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If you own a Tesla you're almost by definition rich. If everyone in your social circle is driving expensive/new cars, you're all rich. Not to go all "check your

If you own a Tesla you're almost by definition rich. If everyone in your social circle is driving expensive/new cars, you're all rich. Not to go all "check your privileges", but seriously..

wumpus 5y ago
This is where Hacker News is at its best: endless discussions about what the word "rich" means.
bananabreakfast 5y ago
A model 3 MSRP is $45k. A used one can be found for even less than that. Check your local car prices, b/c that is not really that expensive and certainly nowhere close to "rich" territory. A fully loaded F-150 is $78k. I would be shocked if you also said anyone driving an F-150 is by definition rich. Also, a cheap used car may be drastically less expensive to buy for most people, but they will ultimately pay thousands of dollars of maintenance, part replacements, fluid changes and gas which a Tesla really never has to deal with, ever. No one seems to talk about this.
- stonogo 5y ago
  A BMW Gran Coupe 4 is also around $45k. These are luxury goods.
- danans 5y ago
  > A fully loaded F-150 is $78k. I would be shocked if you also said anyone driving an F-150 is by definition rich Someone driving a fully loaded new one has to be pretty comfortably upper middle class to rich. And also a fully loaded F150 buyer is culturally a different market segment than a Model 3 buyer. There's no real comparison between them.
- gambiting 5y ago
  Yeah no, sorry, if you can afford a $45k car you must be pretty rich. I know there are places in the world where a $45k car is almost a toy, but that's an extremely narrow and very priviledged perspective.
  - FartyMcFarter 5y ago
    Some people aren't rich but buy pretty expensive cars with a loan. Either because they really like cars, or they're financially irresponsible, or both. I know people like this.
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ip26 5y ago
Some trims of Honda Pilot cost more than a Model Y. Or did, anyway. Is Honda a rich man’s car now?
- gambiting 5y ago
  If you option one so it's as expensive as a Model Y, then yes, absolutely. Honda also makes a Type R civic which is definitely a rich man's toy.
mym1990 5y ago
Using someone car ownership as a gauge of possible wealth can be incredibly misleading. Plenty of people go into dealerships and walk out with a wonderful car and debilitating monthly payments.
- walrus01 5y ago
  this is factually correct and while we're getting off topic it brings up the problem of overloaded consumer debt in the USA in general. I also saw a statistic that something like 45% of Americans couldn't immediately come up with $1000 for an emergency the same day. Just in case we need a benchmark measure of relative wealth and prosperity between the typical six figure FAANG employee and people working jobs that pay a great deal less.
  - snedfree 5y ago
    just 39% could immediately come up with $1k according to this survey from January: https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/financial-security-january-2021/ https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/financial-security-...
jerry_cto 5y ago

If you own a Tesla you're almost by definition rich. If everyone in your social circle is driving expensive/new cars, you're all rich. Not to go all "check your privileges", but seriously..

wumpus 5y ago

This is where Hacker News is at its best: endless discussions about what the word "rich" means.

bananabreakfast 5y ago

A model 3 MSRP is $45k. A used one can be found for even less than that. Check your local car prices, b/c that is not really that expensive and certainly nowhere close to "rich" territory. A fully loaded F-150 is $78k. I would be shocked if you also said anyone driving an F-150 is by definition rich. Also, a cheap used car may be drastically less expensive to buy for most people, but they will ultimately pay thousands of dollars of maintenance, part replacements, fluid changes and gas which a Tesla really never has to deal with, ever. No one seems to talk about this.

stonogo 5y ago
A BMW Gran Coupe 4 is also around $45k. These are luxury goods.
danans 5y ago
> A fully loaded F-150 is $78k. I would be shocked if you also said anyone driving an F-150 is by definition rich Someone driving a fully loaded new one has to be pretty comfortably upper middle class to rich. And also a fully loaded F150 buyer is culturally a different market segment than a Model 3 buyer. There's no real comparison between them.
gambiting 5y ago
Yeah no, sorry, if you can afford a $45k car you must be pretty rich. I know there are places in the world where a $45k car is almost a toy, but that's an extremely narrow and very priviledged perspective.
- FartyMcFarter 5y ago
  Some people aren't rich but buy pretty expensive cars with a loan. Either because they really like cars, or they're financially irresponsible, or both. I know people like this.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

deleted 5y ago

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ip26 5y ago

Some trims of Honda Pilot cost more than a Model Y. Or did, anyway. Is Honda a rich man’s car now?

gambiting 5y ago
If you option one so it's as expensive as a Model Y, then yes, absolutely. Honda also makes a Type R civic which is definitely a rich man's toy.

mym1990 5y ago

Using someone car ownership as a gauge of possible wealth can be incredibly misleading. Plenty of people go into dealerships and walk out with a wonderful car and debilitating monthly payments.

walrus01 5y ago
this is factually correct and while we're getting off topic it brings up the problem of overloaded consumer debt in the USA in general. I also saw a statistic that something like 45% of Americans couldn't immediately come up with $1000 for an emergency the same day. Just in case we need a benchmark measure of relative wealth and prosperity between the typical six figure FAANG employee and people working jobs that pay a great deal less.
- snedfree 5y ago
  just 39% could immediately come up with $1k according to this survey from January: https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/financial-security-january-2021/ https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/financial-security-...

jerry_cto 5y ago