Dom you drive a

[Carl brickton]

Hello after my last post regarding what went of subject.

I would like to know do you all drive cars to show off.?

 

[Mike W]

I'm not so sure about 'showing off' but in some businesses it's all about impressions.

Wrong though it may be, I do think you view someone differently if they roll up in a Ford Ka or in a Mercedes. Same person but different feel.

 

[papverpoppies]

Why are these repeated silly car threads in the General Business Forum?

What has what you drive got to do with how you operate your business, OP go and get a life.

Rather DWP go and get on building your Empire.

Poppy xx

 

[Mike W]

Why are these repeated silly car threads in the General Business Forum?

What has what you drive got to do with how you operate your business, OP go and get a life.

Although not a car buff myself, I do think it is a business matter, although indirect.

As I suggested in my earlier post, if your business involves driving to meet customers, depending on your business, what you drive could be important.

Imagine your new marketing exec turning up in an old Mini. Now imagine the same guy rolling up in BMW Z4. Which one is more likely to inspire?

 

[saxondale]

Although not a car buff myself, I do think it is a business matter, although indirect.

As I suggested in my earlier post, if your business involves driving to meet customers, depending on your business, what you drive could be important.

Imagine your new marketing exec turning up in an old Mini. Now imagine the same guy rolling up in BMW Z4. Which one is more likely to inspire?

neither, it`s a car and I`m not shallow

 

[papverpoppies]

Although not a car buff myself, I do think it is a business matter, although indirect.

As I suggested in my earlier post, if your business involves driving to meet customers, depending on your business, what you drive could be important.

Imagine your new marketing exec turning up in an old Mini. Now imagine the same guy rolling up in BMW Z4. Which one is more likely to inspire?

The person themselves, after I had met and spoken to them, never judge a book by its cover, or in that scenario the car they drive - anyway it could be rented.

Poppy xx

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

If you are dealing with consumers I think generally something clean and tidy and not too flashy is best actually.




(And I like Minis better than Z4s)

 

[Mike W]

neither, it`s a car and I`m not shallow

Well shallow or not, that's just rubbish as well you know (if you're as experienced as you would like us to believe ). And surely you're experienced enough to know that not all people think like we do.

It has nothing to do with shallow.

Another analogy...

You're looking to employ a Marketing Consultant to help you drive your business forward. You are interviewing two.

One turns up in Mercedes S-Class. The other has an old Vauxhall Astra.

Which, on perception alone, are you going to have more confidence in?

 

[saxondale]

Well shallow or not, that's just rubbish as well you know (if you're as experienced as you would like us to believe ). And surely you're experienced enough to know that not all people think like we do.

It has nothing to do with shallow.

Another analogy...

You're looking to employ a Marketing Consultant to help you drive your business forward. You are interviewing two.

One turns up in Mercedes S-Class. The other has an old Vauxhall Astra.

Which, on perception alone, are you going to have more confidence in?

neither - it`s a car an I`m not that shallow, yes, i`ve been around to know the car you like is probably rented.

 

[Mike W]

neither - it`s a car an I`m not that shallow, yes, i`ve been around to know the car you like is probably rented.

How insightful. And how wrong.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

neither - it`s a car an I`m not that shallow, yes, i`ve been around to know the car you like is probably rented.

Let's all rent some nice cars and go for a drive

 

[Naughty Vend]

Too many variables to make a 'right' choice on this topic and before you go flaming each other think about it from the perspective of the other guy, the one you think you are trying to impress...

Flashy = Could Charge Less
Flashy = Does Well, May Be a Good Business Person
Flashy = It's On Contract Hire and Has a Good Residual*

*Having to explain the last 'Flashy' = uncool pratt, needs to look good to be confident about their business / product / service because ultimately what they have to sell is a pile of festive donkey poo.

So your answer is perspective, if you chose your car for your own reasons and it fits your needs then you have made a good choice. There are pros and cons for every angle of this topic, I sold the Audi R8 for a mark up within a few weeks of taking delivery and bought a TT roadster with the proceeds, the wife has it now and I have a Peugeot 3008 diesel... so I've been up and down you guys scale of what you think. Ultimately who gives a shed other than those whom have an envious nature, they would call the Flashy car driver a show off wouldn't they...?

 

[Paul Norman]

I think it is less critical than it was a few years ago. Many people choose to drive a more budget car for a range of reasons other than budget. After owning more than 85 cars, I am less inclined to buy a luxury brand than once I was!

However, it is not a matter of zero importance. It is just not something that I would be too anxious about.

I rarely keep a car or more than 18 months, but that is not to impress my clients, it is just part habit, part me being a petrol head, and part an aversion to getting cars serviced!

Most of my clients do not know what I drive! However, there are some examples where it does matter. I once listened to a presentation from a guy telling us all how to succeed and get rich. He then climbed into a abomination of a car and rather undid his credibility! But that is a fairly extreme example.

I once sold an Aston Martin to a person whose only success was to come from rich parents. Nice chap, but actually he was unemployed, and always had been. Another extreme example, of course, but take care of being too swayed by appearances.

 

[Naughty Vend]

I once sold an Aston Martin to a person whose only success was to come from rich parents. Nice chap, but actually he was unemployed, and always had been. Another extreme example, of course, but take care of being too swayed by appearances.

I always think a person stepping out of a great motor dressed in very casual and scruffy clothes, perhaps in the Asda car park always looks way more cool than some donkey with sharp clothing getting out of a mid to top range Chrysler... sorry I mean Mercedes POS.

Perhaps that contradicts my earlier post?

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

I love cars and would talk about them all day. I don't think a car has to be expensive to be a car for a, ahem, 'petrol head' nor are all pricier cars 'drivers cars'.
In this day and age most cars are pretty accessible for those who want them so status isn't really an issue I don't think, some people just like cars and some people just don't.

 

[Mpg]

There's a 911 around where I live and you cant see the guy when he gets out of it because of all the building/cement dust. He's earnt his money.


I think there are a few different ways of looking at it. The guy who pulls up in a range rover MAY be doing really well for himself or maybe financed up to the hilt and about to go bust. I think that's why the rep mobiles do so well. As the reason your driving it may just be because its a work car.

Its often been said that the meeting/Job interview starts in the carpark. I know I've been checked out when Ive pulled into the carpark of a client luckily I was in a borowed Mondeo estate instead of the skoda I was driving.

My reasons for driving a cheap to run low depreciation car wont be the same reason the MD of a client drives an Aston. But I know my house is bigger.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

I would hazard a guess that 90% of buyers do not even have a view of the car park so will have no idea of what car you drove up in

Just drive around the modern estates and see how many units have windows facing the car park

Further do managers spend much time looking out of the window anyway

 

[Mpg]

I would hazard a guess that 90% of buyers do not even have a view of the car park so will have no idea of what car you drove up in

Just drive around the modern estates and see how many units have windows facing the car park

Further do managers spend much time looking out of the window anyway

Dont know dont deal with any buyers and never had a meeting on an industrial estate yet.

But I know plenty of managers who day dream out of a window.


I deal with smaller/more intimate companies. And In my experiences my post rings true. However in big cities when you cant even park anywhere close then it prob doesnt make a sods difference

 

[dynamic08]

car would not be important to me at all. If the person is offering me a good price and can prove they know what there talking about they get my business.

 

[simbathedog]

Hello after my last post regarding what went of subject.

I would like to know do you all drive cars to show off.?

Yes, do you?

 

[Consistency]

Our vehicles are practical for the job that we do, people either like it or they lump it. Very often if we are going to see a customer they see us for what we are and they see what they will get. We do not employ some "high flier" who has done a course and are up into their own backsides, they see us.

On the other side the only time I tend to judge anyone is if I see they have turned up in a BMW, I would have it in the back of my mind this one is probably an arrogant tw@t and thinks everyone else owes them something or should make way for them.

There is just something about BMW drivers and I really do not think what they would like me to think of them, they do not impress me at all. I know I am not the only one who thinks this, but I may be one of very few who will say it!

Aside that I could not give a tootle what someone drives, it is whatever they are comfortable with, I will not be jumping in the back seat with them!

 

[JoyDivision]

I bought a brand new Panda in May and I think it gives the perfect impression really. It shows I am doing something right as I can afford a brand new car (although a cheap one!) but it also shows I don't give a toss about flashyness.

You can trust a man in a Fiat Panda . If I turned up in a ten year old 5 series it might send the wrong signals.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

I have a Proton Satria Neo (bought new in 2007) and I must say I have been very impressed with it. No faults or problems since purchased and handles superbly... even in snow/ice. Some of my friends thought I was mad buying a Proton but it is perfect for me and gets plenty of admiring glances - mainly people seeing it side one and wondering what it is.

10K for a car with electric windows, power steering, parking sensors, air-con, mp3/cd player and metallic paint with 5yr warranty was a great deal in my book. Plus the service from the Proton garage has been superb. They collect it from my office for servicing if I don't want to take it in and they always wash it before delivering it back to me. If I do take it in they offer me a FREE round of golf at the local club if I don't fancy sitting in the waiting room!

Simon