Buying a Mercedes and others saying that you are "rich."

[MSG2004]

I'll ask the Mods to lock or delete the thread. The 1.3 mill referred to was a slip of the finger, so, please ignore. The real figure is 7.3mill, lol so I hope you are happy now. It was purely an off the cuff post, no harm intended. Sorry that so many got wound up

 

[MD5]

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[Fununcle]

So a not so humble brag then.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

It’s interesting to read many of the responses to the OP’s post. Very British. Someone manages their money carefully and is able to buy a couple of nice things, then asks if other Mercedes owners have also received disparaging comments about their perceived wealth. What does he get in response? More disparaging comments. It does appear to be a particularly British characteristic to put people down when they are viewed as having done well for themselves.

The OP certainly can’t be regarded as poor with his £1.3m assets, but in London that’s nothing out of the ordinary and a very long way from being “rich” by today’s standards.

I agree that the original post is somewhat unusual, but there have been many within this forum that are equally off the wall. What I don’t understand is the plethora of negativity. Is it that British jealousy again, or an objection to the taboo subject of wealth. We seem to be at ease discussing those who are struggling financially (even when they may be far better off than millions in other parts of the world), yet unable to appreciate someone having legitimately built a reasonable nest egg for themselves.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

I think it more a case that OP is claiming “poverty” when he has substantial assets that, if managed properly, should be generating income of £40-50k.

In most people’s eyes that is a fairly healthy retirement income.

 

[SmartAmg]

Not putting him down at all, in fact I said good luck to him, but I still say 1.3 million is rich and it is rich even by as you say " today's standards"

 

[moonloops]

You have to have £10m in cash to live like a millionaire now

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Having had my rant, I’ll reply to the OP. I haven’t been aware of anyone commenting that I must be rich to be driving around in a Mercedes. Funnily enough the only negative reaction I’ve had was from my eldest daughter over 25 years ago when I bought my first Mercedes (a used E260). She was 14 at the time and hated going in the Mercedes in case any of her friends saw her and thought she was a snob. The funny part was that we lived in a wealthy part of NW London where house prices now are rarely below the £1m mark. (I couldn’t afford to live there now, having gone through all four of Mr. B’s stages of marital status.)

As for the question of “what is rich?”, I guess that one of my brothers is in financial terms. He owns outright several houses in Oxford and an apartment in central London - I would estimate his assets at over £10m. But nobody who doesn’t know him well would think he was that wealthy. He drives around in a Renault Kangoo van and his wife has an old Fiat Uno, neither of which have I ever seen clean. They both buy most of their clothes from charity shops. I had to lend him a pair of black shoes to wear to our eldest brother’s funeral! Wealth isn’t all about appearances.

 

[saff]

What a ridiculous thread IMHO! Who gives a monkey's what others have (or say they have) except the very insecure. I live humbly and pay my bills, survived a heart attack, married to the same girl after 43 years, have three sons and 2 daughters-I-L who are all well and happy and a beautiful grandson. I'm the richest guy on here!

 

[MD5]

It’s interesting to read many of the responses to the OP’s post. Very British. Someone manages their money carefully and is able to buy a couple of nice things, then asks if other Mercedes owners have also received disparaging comments about their perceived wealth. What does he get in response? More disparaging comments. It does appear to be a particularly British characteristic to put people down when they are viewed as having done well for themselves.

It's one thing to ask about the response to other people's perceived wealth, but another thing completely to then go on and qualify your own when no-one has asked about it, with FYI this, that and the other.

 

[Darrell]

Having had my rant, I’ll reply to the OP. I haven’t been aware of anyone commenting that I must be rich to be driving around in a Mercedes. Funnily enough the only negative reaction I’ve had was from my eldest daughter over 25 years ago when I bought my first Mercedes (a used E260). She was 14 at the time and hated going in the Mercedes in case any of her friends saw her and thought she was a snob. The funny part was that we lived in a wealthy part of NW London where house prices now are rarely below the £1m mark. (I couldn’t afford to live there now, having gone through all four of Mr. B’s stages of marital status.)

As for the question of “what is rich?”, I guess that one of my brothers is in financial terms. He owns outright several houses in Oxford and an apartment in central London - I would estimate his assets at over £10m. But nobody who doesn’t know him well would think he was that wealthy. He drives around in a Renault Kangoo van and his wife has an old Fiat Uno, neither of which have I ever seen clean. They both buy most of their clothes from charity shops. I had to lend him a pair of black shoes to wear to our eldest brother’s funeral! Wealth isn’t all about appearances.

Whereabouts do you live?? I’m in Mill Hill.

 

[MSG2004]

Having had my rant, I’ll reply to the OP. I haven’t been aware of anyone commenting that I must be rich to be driving around in a Mercedes. Funnily enough the only negative reaction I’ve had was from my eldest daughter over 25 years ago when I bought my first Mercedes (a used E260). She was 14 at the time and hated going in the Mercedes in case any of her friends saw her and thought she was a snob. The funny part was that we lived in a wealthy part of NW London where house prices now are rarely below the £1m mark. (I couldn’t afford to live there now, having gone through all four of Mr. B’s stages of marital status.)

As for the question of “what is rich?”, I guess that one of my brothers is in financial terms. He owns outright several houses in Oxford and an apartment in central London - I would estimate his assets at over £10m. But nobody who doesn’t know him well would think he was that wealthy. He drives around in a Renault Kangoo vannd his wife has an old Fiat Uno, neither of which have I ever seen clean. They both buy most of their clothes from charity shops. I had to lend him a pair of black shoes to wear to our eldest brother’s funeral! Wealth isn’t all about appearances.

Thank you, I could not have put it better myself.
As I typed the OP the bit about the quick calculation, I did think, would I get negative comments
but thought people would take it on the chin and have a chuckle/etc and tell us all if they
fitted the bill of driving a MB and their experiences.

As I said, I live is a relatively cheap part of London and our home is worth lot less than the average prices are going south which is good as younger people may be able to afford the property. Ours is worth approx 450k and the rental about 400k and when compared to Fulham or even Greenwich/etc
it is cheap.

I wish my parents were around to see we had done as they both passed away then i was 21/22 respectively.

When I did the calculation, it did surprise me as we are always worried like most people about bills/etc.

And to make some people happy here, I don't think we'd be able to afford a brand new GLE for cash again as it would not be sensible
as we do not work. However, I do have my sights on a GLS in a couple of years time, about 12 months old, hopefully.

If I've upset anyone here and quite a few appear miffed, there is nothing else I can do as I have already asked the Mods to delete or lock this thread.

 

[renault12ts]

Stop...someone take that spade from him.

 

[AMGeed]

If I've upset anyone here and quite a few appear miffed, there is nothing else I can do as I have already asked the Mods to delete or lock this thread.

Don't worry about it. I didn't take your post the wrong way.
I can however understand that for some members, your assets are way above what they will ever achieve, me included. You've done well for yourself and should be happy about it too.

 

[Mr. B]

Try going into a MB dealership wearing a pair of tracksuit bottoms, trainers and a T shirt and most if not all salespeople will ignore you. The customers wearing shirts and ties get swarmed as the thought of ‘loads of commission’ light up in the minds of the salespeople.
I love it because it guarantees a hassle free visit to showrooms.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Putting aside the £1.3m nonsense.

I would be disappointed if someone who knew me was to judge me on my car(s), the way that cars are financed these days means that nearly everyone not living on the breadline could finance a nice car.

The one thing that tells me something about people and cars is when I see an expensive car parked on, what used to be the front lawn, of a very average house.

And the owner wears polo shirts with a turned up collar

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I paid the supplement of £2.50 to upgrade to steak at my £12.95 for two courses lunch last Friday, you should have seen the looks that were sent my way.

Pure envy.

 

[bpsorrel]

It's so true to say you cant judge a book etc. The richest person I knew (assets well in excess of £30 mil including an amazing car and art collection) dressed like a tramp and drove a Focus as his daily. No-one would ever have known his wealth unless knowing him closely or hanging out in his art or car world. He stated once he hated the English envy mentality (he's Irish) and loved the impression he made on people and then the looks when he took his Miura (etc) out for a spin! (i knew him by dating his daughter back in the day... lol)

Re the OP, I've never had negativity towards any of my MBs, and yet my two Lexus (Lexii?) have both brought comments about my wealth!!! Amazing isnt it!

To me, being rich is not worrying about bills, being able to afford whatever without checking the impact of the purchase on your wealth and having property (not cars) paid for in full. John Paul Getty once said, "own appreciating assets, lease depreciating ones".
Your wealth is determined by the former...

 

[Smart320]

Depending on the age of the car I think it says more about your marital status.

1. Under 3 years of age - still on 1st wife.
2. Between 3 - 6 years - moved on to wife no.2.
3. Between 6 - 9 years - wife no.1 took me to the cleaners.
4. Between 9 - 12 years - wife no.1 and 2 took me to the cleaners.
5. Over 12 years - had an affair with my ex-boss’s wife.

You are spot on ,

 

[del320]

Putting aside the £1.3m nonsense.

The one thing that tells me something about people and cars is when I see an expensive car parked on, what used to be the front lawn, of a very average house.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, the commas are superfluous and therefore incorrect.

As pointed out, the Forum has featured some pretty strange threads in the past but this topic has certainly excited some forthright responses. The general topic of what constitutes "wealth" should be carried over to the Politics thread as it concerns me as to how Labour would define it if they gain office.

My first house - an eight-roomed Georgian flat in Edinburgh's New Town - cost me £2500 in 1972. I did it up and did well when I sold it after some 10 years. It sold a couple of months ago for £495k. In London, friends have lived in St Georges Avenue, Tufnell Park for years and years. They own the entire four storey property outright. Mmmm, £1.6m - £1.8m? Do we all qualify as being "wealthy"?

Finally, I would mention that in my wide circle of friends there is only one couple "lucky enough" to have been "blessed" with brats. That's an immediate saving of £150k - £180k each over 18 years.