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I've just came back from a road trip in the US, and what struck me compared to Europe is that people didn't have luxurious cars (apart from a bunch of asian ki

I've just came back from a road trip in the US, and what struck me compared to Europe is that people didn't have luxurious cars (apart from a bunch of asian kids cruising Yellowstone in obnoxious sport cars). Big SUV were commonplace, but I didn't see as many people showing off luxurious cars as I do in Europe. I don't really know if there is any truth from this subjective observation but it made me thinking. It goes against the common stereotype saying that it's totally fine to boast one's wealth in the US, whereas Europeans are more shy regarding money matters. This isn't my experience.

fucking_tragedy 7y ago
> It goes against the common stereotype saying that it's totally fine to boast one's wealth in the US, whereas Europeans are more shy regarding money matters. This isn't my experience. Up until the early 2000's, this was the case in the US.
fl0wenol 7y ago
If I had to pick a local reason for this, it's because rap music videos since the 90s featured brown people in obviously fancy cars, so obviously fancy cars equals nouveau riche or drug dealer. And people love to correct others about their bags or shoes when others misidentify them as a more affordable imitation of an exclusion designer, and then get to tell them who and how much it cost and how it is so worth it for the "quality".
- adamsea 7y ago
  What? I’m sorry but, no. Also, car ownership depends on the region. In Los Angeles in many parts of the city you can’t throw a rock without hitting a Mercedes or BMW.
PeterStuer 7y ago
In Europe cars are very heavily subsidized by the government. In Belgium for instance it is very common to get payed part of your salary under the for of a car (replaced every 4 years) and fuel card, exempt from taxes both for the company as well as for the employee (the result of decades the automobile lobby being very close to the governments). This results in significant more of German luxury cars, especially BMW, Mercedes and Audi, being quite common, as well as being the most jammed up country on the planet. So while it looks like fancy flaunting, the BMW 5, Audi 6 or Mercedes E is very common will not turn many eyes here.
- cr1895 7y ago
  >In Europe cars are very heavily subsidized by the government. Maybe this is true in Belgium, but how much is it true elsewhere?

fucking_tragedy 7y ago

> It goes against the common stereotype saying that it's totally fine to boast one's wealth in the US, whereas Europeans are more shy regarding money matters. This isn't my experience. Up until the early 2000's, this was the case in the US.

fl0wenol 7y ago

If I had to pick a local reason for this, it's because rap music videos since the 90s featured brown people in obviously fancy cars, so obviously fancy cars equals nouveau riche or drug dealer. And people love to correct others about their bags or shoes when others misidentify them as a more affordable imitation of an exclusion designer, and then get to tell them who and how much it cost and how it is so worth it for the "quality".

adamsea 7y ago
What? I’m sorry but, no. Also, car ownership depends on the region. In Los Angeles in many parts of the city you can’t throw a rock without hitting a Mercedes or BMW.

PeterStuer 7y ago

In Europe cars are very heavily subsidized by the government. In Belgium for instance it is very common to get payed part of your salary under the for of a car (replaced every 4 years) and fuel card, exempt from taxes both for the company as well as for the employee (the result of decades the automobile lobby being very close to the governments). This results in significant more of German luxury cars, especially BMW, Mercedes and Audi, being quite common, as well as being the most jammed up country on the planet. So while it looks like fancy flaunting, the BMW 5, Audi 6 or Mercedes E is very common will not turn many eyes here.

cr1895 7y ago
>In Europe cars are very heavily subsidized by the government. Maybe this is true in Belgium, but how much is it true elsewhere?