I was at my parents' house a few days ago. My mom is really impressed by the whole lifestyles of the rich and famous thing, and my brother has more money than God himself. Therefore, she pretty much hangs on every word he says and is in awe of everything he owns, his house, etc.

Anyway, while she does seem to like my HHR, she made a BIG point the other day to point out that my brother "likes his BMW that he has now soooo much more than his Mercedes" that he used to have, as if I was supposed to be impressed or jealous or something. Blah blah blah about this new, horrendously expensive BMW.

I'm not generaly impressed by new cars, and especially not luxury cars. I see them as a needless waste of money that can be totalled just as easily as a $10,000 car, so why drive around in something that costs as much as some people's houses? I also see them as someone trying to impress the little people and trying to compensate for other issues, frankly.

Even if I had the bank account to buy a BMW or Mercedes or some other car like that, I honestly don't think I would. I would probably still have an HHR as my "new" car...because it looks old fashioned. The last cars made that make me go "ooooh" were the last few American muscle cars from the 1970s. Everything since then, who cares? If I had tons of money to sink into cars, I'd have an HHR like I do now, and get restored Mustangs, Cougars, Camaros, or 1930s-1940s American cars, personally. They wouldn't be luxurious in the same sense as a BMW or Mercedes, but have so much more character and style in a classic sense, that for me there is no comparison or question at all.

Anyway...just a little rant since I feel like the HHR got "dissed" a little the other day. I figured you guys would act as a support group, perhaps, as I work through this trying issue!

 

DITTO. I agree with EVERY word you say. I couldn't have said it better.

 

You can't buy character!!

 

I thought you could.
I guess I better stop trying.

 

Funny that you bring this up. It seems to me that as my earning ability increases, my taste in cars (price wise) decreases. When I had very little money, I used to religously read AutoWeek, Road and Track, and Motor Trend. I would dream of the day that I could finally afford the Ubercar flavor of the day. I would scour used car ads looking for a nice, older, BMW 3 series or Mercedes sedan. I wanted a peice of what I perceived as the good life.

Well, I have gotten older. I make more money. I can afford to buy BMW 3 series or Mecedes C class. It would be a stretch, but I could if I so chose. I don't choose.

There are so many more things in life that can give us so much more joy and pleasure. For me, its my family and my bikes. I look at the people working the hours required (by most) to gain that next level of affluence, and I feel sorry for the people that are close to them. Do their kids ever see them? Is their spouse lonely for them? Are they truly happy? I don't know. But when I look at them, I see somebody who has become a slave to their posessions. (Not always the case, but a broad generalization)

We as Americans have been sold the idea that happiness is something that you can buy. It's in commercials all the time. Adults are spending so much time working at work that they are spending almost no time working at parenting. If you listen to so much of the kids music today you will find the lyics saying (lamenting) about how parents weren't there for them. What do you think this whole EMO thing is about

I have found my happiness. I don't care if my neighbor has a "nicer" car than mine. I have better kids than he does In four years his car will be replaced by another one. I'll still have the same kids.

Rant over

 

I agree on the luxury car but I'm afraid if I had the dough I'd have me a [airplane]: Mooney M20 Bravo turbo-charged and pressurized cabin. Once you fly an airplane, nothing is the same again.

 

i BUY WHAT what i can afford and makes me happy. I am trying to sell my low mileage 2004 honda civic SI coupe and i just picked up a 1987 4dr camry 4cyl. Both cars have been great and i am pretty finicky when it comes to cars. I enjoy the fact that the camry is so low key and it runs so smoothly and very comfortable/reliable with great gas mileage. Eventually i will get bored of it and i will want the CHEVY HHR. why? because the HHR looks unique and is a nice little package if you get one at the right price.When you get to your middle age years, you either want people to think you ''have got it made'' or you just drive whatever pleases you and is the best for your needs. I prefer the latter...done with trying to impress my fellow monkeys.

 

But you can't take that to the corner store!

As far as money and status symbols like BMW and Mercedes go, I just have a real distaste for that sort of snobbery, I guess. It doesn't impress me about a person if he can buy some $80,000+ car. You could get around comfortably in something that costs a fraction of that (like an HHR, perhaps?) or is far better for the environment (a hybrid, perhaps?), and be a more impressive person by using the difference in money you're saving by doing charitable donations or something. I'm not saving the world or anything, but at least I'm trying a little bit with my license plate, whose extra money (supposedly) goes to ocean and beach conservation.

Sorry for all this blather...I just get bugged by that sort of thing. Welcome to my dysfunctional family life! Aaah!

 

To all above, lets have a and enjoy life

 

Re-reading my second post above, my God I sound like some hippie freak! I'm not! I'm not! I can be as materialistic as the next guy...but I just have problems with pretension. Ok...I've dug my hole deep enough. Hey, aren't HHRs pretty cool?