How to deal with snobbery?

thegirlintheattic

Ignore them! I proudly drive my car with it's dented wing, no matter what others think, the damage was not my fault and I'd rather save my money for something important rather than on aesthetics.

pendulum

Matt1977 wrote: »

I've noticed this too. A former neighbour once had a blue P reg Mondeo which from the first time I noticed it, had grey gaffer tape on its bumper. Poor car. There is also a T reg Mondeo that sometimes park next to my car with equally skanky bumpers.

They're everywhere. It is entirely to do with the bumpers - they crack ever so easily. All it takes is a little nudge, then it's either a £200-odd repair bill or some tape.

janninew

Matt1977 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about the image thing. The other neighbours with flashier cars may have bought them on credit. All you have to worry about is keeping the car well maintained to ensure that it continues to get you to work and back.

:j I do have more respect for those who drive older cars, be they well looked after or battle scarred, than those who drive new cars.

You have more 'respect' for people who drive older cars?!! Really? Why? I don't choose to respect people over car choice!

I started off driving older cars when I first passed my test, eventually I was in the position where I could afford a brand new car and its great. No worry about MOT's, everything works and its lovely and clean - what's not to like about that! Plus I always have a full fridge, I don't go out and booze my money away and have never smoked. I don't go on expensive holidays either - its all about choice.

I would certainly never look down on somebody because they have an older car, I hate snobbery in an way, shape or form.

Strider590

thescouselander wrote: »

Also if no one bought new cars there would be no second hand cars either.

Exactly!

Those with more credit than sense, let them buy whatever they (think will impress the neighbours) want. It keeps the second hand market nicely priced for those of us with more sense.


On another note however, debt is a great way of keeping the working classes right where they are. Let them buy flash cars and pretend to be middle class, all they're doing is making the rich folk richer.

By definition middle class is those in professional occupations... Doctors, lawyers, real proper engineers (not sky dish installation "engineers"), etc etc etc. Borrowing money for a new car doesn't make anyone anything special.

colino

It's a pity your currently so affected by the drudgery of free transport. Just wait until you can go upmarket and the horror when you return to your new, shiney, parked, expensive egobox and find the inevitable scratch or tesco tickle.

madmcmad

don't be so insecure...provided what you do causes no one any harm or to feel uncomfortable themselves then you should not give a flying fornication for what anyone thinks about you.

We are professionals with kids and becausde I am mechanical and don't like getting stiffed by finance companies we have a 10 year old top of the range family estate car which cost me £500 to buy..that is less than one of my neighbours monthly payments for the Q7 HE LEASES If it ends up with a £2000 bill because it needs a ned engine I'll bin it and bou another for £500.

My car is a 15 year old Pug 306 Dt - it has 180k on the clock is fast, clean gives me 40mpg and only cost me £200....

if you are embarrased about your old car then look after it - give it a good wash - sort out the dents and the rust yourself (lots of places to find out how to do this) and service it yourself then all you car will cost to run is fuel, consumables, insurance and tax....seriously when I told the Q7 owner how much I paid for my family car he went very quiet. You will find that your neighbours will show you a lot more respect if your car is well cared for and if you do it by yourself even more so. Remember - it's YOUR car - 90% of under 3 year old vehicles on our roads are either company cars or owned by finance companies and banks who have tied in some poor schmuck for the next 3 years shelling out 10 grand a year on payments!

missile

It did bug me when a neighbour bought an old banger and parked it in front of my house, rather than in his drive. Nothing I could do about it.

missprice

i have had ancient cars and stuff what the neighbours think
although i think they were more impressed that i had a car cos they didnt, no matter how skanky my car was
it was better than none

and my (deceased) grandad oscar used to say
'better a third class ride than a first class walk':)

so true

Weird_Nev

missile wrote: »

It did bug me when a neighbour bought an old banger and parked it in front of my house, rather than in his drive. Nothing I could do about it.

There's a lady at the end of the road who has decided that the bay space opposite her house is 'her space'. She leaves vile notes on anyones car if they dare park there. Lovely if you have mates over for a BBQ and they come back to that.

The old guy over the road was selling a G plate Ford Sierra Estate, an absolute wreck of a car. I was so close to buying it, taxing and insuring it ,and then just leaving it parked in that space, purely because I knew the merest sight of the thing would make her apopleptic daily. Plus I could have used it as a skip. Sadly he decided to scrap it before I could put my evil plan into action.

So now I just park my own rusty barge there whenever I can. The notes are fantastic, you can really feel the rage. Her blood pressure must be amazingly high!

Lum

My dad used to have a similar situation which culminated in said highly strung neighbour buying an old banger and putting it in "her" space just so nobody else could use it.

One quick phone call to report an untaxed vehicle and it was gone a week later