These kind of feel like two different axes to me. There's "enough", and then there's "more". The step up in happiness and utility from owning no car, to any ca

These kind of feel like two different axes to me. There's "enough", and then there's "more". The step up in happiness and utility from owning no car, to any car that just about works well, is enormous. The difference between a clapped out Honda Civic and a brand new Tesla is pretty marginal. It's the same with most things. Owning a home in Kensington is nicer than, say, Willesden, but there are enormously diminishing returns. The most important thing in life, to me at least, is safety and stability. In family, in partner, in friendship, in housing and possessions. Advertising focuses on trying to extract value. There's not that much value to extract when I buy a 20 year old car.