Cars that make you LOOK rich, even if you arent :).

You think she feels bad now, wait till money people start commenting on how she's trying to act rich. It'll be worse.

To answer your question, Lexus

To answer your dilemma, why don't she get something like one of those crossover SUV's or something? Why buy a name car, it's just going to look silly. Pick her up one of those Acura MDX's or similar. Sure you could find a used one for cheap enough. Also, why would she care what other people say anyway? It seems she's driving a vehicle like to so people don't notice your wealthy, so who gives a **** if you get comments like that? I'm confused.

Yes, buy the secluded lake front house so you can stop living in fear. Your security is way more important than some culda-sac house in the burbs.

Seriously, look in the mirror and say "What the hell am I doing?"

 

The NSX definitely brings you more "you must have money" attention than it actually deserves. You can get one in great shape for 30 - 35k.

 

Seriously, this is probably a good choice. If she is driving a mini-van now, I'm sure you can find a great deal on a RX330, those are GREAT cars for "soccer mom" type driving.

 

Honestly, if you want to extract the most amount of "looks rich" per dollar, a Mondial 8 is pretty darn hard to beat. Or an automatic 400i, but I think the Mondial looks more the part.

I got more attention in my 3.2 Mondial cab than in any other Ferrari I've owned.

 

Thank the previous owner(also responsible for the yellow). It actually doesn't sound too bad having more than double the engine capacity of the civic. Was a lot louder than my first 944, that took getting used to.

http://www.andrewscars.com/944/sound.mp3

The Mondial being a Ferrari, will give you lots of name recognition, but not any color will do. I'd recommend for his purpose of pulling into a store parking lot, to get a coupe - better looking. I'd warrant that priced from $3-6K for a decent 944, it would compete very well with the Mondial. People have told me nice Ferrari before...Its funny when they say - and haven't read what the car says on it, then they realize wit this "duh" moment.

Although to me, a Porsche means practical transportation, to others, they liken it as being the same as a Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. They just think expensive sports car when they hear the name. I call mine a glorified VW if anyone asks what I drive, as that will give them a better idea of what I drive then if I said Porsche.

 

You could try the late billionaire Sam Walton of Walmart's method..drive a 1977 Chevy Impala...the key is to be rich but NOT look it...a know a couple of multi-millionaires in the Nashville music scene that drive old trucks...one does drive a new Chevy HHR because he can haul a case of wine and several guitars in it...

 

Mercedes W124 ... especially the old V6 coupés!

http://www.mobilehouse.info/_images/news/4816_big.jpg

 

i drive a Honda Fit so i DON'T look rich; I work with people who make minimun wage. They make fun of my car... little do they know I have a Ferrari at home

 

Last year I almost bought a Porsche 928. If I remember right it was $3k but looked a lot more then that.

 

Old Lexus' and Escalades! Cheap cheap cheap.

That's what all the wanna-be ballers in Cleveland drive....$5k early 90s LS400s and $15k used Escalades.

 

Around here if you got one your ballin!.

 

Yeah, he wore overalls and a white t-shirt too

 

*twists your meaning*

Yup, a 928 will cost much more then its asking price.

 

Not sure exactly what your question is or what you and your wife want to achieve.
If you want people to know you have money just buy something flash and expensive and quite new.
If you want to give the impression that you may have money but make it difficult to guess how comfortable you are the choice gets very interesting.
Merc SL (70 to 80s), BMW 8series, Porsche 928, BMW 635CSi(80s) 7series, Range Rover or something like a Jensen Interceptor!! ,
Personally I wouldnt care what people think. If your wife gets treated like this in a store and finds it offensive just leave. Here in Ireland you do get judged by what you wear/drive etc but only to a certain extent. Quite a few of the wealthiest people do not display any sign of their financial strenght. It is a personal matter and each to his own. But why not buy a nice motor instaed of the minivan anyway.

 

OMG, I can't believe how people treat you by the car you drive. Happened to us once at a BMW dealership looking for a car. So we drove the Sentra SE-R (it was raining), came into the dealership.. nobody took care of us because they didn't think we could buy a bimmer so we went home. The next day we went there again, brought the Porsche, saw the same people.. now they're running after us just to make a sale. My dad didn't talk to them and we went to another BMW dealership. Weird but true. Just wanted to share it! hehe

Lexus would make you look rich! IMO

 

I would vote for the new Alfa Romeo Spider. I recently read a magazine report of a Press Drive of the Spider in California. They report that almost everyone there thinks that the blue Spider is such a massively expensive car.

The report totally makes sense when you look at the car longer than 5 seconds. I think its rather gorgeous and expensive looking.

 

Salesmen size you up the moment you walk on the lot.

If they were good salesmen they would size up the people that get out of the car, but then again car salesmen aren't the smartest bunch of people.

 

Old Range Rovers definitely have the "look" about them, but may keep you poor with service and upkeep. If it's in the budget, there are still some '03-'04 Rovers out there with warranty left which can be had in the $35-45k range.

Along those same lines, I would look at a pre-owned Benz G500. The G-Wagen certainly has the "look." Again, some floating around still in warranty, and there are probably a few certified examples to be had as well. Again, nice cars will be in the $35-45k range. Should last forever, though. They're built like tanks.

 

An old Rolls.
People have zip idea of what they can be had for.
Fueling the pig may make you yearn for the mini-van.

 

A 2003 350Z? I wouldn't recommend actually buying one, as some of the 03s are in pretty bad shape, but I get a lot of crap for driving a Z, even from my friends who drive NEW Mercedes (!), VW, Lexus, and the like. Even a friend with a Lexus IS gives me crap about driving a nice car! And their car is brand new, and I bought mine used!

 

Forget what people think. Rock the mini-van. One of my friend's fathers retired in his 40s and drives a minivan that is at least 10+ years old. He straps his kayak to the top and the roof has dents all over the place from it banging around. He spends every day at the beach, the bar by the beach, and kayaking. He used to manage 4,000 employees and still gets 7-figure job offers.

Who cares if a jewelry store employee doesn't think you have money? If your wife wanted the ring she could have purchased it and proved the employee wrong, mini-van or not.

I have a 1989 Nissan pickup worth about a thousand bucks that I drive all over the place. I love it.

 

You....Mr. Isa.....are F O S !

 

What yr?

I just bought an 88 S4. Not the cheapest example, but it was a one owner california car.
I had the Major service just done with tranny service, and a few this and thats. I wanted it perfect....
The service cost as much as the Major for my 348!

Both........worth every penny I spent

 

Just sold my '83 928 S last night (euro version). Cost me under $500 per year to run (including insurance, excluding gas) over the last 4 years. New owner is going to put in a new timing belt, headlight relay & pick up a set of wheels/tires to replace the ugly BBS things that are on it now & he'll be set for another 4 or 5 years. Starts every time & goes like a bat out of H E L L. Not too shabby for $3400.
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I think the intent here is not what you think. Basicly, he shows up in a mini-van, and the salesman does not think they can afford the best in the store or lot. He's looking for the opposite side of things - cars that a person who can't afford the best could drive, yet the salesman again - misjudges them by the car they drive.

If a salesman sees a guy come in an older 928, he might assume they would spend $200K in his store, which might be well over the value of the car owner's house. A 928 is a very tough car to judge much about the owner, being produced over such a wide range, with such a variety of prices. Combine it with there being hardly anything like it, it will attract buyers who could purchase a much more expensive car, and those who can barely afford it.