Another, ANOTHER, another, what car post

I get why the boss said it. While totally materialistic, a decent luxury car is what the management drives, therefore, it's what they want potential candidates to drive. It theoretically A- shows that the person aspiring that is driven and of a like mindset, and B- let's face it, a nice car is a status symbol. The guess there is that someone who can afford a GOOD car without getting something ridiculous shows that at least on the surface, they have their affairs in a reasonable order and aren't prone to flights of fancy in a sports car.

they have their affairs in a reasonable order and aren't prone to flights of fancy in a sports car.

Thats hilarious considering that there are absolutely no hard and fast facts about any relationship between sports car and luxury car prices.

An entire mindset built on flimsy assumptions. Too bad Reaganomics isnt a car brand.

While I appreciate the drive what you want and the hell with everyone else philosophy, jobs aren't the easiest things to come by these days. For better or worse, people expect certain levels of outward appearance from certain occupations/titles etc. It is not right, but it is reality. I see it and feel it all the time (it is amazing the respect one can command from dressing well). However, I think there is a GRM happy medium to had and it is something I try and perfect. Anyway, I also remembered the first gen Cadillac CTS or CTS-V are fairly reasonably priced now. Also, Jag x-type or XJ might be alright, any newer Lincoln (town car?). All should be under $20k. I wonder if you could get away with a tarted up Chrysler 300c. The still look nice.

They would probably view any car more than a few years old as junk. A 5 year old Town Car doesn't impress anyone with this type of mindset.

mtn wrote: Oh, I just thought of an "under the radar" one... Mitsubishi Diamante. I know a wealthy guy who was into race cars (Rx7's IRRC) that thought very highly of them. Looks classy, but the Mitsu name might hurt it a little. No idea of reliability, etc.

That appears to be a tarted-up Magna . They are everywhere on Australian roads. Imagine a Camry, but without any of the character and charm.

The Japanese may actually look favourably upon that choice, mistaking it for some kind of Buddhist self-sacrifice thing.

That's how much I dislike Magnas .

sanman is right about all of it. I understand the politics. I had an equal and then a superior position tell me this. If you want to get ahead and build relationships with them, you head these "comments". My car is due for replacement with a total of $3800 invested in my Maxima. 80K miles with only 3800 invested...I am not hurt (total 180K on the odometer.) She has been a great car but I see their point.

Lost is Translation to people who have never been to Japan or dealt with the Japanese was a horrible movie. Once you spend time with them it is hilarious.

I don't view it as sucking up. They aren't asking for me to take their laundry, the between the lines is, "our managers should look more professional than what you drive, you represent our company where ever you go, your car is an extension of that. Please remember this."

I can either go real new, or classy. Don't want to pay for new so I will do classy.

Wife suggestion as of yesterday Ford 500 (every company car here in the states is a Ford) E39 E320/350 Audi A6 and a Saab

I found a 04 X3 yesterday for $13K which is bouncing the budget ceiling. But in good shape. If I get something that has a small tow rating that would kill two bird with one stone. I have experience with the ML 320, 5000 lbs tow rating but they look very...ugly.

So keep up the suggestions.

Two things; the first is, I don't think people really care that much about the car. The money would probably go farther and do more if spent on wardrobe instead and sanman's posts backs that theory up. You ride to work on your own, you interact all day long in your clothing.

The other is, if you think these cars mentioned look like bargains, what are these other dudes going to think? The comment about a five year old Town Car looking chintzy really should hit home more than it seems to have. What you see as a bargain, these sorts of individuals are going to see as a guy trying to look expensive on the cheap, and that's not going to impress that sort of "wonderful individual".

p.s. rat rod Q45 has lots of junkyard wheel options to spray bomb black.

Get an old 1980's conversion van like I got. So much room, comfort, and a V8. Of course, the Boss will likely fire you for being insane.

In all seriousness, the Phaetons aren't all that pricey anymore, and my parents LOVE theirs. the VW badge does hurt prestige a little, but it's still a pretty massive car, so that helps. Also, it's quite a luxury car for the money. I think a similarly equiped A8 was $20k more expensive.

I like the E39 M5 idea, or how about CTS-V? Lots of the Japanese guys I've talked to (in Japan- why do I feel weird saying this?) like to talk about the big American cars they owned when they went to college in US. I think buying a luxo Japanese car could be construed as ass kissing along the same lines of wearing the same tie or suit as the boss.

I really like my '04 G35. It's a seriously nice car that I can take a customer or supplier out in without worrying about it. In fact, all of them have commented on how nice it is. In reality, I only paid 10k for it and have spent practically nil on it in a year. It's decently quick, a lot of 350Z stuff bolts on, and gets decent mpg as well. I give up a little steering feel compared to say a BMW, but I gain a lot more straight line speed and reliability. Pieces don't seem to fall off like my BMW's did, and it doesn't always want some cheap or expensive part that you can only get from a dealer.

An interesting side note, vastly more women come up and talk to me in the G than they ever did in any of my Porsche's, Alfas, etc. Where were they when I was single!?

I think a really nice late model w126 would work, even though it is old (like the one posted earlier). My early diesel one with 400k miles on it is still a nice car, I think a newer one thats in better shape wouldn't be bad at all.

I would go with a Volvo S60 T5. Solid and no expensive AWD parts to break.

Rufledt wrote: In all seriousness, the Phaetons aren't all that pricey anymore, and my parents LOVE theirs. the VW badge does hurt prestige a little, but it's still a pretty massive car, so that helps. Also, it's quite a luxury car for the money. I think a similarly equiped A8 was $20k more expensive.

Phaetons seem to be just begging me to have me "mistake" them for Passats.

On the other hand, when I worked for Amada Laser, the Accounting Manager drove a new-ish Golf. There's worse things to have a car mistaken for. The boss had an Avalon as a company car, though it's possible that people higher up the ladder than managing a small subsidiary would have had something more status-y.

After talking to the engineering manager, who finds the whole thing interesting, he gave a few suggestions

Big back seat, Leather and wood, No SUVs, Realtively modern looking (no chrome bumpers, something that has held it's self as a contemporary), Well maintained.

I mentioned the E39 which he recommended. Anything around that style-type should be fine.

So Infiniti M/Q, E320/350, E39, Volvo S60/80, Audi A6, Ford 500 SEL, Mercury Marauder are all acceptable vehicles. The specifically mentioned NO cars are any European or Japanese car with Chrome bumpers. BMW 3 series, C-class, A4, VW, S40/C30 (he knows I like the C30) He thought a really nice thought would be a 7 Series but I don't want to deal with the maintenance cost on those. They want a big comfy back seat and a clean well maintained stylish vehicle.

How roomy is the Saab in the back seat area?

Why not go whole hog and get an Acura RL? It's made by the mothership anyway...

Vigo wrote:

they have their affairs in a reasonable order and aren't prone to flights of fancy in a sports car.

Thats hilarious considering that there are absolutely no hard and fast facts about any relationship between sports car and luxury car prices. An entire mindset built on flimsy assumptions. Too bad Reaganomics isnt a car brand.

"Perception is reality, facts can be negotiated" ~Donald Wieber

In reply to pres589:

LOL true true

FlightService wrote: After talking to the engineering manager, who finds the whole thing interesting, he gave a few suggestions Big back seat, Leather and wood, No SUVs, Realtively modern looking (no chrome bumpers, something that has held it's self as a contemporary), Well maintained. I mentioned the E39 which he recommended. Anything around that style-type should be fine. So Infiniti M/Q, E320/350, E39, Volvo S60/80, Audi A6, Ford 500 SEL, Mercury Marauder are all acceptable vehicles. The specifically mentioned NO cars are any European or Japanese car with Chrome bumpers. BMW 3 series, C-class, A4, VW, S40/C30 (he knows I like the C30) He thought a really nice thought would be a 7 Series but I don't want to deal with the maintenance cost on those. They want a big comfy back seat and a clean well maintained stylish vehicle. How roomy is the Saab in the back seat area?

IF you're transporting talking heads in suits, you want something Full Size- so like that Marauder. I think the Saab would be a little too small. What about something like a 9c1/Impala SS? (Assuming you can find one that isn't donked to the sky.)

In reply to mndsm:

I am an Imp fa, but a Marauder looks MUCH more modern...

Big American cars (marauder, impala as, 300c) look trashy. To me, an older european car in excellent shape is alot better than a new one that's obviously used as an appliance, but that doesn't sound like what you are expected to buy. I think really a late model Audi or Mercedes are your only choices.

tuna55 wrote: In reply to mndsm: I am an Imp fa, but a Marauder looks MUCH more modern...

Agreed wholeheartedly on that. I just really like me some LT1 based Caprices/Roadmasters/whatever.

mndsm wrote:

tuna55 wrote: In reply to mndsm: I am an Imp fa, but a Marauder looks MUCH more modern...

Agreed wholeheartedly on that. I just really like me some LT1 based Caprices/Roadmasters/whatever.

Closest you are going to get to that with modern looks is a Pontiac G8 with an LS3

A6 dooooo iiiiiiit

MadScientistMatt wrote:

Second.

That appears to be a tarted-up Magna . Imagine a Camry, but without any of the character and charm.

Either you havent driven Camry's or you are just plain jaded. Im guessing the latter. I agree its not a HIGHLY interesting automobile by any means but if you compare it to it's closest competitors it was definitely quicker and sportier.

Case in point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcgN3qRKTFk

Apparently the Diamante 30m got 260+hp. Although that car sure isnt acting like it so it doubt it's really a 30m.

"Perception is reality, facts can be negotiated" ~Donald Wieber

An excellent quote.