Vanity on the Coasts: Car Trends in LA, NYC
06-19-08, 05:07 PM
#16
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Sometime they park their cars parked in front of their house, so others don't park in front of their house, I saw that when I used to do valet
Also it could be they just got home, and are about to leave again.
Also it could be they just got home, and are about to leave again.
06-19-08, 05:35 PM
#17
Lexus Champion
Dude. Take your blinders off. You can't fit people in nice, neat little cubbyholes so it'll jive with your limited view of what's 'normal'.
I know a guy (in NY) who's Ferrari is worth just as much as the house he lives in. But guess what, he owns plenty of other houses and makes enough to buy either the house or car within a couple months. His only extravagance is the car (since he loves driving it), and he doesn't give a rats *** about what other people think of him. Now is there something wrong with him?
I know a handful of Ferrari owners. How do you think they got rich in the first place, by throwing their money away to impress their neighbors? They got there by working hard, and now they're enjoying the fruits of their labor. If you actually did some research on the marque, you'd find that a good percentage of Ferraris are not financed, and that an over $1 MM income is typical.
But you can just assume that they're all just showing off.
I know a guy (in NY) who's Ferrari is worth just as much as the house he lives in. But guess what, he owns plenty of other houses and makes enough to buy either the house or car within a couple months. His only extravagance is the car (since he loves driving it), and he doesn't give a rats *** about what other people think of him. Now is there something wrong with him?
I know a handful of Ferrari owners. How do you think they got rich in the first place, by throwing their money away to impress their neighbors? They got there by working hard, and now they're enjoying the fruits of their labor. If you actually did some research on the marque, you'd find that a good percentage of Ferraris are not financed, and that an over $1 MM income is typical.
But you can just assume that they're all just showing off.
06-19-08, 05:50 PM
#18
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Those houses cost around 3 to 4 million, depending on where it is.
And with a circular driveway, how do you know there was a garage? A lot of those circular driveway homes here don't have a garage. (I've always wanted a circular driveway house so I notice details like that.)
06-19-08, 06:43 PM
#19
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I know, I know, dude! Sorry, I'm not used to doing this forum stuff, so it's tough for me to get the message across right. Normal, not normal, either is fine with me. I have a limited view of what is normal. But I also believe that everyone isn't normal in one way or another. Nothing wrong with that; in fact, it's good. Cool? (I hope?)
Wait a minute...isn't owning more than one house an extravagance?
I don't deny not knowing too much, although I was aware of that fact, vaguely. That's cool, people make money, and they spend it on things that benefit them occasionally. No problem with that.
But, for sure, I always hate showoffs. I don't think I'll be moved on that.
In a free capitalist society, people are free to buy and do with what they buy, whatever they want. But it will always bug me when people buy things because they want others' attention, or for invidious or conspicuous purposes.I don't assume they all are showing off. The Ferrari at the tiny ranch house I can understand now, though. On the other hand, I guess they're doing others a favor, showing such a nice car instead of hoarding it inside their garage.
I'm not judging these random people I've never met, mind you, either. I'm just trying to understand the situation, which is why I asked the question.
Like in the NYC case, it's now clear that it's more a matter of function (sort of) that S-Classes are everywhere.
But, a lot of signs point to the idea that more often than not, it is about showing off.
Thanks again for responding though. I'm not trying to start any fires or anything...and I have no idea whether what I've just said would be positive or negative. But, your comments have helped me to understand a little better.
Those houses cost around 3 to 4 million, depending on where it is.
And with a circular driveway, how do you know there was a garage? A lot of those circular driveway homes here don't have a garage. (I've always wanted a circular driveway house so I notice details like that.)
And with a circular driveway, how do you know there was a garage? A lot of those circular driveway homes here don't have a garage. (I've always wanted a circular driveway house so I notice details like that.)
Yeah, one million would really be quite a deal in that area, it would seem. You're likely right...somewhere around there, I mean, probably "right there" on Sunset.
No doubt there was a circular driveway, or at least one that had an "in" and "out" if not exactly circular...but I can't lie...
I saw a Ferrari, then a small ranch house, and then I looked to the right of the house and it looked like a garage. I couldn't get a good look because we were going a little too fast for that. But moreover, it was the first two things that kind of "blinded" me to the second. It may not have been a garage.
But I only mentioned the Ferrari. There were a bunch of houses that had the same thing, and I'm pretty sure they had garages.
But as before...yes, it's weird and not normal to park a nice car outside. That's crazy.
Seriously, for vanity, not cool.
Less seriously, can you imagine the swirl marks??? My god!!!!
I don't care if it's a daily driver, and I don't care if it's only dust. I would not want to bother.They're free to do as they please though, even for vanity.
At the Bentley Gold Coast dealer in Chicago, there were Bentleys parked streetside...in the city...with relatively high traffic volume passing by each day...it seemed these were the ones that wouldn't fit in the tiny tiny showroom. Wouldn't they be worried about liability?
Then again, as before, there's so many explanations.
06-19-08, 09:50 PM
#20
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My brother lives in Corte Madera, CA. There, BMWs are known as "Basic Marin Wheels".
Where I live is an interesting place. It is a BIG deal to see a Ferrari or Bentley. They barely exist here. More typical are Chryslers, small MBs and lots of BMW 3s and 5s.
Where I live is an interesting place. It is a BIG deal to see a Ferrari or Bentley. They barely exist here. More typical are Chryslers, small MBs and lots of BMW 3s and 5s.
06-19-08, 11:43 PM
#21
Thanks! That's the kind of tip I was looking for. I was pretty certain there was something behind this.
The theme I'm getting at is the difference between having and showing money...it seems that a lot of the show is just that. It's not that 10000 people in NYC have a black S-Class and a chauffeur and just drive around in traffic all day...good to know.
I mean, you can rent a watch, dog, luggage, jewelry, helicopter...nothing is beyond capitalism...
Which is totally awesome, sort of. I mean, I don't see why anyone should have their daily driver be anything less than the best car they've got, unless it's close to a museum piece or not in good working condition. That I never get--including what I see on these forums. If you spent a lot of money on it, only if you have tons and tons more, would you say, "Let me let it waste more money sitting in my driveway / garage."
On the other hand, I'm sure a lot of people see people who are supposed to have a lot of money, and "should" have a nice car, and say, "Wow, they drive a Prius." But then it turns out, they also have a warehouse full of other cars they drive, etc. Like, "Oh, the boss drives a Civic." Oh no he doesn't!!!!
Thanks for the answer.
Not for the pic. 
Were you calling me a hillbilly?? 
I was confused...
Yeah, I won't deny that I get culture shocked when I see conspicuous consumption, but in my case it'll be tough to ever get over it. There's so many people in this world, and so so many of them are (edit: appear to be) so so so rich.
It will be even tougher because even some things I should be used to, still seem new to me all the time. Like if I moved to LA, every morning (edit: no, all day and night, every day) I'd still be likely to wonder "WHAT is with all this traffic!?!?!?!?"
Know: I'm not shocked by the money. I'm shocked by the difference between what I know about how much money is out there, and how much there appears to be. This difference happens a lot with cars because cars appear to be the first thing people spend a lot of money on, and the last thing they're likely to get rid of, in part because it's a great way to show off.
That makes sense. Thanks for the "tips" on the other places. I won't go to the projects, because I've seen enough of them...but I'll drive by the other places and see if my jaw drops anymore than usual.
Yeah, I was going to say, that house was probably $1-2 million. But that's why it's weird to me. It's not weird to see Ferraris, Bentleys, or multimillion dollar homes. I mean, I see that stuff on TV and unintentionally, when I've traveled.
I guess I didn't get the message across just right. That's not weird.
It's weird to park your Ferrari in front of your house instead of inside your garage, especially when your tiny ranch house is only a million dollars. I just wondered if this was some kind of trick that the attention starved play, or they just own two cars that cost more than their house...but now I know better. And KayGee's response was also a good one.
The case of the S Class has already been "solved."
One more, I remember seeing in San Francisco a whole lot of Porsches, almost all 911s. I mean, way more than anywhere else I've seen. So it makes me wonder, why those? Is there like a free Porsche giveaway there? Or some division of Porsche is near there? I'm not shocked by Porsches, or the fact that San Francisco has a lot of rich people. But why so many Porsches, and not say, other cars?
Haha! Now that's what I want to see. Real reality, not some TV show. Cars were meant to be used. If you spent over $100k on a car...use it. No, I know well that especially in SoCal, nice cars are normal.
But $250,000 cars parked in the driveway of tiny ranch houses? Still not normal. (To me).
Thanks for the answers.
The theme I'm getting at is the difference between having and showing money...it seems that a lot of the show is just that. It's not that 10000 people in NYC have a black S-Class and a chauffeur and just drive around in traffic all day...good to know.
I mean, you can rent a watch, dog, luggage, jewelry, helicopter...nothing is beyond capitalism...
Which is totally awesome, sort of. I mean, I don't see why anyone should have their daily driver be anything less than the best car they've got, unless it's close to a museum piece or not in good working condition. That I never get--including what I see on these forums. If you spent a lot of money on it, only if you have tons and tons more, would you say, "Let me let it waste more money sitting in my driveway / garage."
On the other hand, I'm sure a lot of people see people who are supposed to have a lot of money, and "should" have a nice car, and say, "Wow, they drive a Prius." But then it turns out, they also have a warehouse full of other cars they drive, etc. Like, "Oh, the boss drives a Civic." Oh no he doesn't!!!!
Thanks for the answer.
Not for the pic. Were you calling me a hillbilly?? I was confused...Yeah, I won't deny that I get culture shocked when I see conspicuous consumption, but in my case it'll be tough to ever get over it. There's so many people in this world, and so so many of them are (edit: appear to be) so so so rich.
It will be even tougher because even some things I should be used to, still seem new to me all the time. Like if I moved to LA, every morning (edit: no, all day and night, every day) I'd still be likely to wonder "WHAT is with all this traffic!?!?!?!?"
Know: I'm not shocked by the money. I'm shocked by the difference between what I know about how much money is out there, and how much there appears to be. This difference happens a lot with cars because cars appear to be the first thing people spend a lot of money on, and the last thing they're likely to get rid of, in part because it's a great way to show off.
That makes sense. Thanks for the "tips" on the other places. I won't go to the projects, because I've seen enough of them...but I'll drive by the other places and see if my jaw drops anymore than usual.
Yeah, I was going to say, that house was probably $1-2 million. But that's why it's weird to me. It's not weird to see Ferraris, Bentleys, or multimillion dollar homes. I mean, I see that stuff on TV and unintentionally, when I've traveled.
I guess I didn't get the message across just right. That's not weird.
It's weird to park your Ferrari in front of your house instead of inside your garage, especially when your tiny ranch house is only a million dollars. I just wondered if this was some kind of trick that the attention starved play, or they just own two cars that cost more than their house...but now I know better. And KayGee's response was also a good one.
The case of the S Class has already been "solved."
One more, I remember seeing in San Francisco a whole lot of Porsches, almost all 911s. I mean, way more than anywhere else I've seen. So it makes me wonder, why those? Is there like a free Porsche giveaway there? Or some division of Porsche is near there? I'm not shocked by Porsches, or the fact that San Francisco has a lot of rich people. But why so many Porsches, and not say, other cars?
Haha! Now that's what I want to see. Real reality, not some TV show. Cars were meant to be used. If you spent over $100k on a car...use it. No, I know well that especially in SoCal, nice cars are normal.
But $250,000 cars parked in the driveway of tiny ranch houses? Still not normal. (To me).
Thanks for the answers.
06-20-08, 01:51 PM
#22
NYC: You're probably looking at privately owned/chaueffered S-Classes. Also, most taxi companies use S Class as Livery vehicles. In the 5 boroughs, all Taxi commissioned vehicles have TLC plates. "TxxxxLC" And there are also those who can afford to drive into the city everyday in their S Class, as opposed to riding the subway.
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