Getting car shamed :(

[Fritzo]

I've been a "car guy" since I was a kid. I loved collecting Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, building models, racing and building go karts, working on cars...been that way my whole life. Therefore, I buy cars that I actually WANT instead of getting anything off the shelf and using it like an appliance. I have a talent for finding affordable high-end cars with a great support community, so that's what I tend to get. Over the decades I've had some VW Beetles, an Alfa Romeo Spyder, an MGB, a Mini, an Audi, and a BMW...and now I'm on my 2nd BMW.

The people on my office are nice and well paid, but I'm 10-12 years older than most of them, so we're at different stages of life. Therefore I'm getting the "oooo...rich guy!" and "I'm not in your league", or "Mr. Snobby" comments constantly, yet I paid less for this car than most of their new Kias, Hondas, and Hyundais sitting in the lot. I'm an overly nice and modest person, so the comments kind of cut at my core a bit. I got a car for a great price that I always wanted, and the image that comes with it kinda sucks.

So-TLR: if you pay $10K more for a cheap car, you're OK, but if you spend less on a well made luxury car that you know how to maintain, you're a rich snob that's overstepping your station.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I bet you they're only looking at the badge.

In my mind, you probably have like a E92 or E46.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Welll hello Mister Fancypants!

 

[Fritzo]

I bet you they're only looking at the badge.

In my mind, you probably have like a E92 or E46.

It's a 2015 335i XDrive Sport (F30). Got it with 38K miles, one year of factory warranty left (it was a late lease turn in), for just under $20K.

 

[highland145]

Are you compensating for something?



Actually, I'd rub it in those particular peeps noses and tell your other co-workers what you really paid.

Friend picked up a '15 Lexus CT for $16K. Had to drive to NJ but still..

 

[Fritzo]

Welll hello Mister Fancypants!

See...THAT RIGHT THERE...THAT'S what I'm talking about

 

[Fritzo]

Are you compensating for something?



Actually, I'd rub it in those particular peeps noses and tell your other co-workers what you really paid.

I do, and I'm not a bragger so "rubbing noses in things" isn't in my nature. I just feel like a 10 year old that got something they never thought they'd get for Christmas and it's getting ruined by stigma.

 

[BurnItDwn]

It's a 2015 335i XDrive Sport (F30). Got it with 38K miles, one year of factory warranty left (it was a late lease turn in), for just under $20K.

Didnt you post a month or two ago to Garage when you got it?

Friend at the office picked up a 335i Xdrive not too long ago, it goes like hell, practicly an m3, but, costs similar to a new WRX.

 

[highland145]

I do, and I'm not a bragger so "rubbing noses in things" isn't in my nature. I just feel like a 10 year old that got something they never thought they'd get for Christmas and it's getting ruined by stigma.

Eff them. We still love you long time. Except for burn.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

It's a 2015 335i XDrive Sport (F30). Got it with 38K miles, one year of factory warranty left (it was a late lease turn in), for just under $20K.

335i is great, just fix the little shit (turbos going out, not sure if that's still an issue) and then you got one hell of a ride

 

[BurnItDwn]

Eff them. We still love you long time. Except for burn.

Dear Mister Fancy Pants, err I mean Fritzo.
I am sorry I was mean to you.

 

[Fritzo]

Didnt you post a month or two ago to Garage when you got it?

Friend at the office picked up a 335i Xdrive not too long ago, it goes like hell, practicly an m3, but, costs similar to a new WRX.

Yep. Now seeing the after-effects of ownership. The mindset of my office-mates seems to be "cars are appliances- you don't jump out of your lane". It's weird.

 

[Fritzo]

335i is great, just fix the little shit (turbos going out, not sure if that's still an issue) and then you got one hell of a ride

The 2012-2014 had the turbo issue. They redesigned the way it's regulated in the 2015-2018 models. This is my first automatic in 10 years...my wife never drove manuals and refused to learn, so this is the first car of mine she's been able to drive. She's now getting why I get the cars I get

 

[highland145]

Dear Mister Fancy Pants, err I mean Fritzo.
I am sorry I was mean to you.

bwahahaa, irl.

With copy/paste these days, I guess making your write that 100 times is pointless.

 

[Fritzo]

Dear Mister Fancy Pants, err I mean Fritzo.
I am sorry I was mean to you.

NO YOU ARE NOT. I can tell by the way you typed...

 

[ponyo]

If you buy luxury badge, you're going to get that. I helped my sister buy used Lexus GX460 last month and she said she got the same crap from her coworkers at her office. No one said anything about her Chevy Tahoe she drove for 15 years and that was more expensive than the GX460 she purchased. And she said other girl at her office bought brand new GMC Acadia that was more expensive than her car and no one said anything.

 

[BurnItDwn]

If you buy luxury badge, you're going to get that. I helped my sister buy used Lexus GX460 last month and she said she got the same crap from her coworkers at her office. No one said anything about her Chevy Tahoe she drove for 15 years and that was more expensive than the GX460 she purchased. And she said other girl at her office bought brand new GMC Acadia that was more expensive than her car and no one said anything.

I am lucky where I work.
I picked up a 2015 GS350 recently, and its fits right in with the sea of Toyotas and Hondas.

 

[IronWing]

We bought a Buick wagon a few months ago. My father in law wanted to know, “When did we get rich?”

 

[nakedfrog]

We bought a Buick wagon a few months ago. My father in law wanted to know, “When did we get rich?”

They still sell Buick wagons?

 

[IronWing]

They still sell Buick wagons?

The Regal TourX is a pretty good car and is cheap because almost no one else bought one. We’ve seen exactly two others on the road since we bought ours.

 

[ponyo]

I am lucky where I work.
I picked up a 2015 GS350 recently, and its fits right in with the sea of Toyotas and Hondas.

GS blends in really well. Great car though. I'm Toyota fanboy when it comes to ICE cars. All my cars are old as dirt and my DD is 18 year old Tundra truck so no one gives me crap. That might change when I buy Tesla though. Everyone seems to think every Tesla costs $100k.

 

[nakedfrog]

The Regal TourX is a pretty good car and is cheap because almost no one else bought one. We’ve seen exactly two others on the road since we bought ours.

That does have a nice look to it.

 

[Viper GTS]

Non car people simply have no frame of reference for what things are worth beyond what they cost when they were new. When I had my Viper I several times overheard comments at gas stations talking about my 'six figure car.' Similarly at work many people assumed it was $100k+ and many made comments about me/my group (coworker with 911/Cayenne, boss with 944, me with Viper, etc) being overpaid and the 'fancy car club'. Never mind the fact that both the 911 and the Viper cost us less than many of the cars these people drove, and the Cayenne far less. If people brought it up to me I'd happily tell them what I actually paid for it ($33,000) and that it was still worth basically what I paid for it making my cost of ownership essentially gas + tires. Not insubstantial of course for something that is 100% a toy, but far less TCO than most people's cars that don't get a second glance.

My general practice is to treat it as an educational opportunity. I'm always happy to share my fun cars with people because even if it's only $33k it's still something that you don't see every day and most people have no exposure to.

IMO the best way to not get bored of your fun car is to share it with other people. Take them for rides, better yet let them drive it. Near daily driving of a Viper warps your perspective of what normal cars can do, having a passenger seat view of someone else discovering it for themselves brings back all the joy. All it takes is someone you trust to listen to you and a quick primer - 'don't floor it unless you're pointed in a straight line' and I never had any issues.

Viper GTS

 

[Fritzo]

We bought a Buick wagon a few months ago. My father in law wanted to know, “When did we get rich?”

The TourX? That's a badass vehicle. We need more wagons in the US

 

[Fritzo]

Non car people simply have no frame of reference for what things are worth beyond what they cost when they were new. When I had my Viper I several times overheard comments at gas stations talking about my 'six figure car.' Similarly at work many people assumed it was $100k+ and many made comments about me/my group (coworker with 911/Cayenne, boss with 944, me with Viper, etc) being overpaid and the 'fancy car club'. Never mind the fact that both the 911 and the Viper cost us less than many of the cars these people drove, and the Cayenne far less. If people brought it up to me I'd happily tell them what I actually paid for it ($33,000) and that it was still worth basically what I paid for it making my cost of ownership essentially gas + tires. Not insubstantial of course for something that is 100% a toy, but far less TCO than most people's cars that don't get a second glance.

My general practice is to treat it as an educational opportunity. I'm always happy to share my fun cars with people because even if it's only $33k it's still something that you don't see every day and most people have no exposure to.

IMO the best way to not get bored of your fun car is to share it with other people. Take them for rides, better yet let them drive it. Near daily driving of a Viper warps your perspective of what normal cars can do, having a passenger seat view of someone else discovering it for themselves brings back all the joy. All it takes is someone you trust to listen to you and a quick primer - 'don't floor it unless you're pointed in a straight line' and I never had any issues.

Viper GTS

Yeah, this is my tactic...I love letting people drive it and showing them how to press passed the "click" in the gas pedal to get the twin-scroll turbo purring Problem is you can't get to everyone. Oh well...probably overthinking things.

What you driving these days?