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Major Nikon

(36,925 posts)

21. Just because you are fairly wealthy doesn't mean you have to have a Lexus

Reply to leftyladyfrommo (Original post)

Sat Jan 25, 2014, 12:19 PM

Jan 2014

The parking lot where I work is full of Lexi. Most of the people make about the same or less than I do. To me a car is a means to get you from point A to point B. It's always a liability that you have to pay to maintain, perhaps pay interest on, and will in almost all cases depreciate significantly. I spend one hour in my car per day. The idea of spending a lot of money on a car to me is just silly. The only way I'd buy a Lexus or any other "luxury" car is if I were well beyond fairly wealthy and had so much money that any expense of a vehicle was nothing more than a fraction of a percent of my yearly income. Most of the people I see who drive a Lexus are leveraged up to their eyeballs. I can afford to drive one, but I never will. I drive a Chevy and a relatively cheap one at that (Chevy Cruze). It starts every day, and the radio, heater, and A/C all work well. That's all I care about.

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Lexus: the car of the pretty wealthy. [View all] leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 OP

Lexus= Toyota + $15,000 and woodgrain finish NightWatcher Jan 2014 #1

A mechanic told me once that Lexus have a Toyota engine. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #2

Lexus is Toyota hack89 Jan 2014 #19

And Infinity is the Nissan Luxury line of autos... TheDebbieDee Jan 2014 #33

And I had a Datsun 240Z before Datsun became Nissan. WinkyDink Jan 2014 #52

My sis had one PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #54

Yes, it was fun! Sadly, the floor literally rotted out from under my driver's seat. Driving one WinkyDink Jan 2014 #75

That was a common thing for cars in the '70's anyway. Spider Jerusalem Jan 2014 #140

A friend of mine from college, way back in the early 1960s, MineralMan Jan 2014 #65

I used to drive a Datsun, too! DFW Jan 2014 #67

Mine was 1972; learned to drive on it! WinkyDink Jan 2014 #73

Mine was 1975, so not far off. DFW Jan 2014 #78

I have a Nissan Z - it's nicer than the same year/trim level Infiniti G35 inside REP Jan 2014 #103

But they are good cars. Hissyspit Jan 2014 #102

Agree REP Jan 2014 #104

At least Nissan markets their supercar as a Nissan.. sir pball Jan 2014 #112

Exactly, that is the same as Caddilac/Chevy CatholicEdHead Jan 2014 #34

I had a Chevy Cavalier and my wife had a Toyota Corolla in the mid 1990s. They had identical toyota Ed Suspicious Jan 2014 #79

Not to be a stickler...... Rocket_Scientist65 Jan 2014 #109

Yeah, he might be thinking Nova. Atman Jan 2014 #131

You're right. It was a Nova. Memory fail. Thanks for the correction. Ed Suspicious Jan 2014 #159

Memory failed me. It was a white chevy nova and a blue toyota corolla with a hatchback. Thanks for Ed Suspicious Jan 2014 #160

the prizm had the toyota engine also Liberal_in_LA Jan 2014 #158

Lexus cars are sold as Lexus in Japan Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #167

Then they have changed hack89 Jan 2014 #172

Yes they have changed Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #175

A mechanic friend of mine abelenkpe Jan 2014 #43

European shoes PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #51

REally? I gotta check Danskos out then abelenkpe Jan 2014 #91

Italian shoes rock. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #115

i ordered a pair of 'Alpro' pipoman Jan 2014 #141

The S4's are different wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #132

Good to know! abelenkpe Jan 2014 #134

they weigh wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #135

We own a Lexus and a camry. The Lexus has the camry beat by more than the woodgrain finish. nt ladjf Jan 2014 #31

Your Lexus is made by Toyota hack89 Jan 2014 #37

I was addressing the comment that implied the only difference between a Lexus and a Toyota was ladjf Jan 2014 #44

I have a Camry. What would be 2 major differences? WinkyDink Jan 2014 #53

The seats. My hubby can't get comfortable in a Camry. mainer Jan 2014 #77

OK, thanks. My husband has a disc problem; can't get comfortable. WinkyDink Jan 2014 #93

I have an 18-yr-old Lexus. We have also owned a Camry. The Lexus seats are Nay Jan 2014 #182

I know a guy with 300,000 miles on his Lexus mainer Jan 2014 #187

Mine had 190,000 miles and is still a baby. Lexuses and Toyotas go 300,000 Nay Jan 2014 #188

Sorry - next time I will read more closely. Nt hack89 Jan 2014 #58

The Avalon Mosby Jan 2014 #60

My boss's Avalon hybrid is very luxurious. ronnie624 Jan 2014 #68

There are luxury Toyotas Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #168

Not sold in America. Nt hack89 Jan 2014 #173

The American market equivalent is the Toyota Avalon Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #177

Weirdly we also own a Lexus and a Camry PCIntern Jan 2014 #129

You got that right. n/t wandy Jan 2014 #83

AGREED Mr Dixon Jan 2014 #148

Actually a Lexus = Toyota + $5,000 and woodgrain finish - folding rear seats. Glassunion Jan 2014 #163

My Kia turns its own lights off Warpy Jan 2014 #3

I don't think I've seen any Porsches. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #5

Understood Warpy Jan 2014 #13

I'm with you Warpy. indie9197 Jan 2014 #105

I had a real fancy Jeep loner once. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #145

Mine, too. And mine is one of the cheapest new cars MineralMan Jan 2014 #16

Low to mid level Lexus and BMW's are in the affordable price range of upper middle class folks. stevenleser Jan 2014 #4

Well, that seems pretty wealthy to me. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #6

Here in L.A., that is not wealthy PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #9

My parents lived in LA in the early 70's. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #11

Yep PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #15

Wealthy to me means top 1% of wealth in the US, which means assets in excess of around $16 million. stevenleser Jan 2014 #14

If I really stretched it PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #17

Yup, I can see that. You need post-housing disposable income in the 30-40K+ range to do it. stevenleser Jan 2014 #22

It would have to be a used Lexus, too.....n/t PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #27

We bought a 3-yr-old Lexus 15 years ago for $23,000, thinking that a used Nay Jan 2014 #184

I really like the Mazda 3 alarimer Jan 2014 #69

You could get PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #81

Got one, and love it! flvegan Jan 2014 #118

Wow, cool! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #123

Very nicely. flvegan Jan 2014 #124

Lucky PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #125

A Nissan Leaf costs $29,000 mainer Jan 2014 #72

It does... jmowreader Jan 2014 #136

Really not that hard to deal with. jeff47 Jan 2014 #151

My commute is zero miles; I live three blocks from work jmowreader Jan 2014 #153

And my point is such a city car/country car situation jeff47 Jan 2014 #154

Why would it make sense to spend thirty bills on a city car? jmowreader Jan 2014 #156

So your answer is "It doesn't work for people in different situations than you're talking about". nt jeff47 Jan 2014 #157

Let's see here jmowreader Jan 2014 #164

The Leaf has really simple mechanics. mainer Jan 2014 #186

What a price difference between the USA and here! DFW Jan 2014 #76

I saw that. Prices for cars in Europe, even European cars are much higher than here. stevenleser Jan 2014 #84

Partially, but you don't have Value Added Tax there DFW Jan 2014 #89

What about used cars in Europe? Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #169

A used Lexus can be had for a reasonable amount PeoViejo Jan 2014 #179

Yep. That's what we did -- buy used and keep forever. My Lexus is 18. nt Nay Jan 2014 #185

According to Used Car Dealers, the Lexus brand isn't the status symbol it was PeoViejo Jan 2014 #189

That certainly may be true now, but there was nothing like a Prius around when Nay Jan 2014 #190

Good point. PeoViejo Jan 2014 #191

Lots of people just lease these cars... PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #7

I see a lot of Range Rovers around. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #10

Those may be Hummers you are seeing PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #12

Not Hummers. I know what those look like. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #146

Yes PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #149

That's it. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #150

Rovers PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #18

Lucas parts abelenkpe Jan 2014 #94

I've considered a BMW, but.... Adrahil Jan 2014 #8

I drive a Bentley Mulsanne BKH70041 Jan 2014 #20

Why on earth would an owner of a Mulsanne sink to the level of the front seat? sir pball Jan 2014 #47

cos .... just a guess ... Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #59

The base price of a Bentley Mulsanne is two hundred ninety-eight thousand dollars. sir pball Jan 2014 #61

if by facetious you mean Liar. I will agree. On the internet all men are Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #62

Well technically, yes, he's lying. sir pball Jan 2014 #63

yeah and his sigline is hilarious, too. Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #64

Reading the hidden post, I'd say lying. kcr Jan 2014 #99

Yeah, I'm with you on that one. Ikonoklast Jan 2014 #137

Payments would be on the order of $10,000 a month on a 5 year loan, or $120K/yr stevenleser Jan 2014 #82

Post removed Post removed Jan 2014 #86

LOL, OK, Wasn't 100% sure your earlier post was satire, now I get it. nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #88

Shenanigans on the hidden post. sir pball Jan 2014 #107

if your sig line is true, thank you renate Jan 2014 #171

Just because you are fairly wealthy doesn't mean you have to have a Lexus Major Nikon Jan 2014 #21

I have to have PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #26

For a few people, certain accessories or design elements are a requirement Major Nikon Jan 2014 #30

Same here PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #35

Ditto for my hubby. His bad back requires a Lexus mainer Jan 2014 #74

I love Volvo seats! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #97

I'm very similar. I hate driving.. Point A to Point B is all I care about, and that it will do so glowing Jan 2014 #28

I certainly spend money on some frivolous things Major Nikon Jan 2014 #32

When it comes to cars, if I can't pay cash, I can't afford it. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #41

I'm not a good mechanic anymore Major Nikon Jan 2014 #49

The trip can be the means for me. sir pball Jan 2014 #111

That's why I was careful to say that's just my thoughts on cars Major Nikon Jan 2014 #113

Oh, I wasn't trying to argue at all. sir pball Jan 2014 #114

I understand completely Major Nikon Jan 2014 #116

90 percent of Houston drives a Lexus, regardless of their income level. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #23

Probably 75% lease one instead of buying. Then wonder why B Calm Jan 2014 #40

That's what some would like you to think. flvegan Jan 2014 #24

I'm a car nut PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #45

a small point sweetapogee Jan 2014 #138

I'm going to be really nice here for a change. flvegan Jan 2014 #142

that is sweetapogee Jan 2014 #143

I used to drive 3 different models of Corolla. They cannot compare to a base 3 series. Glassunion Jan 2014 #162

What, no Maybachs? GeorgeGist Jan 2014 #25

And no mention of dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #120

We have lots and lots of Toyotas around here�Lexus, yes�but Prius even more. Tikki Jan 2014 #29

I still see PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #38

Interesting fact..wiki says the original Prius was designed by a California design team for Toyota!! Tikki Jan 2014 #46

Yes, the Insight PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #48

There are so many Prius' in LA it's like they are every other car on the road abelenkpe Jan 2014 #90

For many years now cars have been the main SheilaT Jan 2014 #36

There is a flip side to that. Glassunion Jan 2014 #165

Yeah, we all make specific choices about how we spend our money. SheilaT Jan 2014 #166

Lexus is a great car taught_me_patience Jan 2014 #39

Agree. It has the only seats my husband can comfortably sit in. mainer Jan 2014 #70

Audi all the way... Surprised they aren't mentioned. Agschmid Jan 2014 #42

I mentioned PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #50

Hmm... Agschmid Jan 2014 #55

My Toyota gives me everything I need. Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #56

Our pretty wealthy Aunt left us a 2001 Lexus when she passed. librechik Jan 2014 #57

Not necessarily alarimer Jan 2014 #66

We buy GM and Ford. Ilsa Jan 2014 #71

Yep, the best thing about our 2010 Mustang is KatyMan Jan 2014 #152

Japanese and American cars are expensive here DFW Jan 2014 #80

Me, too, mnhtnbb Jan 2014 #98

Mercedes is the official sponsor of the Prick. Marr Jan 2014 #85

This clip is for you then... abelenkpe Jan 2014 #92

In my area PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #96

And in my area, Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #170

You know it's a Toyota with gold emblems Boom Sound 416 Jan 2014 #87

I have a mercedes 240d betterdemsonly Jan 2014 #95

LOL - Fun thread. I inherited a 2002 Cadillac D/T in Red OKNancy Jan 2014 #100

It's fun having a car thread! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #101

I drive an Acura myself bhikkhu Jan 2014 #106

They're the official car of boring people. LeftyMom Jan 2014 #108

Most commonly associated with assholes, IMO. Barack_America Jan 2014 #110

Amen CFLDem Jan 2014 #119

And pick-up trucks are the official vehicle of rednecks? mainer Jan 2014 #122

A summer home I worked performing landscaping had a carriage house Full of the top of line adirondacker Jan 2014 #117

In the Uk dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #121

Ever seen a Lexus hauler? It's all covered, unlike a normal car hauler trailer. n/t brewens Jan 2014 #126

I wonder if they lost their jobs would they have to sell their Lexus? Rosa Luxemburg Jan 2014 #127

I was in line at the gas station yesterday behind a jaguar. LWolf Jan 2014 #128

I think Jaquars are beautiful. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #147

According to the Repugs, all you have to do is go become an illegal alien, Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2014 #130

I've never really wanted one of the luxury-brand cars. dawg Jan 2014 #133

I don't know about all sweetapogee Jan 2014 #139

Most cars have timed lights, unless you accidentally set them to keep the lights on (you can bluestate10 Jan 2014 #144

This message was self-deleted by its author Initech Jan 2014 #155

This message was self-deleted by its author Glassunion Jan 2014 #161

My BIL talks about how their Infinity isn't as nice as his company Mercedes ileus Jan 2014 #174

There are two levels of BMW and Mercedes liberal N proud Jan 2014 #176

Here's my vehicle: Brigid Jan 2014 #178

Way cool. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #181

I drive a Kia (Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, etc.) Why O why won't you support *MY* union????????? Romulox Jan 2014 #180

My wife and I are extremely wealthy...and we drive a Volkswagen hatchback. brooklynite Jan 2014 #183