I don't understand why people spend big on cars

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Humberto

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After just a few years, the car is worth a fraction of its original price, not to even mention all the interest that was paid for financing it. And not long after that, the car becomes mechanically unsound. You end up having basically nothing to show for all the hundreds of thousands of rands that you poured into the car. It's like hundreds of thousands of rands down the drain.

In the middle-class suburb I live in here in Pretoria, I see so many people living in really plain-looking houses, yet they drive luxury sedans and 4x4s. They should rather spend a bit more on their houses and at least have something to show for it a few years down the line.

For my next car, I'm think I'm going to get a newish second hand car.
 
logically the worst thing to spend so much money on. But car people know people have hearts/emotions and most times that kicks logics @ss out the window.
 
Sometimes people are also willing to spend more money on a car in order to have a vehicle that is safer. Think German.
 
Humberto said:
After just a few years, the car is worth a fraction of its original price, not to even mention all the interest that was paid for financing it. And not long after that, the car becomes mechanically unsound. You end up having basically nothing to show for all the hundreds of thousands of rands that you poured into the car. It's like hundreds of thousands of rands down the drain.

In the middle-class suburb I live in here in Pretoria, I see so many people living in really plain-looking houses, yet they drive luxury sedans and 4x4s. They should rather spend a bit more on their houses and at least have something to show for it a few years down the line.

For my next car, I'm think I'm going to get a newish second hand car.
Click to expand...

Don't judge a book by its cover. Just because they live in average looking homes does not mean they're not wealthy. For all you know, they own several properties and just choose to live there for whatever reason.

Also, a lot of people that live in Pretoria work in Sandton and surrounding areas. That means you're sitting in your car for 2+ hours per day if you're not working flexi-time. If I'm doing that commute regularly, I sure as hell would like to be comfortable doing so, which would warrant a larger expense on a car.
 
mostly becasue they can....
and in some cases to impress friends/girls or anyone else they feel inferior to.
 
Humberto said:
After just a few years, the car is worth a fraction of its original price, not to even mention all the interest that was paid for financing it. And not long after that, the car becomes mechanically unsound. You end up having basically nothing to show for all the hundreds of thousands of rands that you poured into the car. It's like hundreds of thousands of rands down the drain.

In the middle-class suburb I live in here in Pretoria, I see so many people living in really plain-looking houses, yet they drive luxury sedans and 4x4s. They should rather spend a bit more on their houses and at least have something to show for it a few years down the line.

For my next car, I'm think I'm going to get a newish second hand car.
Click to expand...

Why do people work? So that they can eat, be healthy, and buy those things which make their lives more enjoyable. If having a comfortable car makes life more enjoyable, then by all means, buy it.
 
blunomore said:
Sometimes people are also willing to spend more money on a car in order to have a vehicle that is safer. Think German.
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if this were true then they would buy volvos (thinking of all the volvo safety adverts on tv)
Or SAABS (remember seeing on Top Gear I think that they were super safe cars)
 
You only live once, why should I drive around every day spending hours and hours a week commuting in a rust bucket!? When my time comes i will not hold back.
 
ambroseg1 said:
if this were true then they would buy volvos (thinking of all the volvo safety adverts on tv)
Or SAABS (remember seeing on Top Gear I think that they were super safe cars)
Click to expand...
Don't believe everything you see on TV. I've seen 3 volvos in the past year and they were on fire on the side of the road
 
Humberto said:
After just a few years, the car is worth a fraction of its original price, not to even mention all the interest that was paid for financing it. And not long after that, the car becomes mechanically unsound. You end up having basically nothing to show for all the hundreds of thousands of rands that you poured into the car. It's like hundreds of thousands of rands down the drain.

In the middle-class suburb I live in here in Pretoria, I see so many people living in really plain-looking houses, yet they drive luxury sedans and 4x4s. They should rather spend a bit more on their houses and at least have something to show for it a few years down the line.

For my next car, I'm think I'm going to get a newish second hand car.
Click to expand...

I spend two hours every work day sitting in my car. I made sure it would be comfortable.

I take it you've never driven a luxury car?

Once you do, you'll know why.
 
I bought a new vehicle for R200K and looking at the repayments I don't think I will do it ever again.
I'd rather invest the money and retire 10 years earlier than have to work for years just in order to drive an expensive piece of plastic and metal around.
 
Messugga said:
Don't judge a book by its cover. Just because they live in average looking homes does not mean they're not wealthy. For all you know, they own several properties and just choose to live there for whatever reason.

Also, a lot of people that live in Pretoria work in Sandton and surrounding areas. That means you're sitting in your car for 2+ hours per day if you're not working flexi-time. If I'm doing that commute regularly, I sure as hell would like to be comfortable doing so, which would warrant a larger expense on a car.
Click to expand...

True. Places like Sandton and Houghton have crazy rates so living in a "average" suburb even if it's to save a couple thousands on Water and Lights amd the rest.

Humberto said:
After just a few years, the car is worth a fraction of its original price, not to even mention all the interest that was paid for financing it. And not long after that, the car becomes mechanically unsound. You end up having basically nothing to show for all the hundreds of thousands of rands that you poured into the car. It's like hundreds of thousands of rands down the drain.

In the middle-class suburb I live in here in Pretoria, I see so many people living in really plain-looking houses, yet they drive luxury sedans and 4x4s. They should rather spend a bit more on their houses and at least have something to show for it a few years down the line.

For my next car, I'm think I'm going to get a newish second hand car.
Click to expand...

Having gone through a moment of weakness and almost buying German even though I have a pretty decent car, my collegue bought a BMW and after an afternoon driving it.. I wanted one and I had made up all kinds of reasonable reasons why I needed THAT BMW but honestly it's about not being left behind as people progress and if possible have the best among your peers.
Luckily I snapped out of my sense's before I got into a 5 year commitment with a car I didnt need.
 
It's a lifestyle choice. I get a lot of enjoyment from my car.
 
You shouldn't have to understand. How people spend (or "waste") their hard earned cash (or by way of nepotism) should have no effect on you.

Humberto said:
I didn't think of all the reasons mentioned for driving an expensive car.

In my case, I'm going to rather buy myself a grand piano with the money I could have spent on a car.
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And some people will never understand why you'll buy a piano for the same price as a car.

Buy a keyboard.
 
Naks said:
Yep. Same applies for those who spend the megabucks to fly business or first class - once you fly like that, you cannot go back to cattle class ;)
Click to expand...

Oh yes you can, when the company is no longer paying for the tickets :D
 
Pho3nix said:
True. Places like Sandton and Houghton have crazy rates so living in a "average" suburb even if it's to save a couple thousands on Water and Lights amd the rest.
Click to expand...

Nope. It has been said many, many times that its better owning a small house in the best suburb you can afford, rather than a huge palace an in average suburb.
 
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