I buy cars that I like because I love and enjoy cars and couldn't give a rats bits what badge it has on the front if it's a good car. And by good, I generally mean a lovely engine, or fantastic handling, or both.

 

Same here.  I've owned all sorts over the years, including my Octavia vRS which was a tad risky according to some of our friends.  I now have a Suzuki and some people have questioned this choice too.  I don't care what the badge is on the front and as a result have had some amazing drives and have some great memories. 

As the op mentioned, his friend seems to be one of those that sees a badge and nothing else.  My last car, S1 106 Rallye and my current car seem to confuse people.  I've stopped trying to inform the masses as to why I buy such things.  If they don't know why I bought the Ignis, then it's not worth trying to explain. 

Anyone who buys a car to make them look important is exactly not. That's why more sales reps at the bottom of the pool drive 320d and A4s and not mondeos or vectras. To be fair the beemer is a nice drive, but why anyone interested in cars would buy a standard A4 is beyond me.

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I am interested in cars and i bought a boggo spec 320d.

Did you buy it to impress the neighbours or simply because it's a good car?  Seeing as you're on here I'm guessing it's not the first option.

Did you buy it to impress the neighbours or simply because it's a good car? Seeing as you're on here I'm guessing it's not the first option.

Personally i bought it for the following reasons.

I wanted a grown up car. I was sick to death of having modified hot hatches (breaking down) and wanted something that looked a bit more mature.

The reason i picked the one i did was how clean it was. It is literally immaculate

And the reason i bought a 2.0d was economy and insurance. I have a dd40 on my license and anything with a bit of poke is telephone numbers to insure.

Edited 9 February, 201412 yr by BigJase88

They all seem like valid reasons and nothing to do with impressing others.

Try owning a bmw and getting out of a busy junction then

Try owning a Prius and see how many BMW's let you out.

The moaning has started. He has to go on a 120 mile trip soon, wants to borrow the fabia because it's costing him a fortune in fuel. Enjoy the quattro.....

 

You know what the response is -   2 words 2nd = off   lol lol lol

It is possible some people like Audis, metics and bmws to name a few. Not all bought on image.

Granted some do but many don't. Christ we are allowed to buy things we like still aren't we?

I'm 48 this year, and want something less mature! A kevved up octy vrs wagon might not be enough.... On a more serious note there is a topical editorial feature in EVO on the definition of a petrol head. Debadging is one of them apparently, but it is a good read, and echoes a lot of my feelings about the bland anodyne cars of today compared to 30 or so years ago.

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It is possible some people like Audis, metics and bmws to name a few. Not all bought on image.

Granted some do but many don't. Christ we are allowed to buy things we like still aren't we?

 

Its the reason for picking it I had the problem with nothing else. 

How's he getting on with his fine motors (except for the fuel econ...)?

Well i have debadged my 320d

I think its maybe because its on H&R springs so attracts unwanted charvers in crap motors

My MB is debadged and I get more tailgaters and pillocks driving aggressively around me than in any other car I have owned. I assume they mistake the car for it's big brother and don't like being overtaken by a woman in one (even though it's just a diesel). It's the biggest dislike I have about the car (actually it's the only real dislike I have about the car :( )

Edited 19 March, 201412 yr by Lady Elanore

How's he getting on with his fine motors (except for the fuel econ...)?

 

He's spent £1000 so far, so including the car thats £4000. It still needs correct size tyres for the 19's and new coilovers or rear adjuster cups, it's currently dragging it's arse about everywhere, plus a oil pump tensioner. Then it needs some tlc on the bodywork, arches are rusty from the wheels rubbing, few scabs here and there, bumpers need painting but it has done the miles so you can understand it, he wants it all perfect though. As he said, at least he knows whats been done, not sure if he'll get much back in 5 years (max) when he sells it. 

It is possible some people like Audis, metics and bmws to name a few. Not all bought on image.

Granted some do but many don't. Christ we are allowed to buy things we like still aren't we?

No. You have to decide what you really want, but then buy a Skoda instead so you can tell anybody who will listen that your Skoda is just like the other car you were going to buy but cheaper.

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He's spent £1000 so far, so including the car thats £4000. It still needs correct size tyres for the 19's and new coilovers or rear adjuster cups, it's currently dragging it's arse about everywhere, plus a oil pump tensioner. Then it needs some tlc on the bodywork, arches are rusty from the wheels rubbing, few scabs here and there, bumpers need painting but it has done the miles so you can understand it, he wants it all perfect though. As he said, at least he knows whats been done, not sure if he'll get much back in 5 years (max) when he sells it. 

Is he happy with it?  (apart from the mpg), That's all that matters, apart from you being dragged into his private hell/heaven

Give me a choice between an Audi and a skoda and I know what I'd choose.

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The Mondeo ? 

2 family friends have done this now.

 

First got her first salaried job and decided she wanted a MINI. Nothing else would be good enough. Couldn't afford anything good so she settled with a low spec, but well looked after MINI One.  She had so much advice about their inflated price tag, poor suspension, cramped interior and bizarre layout. I think it was a week before she was complaining about the suspension. The first time she had to move a lot of stuff down south she was fuming over how little she could pack, and when she eventually needed a courtesy car for a day or two she went back to the MINI well and truly p***d off at the toggles and switches everywhere.

 

Second was fortunate to enough to come into some money unexpectedly. Not a fortune, but enough for a decent car. Certainly more than I have ever managed to spend. She had always lusted for one particular car. Lusted in the way I will always want a mustang, or a TVR and my wife will always want the Maserati she once saw/heard in London. 'What car?' I hear you ask? Well an Audi A3, naturally, I mean... what else?  'Surely an S3?' you cry. No. An A3. So she walked straight into an Audi dealership and blew every penny she could on the lowest spec, cheapest A3 she could. A powder blue one.  I have literally never sat in a more uninspiring vehicle.

 

Still, there's good news.  The Bini has been binned and friend number one is now much, much happier with a high spec little Mazda 2.  And friend number 2 has developed a loving relationship with her A3. I'd say loving and caring, but she hasn't serviced it 3 years on, and never did check why the handbrake failed last year and left it rolling down our road....

I've got an A3 saloon turning up eventually.

 

Why did I get it rather than a skoda?

 

- Much lower emissions for lower tax

- Very comfortable sport seats

- Very good sound insulation (compared to the skoda)

- The audi has a lower lease price.

 

At the end of the day though, it was purchased to be comfortable doing a few thousand miles a week.

 

If I want a fun car, then it'll be a caterham or something else for the weekends.

 

Will I regret getting rid of the skoda, possibly as it's a great car, but they didn't have anything that fit with what I needed.

 

The image thing isn't bad either. I just need the sunglasses, bluetooth earpiece and to learn to drive like a coque.