|
When I was filthy rich, I used top love driving around in SWMBO's basic Metro, but now I'm filthier richer, I have moved up to a R reg Mondeo.
|
|
Very little there that isn't said daily in this forum.
|
"We do not use the car every day ? mainly for driving to see friends and relatives on the weekend, occasional child drop-offs etc."
No need for anything else but a banger then and in his position I'd probably do the same.
But when you rely on a car to do 20,000+ miles per year and any minor breakdown can become a major inconvenience, bangernomics can soon turn in to a liability. I know, I've been there and done it!
I do agree on his thoughts on borrowing vast amounts (especially on your mortgage!) to buy a flash car is foolhardy.
|
But when you rely on a car to do 20,000+ miles per year and any minor breakdown can become a major inconvenience, bangernomics can soon turn in to a liability. I know, I've been there and done it!
Yes but you still don't need the latest top of the range Beemer with leather and leccy everything, even if you are doing the 20k a year.
It depends on how you define a banger anyway. I certainly wouldn't call a 1999 406 a "banger". It's just middle-aged, and probably has at least another 3 or 4 good years left in it before it could be called a banger in my book. A £1500 car can quite easily do the 20k for a couple of years without too much hassle, especially a larger model with a diesel or even some petrol engines.
|
Yes but you still don't need the latest top of the range Beemer with leather and leccy everything, even if you are >> doing the 20k a year.
Indeed you don't, but if you have it to spend and you'll enjoy the BMW, why not?
Now, his most important point is, if you don't have it to spend, but you crave the Munich Propeller regardless, then it's time to think twice.
Mind, logic is the first victim of keeping up with the Jonses. As a kid, I used to wonder why it was the Toyota Corollas along our avenue seemed to reproduce on four year cycles. First one new Corolla would appear, then another, then before you knew where you were they'd done something odd and repopulated half the street... :-)
(Ireland in the '80s was not a rich place. An ex-fleet Corolla was the aspirational car!)
|
Guys, remember. If no one spends 16k on a brand new car, no one gets a 1500 quid "banger" 6 years later.
So dont critise the hand that feeds you.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
Quote: (TVM): Guys, remember. If no one spends 16k on a brand new car, no one gets a 1500 quid "banger" 6 years later.
That's how it used to be here in New Zealand, except that it took something like 26 years before a $1500 banger emerged. New cars were only available to the very few, on provision of a mythical substance known as 'overseas funds'.(UK Pounds) So only exporters like farmers got new cars, and they were expected to provide for the rest of the country by buying a new car every year. Their cast-offs fetched better-than-new prices for them, and then went through the system of used cars for the next twenty or so years, until they were completely unrepairable. The government of the day saw such luxuries as nice cars as a rampantly inflationary, so were severely stamped on.
Some years later in the mid-1980s, enterprising souls (saints really) began to privately import cars from Japan. Nice cars, with radios, heaters, electric windows, air conditioning. Heady stuff. Within a short time the trickle became a flood, restrictions were dropped, and soon average people could afford something other than what the rest of the first world would describe as a banger.
Just recently, the new car dealer lobby has been pushing for an age limit on imports. Having completely failed to preserve their previously exalted status despite desperate attempts over the years to denigrate Japanese used imports, they are now playing spurious environmental and safety cards. The lobby seems to have renewed influence over the government, and I fear a restriction on imports will soon bring a return to the good old days described in the first paragraph.
|
|
|
|
can't someone have something nice and not give two hoots about what the Jones's have got?
Might not someone save up or whatever you do, just because you want something nice?
Surely some people go on bargain basement holidays, whilst some stay in 5 star hotels.....none is right or wrong, just people exercising choice
i accept that some people will only do something with one eye over their shoulder to see who else is impressed, which is sad.....however
i like nice cars, i aspire to have a really nice one and would do if i could afford it. ...... 5 years ago nearly, i spent an enormous amount on a car........for no other reason than my circs at the time meant i could be selfish and i'd always fancied that marque......... so i realised my dream
what's the point of having a dream if you never achieve it..........God knows how i'll afford to upgrade it, but i will, it's just a matter of priorities isn't it........ and driving an old car is not for me.
i don't care what anyone else drives...in fact if everyone was like me it would push the prices up wouldn't it, so please carry on
|
|
Quite right westpig, admirably honest attitude. If I cd afford it I'd certainly have something tasty (although as unflash as I could get it to look).
|
|
|
|
Well said, Mr. W. Pig; well said.
|
|
|
|
|
Yes but you still don't need the latest top of the range Beemer with leather and leccy everything, even if you are doing the 20k a year.
But what if you WANT that?
I don't NEED my 530i and everything it gives me. Infact, for basic transport to uni and back, a 1991 106 1.1 XN Graduate would be more than sufficient.
But I want leather this, electric that, nice build quality, dual zone climate, big wheels, 230bhp, etc etc.
Why should everything be based on need? How mundane would life be if we bought just what we needed and nothing more?
Enjoy yourself, buy what you want. Thats why I'll drive myself around town in a 3 litre Autobahn cruiser. I don't need it, but I do want it.
|
We are enjoying our Astra estate, it doesn´t owe us anything, and more importantly we don´t owe anything on it, and the longer we have it means the nicer car we can get next. If that makes any sense.
Remortgaging your house to buy a V8 BMW X5 seems barmy.
|
The "rubbish car" in the article is nearly identical to the one I downgraded from this year to raise cash to go back to uni. (Mine was red and V-reg, theirs is blue and T-reg).
Frankly that car will do everything and more I needed - accept accelerate wantonly quickly. My new, £500 306 TD is quicker though, and handles a bit better although it's not quite as comfortable or spacious and certainly not as refined.
Just before I sold the 406 I was driving with my Dad and complained about being tailgated whilst doing (a large number) in the outside lane. He turned to me and said "But you're not doing (a large number minus 10) are you?" meaning that he didn't realise I was going that fast.
|
I think cars are a great thing that really does show character. I loved Columbo with his old Peugeot with 100k miles.
I ride a CG125, and I love it...cheap to run, parts cheap, reliable, economical. The snobs are really quite annoying people...at the end of the day a bike is a bike. I think rich people are stingy, probably because they work so hard, they are then serious people and basically take things seriously. And money is serious to them as they spend their life earning it.
I'm not rich, but I have a good income, no debt and parents that really help me with rent. So I live a wonderful life of luxury, but I never buy expensive items if I can help it. Except food...I love M&S and I don't think you can buy health. Well that is what I say to my dad anyway!
|
|
Oh, and just to say I am not ungrateful...I am so appreciative that I have so much. Just the mind set to do the most with what I have got. And I think property is the thing I will save for!
|
I think cars are a great thing that really does show character. I loved Columbo with his old Peugeot with 100k miles.
I've always thought Columbo's car was a Borgward Isabella! In fact I'm sure of it!
|
"I've always thought Columbo's car was a Borgward Isabella! In fact I'm sure of it!"
I'm sad, so I checked. It is a Peugeot and it does 30mpg.
|
Columbo's 1974 Peugeot 403 cabriolet
tinyurl.co.uk/z821
m
|
Sorry my mistake then, I've always assumed it was the Borgward!
Tears up Anorak & wnaders off in a huff ;-0
|
This site identifies it as a 1959 or 1960 model, which explains why it is so scruffy even on the early episodes (Columbo started in 1968). Apparently, Peter Falk chose the car himself from the studio parking lot when he couldn't see anything else he liked. Totally cool car.
www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/inside.htm
|
|
Ur quite correct tintin, meant to state Columbo's car was pictured in 1974
|
|
|
|
