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I'm curious as to how the performance of my 'Vette LS3 convertible compares with your XLR-V. What horsepower you getting out of that Northstar?
No comparison. Though the superchargers give an almost "sensual" whistling, you never experience them until 70+ mph. Your LS3 would smoke me due to the Caddy being the fat pig she is. She weighs about 600+ lbs more, so ~440 under the hood only sounds fast!
When ascribing the label "status symbol," there are degrees as to when any vehicle crosses that line. A gold plated Roller is a luxury car turned status symbol, IMO, whereas the Phantom in regular paint spec is a luxury car that makes a statement, but might not be solely for the status. Similarly, a donk with large wheels is largely done for status as there is no extra utility garnered from that type of modification to a vehicle, though it may or may not have been a luxury vehicle on which the wheels were used.
A car need not only be luxury to be named a status symbol, either. Sometimes the "it" car of the season like the Miata, Mini Cooper, etc. are used for the status when said model is relatively new and exclusive, bought for the trendiness factor. In some circles, a Prius can be viewed as a status symbol, as well.
The definition is of status symbol is relative, and while I can understand the variance between Frugal Living and Automotive in terms of definition of vehicle, from transportation appliance to enthusiast machine, I doubt that many would eschew luxury features in a vehicle if offered, unless there is inherent status in self-denial and driving the most plain vehicle possible.
As long as the person writing the check for the vehicle is happy, then all is well in the automotive world, IMO.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
I bought my Aston as i could afford it and loved it. I could afford to pay cash for it and new i'd not lose money when i sold it so why not. The car before that was an MG and i bought that for the same reason.
The last car I financed was when my teenager was in diapers.
When financing specials are actually lower than what your bank returns in the form in interest or other kinds of capital gains, it makes more sense to finance.
Of course they are! Because they're making interest off the person that's driving it!
LOL! Yes, though I write my own checks for cars.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
There are plenty of other reasons like wanting a big powerful engine, a car that handles well. A car that is very safe, a car that is fun to drive. A car that is big enough for family and things etc.. There are many more reasons than a status symbol.
Exactly.
1). Don't care about others and their opinions of what I drive.
2). Want a car that will do exactly what it is designed to do.(Like at least over 180 mph when out in the midwest flatlands).
3). HIgh level of safety (When you get hit by the 6000lb Rover in your Toyota Tercel, me thinks you would be wishing you were driving something else.) Not my problem.
4). Cars are like screwdrivers; each one has a different application. There is no 'one size fits all', thus it takes more than one. Go off-road, one vehicle. Go to Lime Rock, another vehicle. Go to work. another vehicle.
Depending on how far you have to commute (if you even take a car at all), if you calculate the number of hours you spend in your vehicle, (which for many can be substantial), why not have something nice for you to enjoy every day?
No comparison. Though the superchargers give an almost "sensual" whistling, you never experience them until 70+ mph. Your LS3 would smoke me due to the Caddy being the fat pig she is. She weighs about 600+ lbs more, so ~440 under the hood only sounds fast!
Not to hijack this thread:
You can silence blowers easily. I used to build 4, 6, and 8-71 blower motors for fun (with the big 3-inch Bando belts, that whined like a liberal). (8V92 blowers were, umm, rather excessive). (Simply have the pulleys drilled, to allow the air to escape, and you won't even hear it.
On a roots-style, we would groove the rotors, put in teflon inserts, clearance everything, and then the blow-by would be virtually zero.
A couple of Volvos now, after several Audis and Volvos and a couple of others. I'm not sure any are really luxury cars, as much as cars with what some would consider "luxurious" appointments.
I own them for the same reasons other people own anything.
For me, spending most all of my driving time on the highway, I'm good if a car has good power, pulls up mountains well, doesn't stumble all over itself on turns, and has some nice creature comforts. I love driving too, so I can usually find something enjoyable about almost any car, even the (very) bland stuff I often get out of rental fleets on a regular basis.
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