Went to London for business recently and I haven't been in a while. Coming from the West Country, couldn't see a bigger contrast in cars. I was amazed at all the BMW 7 series being driven around like they were the typical Londoners car. Only seen one 7 series before I went, must have seen about 20+. Business car I take it.

Saw two ferrari's 10 minutes after arriving at Paddington. Shamefully, I didn't know what model

Just amazes me that were supposed to be in an economic slowdown but walking around London (from Paddington, through Knightsbridge to Kensington), the phrase "streets paved with gold" came to mind.

Couldn't move for 'Chelsea tractors' at some points. X6's are just tanks roaming the streets!

Passed the Lambo garage when I stopped for lunch. Lamborghini Gallardo. 6k miles. A snip at £150,000...... :S

Pretty big constrast to other parts of London too then!

Just think - that's been bought with your money by some banker most likely!

Went to Canary Wharf a while ago - same thing there all nice cars!

Just amazes me that were supposed to be in an economic slowdown

Just think what sort of cars they were driving before the downturn...

But yeah, that's one of the most affluent areas of London (if not the country) so you're always going to see plenty of flash cars there.

Central London is a car spotters paradise

I judge a day in London by what automotive porn I've seen You can pretty much be sure that you'll see Astons, Mazzies, Ferraris, Lambos, R8s and so on

Bloody flash southerners!!!!

If your a 90s Nissan micra enthusiast then welcome to Leeds or Bradford!!

Every and I mean every takeaway delivery driver has one.

Welcome to the north/south divide!

Try being in Wales - every other car is a landrover and your lucky if you see any new cars lol!

Every and I mean every takeaway delivery driver has one.

I'd wager that most of the Londoners you see in high-end cars aren't takeaway delivery drivers.

What part of the West Country are you in ? Last time I went down to Torbay area (3 weeks ago) the cars being driven down there didn't seem too different from suburban North-West London where I am. Plenty of mid-range beamers and Mercedes. Lots of 4 x 4s, that are well out of my purchasing range.

Paddington might not be so representative of "Town" London.

That whole area has undergone a "Canary wharf" transformation over the last 20 years - many of the Victorain/Edwardian buildings have gone, to be replaced by lots of new expensive shiny high rise apartments and business premises with newcomers with incomes to match the rents. Looks like the "Windy city". With Cross-Rail in imminent prospect, its a only going to be a one-stop or two stop hop to the City and the West End.

West london is fast emulating the patterns of the income/wealth disposition that other developed European capitals e.g. Paris have already achieved i.e. once wealthy dormitory suburbs are now being eclipsed by the wealth concentrated in "Town".

FYI, Tokyo reached this stage in the late 1960s.

Remember the main trade that Paddington, with its thru traffic, was notorious for.. . . So the owner of the Ferrari may well have been . . . cough, cough, clears throat. . . or he could be a successful businessman. Some say, spot the difference nowadays.

Refresh my memory. How many Lamborghini Gallardo could you buy on a Bankers annual bonus of £1 million. Meanwhile, the "Quick quid" generation are paying 2000% APR just to make ends meet. Oh yes, definately the morality of the american model.

Nick

Edited 8 May, 201115 yr by Clunkclick

I work in London fairly often and do see the odd flash car but i'm amazed by the amount of older cars littering the streets, K and L reg type age.

Where I live in the North East isn't exactly Kensington (No stamp duty in my area ) but I rarely see a car older than 51 plate.

Try being in Wales - every other car is a landrover and your lucky if you see any new cars lol!

Speak for yourself and move out of the sticks

Speak for yourself and move out of the sticks

Lol - I know I ought too or I might end up with a landrover! :wonder: