Reply to: Does the type of car you drive have any influence on your contract business success?

[KentPhilip]

As a stop gap, I'm currently driving around in my mothers' old Ford Fiesta ...
Firstly was at an interview, for a senior technical/PM permie position. After the interview, the interviewer walked out to the car park with me, we carried on our conversation and we ended up walking all the way over to my car. When the interviewer realised which of the cars amongst the BMWs, Audis etc was mine, I noticed a short but very tangible pause in the conversation and what I can ony describe to be some sort of implied judgement about me on his part. I didn't get the role

Ewww

Maybe you could have pretended to own one of the BMW's, and say "Damn the key fob isn't working..."
Get a taxi to the station and leave the car there to be towed away and crushed.

[Platypus]

blah blah

Great post, but it p*sses me off when people judge me by the cheap-to-run car (Golf) I have. I've been thinking about getting something much nicer, for once.

Whenever I see anyone in a fairly decent car these days I just assume that they've been stupid enough to take the car on some sort of crap finance/lease deal that's costing them a small fortune or to they've taken equity out of their house etc to fund it and will end up paying through the nose when interest rates go up. I wonder how many of these flash cars that are currently so ubiquitous on our roads will be repossessed in the coming years.

Whenever I see a decent car these days, I think "company car, big deal, you didn't pay for it and can't afford to buy one yourself" which always cheers me up!

Of all the people I know, I earn more than most of them, but have the crappiest car. This makes me a bit glum.

[DimPrawn]

How many people here see a big expensive 4x4 like a Porsche Cayenne and not think to themselves rich

You see, the car you drive makes impression on others.

[bingobob]

Well I need a new car, and am trying to make up my mind as to what to buy.
Personally I would be happy with an el-cheapo Astra or Golf, but friends have suggested that it is worth getting something a little classy as it would convey the image to clients (and prospective clients at interview) that I am a man of substance who can afford a decent car, and must therefore be worth giving or continuing to give business to.

I don't think this is very likely to be the case - in my experience clients are only interested in how well you do the job, not on any fluff like this. But I thought I'd throw the question open to you guys and girls who might have any opinion or observations on the matter.

i.e. is there a "business case" for getting a smarter car. What type, and what are the numbers?

Ta very much.

BTW I need a new car cos I wrapped the last one around a tree. But that's another story.

As a stop gap, I'm currently driving around in my mothers' old Ford Fiesta and whilst I'm happy with the car itself and how cheap it is to run etc I have been in a couple of situations recently where I've felt that it has had a negative affect on other peoples opinion of me.

Firstly was at an interview, for a senior technical/PM permie position. After the interview, the interviewer walked out to the car park with me, we carried on our conversation and we ended up walking all the way over to my car. When the interviewer realised which of the cars amongst the BMWs, Audis etc was mine, I noticed a short but very tangible pause in the conversation and what I can ony describe to be some sort of implied judgement about me on his part. I didn't get the role and was told that the budget didn't come through but given that the interview had gone rather well I suspect there was more to it.

The second experience was very recently whilst looking for a house to rent. I turned up to view house in the Fiesta, with my wife and young child in tow. The house had a lot of what we were looking for and in a rental market that is pretty tough at the moment we decided to go for it. I rang the agent later the same day and put in an offer, he informed me that someone else had made an offer but that my offer was 'significantly stronger' (his actual words) so I could relax as I would no doubt get it. The next day he called and informed me that the landlord had gone with the other offer, and when I questioned him as to why, he replied 'we felt the other people were in a financially better position than you and would find the rent less of a strain' (his words again). Having not supplied any information concerning finances etc, I can only assume that the decision was based on the car we turned up in and that had I rolled up in a leased Merc or similar we would have got the house.

Having said all that, I'm pretty happy for people to judge me by the car I drive and come to whatever conclusions they want. Whenever I see anyone in a fairly decent car these days I just assume that they've been stupid enough to take the car on some sort of crap finance/lease deal that's costing them a small fortune or to they've taken equity out of their house etc to fund it and will end up paying through the nose when interest rates go up. I wonder how many of these flash cars that are currently so ubiquitous on our roads will be repossed in the coming years.

[Mich the Tester]

Blingin' wheels innit!

[milanbenes]

fair enough

and nice policy

Milan.

[lilelvis2000]

fair enough

never liked them myself

front wheel drive though

traveller for the mrs

do you have any more modern equipment in your fleet or it's entirely older cars ?

if I lived in the uk I'd do the same, especially giving consideration to today's road tax and car insurance prices

i'd get a series II or III diesel though or a merc diesel saloon

the beauty of the older machinery is any competent mechanic can work on them, not requiring specialist electronics diagnostics equipment

speed isn't a necessity these days because recent visits have shown it's nae on impossible to get legally above 50mph anywhere and where it is, there's normally too much traffic and the sheer volume keeps the speed down

road tax these days at 500 quid a year really makes buying some reliable older machinery an interesting proposition


Milan.

Front wheel drive is a pain. The steering heavy. But that suspension is superb.

Our spare car is a 05 Nissan Primera. I hate it really. Okay it has leather, sat nav, 17" wheels, electric everything - but the ride is really harsh and there is less room in the back. I hate it really. But its what we use for long drives as it has cruise and gets 45mpg vs. 25 for the lc.

[DimPrawn]

if I lived in the uk I'd do the same, especially giving consideration to today's road tax and car insurance prices

i'd get a series II or III diesel though or a merc diesel saloon

the beauty of the older machinery is any competent mechanic can work on them, not requiring specialist electronics diagnostics equipment

speed isn't a necessity these days because recent visits have shown it's nae on impossible to get legally above 50mph anywhere and where it is, there's normally too much traffic and the sheer volume keeps the speed down

road tax these days at 500 quid a year really makes buying some reliable older machinery an interesting proposition


Milan.

New Labour (spit) changed the law. It used to be any car older than 25 years gets a free road tax disc. They changed it so that it is only cars registered before 1973, ie the date is fixed now.

Can I say ***** here?

[milanbenes]

fair enough

never liked them myself

front wheel drive though

traveller for the mrs

do you have any more modern equipment in your fleet or it's entirely older cars ?

if I lived in the uk I'd do the same, especially giving consideration to today's road tax and car insurance prices

i'd get a series II or III diesel though or a merc diesel saloon

the beauty of the older machinery is any competent mechanic can work on them, not requiring specialist electronics diagnostics equipment

speed isn't a necessity these days because recent visits have shown it's nae on impossible to get legally above 50mph anywhere and where it is, there's normally too much traffic and the sheer volume keeps the speed down

road tax these days at 500 quid a year really makes buying some reliable older machinery an interesting proposition


Milan.

[lilelvis2000]

Elvis,

a land crab !

Why ?

Milan.

Why not? Because I like it. It was either that or a Morris Traveller and my land crab is auto which I prefer. But probably still get the Traveller for the wife.

[MaryPoppins]

You tell 'em Beenz!

If you want that 12 year old grey Passat diesel, you damn well have it!

[milanbenes]

my Morris 1800 is always a talking point. However, I doubt anyone would choose to hire me because I drive a 40 y/o car. Maybe they'd have second thoughts if I took the bus.

Elvis,

a land crab !

Why ?

Milan.

[lilelvis2000]

my Morris 1800 is always a talking point. However, I doubt anyone would choose to hire me because I drive a 40 y/o car. Maybe they'd have second thoughts if I took the bus.

[milanbenes]

yep

good innit

Milan.

[milanbenes]

ha ha

the passat is doing well thanks

looking to upgrade the 16yr old golf gtd to a LR 90

Milan.