Nice cars in the poor 'hood (judgment, stores, jobs, housing)
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Fighter jets that do 400 mph are piloted by highly trained intelligent pilots. Cars that drive 100 mph are driven by self-centered idiots who text as they drive. 100 mph is plenty fast enough for a passenger car.
Why do people think I am implying that we should have 400 mph cars?
The point is the sophistication of the mechanical engineering 30 years before the Moon landing. Electronics has advanced but that could be retrofit to a 57 Chevy.
American consumers have spent billions on useless variations in junk and economists do not report demand side depreciation. They treat an air conditioner just like a banana. People don't get as emotional about air conditioners as they do about cars, but it is just another machine.
It is also curious that people who criticise that essay do not mention the bathtub curve or MTBF. Considering how technological this society is they don't get mentioned much.
1) Status symbol: You'll see young guys fronting with a nice car, still live with mom.
2) Leasing: Some car companies have extremely cheap leases that let younger people get behind the wheel.
3) Older luxury cars with much lower than new value due to high repair costs..... BMW is a common example.
4) Work related: I know a guy that drives a company truck, he's otherwise broke....or they need a truck for work so that's their business\office etc. too.
The newest and nicest car I ever had was a 78 firebird. It was a year old when I bought it. I was 22, still living at home with my parents at the time. Living with parents...what other responsibilities did I have?
The newest and nicest car I ever had was a 78 firebird. It was a year old when I bought it. I was 22, still living at home with my parents at the time. Living with parents...what other responsibilities did I have?
And what other priority did you have at the time?
Seems like a fun way to use your hard earned money.
I approve.
My exhusband used to work for ford motor credit company. They targeted the poor. They are in the business of making money from credit, not cars.
That was years ago, you could drive through a poor neighborhood in our city and see dozens of new ford vehicles.
I'm sure the same applies now. No surprise.
OK, this makes sense, thanks. I remember that about making the money from credit. We paid cash for our last new car, and I distinctly recall the crestfallen face of the salesman when he discovered at the end of the process that no credit app needed.
The cars I was noticing were mainly parked, so it seemed they lived there, not just cruising poor neighborhoods for fun.
We have many actual "beaters" here, so probably I am not up on cheaper cars looking like the more expensive ones.
The newest and nicest car I ever had was a 78 firebird. It was a year old when I bought it. I was 22, still living at home with my parents at the time. Living with parents...what other responsibilities did I have?
Yeah, I get that. My first car while still living at home was a used Pinto, lol. Cheap cars looked cheap back then, lol. But I was putting my hard-earned money into horses. Now there's a wise investment:
Yeah, I get that. My first car while still living at home was a used Pinto, lol. Cheap cars looked cheap back then, lol. But I was putting my hard-earned money into horses. Now there's a wise investment:
I bought a mink coat with my first Wall Street bonus at 21.
Didn’t care that it was a lousy investment.
The newest and nicest car I ever had was a 78 firebird. It was a year old when I bought it. I was 22, still living at home with my parents at the time. Living with parents...what other responsibilities did I have?
I'm just explaining, not judging. I like nice cars too.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke
Tenants have been living rent-free for nearly two years now. In California, they are getting yet another year of free rent.
... Nearly all of my tenants have had nicer cars than what I drive. They have different budgeting priorities than I have.
Me too (That is not too tough)
They also have TV's
Dish / Cable / satellite
big BBQ's
Lots of beer cans..
None of which I use or need or desire, or budget for.
Some of my tenants are also paying for "Blow&Go" ignition interlock and the insurance rates that go with DUI's. Rent is probably 'trivial' expense to them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodyum
I bought a mink coat with my first Wall Street bonus at 21.
Didn’t care that it was a lousy investment.
I bought a brand new factory ordered 4x4 pickup after I scored a 'real' job... that was a lousy investment and the LAST new vehicle I purchased. (an abrupt and effective "life-long learning" at age 17) I kept it for nearly 20 yrs and it only had 38,000 miles when sold (always broken, seldom driven)
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