What Car Makes You Look Like You Have More Money Than You Really Do?

Definitely..not a kia..Sorry folks.

At Cars and Coffee last week a dealer had a $66,000 K900 there, not too far away was a $62,000 Corvette.

From overheard conversations Kia still has a way to go before people drop $60k+ on a Kia.

My used 2013 Mercedes C-Class 300 4 Matic.

Cost less than a lot of pickup trucks and less than a 2014 used Honda Accord CrossTour I saw on a lot.

In this era of the protracted great obamma recession, the trick is to own a car that looks like a million but costs very little. Enter the Hyundai and Kia premium models that provide the solution.

No Hyundai/KIA will ever make you look rich. If you see an Equus, you know that the person wanted an S-class but couldn't afford it but instead of buying a used BMW, they opted for what they thought people might mistaken for a RollsRoyce.

If you want to look rich but aren't, buy used premium brands. Used luxury still looks wealthier than new Korean.

Lol that was a good one ha ha ha.....

To answer the question "What Car Makes You Look Like You Have More Money Than You Really Do?" -- BMW!

And I mean no offense to BMW owners (I own two). When you have a young kid who's trying to show the world (or prospective dates) that he has the power of money, his show of choice is likely to be a BMW. BMW is a premium brand and priced accordingly. They're also a very desired brand. BMW also has that sporty edge and performance reputation that appeals to younger crowds.

NOTE: This does **NOT** imply that all, most, or even significant numbers of BMW drivers are in that boat.

Anything CPO luxury will do the trick. A BMW, Mercedes, Audi and even a Lexus or Acura will get you the desired effect. I agree with most of the posts here. A nice CPO C-class is dead on for a car that doesn't cost that much and most people think you have to have big money to drive one. Never roll in a Hyundai or Kia if you expect people with any kind of brian to think you have more money than you do. These cars suck and to me are just knock offs and alternative brands to Honda and Toyota. I'll give someone way more cred in a nicely equipped Camry before I even look at someone in an Equus.

Pondered the above question to friend. 65K Hyundai or 65K Corvette. Hands down he picked the vette because the Hyundai won't ever get you laid. This is coming from someone who's excited the Koreans are offering counterfeit cars at half price.

The better question would have been, which car makes it look like you enjoy flushing money down the toilet. Cars like Mercedes and BMW are way over-priced, and their rate of depreciation is rather steep. Buying one of these does not make it look like you have more money than you do, it just makes you look like someone who does not recognize value, and is only interested in brand name recognition.

But that isn't the question.
Or perhaps we should ask "Which car makes you look poor?". Hyundai/KIA would win that in spades because everyone knows that the real reason anyone would get one is because they can't spend more.

Specifically I'd say a Pre- owned Audi, those things depreciate like crazy and that "look at me" design won't be garish to those you're trying to fool. Actually it will have the desired impact and get you the attention and "status" you wanted.

If you could the best would be Jaguar they depreciate even more and start out higher class than any standard luxury car with the XF. The only thing with them is reliability and cost of ownership (which has improved). If you could though mission accomplished, your neighbors, co-workers or whoever you're trying to impress would definitely notice.

Why not do it in reverse, drive something rare and interesting, known and loved by a select cognoscenti, with Bentley comfort and power? A car that nobody will steal because it resembles a (beautiful) classic B5 Passat, but gives rise to delight from its passengers, all unaware that VW ever made such a car as the wonderful Phaeton, available at silly prices because of silly people who want to be flashy and follow the tired boring worn out old Mercedes/Bimmer trail, who could never see themselves buying an expensive Volkswagen, no matter how great it is? It beats the competition hands down for charm, exclusivity, and quality. A real future classic, a solid investment for real lovers of cars, a Bentley at (ridiculously) cut price with graceful timeless styling, discreet and lovely. It's not a sport saloon, that is Audi's great purpose, it's a real limo and not made obsolete by its cousin the A8.

irst, let us look at the state of the economy and the number of people who are unemployed, underemployed and quite frankly too lazy to get a job because they make more on the dole. This puts a lot of people on the street who resent anyone who is successful or has more money then they do. These are the people who key your BMW, Audi and Mercedes, or try and car jack you for the ride.

So, you do what the Germans were doing back in the early '80's, you buy a car to drive every day, and debadge it, if it is top of the line, such as a Chevy Impala or Ford Taurus (SHO especially), even a low end Caddy. Little or no flash.

Foreign cars are already too expensive to maintain, and BMW's are a dime a dozen. So, find a ride that you like and presents a nice solid middle class vision to anyone who sees you. Avoid large SUV's, unless they are used. Low profile today or until economy comes back again. In other words, don't flaunt it. Why poke the nut cases in the eye.

On the weekend, you can bring out the Porsche or Corvette. Just avoid the mall :)