beverly hills.
An entry 3 Series is rather inexpensive, a S550 is anything but. It may not be considered anything special among the one percenters but it is still a perfectly acceptable choice, especially for business executives.
The Maybach is now history, so the 2014 S-Class is Mercedes's ultimate luxury car.
Some people can't help themselves but to show how much of a douche they are. Can't just give your own opinion without putting down others. Anyone who thinks different from them must obviously be wrong.
Hard to tell what side of the conversation that comment was intended for.
The problem of North America in particular. The rest of the world have decent public transportation system, so automobiles are not absolutely necessary.
I agree also for a number of reasons. First of all, the US was mostly developed after WW2, and freeways were what was determined to be the best connecting piece of infrastructure, and thus we are totally car-dependent. In regards to the US more or less being spoiled, I also agree. In fact, what I found ironic was that I had a neighbor who spent 2 years in Germany. Ironically you know what a huge percentage of the population drove? Bicycles! That's right, in the country where a lot of these luxury brands come from, the people who live were more likely than in the US to not even drive cars.
Its also interesting to me that as someone who grew up in the South and later moved first to the east and later west coast, where I grew up if somone had a new car, as in ANY new car such as a new Honda, Accord, Ford Taurus, or a new truck, those people were considered pretty well off. On both coasts I've noticed a preponderance of very expensive cars, and on top of that- a lot of NEW expensive cars. There's a lot more of a pissing contest I've encountered in these areas and it seems to also spill over into the cars people drive too. I find it all somewhat amusing. You have a 3 or 5 series? Whoopie. So does basically EVERY OTHER person on the freeway this morning. Sorry I didn't notice...
Like others have said: luxury cars are worth it to those who can afford it. The monthly payment on your car should be 5% of your monthly gross income. The problem is that many people pay as much as 15%-20% of their monthly income on a new, luxury car note, and are never able to climb the wealth ladder.
Like others have said: luxury cars are worth it to those who can afford it. The monthly payment on your car should be 5% of your monthly gross income. The problem is that many people pay as much as 15%-20% of their monthly income on a new, luxury car note, and are never able to climb the wealth ladder.
Anyone who bases what they can afford (for anything) on gross income isn't facing reality. You can take two people with the same gross income and drastically different expenses. Do they both have the same amount of money to spend on a car?
Anyone who bases what they can afford (for anything) on gross income isn't facing reality. You can take two people with the same gross income and drastically different expenses. Do they both have the same amount of money to spend on a car?
I guess it is relative. If you don't have a mortgage, don't like to eat out or drink, don't have other hobbies, etc. then you can pay more for a luxury car if that is what you enjoy. But I'm generally speaking of the well-rounded American who does all of the above things.
Obviously the major difference would be people with children vs. people without them. That is a big cost.
I guess it is relative. If you don't have a mortgage, don't like to eat out or drink, don't have other hobbies, etc. then you can pay more for a luxury car if that is what you enjoy. But I'm generally speaking of the well-rounded American who does all of the above things.
Obviously the major difference would be people with children vs. people without them. That is a big cost.
I hate to bring up such a potentially offensive category but there are also those that for whom spending large amounts of money on a car causes them no financial hardship whatsoever, they may hardly even notice it.
For some of these people they (luxury cars) aren't overpriced, the price is almost irrelevant.
I hate to bring up such a potentially offensive category but there are also those that for whom spending large amounts of money on a car causes them no financial hardship whatsoever, they may hardly even notice it.
yes, that is true, but there are also a surprisingly large amount of people who are phenomenally wealthy ( in fact a number are even on the top of the world's most wealthy people) who drive rather mundane cars. The issue being discussed is whether they're overpriced, and that can be taken in many ways, whether its additional price is really worth that much more over a "ordinary" car that more or less does the same thing.
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