[plasma23]

Now hear me out, I am in no way trying to offend anyone, I simply want to get this whole BMW/Audi pretentious snobbery off my chest. To put it simply, I just CAN'T STAND people (posers) who buy entry level BMW's/Audi such as the 116i/116d/318i/320d or A3 1.6 litre and think they are driving a proper upmarket car, dismissing and looking down on other cars such as the Honda Civic/Accord etc when really the Honda and such cars are probably better, especially when you factor in price.

I have no problem with the business managers driving their 320d/520d up and down motorways. I fully know these are company fleet cars and are purchased for image and economy. I also have no problem with people who have the BMW 4 pots or Audi entry level engines but I can't stand people who are snobs and when they decide to purchase their own private car they automatically look for German cars simply for their badge and nothing else, simply to pose and show off. Spec and engine fly over their heads completely!

Forgive me for my ranting and raving, but a family member of mine recently purchased an E87 116D SE. This girl absolutely had no idea about cars, she just wanted the BMW badge. She was on a budget, and when looking for a new (second hand) car the things she was looking for was fuel economy and low tax band. I'm sorry but if your out in the market for a premium car make, money, economy and road tax should not be your priority. If that was a case don't go looking for Mercs, Audi's and BMW's. You would be better off with a cheaper Japanese car or even a Ford. What made it worse was the nonsense that was coming out of her mouth, she had the nerve to say to me that her BMW was a sports car and goes like a rocket. What a buffoon. Sorry madam but your car is just a marketing gimmick for fools such as yourself who only want the badge and BMW have tricked you. It isn't even a very good looking car, I just don't know why anyone would buy an entry level spec. I have the up most respect for the 123d, 125i, 130i and up but anything below, I'm sorry that just isn't a real BMW.

[FrankyGTR]

i find it tacky but they are insecure of what others think so i kinda feel bad for them.

[NormE91]

I don't think anyone should look down on others cars, regardless of whether they own a top of the line model or not.

People buy what suits them. If that's a Ford so be it. Everyone has different priorities and life circumstances.

One way to look at the entry models is that they sell a ton of them. It keeps BMW, or other manufacturers, in cash so they can make all the other models.

My .02.

[AtlantaDude]

Well now... Tell us how you really feel.....

Now, for a little devils advocate.

What about.... The kid who loves BMW, don't know why, who cares really, but just LOVE the brand. Busts his ass at work, and can only afford that entry level Bimmer... They don't know much, just that BMW is the "best" brand in the world.

A little brand loyalty is perfectly normal, even when you don't have the wallet for a upper end car.

Now the snobbery/douchery/knob ends, that's unacceptable. BUT... assuming someone is a snob because they drive an entry level Bimmer.... I'll leave that to your own decision.

[335iAP]

Some people don't want huge engines or feature packed interiors. Plenty are happy with the entry level models. Nothing wrong with that.

[plasma23]

Originally Posted by 335iAP

Some people don't want huge engines or feature packed interiors. Plenty are happy with the entry level models. Nothing wrong with that.

I agree there is nothing wrong with that. But there is something wrong when the people who buy it just want to show off and boast cos they have a 'BMW' or a 'Merc,' without the slightest clue about cars

[NormE91]

Originally Posted by plasma23

I agree there is nothing wrong with that. But there is something wrong when the people who buy it just want to show off and boast cos they have a 'BMW' or a 'Merc,' without the slightest clue about cars

Just another angle to think about... you have a 2007(so do I). That's a 7 year old car. Some people would call that posing... certainly nothing to boast about in my mind.

[krhodes1]

I don't really have any need of the level of performance of my "lowly" 328i, I would be perfectly happy with a 320i. It's about the feel and the handling, not the speed. Until the twin-turbo six debuted, even the hot motored non-M BMWs were rarely the fastest cars in their class anyway.

But whatever floats your boat. I'd rather drive a 116i than a GTR. If it was my own money purchasing/maintaining it I would take a 116i over an M5.

[AviatorBimmer]

I just can't comprehend how can people even get their panties all bunched up over this topic, in the first place.

[NEFARIOUS]

^ I second that; it's the best car I've ever owned.

But then again, I don't disrespect anybody that owns another car, whether superior or inferior... But there's also personal preferences; I'm not a fan of Hyundai/Kia due to bad experiences with them, or smart or other cars that bear the brunt of a load of bad jokes, but at no point do I get "snobby" with anybody over it... But I do think that those who get the absolute entry level cars that snub other people as if they're driving an Alpina B7 is too far up on the douchebag totem pole, pretty much why I try not to associate with die-hard Hondaboys; they are the worst.

[drunkenup]

Originally Posted by 335iAP

Some people don't want huge engines or feature packed interiors. Plenty are happy with the entry level models. Nothing wrong with that.

Yup ^^

OP, your relative sounds particularly misinformed but a lot of people I know who own entry level luxury cars are aware they are still getting superior materials, build quality, fit and finish, more R&D, as well as a badge and reputation.

We're not really immune from this badge whore mentality either.. half of us could go out and buy similarly equipped Cadillac's and Lexus' and have equal or better ownership experiences but we all know our brand's carry much more weight.

[Narcosis]

People do that?

[1chanc3]

There's always 2 sides to a coin; two ways of looking at things.

[335iAP]

MOST people have no idea about cars. They want something that works, is comfortable, looks good, confers status, or whatever they like. I don't see anything wrong with someone who isn't a gearhead buying a BMW or Audi.

I know next to nothing about boats. I wear boat shoes because they're comfortable and I like the way they look. I hope that doesn't make me a shoe poser...

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by drunkenup

We're not really immune from this badge whore mentality either.. half of us could go out and buy similarly equipped Cadillac's and Lexus' and have equal or better ownership experiences but we all know our brand's carry much more weight.

So...freakin'...true...

[spencers]

Originally Posted by plasma23

What a buffoon. Sorry madam but your car is just a marketing gimmick for fools such as yourself who only want the badge and BMW have tricked you. It isn't even a very good looking car, I just don't know why anyone would buy an entry level spec. I have the up most respect for the 123d, 125i, 130i and up but anything below, I'm sorry that just isn't a real BMW.

I think you're the buffoon if you give that much care to her choice of a car. A BMW is a BMW, regardless of model number.

edit: damnit, I gave in to the troll

[BEAR-AvHistory]

[QUOTE=plasma23;15964607] I have the up most respect for the 123d, 125i, 130i and up but anything below, I'm sorry that just isn't a real BMW.[/QUOTE]

This really a great description of a BMW badge snob.

[335iAP]

Fun fact: A real BMW is any car that BMW puts their badge on

[Delta0311]

You would never see shit like this on a Ferrari forum.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

You would never see shit like this on a Ferrari forum.

lolll

[ThatRWD]

I think what the op might be trying to say is that said people are not getting anything for their money other than a badge looks or performance wise.

Don't kill me I've had this thought before too but never looked into it.

[derrick603]

So you, a 330i driver, are looking down on 116d drivers because they look down on Hondas. This is like Douchebag Inception.