[Closed] People with flash cars and modest houses

Pension realisation ?
Lottery win ?
But suspect it’s PCP deals on modest incomes.. and who can blame them if they can afford it.

Their money (or debt), up to them what to spend it on.

Maybe they have bucket loads of cash and like cars but don’t need/want a flash house?

or is it just personal choice? a big house isn't everything. Some would argue that huge unnecessary houses are the same thing in reverse.

I'd rather have a humble home and be able to live than plow everything into a huge house for me and the wife and kids.

Is it all simply about needing to have the latest, flashiest car all the time?

It's the latest generation of young middle management coming through - senior or capable enough to be in a job with nice perks like flash company cars but of a generation where you need to save for years and years to get yourself into a 'flash' house, if they ever make it.

Old'uns won't get it.

But suspect it’s PCP deals on modest incomes

Posh cars can depreciate very slowly, so the monthly PCP payment can be very low.

Perhaps they ordered them while drunk from Ling cars and were unable to cancel.

Our street seems to be regentrifying at the moment, a rash of fancy Mercs, Porsches, Beamers and Audis among the Fords and VWs lately.

Drug dealers..

Maybe they like cars.

I live in a big house and drive a rubbish car.

Do I win five pounds?

Speaking as someone with a top of the range BMW but a tiny 1 bedroom flat, maybe they just value their motor vehicle more than they value their house?

It happens

Rachel

PCP has made brand new, flash cars pretty affordable if you want them.

Is it all simply about needing to have the latest, flashiest car all the time?

Sometimes you just have to accept that other peoples priorities are different to your own. Without a Carbon Fibre addiction I'm sure at lot of us could find £260 a month for a new C-Class if we wanted one, £330 for an Evoque, even £700 a month for that fancy BMW i8.

Equally, the last decade or so has shown a lot of people that doing your testicles on the biggest mortgage possible isn't perhaps a good idea - some people like where they live, like their house, like their neighbours - so even if their income has grown, they don't feel they have to trade up every 5-10 years.

Not everyone wants or needs a big house.

I think what it is is that the people whose money has been spent (on monthly payments or outright purchase) like those cars and are prepared to pay for them, but are not prepared or able to pay for a large house, or the bills involved. Or maybe it's an environmental choice, after all heating a typical large house emits several times more CO2 than even a typical flash car.

Could you specify an acceptable house value to car list price ratio so we can avoid offending your sensibilities in future?

Without a Carbon Fibre addiction I'm sure at lot of us could find £260 a month for a new C-Class if we wanted one, £330 for an Evoque, even £700 a month for that fancy BMW i8.

What about an XC60?

Surely it depends entirely on circumstances. I have 2 cars including a porsche yet live in a 1 bedroom (plus box room flat). I could buy something bigger but as a single bloke whats the point in me having 4 bedrooms and multiple bathrooms?

I get enjoyment out of owning and driving a nice car. I doubt I'd get any enjoyment out of having an extra 3 empty bedrooms and the choice of which toilet to take my daily shit in.

I'd think it was far more bizarre having a big house, being burdened with a huge mortgage, and not having any money to enjoy life

I have 2 cars including a porsche

Did you always promise yourself you’d buy one?

It happens

This. I shall be answering this to all questions in future.

I probably fall in to this segment of person, I like cars and am willing to spend some money on having the one I want.

I have a house which is perfectly adequate for my needs, what would be the benefit in spending more on a house?

Did you always promise yourself you’d buy one?

I always wanted a ferrari, but life didn't turn out exactly as planned! At least its not a diesel however..

Me too somouk.

Been in our house 20 years now and it suits us grand.

Some people seem to think they need a flash house though.

I always wanted a ferrari, but life didn't turn out exactly as planned! At least its not a diesel however..

Ah you have a Fiat 500 too then.

Speaking as someone with a top of the range BMW but a tiny 1 bedroom flat, maybe they just value their motor vehicle more than they value their house?

What I am trying to get at isn't people with nice cars, it's the ostentatious flasher than really necessary sorts of cars that (to me) seem a pointless luxury if I am living in a small house with barely anywhere to park the damn thing.

A diesel Ferrari ?

Whodafunkit..

Nah, flash isn’t always what they think. Current crop of new cars are flash, but flash is the new standard.. so this raises the benchmark and some like to exceed the benchmark.

You only have to look in Waitrose carpark at Canary Wharf to find out whose got a nice bonus this year, yet that carpark is shrinking with the latest crop of new cars (Tesla included) most are now buying large saloon or estates, barely an X5 to be seen and the Cayenne is obvious by its omission. Porkers 911’s/Boxters are a plenty, 5 years ago these were seen as gauche and a bit sub std, but today walloping £70/£80k on a supremely well made vehicle small enough to enjoy the 2miles/40miles to the office seems a decent “eco” choice...

The worlds changing, becoming less Uber flash and more benchmark flash.. IMO.

Not everyone wants or needs a big house.

This, I live on my own and in a pretty small cottage, I spend too much time driving from one end of the country to the other, so I've got quite a nice Beamer to sit in while I do.

PCP on the cars and unaffordable housing means that nice car, smaller house is pretty much the norm now.

Knew a guy with a roller and council semi.

He's dead now. Probably unrelated.

seem a pointless luxury if I am living in a small house with barely anywhere to park the damn thing.

The enjoyment comes from driving them not if they fit on your drive.

Its not a new thing,but as its getting easier to buy a 'flash' car it does seem to be more prevalent.

There have always been people who would rather spend their money on a car rather than a big house, and why shouldnt they be able to do that?

Anyway whats the definition of too much car relative to your house? Is there some acceptable ratio? Maybe your car can be up to 20% of the value of your house ?

Good at golf?

(Tiny.....)

Not as bad as a fancy car dropping kids off at a really crap school.

If you're passionate about cars, is it so different from keeping a high end bike in your house-share bedroom (as i'm sure many of us will have done in our younger days).

Young relatives home visiting the old 'uns for ConsumerFest?

Is it all simply about needing to have the latest, flashiest car all the time?

Are you from the North? I think Northerners tend to have poor taste in general, summed up by paving over the lawn to park a white T5 and a white Audi A3 outside the kitchen window.
Both had his and hers personalised plates aswell.....

Maybe they work for a garage?

What defines flash?

davidtaylforth - Member
Is it all simply about needing to have the latest, flashiest car all the time?
Are you from the North? I think Northerners tend to have poor taste in general, summed up by paving over the lawn to park a white T5 and a white Audi A3 outside the kitchen window.
Both had his and hers personalised plates aswell.....

You forgot to mention 'ex council house' in your searing generalisation 😉

Not sure that's a northern thing. Not sticking up for northerners, but seen just as bad daahn saaf. Good luck to 'em I say. If Gav 'n' Shell bought their house in the 90's for £15 and it's now worth £459k why shouldn't they borrow money for pink range rovers etc?

People get what they want, we're all different.

alternatively ....

It's a sign of our rampant consumerism and addiction to keeping up with the Jones', our lack of planning for the future and the impending time-bomb of a load of millenials getting to retirement age with no cash behind them and then living in poverty for twenty odd years while moaning at the state because it sure as hell won't be their fault.

Maybe they spend more time in their cars than their homes, so they are more of a priority?

I have a 2 bedroom flat and a 2 seater car.

@DTF 😆

Maybe they work for a garage?

Not sure about the i8 driver though - he might.

Everyone is free to spend their money on what they want - don’t see the problem.

If you think that borrowing money against a depreciating asset vs. one that has a track record of always increasing. I agree it would seem a bit mad; however since some people seem happy to perpetually pay £350+ a month on a car I suppose it makes sense to them - either that or the mortgage is paid off and they see no reason to move or add to the pension pot.

Plenty of “accommodation” that DTF quotes down this way... it’s not all gated residences and 5bed semis..

This will blow the OP's mind.

[url= http://www.bluechillicars.com/personal-contract-hire-cars/volvo/xc60-estate/xc60-estate-20-t5-250-momentum-5dr-awd-geartronic-259422896 ]Silly cheap XC60 lease deal[/url]

That's what the most modest of earners could drive with no kids, BIL they don't hate etc. (-:

This is the explanation for the work all your life thread.

My neighbor thinks my bike is flash

Bear, your stalking disturbs me 😯

One of middle_oab's classmates father has a sister work for Mercedes finance something or other. The house has an ever changing pair of nearly new Mercedes outside as various silly cheap lease deals come up. He was even saying he has been to work in morning, phone call in am, signed papers at lunch, drove home in different car....

Silly cheap XC60 lease deal

That's what the most modest of earners could drive with no kids, BIL they don't hate etc. (-:

5000 miles? Who the hell leases a car for 5000 miles a year?

Despite the headline of an XC60 for less than £210 a month, that's actually a shocking deal.

Assuming you use the (very) generous 10000 miles allowed in 2 years, it's going to cost you 70p per mile, before you put any fuel in it, insure it, tax it or service it.

£7k gone in two years to do 400 miles a month. A taxi would probably be cheaper 😆

Always spent my money on the home, with cheap ebay cars on the drive.

Just sold up and retired aged 54 to a modest house.

Time for a flash car me thinks.

What I am trying to get at isn't people with nice cars, it's the ostentatious flasher than really necessary sorts of cars that (to me) seem a pointless luxury if I am living in a small house with barely anywhere to park the damn thing.

For more outrage see [url= https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/independent-brokers/car-leasing-contracts/bmw/4-series/263861612/ ]here[/url]

We're all aware of the joys of car ownership, and as much as the world drives me nuts nowadays I can't see how leasing isn't an absolute winner for most folk (as long as you're not sold on a particular car and just happy to take what's on offer).

One is a gas fitter (so in his van every day and his wife has a Citroen family car). The other fits block paving (so again in his work truck every day).

will be company cars. avoids giving the tax man a heap of cash 😉

Hob Nob - Member

5000 miles? Who the hell leases a car for 5000 miles a year?

A chap I went to school with, now middle management civil service leases a brand new BMW. He has to get the bus to work 2 days a week as his mileage allowance does not stretch to driving to/fro work.5 days a week.

I drive a car a bought with cash and don't care if muddy bikes / wet sailing kit get thrown in...

Different folk have different priorities.

Trail-rat - I can certainly see that as one reason as far as those particular two are concerned.

Many of our grads at work have company cars because we are mobile consultants. They have 1-series and A-Classes. It makes sense for them to get the company car option because personal insurance for them is sky high. But because they are grads they live in small rented flats or houses.

Pretty reasonable.

I get that Molgrips - i’m Not talking about ‘executive’ type cars here (they are on every other drive these days), it’s the ones that cost >£80,000 - proper flash cars.

Cheap PCP deals and easy/irresponsible lending Vs. difficult/impossible to save a house deposit and difficult get a mortgage agreed. Possibly???

Modest eco-friendly house here, and a new electric car. Sounds like I might get on better with your neigbour than the petrol heads on this (bike) forum. 8)

It's my hope for 2018 that STW gets some new blood to force the resident trolls to up their game. There are a couple of the usual suspects on this thread and they're boringly predictable. The decline is almost sad to see.

As for the car thing, it's different priorities isn't it. Who cares?

5000 miles? Who the hell leases a car for 5000 miles a year?

Despite the headline of an XC60 for less than £210 a month, that's actually a shocking deal.

Assuming you use the (very) generous 10000 miles allowed in 2 years, it's going to cost you 70p per mile, before you put any fuel in it, insure it, tax it or service it.

£7k gone in two years to do 400 miles a month. A taxi would probably be cheaper

I don't even know where to start.

What defines flash?

A pair of tasteless trousers worn with over expensive outdoor shoes whilst sitting in a first class aeroplane seat.

Quote from Daver)
or is it just personal choice? a big house isn't everything. Some would argue that huge unnecessary houses are the same thing in reverse.

I'd rather have a humble home and be able to live than plow everything into a huge house for me and the wife and kids. Quote off)

Summed up nicely for me not to bother repeating what has been said.

It's all relative, personal priorities and individual circumstances.....

I couldn't care less what I drive as long as it functions and fulfils it's purpose (slightly knackered 98 Mercedes flat bed truck) but I do own 2 houses, several barns, outbuildings and workshops all set on 15 hectares of land..... My priority was space, room to breath and a safe and healthy environment for my family.... I had to move to Croatia to do it but that was where our wants led us....

Could have stayed in the Uk, got a crap house and a flash car.... Neither of which I would technically 'own'.....

define flash

Audi RS4 innit....oh no that's a crass car

Not everyone[s] wants or needs[/s] can afford a big house.

when i look at my younger cousins they almost all have relatively new cars, new phones, sky package yet nearly all of them rent.

I have to ask - is this *that* different from driving an old beater as your car, but riding a £5k bike? Is it not just prioritising which you value more/ where you get best bang for your buck?

Maybe the difference between the house they are in and the next house up the ladder is just too bigger jump. Or they became disillusioned with the "bricks & mortar" ethos.

The important thing is to remember to judge other people who are different to you. That's the key to a happy and successful life. And this, probably:

Cheap PCP deals and easy/irresponsible lending Vs. difficult/impossible to save a house deposit and difficult get a mortgage agreed. Possibly???

Cheap PCP deals and easy/irresponsible lending Vs. difficult/impossible to save a house deposit and difficult get a mortgage agreed. Possibly???

Would agree with that. I have the opposite as I got over expensive cars a long time ago,

What about if turn this around to look at people with bangers on the drive who have huge mortgages on houses they can't afford and don't need... Similar abuse of a credit line.

and in light of equality .... we could also look at those with modest cars on the drives of modest houses ......

and bangers on small council houses (where i sit ;)) ..... but i have nice bicycles...

Hob Nob - Member
5000 miles? Who the hell leases a car for 5000 miles a yea

My wife leased hers for 6k miles a year, but I negotiated it up to 10k ‘just in case’ she’s actually on track for 4000 miles a year ha ha.

She loves her car, it’s ‘cheap’ at £150 a month and ultimately it’s a tool for Work that’s covered by expenses. We usually travel as a family in my car as it’s bigger and hers has got a boot full of work stuff in it.

What about the other way round? People with flashy houses and cheap crap cars?
One of the reasons we've got a nice house and a small mortgage is because we've not pissed money up the wall on new cars.....

I think the OP approves of you, thank god.

And what about people with crap houses and crap cars....

[img] [/img]

OP's local estate...

I think now that this is getting to an interesting discussion after the first page of flaming. I get that it’s about different priorities and different situations and we won’t all understand other’s opinions.